The bags under Ricki’s eyes said she’d not slept much last night. Blythe made a mental note to tell Abby about Missy, so Abby could help keep Ricki’s mind occupied.
The opportunity presented itself when Ricki said, “Uh, I can go with you to the escape room, but then I’m gonna have to cut out on you guys for a couple hours.”
“Why?” Blythe asked.
Ricki waved her cellphone. “Fucking work. My boss sent me a text last night. Said he needs me to stop in the office and locate some files on my computer. They should be on the fucking server, but nobody can find them. Or they aren’t trying very hard.”
“Can’t you remote in?” Blythe asked.
“Nope. Proprietary. We don’t have remote access to those.”
Blythe crinkled her nose. “And it can’t wait until Monday?”
“I’m sure it could. He’s just punishing me because I left early Friday.”
“Left early?” Blythe’s jaw tensed. “You left two hours early to get home for the play. Never mind the twelve-hour days you worked all week.”
“I’m sorry,” Abby said. “I didn’t realize it would cause you trouble. I forget every workplace isn’t flexible like the library.”
Ricki waved her off. “It isn’t your fault. He’d find another reason to screw with me if it wasn’t that. You’ll have to do dinner without me.”
“No!” Abby said in a loud voice. “That’s not fair. We can wait until you’re done.”
“Are you kidding me? You can’t just switch reservations at Girl & The Goat.They’re nearly impossible to get.”
“Then how did you do it?” Abby asked.
Ricki motioned toward Blythe. “Not sure. She worked her influencer magic.”
Blythe just shrugged. Two weeks ago, when she’d stopped in the restaurant to make reservations, they only had a table available at four thirty. Blythe had tried to use her influence, even shown them how many followers she had, but they’d shrugged her off. She could either take the early reservations or wait another month for a table. Reluctantly, she’d taken what she could.
“Can’t we stop in at your work earlier?”
“Nope. He said to meet him at four because he has a golf tournament in the morning, which means he won’t show until at least four thirty or five.”
Abby pursed her lips. “It’s almost like he knew you had reservations.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“I’m not saying anything.” Blythe held up her hands at shoulder level and leaned back in her chair. “You have to do what you have to do.”
“I feel sorry for Ricki,” Abby said after they’d ordered a few small plates. “We shouldn’t have come without her.”
“She’s eaten at Girl & The Goat before. She wanted you to experience it. Besides, her office isn’t far, so she might make it for dessert.”
Abby glanced around the packed restaurant. “This place is pretty cool.” She pointed at the macabre mural of a girl and goat painted on the brick wall. “Their eyes are creepy.” She leaned forward. “Are those skeletons?”
“Come on.” Blythe stood from their table. “We need our picture taken with it. Maybe even a video.”
“Should we leave our table unattended?” Abby didn’t stand. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”
“It’ll be fine. Come on.” Blythe reached down for Abby’s hand. “We need Ricki. She’d do much better with the pictures, but we’ll have to improvise.”
Abby rose to her feet. “I don’t want to bother the people sitting near it.”
“Brilliant.” Blythe led Abby across the floor. “I’m sure they’d take the picture for us.”
“But they’re eating.”
