Page 34 of The Hive Queen

We usually arrive between the meal rushes, but today brought us here in the hour before businesses open, when the restaurant gets slammed by workers scarfing down a meal before work.

As the only restaurant worth eating at near the JTFPI headquarters, and the purveyor of the best burgers in town, Hopper’s keeps its kitchen running twenty-four-seven, serving breakfast and lunch at all hours of the day.

There are no tables available when we walk in, but a group of junior detectives at one of the tables spots Sharpe. Kiss-ups that they are, they quickly box up the rest of their meals to-go to make room for their captain.

They quickly pay their check and give Sharpe respectful nods as they head out.

We beeline for the abandoned table before any of the people hanging around the outer wall, waiting for a table, can snipe it. Dirty dishes still cover the surface, and we move them to the end of the table for the busboy to pick up.

The waitress arrives first, bringing three mugs of coffee without being asked, as well as a tall glass of water without ice. “I can’t give you guys a carafe right now, but you know where the station is if you want a refill faster than I can get to you.”

“You’re a goddess, Gladys.” I push the half-empty bowl of creamers over to Sharpe before grabbing a mug of black coffee and chugging it.

Flint presses his palms together. “Please say you’ve had a bacon delivery since last night.”

“We sure have.” She pulls an order pad from her apron. “Bacon cheeseburgers with hash browns for you two?” When Flint and I nod, she turns to Mayn. “Rare steak and eggs?”

Mayn grabs the saltshaker and taps white granules into her water. “Two steaks, skip the eggs.”

“You got it.” Gladys turns to Sharpe and squints. “Fried chicken and waffles today? Or do you want the pigs in a blanket?”

Sharpe smiles up at her. “Fried chicken, please.”

“I’ll have your orders right up.” She bustles away.

Flint glances around the packed restaurant. “I hope our food comes fast.”

I tap his foot under the table. “You’re an eager worker bee today.”

“It’s not that.” He peers toward the door. “I just don’t like leaving Anny in the car so much. What if someone tries to steal her? Or reports us for animal abuse? Summer will make it impossible to lock her up.”

While I’m not the biggest fan of Anny and all the issues she brought to our group, I’ve had similar concerns of my own. “Having a fox familiar is complicated. You should have gone with something small, like a mouse, that you could keep in your pocket.”

He rolls his eyes at me and kicks my leg. “At least warrant me a dragon like Reese.”

“Not a dragon,” I correct automatically.

Mayn sticks a spoon into her glass to stir the salt in. “Can’t you just leave her at home? It seems like the simplest solution.”

He glares at her. “Can’t you just drink regular water?”

She glares right back. “You would notdiefrom a lack of your fox. Otherwise, you would not abandon her in untenable situations, such as your car.”

Flint’s hand curls into a fist. “I didn’t abandon her. I just can’t bring her in here with us.”

“For a person used to circumventing the law, you are woefully lacking in this matter.” Mayn looks away from him. “Your heart is weak.”

Flint rears back, a stunned expression on his face.

Wide eyed, I stare at Mayn, shocked by the siren’s about-face with Flint. Until now, she’s shown interest in my partner that went beyond a simple crush. Her palpable displeasure with him now comes out of left field.

I press my shoe against Flint’s in a silent show of support, but he pulls his foot back, distancing himself.

“You’re right.” He pushes back his chair and stands. “Can you get my order boxed up? I’ll meet you at the car.”

Before we can respond, he weaves his way through the packed tables and out the door.

I shift my focus to Mayn. “What the fuck?”

---