Page 45 of A Seer and Present Danger

She snorted. “He’s just a pit stop. Like Hugo. Just big old pits. I have better plans. I’m going to dump Kenny, dump this nothing town. Sell the house.” She went back to watching the food.

“Go to Japan. Hugo hated travel. He would have hated Japan. So, I’m going to live there because I can.”

When her gaze returned to me, it was watery. She might be sad, but she was angry too. I could see it in the angle of her eyebrows, in the tightness of her lips, the clench of her jaw.

“You can live there,” I agreed. “I mean, probably after the investigation. Did Hugo mention who he went to talk to that night?”

She shook her head and pointed to the uncomfortable plastic chairs against one wall. “It’s going to take at least thirty minutes to wash your car.” Then she clicked the mouse to watch someone get on a bullet train.

I decided to go outside to get some air.

“Yoo-hoo!” a familiar voice called out. “Piper! I thought that was your car.”

Jules pulled into the lot. She stuck her head and hand out the window and waved. “How about lunch? I’m starving!”

I grinned and jogged over, ducking into the passenger seat. “Perfect timing. I’m doing the luxury wash.”

“Fancy.” She put the car in gear and turned down the side streets. “Special day?”

“Yes. I’m asking some questions about Hugo’s death.”

Her eyes were wide and so was her smile. “Good for you! Sleuthing! I love it. You have to fill me in on all the details. No, wait. Dusi is going to meet us for lunch. So, hang on until we get there.”

I grinned, already feeling better. “I don’t have anything solid yet, though. You and Dusi would have had more luck.”

“Pfft. Nonsense. You’re amazing. Fish and chips?”

“Sounds wonderful.”

Jules drove to the little fish and chips shop that wasn’t touristy enough to bring in many visitors, even though it was literally called The Fish and Chips. Good thing it did a brisk business with locals.

We strolled into the restaurant. Dusi held up her hand (as if we wouldn’t notice her in her bright green scarf and mirrored sunglasses) and we settled at the table set for two.

“Hang on.” I gathered up silverware and a water glass by the self-serve beverage station, then returned to the table.

“Need the menu?” Dusi offered.

“Nope. I’m doing fish and chips. It’s my favorite here.”

“So am I,” she said.

Jules stacked the two menus. “That makes three of us.”

The waitress, Rebecca, saw the menu stack and swung by. She took our drink order, meal order, scooped up the menus, and came back with our drinks.

While we waited for the food, I filled them in on everything I’d found out from Gail and Kenny.

I covered the whole missing-door, melted-Pandora’s-safe too. And that Joanie was going to rebuild at least one of the storage units.

Just for good measure, I also told them about Aggie and her distrust of Detective Vandre, and went over the questions he’d asked me.

“You have been busy,” Jules said. “All I did was put those donations together for Bertie.”

“You stayed with Jean this morning. That was important.”

She nodded. “I’m worried for her. She’s putting on a happy face, but she’s worried too.”

I touched her hand gently. “She’s going to be okay. We’ll make sure of it.”