“I’m so happy to be at work again!”
“It’s only because Calvin doesn’t trust me alone.”
Said redhead frowned and crossed his arms over his chest.
Max dropped his hands. “Are you still being a sleuth?”
“Yes, he is,” Calvin supplied before I could speak.
“With police permission,” I added.
Max made a face. “I’m not following.”
“I’m making a few calls, with Calvin’s approval.”
“But he’s not allowed to leave and sneak around,” Calvin said.
“It’s like house arrest without the fancy ankle jewelry,” I finished.
“Very funny,” Calvin muttered.
“So I have to babysit Seb?” Max asked Calvin. “You know, if he tells me to do something, I technically have to listen. He signs my paychecks.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Calvin answered.
I pulled my phone out and checked the time. It was already after noon when Calvin finished at the Met and drove us over to the Emporium. “I should call Aubrey. I might be able to catch him on his lunch break.”
“All right,” Calvin answered. “But I’m serious. Tell me what you find out and stay here with Max.”
“When do I get to go home?”
“I’ll have someone pick you up. It’s not safe to be alone right now. Understand?”
“Copy, Major.”
Calvin pinched the bridge of his nose briefly. “I’m leaving.” He leaned down and kissed me.
“Bye.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
Max held his hand up and gave Calvin a high-five as he walked by and let himself out the front door. “So,” he began. “We’re calling Aubrey?”
“That’s right.” I walked up the steps to the register and went into my tiny office. I sat at the computer, powered it on, and then switched on the low-intensity lamp.
Max dragged a stool from the counter into the room and sat beside me. “So what’s Aubs know that you don’t?”
“Plenty,” I said, signing into my account. I sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?”
“Oh, life was getting a bit too normal, so I bought some pig guts and stuffed them under the floor,” Max said with a shrug.
“Youwhat?” I shouted.
He started laughing. “Chill, boss. I think that’s my fish sandwich in the fridge from last Sunday.”
“Gross. Toss that out before we leave tonight.”
I signed on to Skype, leaned close to read the contacts list on the screen, and then called one. The program rang a few times, and Max made stupid faces at the webcam. “Stop,” I grumbled.
