a train was the perfect way to be run over, but Bree hated logic.
“Are you there?” She tapped the phone against something hard. “Mia. You’re the face of this company. I suggest you get busy before we’re all ruined.”
I opened my mouth to silent scream. “I told you. I’m on it. The letter will go out in the morning. I don’t need to be reminded to do my job.”
Bree covered the phone and repeated my promise to Grandma in muffled words. “Hey?” She switched from her shrill boss-of-me tone seamlessly to something more like we’re-still-besties, right?
“Hmm.” I buttoned my cloak over the T-shirt and capris.
“Did you tell Nate about Jake stopping by?”
“Yeah.”
“What’d he think?”
I shrugged, only half caring she couldn’t see me. “I’ll talk to you after I finish the letter. Tell Grandma to hang tight and try to get some rest. I’ve got the letter half-drafted in my head. This is my thing, and I’m on it.” I disconnected.
Nate was on his feet pacing. “Who was John testifying against?”
“Bennie the Bean.”
He typed on his phone. “New Jersey crime boss. Holy mobsters, Batman. There are a thousand entries on that guy.”
“Too bad we can’t use facial recognition software with a security feed to match someone at the Faire with one of Bennie’s known associates.”
“I think you should drop this.”
“Duly noted.”
Nate opened the door for me. “The county fairgrounds doesn’t have security cameras with face recognition software. They don’t even have Wi-Fi.”
“It’s too bad. With the right technology, every case would be closed by dinner.”
“Don’t get me started. This conversation will go all Minority Report , and I’ll need a beer. I’m watching my carbs.”
“Whatever.” I stepped across the threshold. “I bet this wasn’t a mob hit. These things are never what they seem. I bet the killer didn’t even know John had mob ties. He couldn’t have been here longer than he’s been in custody, which was only a year according to Jake. How could anyone really know him? Wow. Wait. Was John Francis even his real name?”
“I have no idea.”
I forced my thoughts into focus. Business first. “I’ve got to go home and do some fire stomping for the company. I’ll research later. Please don’t worry about me. Okay?”
He huffed. “Forget about it.”
I bobbed my head and tugged my collar. “Fuggedaboutit.”
“Stop.” He held my giant dress and corset over one arm. “Not funny. You want me to carry this to your car for you?”
“Nope. I’m good.” I loaded the costume into my arms.
Snuffling and ruffling sounds stopped me from accepting my things. Seven costumed animals, complete with giant heads and paw-covered hands and feet, stopped outside the elevator doors, posturing and fluffing their coats.
Furries.
The silver doors parted and the people-sized menagerie crowded inside.
“Call me.” Nate shut the door to his apartment and outright laughed inside the safety of his home.
I stared at a six-foot pink bunny waving me into the crowded elevator.
“No, thank you. I’ll catch the next one.” I tugged my velvet cloak tighter over my short pants, Victorian boots and twenty-year-old middle school boxing T-shirt.
The elevator doors began to close, and I exhaled in relief.
A brown paw struck out from the stuffed car, stopping the motion. The bunny summoned me again.
I shook my head.
The other animals extended their arms, bending their wrists and elbows, silently insisting I join them. Giant brightly colored eyes and wide cartoonish smiles stared back at me. My feet hit the steps at a runner’s pace. I burst through the door into the lobby as the elevator dinged behind me.
“Dear Lord.” I hugged the heavy gown to my chest like a protective shield and ran for the car.
I had an email to write.
Chapter Six
I swiped my keycard at the Horseshoe Falls guard gate and motored into the lot outside a new set of condos. Per my new
“Are you there?” She tapped the phone against something hard. “Mia. You’re the face of this company. I suggest you get busy before we’re all ruined.”
I opened my mouth to silent scream. “I told you. I’m on it. The letter will go out in the morning. I don’t need to be reminded to do my job.”
Bree covered the phone and repeated my promise to Grandma in muffled words. “Hey?” She switched from her shrill boss-of-me tone seamlessly to something more like we’re-still-besties, right?
“Hmm.” I buttoned my cloak over the T-shirt and capris.
“Did you tell Nate about Jake stopping by?”
“Yeah.”
“What’d he think?”
I shrugged, only half caring she couldn’t see me. “I’ll talk to you after I finish the letter. Tell Grandma to hang tight and try to get some rest. I’ve got the letter half-drafted in my head. This is my thing, and I’m on it.” I disconnected.
Nate was on his feet pacing. “Who was John testifying against?”
“Bennie the Bean.”
He typed on his phone. “New Jersey crime boss. Holy mobsters, Batman. There are a thousand entries on that guy.”
“Too bad we can’t use facial recognition software with a security feed to match someone at the Faire with one of Bennie’s known associates.”
“I think you should drop this.”
“Duly noted.”
Nate opened the door for me. “The county fairgrounds doesn’t have security cameras with face recognition software. They don’t even have Wi-Fi.”
“It’s too bad. With the right technology, every case would be closed by dinner.”
“Don’t get me started. This conversation will go all Minority Report , and I’ll need a beer. I’m watching my carbs.”
“Whatever.” I stepped across the threshold. “I bet this wasn’t a mob hit. These things are never what they seem. I bet the killer didn’t even know John had mob ties. He couldn’t have been here longer than he’s been in custody, which was only a year according to Jake. How could anyone really know him? Wow. Wait. Was John Francis even his real name?”
“I have no idea.”
I forced my thoughts into focus. Business first. “I’ve got to go home and do some fire stomping for the company. I’ll research later. Please don’t worry about me. Okay?”
He huffed. “Forget about it.”
I bobbed my head and tugged my collar. “Fuggedaboutit.”
“Stop.” He held my giant dress and corset over one arm. “Not funny. You want me to carry this to your car for you?”
“Nope. I’m good.” I loaded the costume into my arms.
Snuffling and ruffling sounds stopped me from accepting my things. Seven costumed animals, complete with giant heads and paw-covered hands and feet, stopped outside the elevator doors, posturing and fluffing their coats.
Furries.
The silver doors parted and the people-sized menagerie crowded inside.
“Call me.” Nate shut the door to his apartment and outright laughed inside the safety of his home.
I stared at a six-foot pink bunny waving me into the crowded elevator.
“No, thank you. I’ll catch the next one.” I tugged my velvet cloak tighter over my short pants, Victorian boots and twenty-year-old middle school boxing T-shirt.
The elevator doors began to close, and I exhaled in relief.
A brown paw struck out from the stuffed car, stopping the motion. The bunny summoned me again.
I shook my head.
The other animals extended their arms, bending their wrists and elbows, silently insisting I join them. Giant brightly colored eyes and wide cartoonish smiles stared back at me. My feet hit the steps at a runner’s pace. I burst through the door into the lobby as the elevator dinged behind me.
“Dear Lord.” I hugged the heavy gown to my chest like a protective shield and ran for the car.
I had an email to write.
Chapter Six
I swiped my keycard at the Horseshoe Falls guard gate and motored into the lot outside a new set of condos. Per my new
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