“I’ll grab you the to-go stuff,” Lydia said. “I worked here all through school. I know where everything is.”
“Nothing’s moved?”
“Trudy’s a creature of habit.”
But she and Barry were prone to random absences? To wild travel hairs? How did that work?
Questions for another time. Susanne had glided into Carter’s vacated chair, and Lincoln had the distinct impression of being a caught fish. “So, you were amazing at church yesterday,” she said. Yep, on the hook with no escape. “How long have you played?”
“Most of my life.”
“Can we count on you to play at the next service?”
“I thought the accompanist was just sick? Surely, they’ll be recovered by next Sunday.”
“Wednesday night service,” Lydia said, handing him a to-go box and bag. “Then we can figure out about Sunday.” She and her bestie had planned this double-team, and Lincoln was fucking stuck. How was he supposed to finagle out of this?
“I’m sorry to cut this short, ladies,” Carter said, and Lincoln wanted to kiss him. Right there in the middle of FP. “I got a text from our friend Beverley back in DC. He wants to hop on a video chat and catch up.” The urge to make out died. Something was definitely going on, but first they had to get out of this pickle.
“You’ve only been gone a weekend,” Susanne said.
“And it’s only Monday morning,” Lydia added.
“We used to have coffee with him every Monday morning,” Carter said. “He’s a little out of sorts.”
Lincoln stood and held the chair out for Lydia. “He’ll be missing us.”
Ginger appeared with the two bowls of oatmeal, right on time. “We switching places?”
“We’ve gotta run.” Carter handed her a few bills. “For our tab and theirs.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Susanne said.
“For our new Monday morning coffee friends.” Lincoln tried for one of those smiles Carter so easily flashed.
It seemed to work, Susanne and Lydia thanking them again before he and Carter exited. Outside, Lincoln looped an arm around Carter’s waist, and Carter threw one over his shoulders, pulling him closer.
“Nicely played,” he whispered in Lincoln’s ear.
“Because there are people all around, watching us.” Never mind how good it also felt. “Did Beverley really call?”
“Yeah, he left a message and text to ring him back. No other details.”
“Did you get a chance to talk to Larry too?”
Carter nodded. “He confirmed what Susanne said. Barry and Trudy are prone to these spur-of-the-moment trips. Always have been, though they make them more now that Barry’s retired.”
“Interesting,” Lincoln said, something tickling the back of his mind. “Does Larry still want you to start the survival training today?”
Carter shook his head. “He’s still sorting out fire damage and fighting with O’Shea over the Stacy Weathers case. Wednesday, he hopes.”
They stopped at the side of the car, moving face-to-face, still close so as not to be overheard. “Can we take the call with Beverley at the lab? I’m running a full panel on Jeremiah’s hair sample.”
“Probably the safest place other than the house.” As he spoke, Carter’s eyes drifted over Lincoln’s shoulder, back toward the diner.
“They still watching?” Lincoln asked.
“Yep.”
