I turned to my right, recognizing Max’s voice before I was able to correctly identify his shape on the sidewalk. Summer sunshine’s a real bitch. “Hey,” I called.
He jogged toward us, gave Calvin a high five, then looked at me. “How’re you?”
“Fine. Thanks for coming.”
“Well… I work here,” Max said as he pointed at the Emporium. “Admittedly some days I’m less excited about that than others.”
I made a face.
“Can we sage this place before opening?”
“No.”
“Or call a priest,” Max continued.
“Max.”
“Because I amso outif Linda Blair shit starts happening next.”
I ignored Max’s commentary and walked to the gate. I unlocked it, and then Calvin came up behind me and hoisted the woven metal upward before I had a chance to. I unlocked the front door next, leaned inside to tap in the security code on the wall panel, and moved out of the way.
“Armed boyfriends first,” I said.
Calvin stepped inside. He flipped the overheads on and started down one of the aisles. Max and I peered through the open doorway, waiting until Calvin deemed the shop clear of thieves and killers.
“The police department put a padlock on the back door,” he said.
After letting the pup inside, I took Dillon’s leash off, killed the overheads, and switched on some bank lamps. “Keep it on for now?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“No problem. I won’t be able to accept any more oversized crates full of murder and mystery.”
Calvin shook his head, pushed his suit coat back, and put his hands on his hips. “God, I love you,” he said dryly.
I smirked. “Love you too.”
Calvin stepped forward and kissed me. “No sleuthing today.”
“Museums don’t count,” I said. For clarification purposes.
“Only barely.” He looked over his shoulder at Max, returning from the counter. “Keep him on the straight and narrow,” he said while pointing at me. “Or I’m arresting you too.”
“Straight isn’t gonna happen. But I’ll call if he runs off with only his magnifying glass and delusions of being the World’s Greatest Detective.”
“Traitor,” I muttered.
“I’m leaving,” Calvin stated. He gave me one more look. “Will you go to your father’s afterward?”
“Only if you promise not to pull an all-nighter. I mean it.”
Calvin took a breath and nodded. “Promise.” He reached down to give Dillon a few scratches behind one ear before he saw himself out.
AFTER WEopened for business, I was a bit distracted.
Not that anyone could really blame me.
I stood in front of the Kinetoscope, behind the counter, coffee cup in one hand, the other rubbing my chin. I scowled at the viewfinder, lost in thought. I was trying to convince myself I had simply been set up to be swindled, and that somehow those plans had gone astray after one of the contenders wound up dead in my dumpster. But the film itself was the object of desire, and it just wasn’t worth anything in comparison to the Kinetoscope. And that was a four-foot-tall, heavy, old cabinet. It wasn’t like the owner would have been stupid enough to think it could be hijacked from the Emporium and wheeled down Second Avenue with people none the wiser.
