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?”

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