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Luna then signaled Alex. “Hey, Alex. How’s my guy doing?”
Another scratchy sound before she heard his reply. “He’s napping under the tree. He got a pretty good workout with the Frisbee this morning.”
“Excellent. Thanks. I’ll be over in a few. I’m going to grab a sandwich and swing on by. Do you want anything?”
More clicks and scratches. “If they have one of those roast beef and brie, I’ll take it!”
“Roger that!” Luna waited a few minutes until Sabrina arrived.
“Thanks. I’ll be back in about ten minutes.”
“No problem.” That seemed to be her answer for most things.
Luna bounced her way to the Blonde Shallot, arriving just ahead of the lunch crowd. She checked the long wooden table for Alex’s favorite. Luna would often buy Alex a sandwich for watching Wiley. Even though Alex was on the payroll, Luna wanted to show her appreciation for the extra time and energy he spent doggie-sitting. He would reach for his wallet until one day Luna proclaimed, “You do that one more time, mister, I’m going to smack you on the back of the head!”
Alex was grateful for the kind gesture. After his gig at the center, he would go to work at one of the big-box stores for another six-hour shift. He was paying off a student loan to learn how to be a veterinarian technician. After getting his degree, he started working at a local clinic, but within a few months he wanted to be on the playful side of animals, not holding them down to draw blood, take an X-ray, or trim someone’s paws. Ellie paid him well, but he still had $30,000 of student loan payments to make. Alex was only twenty-five, but he didn’t want to cross into his next decade with a huge amount of debt. If he kept up the pace, he’d achieve his goal in the next three years.
Luna delivered the sandwich while Wiley looked on with anticipation. “And what do you think you’re getting?” She gave her pooch a big hug. He nuzzled her arm, waiting for the treat she was about to serve. That, too, had become a routine between them. After Wiley’s nap, his mom would bring him a dog chew. “Such a nice day.” She breathed in the fresh air.
“It is. If you want to leave Wiley here for the afternoon, that’s fine with me. The only other two are Ziggy and Marley.”
“Sure you don’t mind?” Luna asked, knowing the answer.
Alex laughed. “Don’t make me smack you on the back of the head!”
Luna chuckled and scratched Wiley’s ears. “You be a good boy now.” She turned and headed back to her café, stopping briefly to give Cullen his lunch. When it was available, his choice was the special smoked turkey, muenster, and coleslaw with Russian dressing. Delicious but messy.
From the back of the workshop, Cullen heard the automatic bell signaling someone had entered the showroom.
“Hey there! Oh, do I smell smoked turkey?”
“Your fave.” Luna handed him the sandwich and a handful of napkins. “Any progress on the trunk situation?”
“Oh boy. I should know better than to get you involved.” He smiled at his sister.
“As if you could avoid it.” She snickered in return.
“Gotta run. Sabrina is covering for me. See you later.” She gave him a wave and a raised eyebrow.
* * *
Cullen sat at his workbench and unwrapped his sloppy lunch. He reread the letter. Why was the sender being so secretive as to his or her identity? Could the trunk hold something of value? Perhaps stolen? He was getting almost as impatient as his sister. He wondered how long it would take for Luna to use this mystery as an excuse to contact Gaines. Cullen was well aware of their flirtation as well as the mutual respect they shared.
Cullen liked U.S. Marshal Christopher Gaines. If they lived closer, they might even be friends. Not that he didn’t think of Gaines as a friend, but a pal. Someone he could hang out with. He loved his sister, but they had different interests outside of work. He liked to watch sports, play golf, and fish. Maybe shoot a little pool now and again. Luna liked to watch comedies or thrillers and do yoga or take a walk in the park. Reading books was another one of Luna’s favorite pastimes when she wasn’t reading a person. She enjoyed the outdoors but not in the same way as her brother. But they had a pact promising to have dinner together at least one night a week. Lately, they had been inviting Chi-Chi to join them, an invitation she gladly accepted, and Cullen was equally glad she did.
Cullen was growing fond of Chi-Chi. She had a beguiling way about her. She was exotic, intelligent, and laughed at his jokes. Not even his sister thought Cullen had much of a sense of humor. She would say that while he “appreciated humor,” he was “no Jerry Seinfeld.”
Cullen secretly hoped he might get the courage to invite Chi-Chi out on a date. A real date. He hadn’t discussed it with Luna, butheknewsheknew. It was just a matter of time before Luna started poking at him. He chuckled at the irony. Luna would be the one to push him to take that leap, yet she was too chicken to do the same with Gaines.Must be in our DNA, he mused.
He looked down at the money order for $1000. Later that afternoon, he knew he would get some feedback from “the crew.” Luna decided their little pack of friends needed to be called something. “The Squad” was already taken by a few in Washington, D.C., and they wanted to stay away from anything that had a hint of politics.
He thought about something Chi-Chi once said. “People who have made a difference in the world were not politicians.” That comment spurred a lively debate one evening when Gaines was in town and the four of them went to dinner. She emphasized her point by mentioning Jonas Salk, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Marie Curie. Gaines was stumped unless he went back to the Founding Fathers. Even now, some of their motives could be considered suspect.
Cullen smiled to himself. The four of them seemed to fit well together. He heaved a sigh and began to clear the debris that began as his lunch. Good thing Luna had brought him enough napkins.
* * *
Luna was pacing her shop. She was feeling restless about the trunk. It had been a quiet day at the art center. She had some time on her hands. She quickly ran back to Cullen’s showroom, where he was talking to a couple about one of the brass light fixtures he had recently refurbished. He gave her a quizzical look.
