I managed not to laugh at myself at the idea. Charming was a tool in my arsenal, not a personality trait.
“Keep me up-to-date?”
His question almost prompted an uncharacteristic eye roll, but I refrained. I wasn’t an eye-rolling guy. “Of course.”
Chapter 11
Nina
John and Jay had faces of stone as they approached my table, where my book lay forgotten.
“Can you take Nina out back?” John asked Mary. His voice was emotionless as he and Jay cornered Ralph.
“I was talking to Miss Novak,” Ralph said, squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin.
“Interview’s over,” John said.
I couldn’t understand how this guy, Ralph—I didn’t for one second believe his last name was Smith—wasn’t rattled. John was on my side, and he still made me nervous.
“Come on,” Mary said while collecting my things. She turned to John, “I’ll be right back.” I didn’t think she was worried about leaving John and Jay to deal with Ralph, but leaving the counter unattended wasn’t a good idea in a busy business.
“No rush, backups coming,” Jay said four seconds before the front door opened and Jack walked in.
“Can you man the counter?” John asked.
I always forgot that all Mary’s kids had worked at Grannie’s when they were teenagers. I wondered if being a barista was like riding a bike.It must be.
“On it,” Jack said, eyeing the now squirming Ralph as he walked by. “Hey, Ma.” He kissed her cheek. “Why don’t you take Nina to your office?”
“Doesn’t he need a code?” I asked, hating that Mary might lose business because of me.
“He has one. You remember it, right, Jack?”
He laughed. “Like you tattooed it on my forehead. Now go.”
I felt like I was starring in a play about my life, but no one had given me the script.
“We’re going,” Mary said. Jack’s footsteps echoed as he walked across the floor of the eerily quiet shop as Mary and I turned down the short hall to her office.
Near the hall that led to the back, Mary stopped. “I don’t want to wait for John to give me answers, so I plan on eavesdropping. You want to join me?”
My eyes bulged at the idea of Mary defying John. Did I dare? Desperate to learn more, I decided I did.
Ralph spoke first. “I don’t know who you think you are, but I have an investigation to run.”
“John Sheppard.” He held out his hand. “I co-own Grannie’s, and you are?”
My eyes snapped to Mary, who shook her head back and forth.
“Ralph Smith.”
Jay’s cough sounded like a laugh, even across the room.
“Got a business card I could see?” John asked.
John accepted it and immediately handed it to Jay, who nodded.
What was going on? Half the conversation was happening without words, and I was clueless.
