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“Yeah.” Lane turned back to his assistant. “Thanks, Jonah.”
“No problem.” The lanky teenager was visibly relieved that his good news had been well enough received to eclipse the inconvenience of his intrusion. Hoping he was on a roll, he angled his head in Lane’s direction. “Is it okay if I put in a few extra hours later today? I could use the cash. Or do you need the lab to yourself now that that package arrived?”
“Unfortunately, I need the whole lab. I’ll be spread out all over the place.” Lane paused as a spur-of-the-moment idea struck him. “But I might have a way for you to put in those extra hours and earn that cash.” A questioning glance at Arthur. “I assume you have afternoon meetings?”
“I do,” Arthur confirmed.
“In Manhattan?”
A nod.
“Why don’t you pick a time and place that works. Jonah can be there and take some preliminary shots of you among your constituents. I want to get him involved in this photo-essay project of ours, anyway. He has the skill. We need the help. And there’s no time like the present.”
Arthur got the message. Lane was taking care of the vital, confidential aspect of things, and Jonah could handle the more mundane.
“Sounds good. How about outside my office around three o’clock?” Arthur suggested to Jonah. “I’ll be checking in with my staff around then anyway. And it’ll give you more than enough time to do your lunch runs for my father, and pick up whatever camera equipment you need from Lane’s lab.”
“Great. Thanks.” Jonah’s eyes were huge, like he’d been handed a grand prize. “Your office is over on Lex. I’ll be there at three sharp.”
“Fine.”
“Jonah, there you are.” Lenny bustled out, two large insulated Styrofoam boxes clutched in his arms. “Here’s the first part of the order. It’s for Monty’s old haunt—East New York. And there’s more.” He winced a little as he shifted the heavy boxes from his grasp to Jonah’s. “I’ve got another two of these being packed. So stick those in the truck, then come back in and wait.”
He watched Jonah head off, then glanced down at his right hand and scowled. “Damn,” he muttered. He reached over to an adjacent table, whipped out two napkins, and wiped off the gold initial ring Rhoda had bought him for their twenty-fifth anniversary. Then he grabbed a few more napkins and wrapped them around his bleeding forefinger.
“What happened?” Arthur asked.
“Nothing. I’m just a klutz. I was slicing some sour pickles, and I cut myself.”
“Go tape it up,” Monty advised him as a little blood soaked through. “It looks like you did quite a number on it.”
“Nah, I was just doing too many things at once. I’ll slap on a Band-Aid after the lunch crowd slows down.”
“Did you have your blood tested this month?” Arthur demanded, frowning as his father grabbed another napkin, wrapped it around the others.
Lenny shot him a look. “No, and don’t start. I’ll go next week. It’s been too hectic here for me to break away.”
“Not that hectic. Forget next week. Go tomorrow, or I’ll tell Mom.”
A grimace. “You would. Fine, I’ll go tomorrow. Now let me get the rest of Jonah’s order.”
Arthur rolled his eyes as Lenny hurried back to the kitchen to get the rest of Jonah’s delivery order. “Stubborn as an ox. He’s on blood-thinning medication. He’s supposed to get his levels checked every month. It’s just routine, but it’s doctor’s orders. Try telling that to him. He thinks he’s immortal.”
“He is,” Lane replied.
“He’s also territorial about the deli,” Monty added. “It’s his life’s work. He doesn’t trust anyone else to run it.” A pause. “I can relate.”
“Yes,” Arthur agreed, nodding as Monty’s analogy sank in. “I’m sure you can. You two are a lot alike. Neither of you believes anyone can do your job as well as you. The irony of it is, you’re right. No one can.”
“Which is why I’m going to be the one to solve this case.” Monty’s jaw set. Abandoning conversation, he grabbed his soup spoon, downed a healthy portion of matzo-ball soup, then dove into his combo sandwich, chewing it with gusto. “Enough chitchat. Let’s eat. I’ve got an investigation to get back to.”
THIRTEEN
The agency was hopping. Phones were ringing off the hook, clients were setting up appointments, and referrals were pouring in by the droves.
Never had Morgan been more grateful to be busy.
She’d dashed down to the office early for a new-client consult. Then came two existing-client follow-up meetings. After a quick microwaved cup of soup, she’d taken off for three back-to-back outside appointments.
