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I watched him lean over the counter and say something to her. She laughed and nodded. Before I knew it, they disappeared down the hallway, no doubt seeking the back exit and the alleyway.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I said. “She’s going to have a quick romp with him?”
“Looks like it,” Zip said with a chuckle. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out to look at it. “Gonna take this outside.” He slid out of the booth and headed to the front door. The doorbell jingled as Zip walked out, cell to his ear.
“And then there were two,” I muttered, picking up my fork and diving into my cheese omelet.
“Talked to the fire chief,” Colt said, his tone conversational. He was already halfway done with his huevos rancheros and I’d barely touched my food.
“You got a call? I gave himmynumber.”
“But I’m me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, anointed one. What did the fire chief have to say? How bad is the house?” I held my breath.
“Kitchen and living room took the brunt of it. Bedrooms are mostly untouched, but he says to give it about a week before going in there because of the smoke.”
“Okay.” I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Okay. That I can deal with.”
“He also mentioned your bar.”
“My bar? Oh, Dive Bar. Wow. I forgot for a moment that Richie gave me his bar. Isn’t the fire chief suspicious about all these buildings belonging to me going up in flames?”
“Naturally,” he said with a wry grin. “But considering you weren’t on the premises when either of the fires started, there’s speculation but no outright accusations.”
“All he has to do is look into who I’ve been associating with for him to put the puzzle pieces together.”
“His job is to put out fires and tell the cops if arson is suspected, not start a criminal investigation.”
I stared at him. “How much did you pay him?”
“Pay him what?” Colt asked.
“Colt,” I warned.
“Mia.”
“Did you bribe him to look the other way?”
“Nah, of course not.”
I let out a breath.
He looked at me and grinned. “I bribed him so he’ll lie to the insurance companies.”
Boxer eventually wandered back and slid into the booth across from us, looking relaxed and flushed.
“You’re disgusting,” I said with a laugh.
He flashed a grin. “Lady, you have no idea.”
I looked at the waitress as she stepped onto the dining room floor, tying the strings of her apron around her waist. She looked at Boxer and wasn’t at all discreet about checking him out. Boxer lifted his half-empty glass of soda and silently toasted her.
Her chuckle was throaty, her eyes sparkled, and her dimples winked from her cheeks as she beamed. She got back to work to serve the few customers that were at the counter who hadn’t noticed her absence.
“Magic dick,” Boxer stated.
“Dick is right,” I teased.
