Chapter 9
Jesse wasn’t supposed to meet Marcus until eleven, but he quietly slipped out of the penthouse, leaving Gideon and Emma in bed, just after seven. He hadn’t been completely lying to Emma. There were some bookshops he wanted to check out while they were in New York. And Marcus wasn’t the only person who might have the answers Jesse was seeking. There was a chance Michelle knew about this mysterious Hal, and a smaller chance Derek had heard the name. If either of them could shed any light on this enigma, then maybe he wouldn’t have to meet with Marcus Brooker at all.
But Derek was not answering his phone. And Michelle was less than helpful.
“Hal who?”
Jesse sighed. “I don’t know his last name.”
“Then why are you calling me?” Michelle was clearly annoyed.
“Because I thought you
