Things were coming together perfectly. It had been a stroke of luck when Vanessa teamed him up with David on the Slater project. David was currently his number one suspect, but he hadn’t been able to get close enough to get the proof he needed. Being able to ride along with him to the Boys and Girls Club gave Enrique the perfect excuse to be in David’s space over the past few days.

The only thing weighing on him was the fact that he was keeping the truth about his position at Fine PR from Vanessa. Unfortunately, it was included in the contract he’d signed with Derek, that no one other than Fine himself knew the real reason that Enrique was there.

He and Vanessa were getting closer every day, and he was starting to feel guilty about keeping things from her. He’d always prided himself on honesty in relationships.

“I really like your car,” Enrique said as he and David pulled into the parking lot. He’d made up some story about his car being in the shop, hoping David would be a good coworker and offer to let him ride in his vehicle out to the site. He had, which gave Enrique the perfect opening. “It’s one of the new models, right? Have you had it long?”

David didn’t seem suspicious by his questions, and Enrique figured he took his questions as innocent, male interest.

“Yeah, just got it off the lot last week. I test drove a few different cars, but I loved the speed and sleekness of the Shelby.”

Enrique knew from experience, crooks were often not the smartest people in the world, but David purchasing a car like this right after all of the money from Fine PR went missing, seemed like a terribly stupid move.

He planned out his next move as they walked into the building where the photo opportunities were being captured.

A tall, incredibly muscular man stood in the center of the basketball court, surrounded by happily chattering children of all ages. Enrique had seen the football player on the field, but had never seen him up close. He couldn’t believe how big he was in person. He made Enrique feel like a kid who hadn’t hit puberty yet.

“That must be Slater,” he said under his breath to David.

“Yup, that’s him. Young, dumb, and rich enough to buy both of us twenty-foot yachts for Christmas,” was David’s sardonic reply.

Enrique’s gaze flitted back over the younger man, then at the children gathered around him. Whatever the guy was in his personal life, he definitely made an impression on these kids, so Enrique hoped that he was cognizant of that fact and was here for the right reasons.

Not that it was really any of his business, but he’d been one of those kids at one time, and he knew how much a visit like this from a pro athlete would mean to them.

The photographers got their shots, then packed up and headed out. Enrique told David he had to use the bathroom before they took off, then followed the signs, watching the kids as they dispersed to do various activities. When he rounded the corner, he came up short when he saw Slater standing at the end of the hallway with one of the volunteers pinned against the wall. She was a pretty Hispanic girl, no more than nineteen, and she didn’t look like she wanted to be there, but was unsure of how to get away from the much larger male.

“Hey, Slater!” he yelled. When the football player turned to him with a scowl, he hooked a thumb over his shoulder and lied, “One of the newspaper people needed you for a quick question.”

Slater pushed off the wall and stormed past Enrique, who waited until he was gone before asking the young girl, “You okay, mija?”

When she nodded he added, “Get out of here before he comes back.”

He watched as she scurried down the hall, then went about his business.

When he walked outside of the building to catch his ride, Slater was waiting for him.

“There was no one looking for me,” Slater said, his stance defensive.

Enrique stopped to stand in front of him and replied, “No, but we’re here trying to improve your image, and finding you harassing a teenager would ruin all the progress the Fine PR team has made so far.”

Slater took a step forward and said, “I don’t need you cock-blocking me, asshole. Who I hook up with is no one’s business but my own.”

“C’mon, Mr. Slater, you know that Fine PR is looking out for your best interest,” David said smoothly, walking up from wherever he must have been waiting. “Enrique here was just doing what he’s paid to do … What we’re all being paid to do. As our client, we have your best interests at heart, I assure you.”

Slater scowled at David, but backed off, allowing Enrique to follow his number one suspect to his car.

“What a fucking douche,” Enrique said, incensed, as they drove off down the street.

“Yes, that is true, but he is a client, so we really shouldn’t say it out loud,” David said primly, then added, “Would you mind if we stopped at my house real quick? I forgot my lunch.”

“Sure,” Enrique responded, hoping he didn’t sound as eager as he felt to get a glimpse inside David’s home.

Maybe he’d finally catch a break and find what he needed to wrap up this case, so he could finally come clean with Vanessa.