To Catch a Bad Guy (Book One of the Janet Maple Series)

by Marie Astor

Janet stared at the computer screen in her office. Last night had been fun. A bit too much fun, she had to admit, but, boy, it felt great to be basking in its afterglow.

  After they had left the corporate party, Wyman took her to Gilt – the swanky restaurant located in the historic Villard Mansion in midtown, Manhattan that was designed for seduction. No doubt Wyman had taken many of his conquests to that very place, but he did not get his way with Janet last night. She could sense his expectant, self-assured gaze on her throughout the meal He was the kind of man who was used to women succumbing to his charisma, which made it so much more delightful for Janet to say no. Not that she was impervious to Wyman’s charms – she was only human, but now that she had a different purpose in mind, Wyman had become a tool in her plans. Last night she was seducing him as much as he was trying to seduce her, only Janet’s objective was information, while Wyman’s aim was a bit more carnal.

  However, Janet had to admit that Tom Wyman would be a tough nut to crack. She had spent the entire evening trying to get Wyman to open up about the work he did for Bostoff Securities. She had employed admiration, flattery, and simple naïve curiosity, but Wyman had remained bullet-proof, only allowing the most general of statements. Yes, he had helped incorporate entities for Bostoff, and yes, he drafted contracts for the firm, but other than that, Janet was none the wiser today than she had been the day before.

  With a sigh, Janet grabbed her cell phone and dialed Katie’s number. After all, Katie worked for a law firm, and she might be able to help her.

  “Hello, there,” Katie’s voice rang cheerfully in the receiver. “It’s about time you called.”

  Janet felt an instant flash of guilt: she had not spoken with Katie since the evening Dean Snider had interrupted their girls’ night out. “I meant to call earlier, but it’s gotten so crazy at work…”

  “So, how is Dean in the sack?”

  “Katie!” Even though it was impossible for anyone to hear them, Janet blushed. “What are you talking about?”

  “Not what, but whom, and you know damn well whom I’m talking about: that handsome IT guy from your job. Dean. You could at least thank me for tactfully leaving the two of you to enjoy each other’s company.”

  “Thank you. And by the way, how was the deposition?”

  “What deposition? Oh, never mind; there was no deposition, and you know it. Now, dish the goods.”

  So much for talking about the stuff that matters, Janet thought. Katie was an excellent lawyer, but lately she had been placing personal matters over professional ones.

  “Well, if you must know, nothing happened: he saw me home, and then we walked Baxter together.”

  “A real gentleman,” Katie sighed. “Last night, my date insisted on coming up to my apartment as payment for walking me home, and he did not even buy me a drink. We met at an open bar, which does not even make him my date; he was just some guy I picked up at a legal seminar. God, those things are awful, as awful as the men who attend them. See how I’ve fallen? And there you are, with a perfectly fine specimen of the male gender vying for your attention…”

  “I’m sorry.” Janet stifled a smile. Katie had such a sense of the dramatic. “But I’m afraid my life is not as exciting as you think. We were supposed to go together to the corporate party for Lisa’s engagement, but he never showed.”

  “That doesn’t sound good. Did he actually ask you to be his date?”

  “Sort of, but I never committed.”

  “Sounds to me like someone is having commitment issues, and now you’re upset that he didn’t show up? Next time he asks, you’d better say ‘yes.’”

  “Okay, Dr. Phil,” Janet conceded. Katie did have a point. “But seriously, I called because I wanted to talk to you.”

  “We are talking.”

  “About something important.”

  “Are you telling me that having a sex life is not important? Keep thinking like that and you’ll never get one. Take it from the expert in the area.”

  Janet was about to blow her fuse. “Can you meet me for a drink after work tonight?”

  “No can do. I’ve got a date. And I suggest you get one too by asking Dean out - men like it when women show initiative.”

  Janet was just about to come up with a retort, but Katie beat her to it.

  “Sorry, hon, I’ve got to run. My boss is on the other line, but call me tomorrow, and we’ll dish.”

  Janet stared at her cell phone. Katie had given her an idea. Perhaps she should talk to Dean after all. Not about their failed ‘date’ of course, but about her misgivings regarding Bostoff Securities. She had almost brought up the topic the evening they had been walking Baxter together, but never had worked up the courage to say anything of substance. After all, she could not very well voice her suspicions to someone she barely knew. Yet, something in Dean’s expression had made her think that perhaps she had been wrong. Perhaps, like her, Dean suspected that all was not kosher with Bostoff’s business, and maybe together they could get to the bottom of things.