Page 118 of Callahan

“Yeah. You’re allowed to type on the computer, too. But I won’t get you started on that until tomorrow.”

I opened my messaging app and saw I had two texts. One from my brother telling me he was headed to Haven Springs in the morning, and the other was from Lainey.

Lainey: Your boots arrived.

“Lainey says my boots are at your house.”

“Great. Let’s go make sure Sylvia gave you the right keys and pick up your boots.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Lainey

I heard the front door open, quickly followed by Brian’s voice beckoning, “Lainey?”

“I’m upstairs!” I called from where I was propped up against pillows on the bed, nursing Conor.

It sounded like a herd of elephants ascending the stairs, and I quickly placed a receiving blanket over my breast right before Brian popped his head around the corner and asked, “Everything okay?”

“No problems at all.”

“You made sure to pay attention to double check that nobody was following you today?”

“There wasn’t a car in sight when I drove to and from the O’Briens’.”

“Or anywhere else?”

“I mean, there were cars, but none appeared to follow me to the bakery.”

He winced.

“Sorry I wasn’t able to get the bakery cleaned up more last night. I’d planned on sweeping up after the DPS guys left, but then I got called to Hannigan’s for a barfight.”

I chuckled.

“I heard. That place must account for half your business.”

“On the weekends anyway. And the occasional out-of-control Ladies’ Night on a Thursday.”

“Nothing on Taco Tuesdays?” I teased.

“No, it seems that tacos make people happy and not want to fight. Tequila, on the other hand… Fortunately Jimmy isn’t inclined to offer a tequila special on Tuesdays.”

“He probably likes a mellow night every now and then, too.”

“Well, Angus appreciates the down days.”

“How’s your new rookie doing?”

He took a step further into the room and lowered his voice.

“If you repeat this, I will deny it, but he’s pretty damn good. I mean, it’s a natural transition from what he was doing, so it makes sense. But it’s his first day, and I already would send him on calls before I’d send some of my guys who’ve been on a couple of years.”

“Well, the action Adam has seen versus what Hitchcock and Scully have seen, are probably lightyears apart.”

“I told you, Lain. You can’t keep calling Smith and Vega that!”

“Well, when they stop acting like them, I will. Anyway, your secret is safe with me. Speaking of our very own John Nolan… where is he?”

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