Page 99 of Callahan

“Any leads on that? Or Lainey’s letter writer? Do the police think they’re the same person?”

“Not yet. And they’re not sure. I don’t think they’re ruling anything out at this point.”

Teresa mused, “Hopefully you’ll be able to move the investigation along once you start work. I know the department has been stretched pretty thin lately.”

“Angus was thrilled when you took the job,” Hugh added.

Adam replied, “He’s been very generous.”

Conor vocalized he was unhappy, so I told Hugh and Teresa, “I’m going to check his diaper and feed him.”

Hugh pushed off the counter, and Teresa exclaimed, “We won’t keep you, dear. Thank you again for letting us watch him today.”

“Thank you for taking him. I was able to do a few things that I normally wouldn’t have time for.”

I purposefully didn’t look at Adam, for fear that I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face.

“Oh really? Like what?”

Oh damn.

“Oh, stuff around the house that I usually put off.”

Think, Lainey! Think!

I was so bad at lying, it was like my brain was buffering. Conor’s increasing volume wasn’t helping.

Finally, a thought popped in my head, and I blurted out, “You know, laundry.”

“Well, we’d love to take him again soon.”

I took a few steps toward the hall leading to the bedrooms, and called, “Let me know when your schedule is open.”

“How about this Sunday?”

I paused without turning around. I hadn’t expected her to have a day in mind already.

Finally, I faced them again and said, “Um… yeah. I think Sunday should work.”

“We’ll pick him up after church; around ten-fifteen?”

“Sure.”

“Great! We’ll see you then!”

Then, as if they were worried I’d change my mind, the two made a beeline toward the entry.

Adam was close behind them and said, “I’ll walk you down so you can go out the front,” and I headed toward the nursery to feed my boy.

****

Adam

“Thank you for keeping Lainey and Conor safe,” Teresa commented as I turned the lock on the bakery’s front door.

“Of course.”

Hugh clasped my shoulder and squeezed. “Shawn would be glad to know you stepped in.”

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