Page 32 of No Headlines Please

Crisis averted. For now.

As they headed toward us, I looked back to Delaney. "Coffee. You pick the time. I'll pick the place." I paused. "And Delaney?"

"Yeah?"

"It's my treat. I insist."

13

Backscratching for Beginners

Delaney

Exiting the elevator, I stopped short at the sight of him. Beer Guy.

He didn't even turn around. Instead, he kept polishing the coffee table in the lobby's seating area. One hand moved a white rag across the glossy surface while the other held a bottle of Lemon Pledge.

I tightened my grip on the eviction notice and cautiously approached, half-wondering if this was a mistake. "By any chance, are you Walt?"

He startled and whirled to face me. "Jeez. You scared the snot out of me."

I winced. "Sorry. But you are Walt, right? We talked like five minutes ago? You said to come down so you could see it in person?"

The "it" was the eviction notice, along with the receipt showing the eviction had been canceled.

It was Sunday morning, and I'd woken early, determined to discover what was going on with Tessa.

I should've done it last night, but after saying goodbye to Maddox in the crowded elevator, it was all I could do to stumble into Tessa's apartment and collapse onto her couch.

I'd woken in a wrinkled dress with a crick in my neck and renewed determination to solve the mystery of Tessa's non-eviction. This had led me first to the internet, where I learned a lot more about the mysterious Ryder Vaughn who had paid her rent.

Except he wasn't really a mystery.

A simple Google search had revealed plenty, which only made me more curious.

When Beer Guy said nothing, I tried again. "I'm Tessa's sister. Remember?"

He looked at me like I was nuts. "Of course I remember. I saw your picture."

It was my turn to be startled. "Really? Where?"

He gave me the squinty-eye. "Is that a serious question?"

Oh, great. Now I'd made him suspicious. Belatedly, I recalled that framed photo of me with Tessa. Walt had probably seen it while doing maintenance in her apartment. I tried not to look shifty as I quickly said, "Sorry. I just forgot about the photo, that's all."

Finally, he relaxed. "Alright. Just making sure. I'm not a fan of funny business." He grunted. "And I've got a bone to pick."

"You don't mean…with me?"

"The heck I don't." He grimaced. "Thanks to you, I had three complaints yesterday."

I wasn't following. "About what?"

"That mess you made, remember?"

No way. From the hydrangea collision? "But you couldn't have," I protested. "I cleaned everything up – and right away, too."

"Yeah, well…tell that to Mrs. Stelter."