Page 19 of Five
“I think so, yes. I just need to get my staff in here.”
Blond Hair motions to the open door. “Looks like one’s here, already.”
I see Shelby hovering, and I motion her in. “Thank God, you’re here. Everyone notified?”
“Yes. Good grief, Neve.”
“I know. Okay, let’s get this cleaned up…” I glance up at Dark Hair. “I assume we’re okay to open after the fingerprinting?”
“Yes, but they’ll be a few hours. You’ll need to delay the clean-up until after lunch.”
“Shi-ooooot.” I catch myself and change my wording to something more innocent just before I curse. I’ve had to work on the potty mouth since I opened the daycare. Wouldn’t do for little Johnny to go home copying my lack of impulse control. “Shelby—”
As usual, she knows what I need before I voice it. “On it. I’ll send out an alert that we’re closed for the day. Go on, do what you need to do.”
I flash her a grateful smile and follow the officers as they walk slowly outside. “Okay, so I guess I’ll head down to the station now.”
“Probably your best course of action. I think it looks like kids acting out, to be honest. Just take it as a win that they were too stupid to steal anything.”
“Dam…nesty,” I mutter as I watch them leave, and then I head back inside to gather my keys.
What a way to screw up a perfectly okay Thursday.
Mood:Resignedanticipation.
“Neveeeeee!” Squealing, Caroline attacks me with a hug just inside Harbor Lizards, the cool little waterside pub we chose for our traditional girls’ night destination a long time ago. It’s been a part of the Key West coastline for decades, a little shack that from the outside looks like it’s about to crumble over into the shallow blue water of the Keys. Inside, it’s all weathered wood and stainless-steel tables, snarky waitresses and hot bartenders.
Caroline hugs me like it’s been a year instead of a week since we last saw each other and pronounces my name “nev-ee” instead of the correct “nev,” knowing it exasperates me. That’s Caroline—independent and affectionate and just this side of obnoxious. She is my person, and I adore her.
“Hey, babe,” I say, squeezing her back. “How was work?” Caroline works as a masseuse in a Key West spa.
“Same ole, same ole. I had to convince an old guy that we were not that kind of salon, so that was fun.”
“Wanted his happy ending, huh?”
“Desperate for it,” she snickers, and we’re still laughing as the hostess motions us to our usual booth. My giggles fade quickly, though. I’m not in the best of moods, not after what happened earlier.
Between drinks and apps ordering, I manage to relax a little, but I’m jumpy, my mind lingering on the break-in and possible reasons for it.
“What’s up with you?” Caroline asks. She may look and act as shallow as the low tide waters, but Caro is observant.
“Nothing. I’m fine.” I pluck a fried pickle from the basket between us and waggle my eyebrows at her as I eat it.
“Yeah. I call bullshit.”
I sigh and eat another pickle. “Nothing, really. Just a long day, I guess.”
Caro takes a long pull on the straw in her margarita and watches me over the rim. “Would this long day have anything to do with the break-in at Little Pilots?”
Shit. I mean, shoot.
“You know about that?”
She rolls her eyes. “Of course, I know about it…small town, babe. It was on the news.”
I groan, letting my head drop forward on my neck. “Great. That is exactly what I need.”
“The real question here is why you didn’t call me.”
