Page 4 of A Spot of Tea
Both of them were fully committed to building a sea pen for Lottie the orca. Russell had worked with the researchers to secure an old fishing lodge on Stuart Island, and now they were completely rebuilding it.
Sheila did her part, keeping an eye on the money, and though she was good at it, Russell’s flair for the dramatic sometimes won out.
The pilot got to stay, and Patty had never been more glad for it. “How old are you?”
“Who wants to know?” Joey asked with a dashing smile.
He looked about Eliza’s age, though Patty wasn’t sure. Anyone under fifty looked like a kid to her. He was at least young enough to know how the internet worked.
“He’s a qualified pilot, don’t worry,” Russell said. “Would you like to go for a flight?”
“No, thank you,” Patty said simply. “How would you like to make twenty-five dollars, Joey?”
He glanced at Russell. “Should I worry about the legality of how I’d make these twenty-five dollars?”
“Of course not.” Patty stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Don’t look at him. Look at me.”
Joey, wide-eyed, glanced at Russell.
“Listen to her,” Russell said, putting his hands up. “I can’t protect you from her.”
“Did you hear about the bank robbery in town?” Patty asked.
Joey scratched the back of his neck. “Uh, yes. Of course.”
Russell laughed, opening his mouth to say something, but Patty pressed on.
“My granddaughter Eliza was there when it happened. She ended up on the security footage, and it’s turned into a big joke for people, coming to the tea shop to ridicule her.”
Joey’s smile faded. “That’s not nice.”
Patty pointed at the tea shop over the hill. “I will give you twenty-five dollars if you go in there and get that table of hooligans to stop bullying her.”
Russell shrugged. “How about this, Patty? I’ll do it for free.”
“Oh shush! You would only bring more notoriety, Mr. Hollywood.” She turned to Joey. “What do you say? Twenty-five dollars. No violence, of course, but threats…might be useful.”
He laughed. “Threats. Right.”
Patty wasn’t sure if she had that much in her purse. It might only be twenty. Or maybe just five. It didn’t matter. The money was just to get his interest.
Russell grinned and clapped his hands together. “Are you sure I can’t be part of it? I never get to threaten people anymore.”
“I didn’t ask you, Russell!” Patty shot him a glare, then turned to Joey. “What do you say?”
“I think I can help.” He nodded. “Yeah, I’d be happy to try.”
Patty smiled. “Good. Follow me.”
Three
The hill to the teashop was steeper than Joey had expected, or perhaps Patty was faster than she looked. He followed her, sucking gulps of salted air, staring up at the light blue sky.
The robbery wasn’t news to him. He couldn’t go anywhere on the island without overhearing someone blathering on that if they’d been there, the robber wouldn’t have stood a chance at getting away.
The bluster was only going to get worse. Just that morning, Pebble Bay Bank had announced a one-hundred-thousand-dollar reward to anyone who provided information leading to the arrest of the robber.
No one had been able to identify the guy, even after he’d hit thirteen banks. Patty’s grandkid was the only one who had spoken to him outside of his robbing commands.
