Selena glanced toward the room behind the counter.“She still working here?”
“When she feels like the family business is worthy of her presence.”Eric looked toward the office door as though she might appear and defend herself.“She’s at her aunt’s tonight.Which means I can watch quality cinema in peace.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?”
On the television, the running woman looked over her shoulder and screamed.A creature lurched after her, all rubber limbs and badly matched fabric.One arm appeared longer than the other.
Eric pointed at the screen.“That is pure handcrafted entertainment.”
“That monster looks like someone built it during a lunch break.”
“You’re missing the magic.”
The ease of the exchange surprised her.Last time, Eric's attention had carried the weight of old high school memory and midlife loneliness.That was still there, somewhere behind his eyes, but the moment felt lighter now, maybe because she had known what to expect, maybe because returning by choice changed the temperature of things, even when murder had caused the trip.
Eric ducked below the counter and came back up holding a bottle.“I still got the good stuff, like last time.”
The label faced her.
Lagavulin.
Selena raised an eyebrow.“You keep that under the desk for all returning FBI agents?”
“Only for old Elmsview High alumni.”
He set two glasses on the counter and poured before she could tell him not to.The measure was modest, which she appreciated.Eric pushed one toward her.
Selena looked at it for a moment.
A long drive behind her.A murder ahead.Connor is somewhere in the middle of it.Her father is close enough to visit, her sister is close enough to disappoint.
One drink would not change any of that.
She picked up the glass.
“To your mustache,” she said.
Eric touched his glass to hers.“May it outlast public criticism.”
“It won’t.”
“No, probably not.”
The whiskey hit warm and smoky, settling through the road-weariness in her chest.Good.Better than motel reception had any right to offer.
Eric took his own sip and turned toward the television.“Now, can I interest you in Bikini Vampires from the Fourth Dimension?”
Selena looked at the screen.
The woman had reached a castle chamber filled with cardboard pillars.Her outfit appeared to have been designed by someone with strong opinions and limited fabric.The monster entered behind her, its head wobbling slightly as it passed through a doorway.
“Eric, that creature is made of tape and paper-mâché.”
“Budget constraints are part of the charm.”
“It has three eyebrows.”
“Fourth-dimensional vampires evolve differently than here in Elmsview.”
