Page 19 of Building What's Meant to Be

When the door to the station closes, we both chuckle.

When I go quiet, I say, “I don’t think that’s code either. My sister’s llama escapes all the time. I can assure you that as the future mayor of Butterbury, some long-necked neighbors nose into people’s business, but we mostly keep to ourselves. All the same, it sounds like your reputation preceded you. Though, Butterbury is a fairly forgiving place.”

I hope. I still have to prove to my sisters and buddies like Nash, Taylor, and the others that I was not in cahoots with Stoll, but that’ll have to wait.

Tinsley tips her head to the side. “Can you be mayor with a rap sheet?”

She may have a point. But I’m an options guy. I’ll figure something out. I’m also a doughnuts guy and could really go for one right now when Henley returns with a pink box sealed with the Doughnut Dollies Sticker.

“The goose?” I ask, eyeing the box.

“Is with the gander,” Henley replies, straight-faced.

Maybe itiscode for something. I ought to brush up on my local lingo.

He opens the box and inhales deeply. “These never get old.” He twinkles his fingers over the open box. “Boy, these doughnuts sure are delicious. They always hit the spot. Come to papa.”

Both Tinsley and I grip the bars of our cells. Like monkeys in cages, we practically drool while staring at him.

Officer Henley looks up, lips cracking with a smirk when his gaze lands on me. “Oh, Miss Humber did you want one of these?” He passes her a glazed old-fashioned on a napkin through the bars. “I’d be happy to share with you too, Aiden. If, and only if, you tell me what went on at Mayor Stoll’s house. The witnesses should be along soon. I’m sure they’ll have more to tell me. Perhaps even some evidence.”

Doubtful. I’m not a criminal, but I am a federal law enforcement officer so I’ve observed the behavior of plenty ofbad guys and had the sense to destroy the evidence—that being the baby carriage and not the cat, just to be clear.

“Sounds to me like we have a couple of misunderstandings on our hands.” I wag my hand between Tinsley and me, indicating our arrests.

“No, I broke the law. I was speeding and my license was expired. I didn’t realize.” Tinsley speaks clearly as if not at all in need of a catnap. Like she woke up from a fog and realizes what she did wrong.

Henley nods at her as if in approval, then turning to me, he says, “As I said, I have a doughnut with your name on it, Aiden.”

“In fact, you said no such thing, but if the doughnut has my name on it, technically it’s mine.”

He plucks another from the box and holds it a few inches from my cell. “Last chance.”

“To plead my innocence. I did notsteala cat.”

He looks me over carefully as if assessing my honesty. I’d like to assure him that I rescued Twinky but hold back.

“Oh, alright. Here. But don’t go telling anyone that I went soft.” Henley rolls his eyes and passes me the goods.

I’d like to say I take dainty bites of the doughnut like Tinsley who still works on hers, but I stuff the thing in my mouth like a caveman. I haven’t had anything to eat since I was on the airplane, going west.

Tinsley watches me with warm curiosity.

It’s hard to ignore how pretty she is, but that’s not what this is about. Best to keep an asset close and see what kind of info I can glean.

When I’m done chewing, and full of bravado, I say, “As the future mayor, I assure you I won’t say a word, officer.”

“We’ll see about that,” he mutters.

I turn to Tinsley. “Since you’re the future Mrs. Mayor, I apologize for forgetting my manners. I’m Aiden Fuller.”

She gives me a long look that’s just short of penetrating. Icy panic slides through my veins instead of the usual rush of adrenaline. Does she recall the choppy phone conversation?

Federal Agent and Aiden sound an awfully lot alike.

“You just seem so familiar.” Her voice is throaty.

I wink. “I get that a lot. Must be my handsome good looks.”

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