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“My hat looks good on you.”
Her mouth curved into a slight smile.
Brian watched her get in the Jeep and drive off. He followed her. They were going in the same direction. Delgado’s was just down the block from USD.
Since she hadn’t told him what she wanted to eat, he got two different things. A breakfast burrito and prairie rose special: two eggs any style, hash browns and bacon. He’d eat whichever one she didn’t want.
At USD, she took the burrito, but he suspected it was because it left one of her hands free to log into her computer.
“I noticed the note on the door about closing early the next few nights.”
Taking another bite, she nodded. “Until I find out what happened to Haley. Or Seth’s arrested.”
“Both could take a while.”
“That’s not what I want to hear.”
“I know.” He finished eating and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Have you ever considered taking a full day off, on a regular basis?”
“Why? Did you have plans for me?”
“A few dirty thoughts spring to mind,” he said, and she grinned. “But I’m talking about time to recharge. Unwind. I’d love to spend a full day with you.”
“Sounds nice. Let me think on it.”
The front door opened. One of her trainers walked in, and she waved to him.
“I need to tell Dustin about Teddy.” She stood and came around the desk. “I can’t believe I was this close to firing Teddy in a voice mail for not showing up.” Taking the hat off, she set it on his head.
Brian watched her approach Dustin and put a hand on his shoulder as she spoke to him.
A phone buzzed.
He checked his pocket, but it wasn’t his. Looking around, he spotted Charlie’s on the desk, but it wasn’t that one either.
The buzzing came from inside her duffel bag on the desk. He unzipped it and took out the burner.
“Charlie!” He held up the phone, and she nodded.
She said something else to Dustin, who had lowered his head, his face in shock. She hurried into the office and grabbed the phone.
“Hey, Orson. Did you find something?” She listened. Then her gaze flashed up to Brian’s. She nodded, grabbed a pen and wrote on a notepad. “You’re the best.” She smirked like Orson had responded with something saucy. “Knock it off. I’ve got to go. Thank you.” She clicked off, flipped the phone closed and shoved it back in her bag. “Haley is alive. And Orson found her.”
A wunderkind indeed.
“PULLOVERTHEREand park,” Charlie said to Brian, gesturing to the diner situated next to a gas station.
“Why?” he asked. “The motel is across the street.”
“Please, just do it.”
His jaw hardened, but he did as she asked. “Are you going to tell me why we’re parked at this diner?”
“If Haley sees a cop before I’ve had a chance to talk to her and convince her that she can trust you, it’s possible she might not tell me anything. But it’s certain that she’ll freak out.” Charlie had plenty of questions, and she intended to get answers. “Give me twenty minutes with her. Then we’ll either come to you or I’ll call you and have you pull the car around. Okay?”
By the look on his face, she could tell that he didn’t like it. “No. Not okay. I’m parking at the motel.” He put the vehicle in reverse and backed away from the diner. “I’ll position the truck where she won’t be able to see me from the room.Okay?”
Not that he was truly asking because he was already pulling into the lot.
