"Don't remember now but I know I've seen it." Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "Why was it there? You two better not be running some kind of police game on me."
"No game. Huress has nothing to do with this case. I'll look into it."
"I'm dead serious about getting info to free my brother. This smells like a tag team to me. I really don't like this. Are you tracking me? I demand to know right now why a cop was parked outside my apartment in his personal vehicle."
"I know you're serious. I said I'd look into it." He paused for another sip, and then his voice took on an official tone. "Jerry Kagan told me he hired you as his investigator."
"That makes a difference?"
"A difference of appearance. Being cozy with the defendant's sister is out of bounds. Since I can't question your brother directly without his attorney being present, I don't want to be accused of tricking his sister into spilling info."
"Got it. You're now officially off the hook. If the new investigator for the defense attorney screws up, it's not your problem."
"You could really foul up your brother's defense by talking to me. Of course, I'm making the wild assumption you're neither stupid nor crazy. I want to be certain we understand each other. Starting now, consider yourself fair game. I don't intend to tell you anything about the investigation. However, whatever you tell me I'll definitely use if I can, and will testify to in court."
"Seems fair to me, what's your problem?"
He shook his head. "You are a puzzle."
"The world isn't ready for the unpuzzled me."
"You don't actually want anyone to understand you, do you?"
"I haven't met anyone that can. Maybe you haven't figured it out. You don't have any choice but to deal with me." She gave him a nice smile to take the edge off that pronouncement.
He frowned. "So you're going for our arrangement?"
She continued, "If you're asking for cooperation, sure I'll do that. I need to be able to communicate with the opposition. You just have to listen. If you're on the wrong track, then it might help your investigation. Just stay off my back."
"Okay, I won't bother you unless you start acting crazy. I can use some cooperation right now. If I'm reading you correctly, I can make statements like that without you laughing."
"I doubt if you are reading me correctly, no one else ever has." She felt she was getting somewhere. "You called me here because you need my help."
"Maybe, don't know enough about you. Don't know whether to trust you or not. You said your job in Philadelphia puts you in contact with the police. So, I suppose you know your way around attorneys and judges and courtrooms and cops and even criminals."