Page 43 of Cross & Crown
you’re not in the way. I never said that.”
“I know you never said it, but I also know how your brain
works. You’re not going to stop mul ing over the mystery, but
whenever you do think about it and you think you should be
spending time with me instead, you’re going to feel guilty for
working.”
“Not true.”
“You are the shittiest liar in the history of lying liars.”
Nick laughed softly, reached over the console, and grasped
Kelly’s hand. “Fine, you’re probably right. But I don’t want
you to leave. Please?”
“Okay. So tell me more about the case. Can you?”
“Technically, no. But hell, I’ve told you national security
shit you shouldn’t know either so what the hell.”
Kelly gestured to himself, tracing a circle in the air around
his face. “It’s this beautiful mug right here. Like a puppy. Does this look like the face of a spy?”
Nick glanced sideways at him. “Yes.”
“Fair enough. But tell me anyway.”
“The robbery was in an antiquarian bookstore.”
43
“Antiquarian? That’s specialty stuff, not just used
paperbacks, right?”
“Right. Rare books, expensive stuff.” Nick had to release
Kelly’s hand to flip the turn signal on, which apparently
pissed off the car behind them because it honked at them as
it passed. Nick ignored it. “Shop was busted up like they were
looking for something. Security system would have been easy
to bypass even for a rudimentary cat burglar, but they took it
out without leaving a trace.”
“So you think it was a professional team?”
