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The little man snickered. “Yeah, Natches, don’t be rude. ”
On first hearing, the comment could have seemed snide, but Janey heard the underlying affection in his voice. She knew it, because she had heard the same tone in her own voice. It kept others off balance, at a distance.
“Chaya, Natches really needs to go home for his afternoon nap. ” Janey smiled tightly at her brother.
“He’s getting cranky. ”
Chaya’s laugh earned her a brooding look from her husband as she shook her head. “Don’t worry, Janey. Natches and Timothy don’t actually come to blows; they just threaten to. ”
Alex moved over to Janey, and surprised her when, with a
grin, he lowered his head and caught her lips in a quick kiss.
“Timothy, this is Natches’s sister, Janey. Janey, meet Special Investigative Agent Timothy Cranston from the Department of Homeland Security. ”
“Hello, Mr. Cranston. ” She gave him her hand to shake, and was not in the least surprised by the firm warmth of his handshake or the flicker of amusement in his gaze.
“Miss Mackay, it’s a pleasure to meet you. ” He nodded, then pulled back, rubbed his hands together with an air of glee, and looked at Alex and Natches. “We’re going to have fun, boys. ”
Janey noticed that neither Alex nor Natches looked comfortable with that proclamation.
Natches ran his fingers through his hair in frustration before turning to Alex. “She won’t close the restaurant down,” he stated furiously as he shot her another glare. “I’m half-owner. ”
“And you promised you’d be the silent half,” she muttered, moving behind her desk again. “Let it go. ”
“Shutting the restaurant down is the wrong move. ” Timothy shook his head, then turned to Alex. “Have you checked this room for the cameras as well?”
Alex nodded. “We found two cameras in the overhead vents. They were accomapanied by voice-activated recorders. It was simple, not as professional as the bomb, but effective. ”
“Can I look around the restaurant?” Timothy turned to Janey.
“No. ” Natches turned to Janey then. “Tell him to go home. ”
Janey felt like rolling her eyes as she stood to her feet, thankful she was wearing comfortable clothes rather than the hostessing attire she usually had on by now.
“A quick tour. ” She smiled at the other man. “Then I have to get dressed. The restaurant opens in less than three hours and I have a feeling we’re going to be packed. ”
“We’ll just keep my investigative status between us if we meet anyone,” Timothy told her as he held out his elbow for her to take. “I must say, Ms. Mackay, I believe you may have gotten all the politeness and hospitality in your family. Natches can be a little cranky. ”
“Yeah, like a five-year-old. ” She shot Natches another glare as they moved to the door. “If we have time, we’ll stop in the kitchen. Desmond loves giving out samples of what he’s working on for the evening. Perhaps he’ll have time to fix you a quick lunch. ”
Timothy’s smile was pleased, his gaze warming as he patted her hand while moving into the hallway with her. “I’d very much appreciate that, Ms. Mackay. ”
“Janey. ” She liked this little man. He had a charm and a flare that immediately put her at ease, and an underlying sadness and warmth that touched something inside her. “Please, call me Janey. ”
Alex followed behind them silently, almost grinning as Natches and Chaya followed. Natches was pissed.
Alex glanced back at the other man, to see the dark, suspicious frown he leveled on Cranston’s back.
The Mackays butted heads with Timothy too often to see the almost pure genius behind the man’s maniacal façade. Alex had worked with him enough to understand it, respect it, and be very wary of it.
“So, this room isn’t used?” Timothy was walking around the banquet room after Janey had opened it, so innocently unaware that she had been maneuvered. “Why aren’t you using it?” He turned back to Janey with a curious look.
“Because my coowner refuses to authorize an ad for a general manager. ” Janey crossed her arms over her embroidered shirt and glared at Natches. He grunted in reply.
Timothy tilted his head, rather like an inquisitive, eager hound, and regarded them both somberly. Alex held back his wince.
“He’ll change his mind,” Timothy promised her with an almost besotted smile. “I’ll discuss it with him, my dear. ”
