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“Not yet,” she answers. “Few ideas, but…”

We look at each other for a long, drawn-out moment. She looks away first, once again scanning the roughed-up truck.

She points behind me. “So, is that the famous Hot Sauce hot sauce?” she asks.

I twist around and nod at the container on the counter. “It is, yeah.”

“Could barely recognize it without a dead body beneath it,” she jokes.

I laugh. “You ever try it?”

She shakes her head at it. “No,” she says. “I’m not really into spicy foods.”

“You should,” I say. “It’s great. Here.” I pop the lid off and grab a plastic spoon from the box by the window.

Anna holds up a hand. “No, no,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t think I’ll like it.”

I dunk the spoon, coating the surface. “Just a lick, detective. Trust me.”

“Really, I⁠—”

“I insist,” I say, holding it out with my other hand hovering beneath it in case it drips.

“Fine,” she says with a sigh. “I’ll give it a try…”

I hand her the spoon. She slowly brings it to her mouth, taking a quick sniff first.

“Whoa, that is strong,” she says, coughing.

I grin. “Oh, it’ll clear your airway.”

Her lips twitch lightly as she builds up some courage. Finally, her mouth opens and her tongue sticks out. She taps it against the spoon, touching only the tip to the bright red sauce.

“Mmm—” Her face shrivels up.

“Good Mmm?” I ask. “Or bad Mmm?”

Anna swallows, her cheeks flushing red. “Not bad Mmm,” she says.

I nod. “I’ll take it.”

She laughs and licks her lips. “The aftertaste is really sweet.”

“A good hot sauce kicks the tongue but soothes the throat,” I say.

“That certainly does.” She holds out the spoon. “Thank you.”

I drop the spoon into the trash and reach for a to-go cup on the shelf beneath the window. I fill it with a few large scoops of hot sauce and press a lid on it.

“No,” Anna says, shaking her head.

“Take it,” I say. “Try it on something at home. I guarantee you’ll start to really like.”

She doesn’t argue this time. Anna takes the cup and smiles. “I will. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I gesture to her file. “So, you had questions?”

“Yes! Right. I, uh…”