28. Tuvid

28

TUVID

I followed Benjamin when he left his microbrewery. He drove across town and went inside a building on Main Street housing a business office. There was nothing unusual about that, except for the name on the sign out front.

Blane Associates. Jasper Blane, to be exact. Angie's uncle's former business associate. The one who'd made inappropriate advances toward Angie when she was younger. I wanted to punch him for that. The nerve of him thinking he could touch her, let alone stomp in now and buy her brewery.

Was there a way I could discover what the two were discussing, assuming Benjamin was visiting with Jasper?

I went inside and up to the second floor, approaching a thin man sitting at a desk inside the glassed-in office with Blane Associates discreetly stenciled in white on the glass.

He looked up from his computer. "Yes, can I help you? "

Voices echoed from the office on my left. With the door cracked, I could almost make out what the male said. It sounded like Benjamin and Jasper speaking.

"I need to make an appointment with Jasper Blane," I said.

"Ah, yes." The man used his mouse to click into the business schedule. "What in particular would you like to speak with him about?"

"An exclusive business venture I'm sure he'll be excited to discuss."

The man looked over his glasses at me. "Could you be more specific? Mr. Blane is a busy man. He prefers I note exactly what the appointment is about when I schedule it."

"You could note that it's about microbrewery sales."

"I see." He typed a few lines. "What exactly? He's involved in many aspects related to microbreweries."

"Sales of specialty kegs." I was fishing here. Would Jasper take the bait?

"Are you looking to buy or sell?"

"Buy. For an exclusive client. I don't own a brewery myself. I'd like an appointment as soon as possible."

The man frowned at the screen. "And your name?"

"Vestalon Barkley."

"Ck or just a K?"

"Just a K."

"And your phone number in case we need to reach you?"

I gave him my burner phone number.

"Will tomorrow work for you?" he asked. "He has an opening at three. "

"That would be fantastic."

Shuffling sounds rang out behind the partly opened door. Since I didn't want to be caught here by Angie's ex, I started backing toward the entrance. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

The man shifted sideways, frowning around his computer screen. "I still need more information."

"I have to go. Call me." I zipped from the office and out into the hall just as the other door fully opened.

In no time, I stood outside the building, enjoying the sunshine with a sly smile on my face.

Tomorrow, I was going to talk to Jasper about buying some very specific kegs of stout.

I suspected he would know exactly where to find them.