"I don't think your mom is too happy with me," said Solomon as we waved to her retreating car. "She keeps giving me that narrowed eye thing."

"She doesn't want to waste her spy training."

"It is a shame." Solomon didn't sound at all saddened by it, however.

"Where are your guys?" I asked, looking around.

He smiled. "Everywhere."

"I hope this doesn't get awkward," I told him as we crossed the road, heading to Juliet and Rob's house. "Play nice."

"I always play nice."

If the couple were worried about Solomon's presence as I made the introductions, they didn't show it. We greeted Delgado, already busy at work, and sat in the living room for what I hoped wouldn't be too unpleasant a meeting.

"So you're working for the people who want to put me in prison," said Juliet, appearing more curious than concerned. She was slumped in an armchair, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders,. Clad in loungewear and totally devoid of makeup, she still looked effortlessly pretty. The only strain that showed on her face was in the gray circles under her eyes and the red lines on her lower lids. She'd obviously been crying recently. Rob hadn't shaved, and his hair stood in little peaks as he perched on the arm of the chair.

"Your employers engaged me to look into the trading issues within the firm," Solomon replied, skirting deftly around the topic of Juliet's fate if we didn't work out what was going on.

"And that led to Juliet? All neat and convenient," said Rob, "but she didn't do it."

"We've already been through that," I told them, "and Solomon has agreed to look further into the case. I've worked for his agency and they're far better equipped than I to look into a case of this depth and complexity. We agreed to swap notes and combine forces."

Juliet turned her reddened eyes on me. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

I gave an emphatic nod. "Yes, I do. I still work for you, and I am still aiming for your best interests, but Solomon has access to some facilities I might not have otherwise, and he also has a surveillance team that can watch over you night and day to ensure your safety. Plus, he’s already agreed to pick up the bill for the extra security." I waved a hand towards Delgado as he fitted a tiny camera behind an open panel.

"Why?"

"My client only wants to know the identity of the person who did this. If it isn't you, then we need to prove it isn’t so we can get the right person," explained Solomon.

"But you think it is me. The evidence tells you that. The police already showed it to me."

"Evidence can be planted," said Solomon. "If that's the case, we'll find out how. Then we'll follow the trail and find out who."

"Do you trust him?" asked Juliet, turning to me.

"Yes. Absolutely. Like I said, I've worked for his agency, and they're the good guys. We need a strong team of good guys."

Juliet shook her head wearily before looking up to Rob. Something passed silently between them. When Juliet looked to us again, first me, then at Solomon, she said, "Then thank you, I think. I just hope I don't regret this."

"We're going to follow up a lead," I told them, rising. "Delgado will stay here until the installation is complete and tested. Don't tell a single person about it. Not a soul."

"Not anyone?" asked Rob.

"No one can know. If the stalker is someone close to you, they need to believe they still have free access to your home. When they enter again, we'll be ready."

"I feel like a prisoner on some kind of awful, reality television show," said Juliet.

"I'm really sorry," I said, hoping I sounded it.

"So what happens next?" asked Rob. "We just wait here until they come back? Or until Juliet has to go to court?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear, but Juliet can't leave under the terms of her house arrest. Someone should stay in the house at all times so she isn't ever alone."

"Don't worry," Juliet said, patting Rob's hand. "We'll be okay."

I doubted either of them believed her words, but I couldn't say anymore to reassure them. Instead, I produced the list of trades Solomon obtained along with the surveillance photos.

"Can you tell me about these?" I asked, passing them to Juliet.

She perused them. "This is my neighbor Alma, and this is our maid Angie who won't be returning until this is all over, and this lady minds Robbie on the few occasions we have him and have to go to a function."

"And the trades?"

"Detective Donahue already showed these to me. Apparently, those are trades I made, but I didn't. I mean, I could have, but I didn't."

"They're all logged in with your access codes."

"I know, but someone could have gotten them."

"What about the dates? Were you in the office each day when these took place?"

Juliet glanced down at the page again. "Yes, I think so."

"And the times?"

"Yes, I... wait, no, no! Not this one!" Juliet tapped the paper, smiling as she looked up eagerly. "I was at an antenatal scan for this one; but I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I definitely was not there when this took place. That's good, right? I have an alibi?"

Solomon and I exchanged glances. "It's a good start," I told her. "I'll check this out."

"What do you think of the boyfriend?" Solomon asked as we shut the front door behind us a few minutes later and walked to his car.

"Seems a nice guy. He's nuts about her. That's obvious."

"How nuts?

"Not crazy nuts."

"Crazy sometimes looks like normal. He can access their home, along with their alarm code. I bet he knows Juliet's passwords, or could easily figure them out. He could potentially get into her workplace and use her work computer too."

"Are you seriously suggesting her own fiancé would stalk her? Why would he do that?"

"Jealousy, control, insecurity, psychological issues..."

"But he's already got her! She loves him. They're having a baby soon."

"It happens to thousands of women. Guys, too."

"I don't want to tell Juliet we might have to investigate her fiancé. He's the only person she trusts right now."

"He could be having an affair. Juliet's the one with the money; and money equals power to some people. Maybe he wants her out of the way so he can keep everything he's got."

"Your mind is an awful place," I told my boyfriend.

"There's a lot of fun stuff in my mind, and you should know it."

I did know, but now was not the time, or the place for him to ask me to prove it. "I can't tell Juliet that Rob is considered a suspect."

"Then we won't tell her, but we'll look into him anyway."

"My job depresses me today." I heaved out a sigh and closed my eyes as we took off.

Penelope Cera lived in a small apartment in Harbridge, only a few blocks away from Maddox. The apartment building was on the smaller side, and very neatly kept. Mature, potted ferns decorated the lobby, but there was no doorman or elevator, although the communal areas looked like they were cleaned regularly and well-maintained. We rode the elevator to the third floor.

"I wasn't expecting you," Penelope said, recovering quickly from the flash of confusion that crossed her face as she opened the door to us. She was glancing at Solomon with unmasked curiosity, rather than the usual sultry looks he received from women. "Please come in. Is everything okay?"