Gabriel chuckles. “So using Abby’s social media, I went through and found any friends of hers named Anthony. She has two.” He shows the first photo to me, but I shake my head, and he flips to the second.
“That’s him,” I say. “He looks different, for sure, but definitely him. Let’s see if we can get an address on him.”
“On it,” Gabriel says. It doesn’t take him too long before he flashes an address at me.
“That’s sexy.”
“That I typed his name into a database and received an address?” he asks.
“Very.”
“Well, I’m thrilled to have pleased you,” he says with a grin. “I even alerted the department that we’ll be heading over there to have a brief chat with the man you kissed.”
“Oh? Jealous?”
“Horribly.”
“Good,” I tease. “I like it when you’re jealous. Will you threaten him too? Tell him you’re better than him? It’s okay, I’ll tell him.”
Gabriel is laughing now. “No. You better tell him no such thing.”
“I’m going to anyway,” I declare.
“You better not, but knowing you, you probably will. We’re already not supposed to be working on Abby’s case. The only way we’re getting away with this is that I think no one believes you that the cases are connected. And I think it’s not because they think you’re wrong but because they want you to be wrong just once in your life.”
“It must be a sad life for them,” I realize. “I wonder if they cry themselves to sleep every night and if they do, would they let me watch?”
“You’re such a creep. You’re going to leave me home alone lying in bed just so you can tuck your enemies in and feast off their tears?”
“It’s okay. I’ll make them pay me for my service so I can buy you more things.”
“Speaking of buying things. How’s your diner doing?”
“Fuck that diner.”
“Yeah?”
“It was nominated for best diner something or other, which I thought was stupid. One of my employees sent it to me like they thought I’d care. I think they just wanted a raise.”
“It’s been nominated? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just did. Do you want the diner? How about if we win, you can have it. And if we lose, I shut the place down out of humiliation.”
“No and no.”
“You’re so bossy… I like it.”
Gabriel grins. “You’re so unreasonable… which I guess I must like since I like you.”
“How sweet.”
“I hope it wins.”
“What does?”
“Your diner!”
“Oh, I already forgot about that.”