His brows lifted in obvious amazement. “Youdolisten when I tell you about my golf outings, don’t you?”
She smiled. “I try. But you and Charlie have been friends for a while now. Since before he retired from the force.” Charlie had gotten his private investigator’s license to make some extra money after his career as a police detective had ended. She couldn’t imagine Frank hiring anyone else. “Anyway, I approve. Charlie’s a good guy.”
“Yes, he is. He’s going to see what else he can find out about this Ryan. I sent him all of Maude’s links. He’ll do a background check and the whole nine yards, but he’s already packing forMiami and plans to be there tonight. Which reminds me—we owe your friend a debt of gratitude, but I’d like to pay her with something a little more tangible than words. What do you think she’d like?”
Essie thought a moment. “That box of chocolates you got me was nice. Maybe something like that?”
He laughed. “I think we can do better than a box of chocolates, don’t you? Does she like to shop? Does she like jewelry? Without her digging into this, we might not have known about Ryan.”
“She likes computers, obviously,” Essie said. “I know she plays video games.”
“Yeah?” Frank’s eyes narrowed. “So does Chad. Remember those headphones we got him for Christmas last year? The ones specifically for gaming? Let’s get her a pair of those. If you think she’d like those.”
Essie remembered them very well because they’d been expensive and Chad had been over the moon when he’d opened them. “I’m sure she’d love them.”
“Great. If I have them sent to the house, will you wrap them and get them to her?”
“Of course. That’s so nice of you.” Those headphones had been four or five hundred dollars. Essie couldn’t see how Maudewouldn’tlove them.
“It’s nice ofus,” he said. “And really, it’s a small gesture for what she did.” He looked over Essie’s shoulder at the chicken. “How soon are we going to eat?”
She snorted. It was true about the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach. “Just as soon as I get the gravy made. And set the table.”
“You focus on the gravy. I’ll order those headphones and set the table when I’m done.”
“It’s a deal.”
He went back to his office, she went back to dinner.
She was just finishing up the gravy when he returned to the kitchen. He opened the cabinet to get plates out. “Headphones are ordered and they’ll be here tomorrow afternoon. I paid for rush shipping.”
“I’ll take them over as soon as they arrive.” She brought the gravy and the bowl of potatoes to the table. “Thank you for doing that. I love that you wanted to do it.”
He gathered silverware next. “People need to be appreciated when they make an effort. It’s how I run my businesses.”
She nodded. “And it’s why your employees love working for you.”
The chicken went on the table next, then the green beans. Frank filled two glasses with lemonade, then they sat. He said grace before carving the bird.
They’d only just filled their plates when his phone vibrated. “Sorry, but I should take this,” he said.
“It’s okay.” Normally, they kept their phones away from mealtimes, but with everything going on with the business and Sophie, he needed to be reachable.
“It’s Chad,” Frank said, looking at his screen. “Sophie’s accepted his invitation to visit.” He exhaled as he put the phone face-down on the table. “That’s good. That’s very good. And it’ll give Charlie time to do some investigating without Sophie to worry about.”
“Why would he have to worry about Sophie?”
“Because she met him at that dinner we had. If he tails Ryan, which I think he might, Sophie could recognize him.”
“Oh, that’s right.” But Essie doubted Sophie had paid that much attention to anyone but herself at that dinner. That was just who she was. “Well, I hope Charlie can uncover something that will make a difference.”
“So do I,” Frank said, hoisting a fork loaded with mashed potatoes and gravy. “So do I.”
Chapter Fifteen
Paige stood in the kitchen mixing up a vinaigrette for the salad.
She was nervous about what Graham and Randi were going to talk about at dinner this evening. Randi had very little filter, something that had come about from raising a boisterous young son, so it was a sure thing that she’d ask whatever questions popped into her head.
