Page 76 of Nuclear Option (Owens Protective Services)

“They’re Cheetos,” Rae corrected.

“Cash, it’s just food. Do you really think an eighty year old lady poisoned the snack food that she dug out of the bag?”

“Yes,” I answered immediately.

“Oh, so you think she somehow opened the bag, poisoned the nuts, resealed the bag, and then waited for me to walk in the store, all so she could kill me?”

“It’s a plausible scenario,” Rae answered, finally helping me out. “She has a steamer under the table. She could easily open the bag, slip some poison inside, and then use the heat press in the deli to reseal the bag.”

“Not helping,” Eva turned on her, shooting her a death glare. “And when did she have time to do all that in the fifteen minutes since we walked in? And how would she even know that I like nuts? For all she knows, I’m allergic.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, smiling down at her. “She probably has a second operative with her, and it would be in your profile if you were allergic to nuts.”

“You just have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

“He does,” Rae nodded. “We could make a trivia game out of it.”

“She’s an old lady,” Eva hissed.

“She’s not a day older than sixty. I bet she still trains every single day.”

“Trains?”

“Yes. She has an athletic build and I bet she could take you in a race.”

“I’m sure she could. I hate running,” Eva retorted.

“Either way, you’re not eating anything she gives to you.”

“This is ridiculous. I was hungry.”

“Cheeto?” Rae asked, handing the bag over to Eva.

“Don’t you people ever eat real food? How do you survive on junk food? Aren’t you worried you’ll get fat? Or that you’ll fall into a carb coma right before you have to slit someone’s throat?”

I shook my head, playing along. “Always eat red meat before a kill. The scent of blood makes it easier.”

She shook her head at me. “You know…”

“What?”

“Never mind. Can we leave now?”

I motioned for her to walk ahead, narrowing my eyes on Rae as I walked past her.

“What? I was hungry.”

“Too hungry to watch my girlfriend and prevent her from taking poisoned snacks?”

“Oh, come on,” Rae laughed. “That’s a stretch, even for you.”

“Name one time that I’ve been wrong about anything.”

She closed her mouth and thought about it. “Fine, maybe she was a lethal grandma. If I’m wrong, I’ll name my first born after you.”

“What if it’s a girl?”

“I’ll name her Cashina.”

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