Page 16 of Byte

“Is that so?” she asked and stepped behind the counter to pour me a cup of coffee.

I exhaled heavily. She knew me better than most and could obviously tell something was bothering me.

“You want to talk about it?” she asked and placed the steaming mug in front of me.

“I’m searching for someone, and it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

“That saying has always puzzled me.”

“How so?”

“A needle is metal. Use a magnet. Problem solved,” she said and gave me a knowing look.

While she tended to her other customers, I sat there and mulled over her words. In theory, her idea would work, but Gabby was the only proverbial magnet I had, and I wasn’t willing to use her to find Chad.

“I can see I’ve given you something to think about,” she said when she returned.

“You certainly have. I’m just not sure if I can make it work,” I admitted.

“Give it some time. You’ll think of something,” she assured me.

“I hope you’re right,” I mumbled.

“I know I am,” she said and patted my hand. “I’m going to make you something to eat before you go.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

“I know,” she winked. “But I want to, so I’m going to. Shall I make something for your friend as well?”

I grinned. “She asked me to thank you for the cheeseburger and wanted me to tell you it was the best one she’d ever had.”

Irene nodded with a smile. “All right. A cheeseburger for her and a surprise for you.”

She returned with two bags of food and a cup of coffee to go. “You should bring your friend by the diner sometime. I’d like to meet the girl who’s making your forehead wrinkle.”

“Oh, this isn’t because of her,” I corrected.

“My mistake,” she said and smiled.

“You’re wearingthe same clothes you were this morning. Does that mean today was better than yesterday?” I asked when Gabby got into the truck.

“I made it through the day without getting anyone’s body fluids on me, so I’ll say yes.”

“How was lunch?”

She sighed. “Of course, the one time I want someone to steal my lunch, they don’t.”

I laughed. “Well, there’s always tomorrow.”

“Speaking of food,” she said, and inhaled deeply. “What’s that smell?”

“I stopped by the diner, and Irene sent me home with food,” I said and gestured to the back seat with my thumb.

“I hope she sent another burger,” she said excitedly.

“She did. I told her how much you loved the one you had the other day. She said she’d love to meet you and asked me to bring you by the diner sometime.”

“Maybe we can go on one of my days off,” she suggested.

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