"Fine. But maybe you can help me with something else." She leaned in a touch. "There's a newcomer in town. Tall, good-looking, the kind of man who turns a few heads. I'm trying to track him down."
"No idea who you're talking about." She knew exactly who Stacey meant, but Juniper didn't throw anyone under the bus.
"I heard he's friends with Sterling."
Juniper lifted one shoulder and let it drop. "Then ask him."
"I heard his name's Doyle."
"If you know so much about this guy, why are you asking me?"
"I'm just wondering if he's been in here and if you know where he's staying."
"No comment."
"Sounds like you know something," Stacey said with a big grin.
"Whether I do or not, my answer won't change." Juniper set down the rag. "I don't talk about who comes through that door. Not my regulars, not strangers, not town gossip dressed like a reporter."
"That's rude and was totally uncalled for."
"I'm sorry," Juniper said. "I took that too far. However, please stop pushing me. I've said no, nicely, more than once."
"Juniper!" Liam's head appeared over the pass. "I need you back here. Manny's about to do something to the Mahi I don’t agree with, and you said you wanted final say on the special."
"He's lying," Manny called from somewhere behind him. "Get back here and referee before this boy ruins my fish."
"Duty calls." Juniper wiped her hands on the towel. "Have a nice day."
"If you change your mind, you've got my number. And if you happen to see this guy Doyle, please tell him the town would love to meet him."
Juniper waved her hand over her head as she stepped into the kitchen. She'd learned to let Stacey have the last word.
"That sounded like so much fun." Liam stood in the middle of the kitchen,
holding a tray of Mahi.
Manny leaned against the prep counter with his arms crossed, and a wide smile.
"I take it nothing's wrong with the fish," she said.
"We figured you could use a rope, so we threw you one," Manny said.
"You're both getting a raise." She snagged a piece of pickled onion off the cutting board and popped it in her mouth. "Or you would be, if this place turned enough of a profit for me to actually afford it."
"We'll settle for being able to keep our jobs," Liam said.
"No promises." She pointed at the Mahi. "But that genuinely does need to be the special, so don't make a liar out of me." She glanced at her phone and stared at a notification that a bill had been paid. It was code that she needed to call Bea. "I have some things to do in my office. When I come out, I expect you." She pointed her finger at Manny. "To be gone."
He raised his hands, palms out. "Just a little more prep with this dish, and I'm out of here."
"Good." She refilled her water before opening the door to her tiny office that smelled like coconuts, rum, and fried fish. She pulled the laptop from the drawer, ran the passphrase with a Diana Ross song moving under her fingers, opened the line, and stuck in an earbud.
"Solstice," Bea said. "Your blood must be pumping now that shit is finally happening down there."
"I wouldn't go that far." She leaned back. "Hard to move adrenaline when you have to sit on the sidelines. I don't do that well."
"I know," Bea said. "I pulled in some favors, and I'm staring at Doyle Malone's military file."
