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I squinted, taking longer to make out the numbers without my reading glasses. “Yeah, this looks like the general fund budget summary.”
“Right, but you know what’s weird?”
“What?”
She leaned in. “There’s no line item for the money going out to KSK Holdings. And it’s a lot. It was around $600,000 last year.”
“That could be an account that doesn’t fall under the general fund,” I said, still scanning the numbers.
“I checked every account I’ve been given records for, and my Freedom of Information request was for all city income and expenditures. I can’t find it anywhere.”
That was strange, but I didn’t let her see my surprise. I’d taken classes on budgeting after becoming police chief, and I’d learned how to account for every dollar that came in and went out of my department.
“Could Mrs. Jenkins have left something out?” I asked.
“I wondered that, but the city attorney has been filling my Freedom of Information requests, so it would have been an oversight by both of them.”
I looked up at her. “It could’ve happened, though. Or it could be that Keller Strauss is providing that money like I said, and he doesn’t want anyone to know what it’s paying for. He’s kind of funny like that. He doesn’t like people knowing how much money he gives.”
She nodded. “I guess that could be. But city income and expenses have to be openly accounted for. The city is a taxing body.”
Our server brought her drink, Deacon on her heels.
“Hey guys, how are you?” he asked, grinning.
“Hey, Deke,” we both said at the same time.
He slid a plate onto our table. “I brought you some complimentary potato skins. It’s a new recipe; let me know what you think.”
“Looks amazing,” I said, eyeing the plate of halved potatoes loaded with cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, and chopped green onions.
“There’s some beer in the new cheese sauce,” he said.
“Sold,” I said, putting one on a plate and passing it to Avon.
“Let me know,” he said, pointing at us as he walked back toward the kitchen.
I plated a potato skin for myself, closing the folder with the paperwork before taking my first bite.
“I wish I could help more with this right now, but I can’t,” I said. “I will find out more, though. Just give me a few days.”
“I don’t even care anymore because this is the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted,” Avon cracked.
The bacon was crispy and the beer cheese had just the right amount of spice. We ate all of them, and then Avon motioned for me to hand her the folder.
“Enough business,” she said, sliding it back into her bag. “What are you doing tomorrow for Svensday?”
“The business bureau is doing sleigh rides and ice-skating at the lake. I have to make a showing at that.”
“That sounds like fun, though.”
“You should come.”
She smiled. “I’ll be there with Pete’s camera.”
Movement in the corner of my vision caught my attention, and I looked at the bar to find Coulter animatedly passing Jake a box of tampons he’d taken from his giant purse. Jake did a little celebratory dance and tucked them into his bag.
Payback would be a bitch for those two. I used my middle finger to scratch my temple, turning my attention back to Avon.
“The Italian beef here is amazing,” I said.
“That’s what Bess tells me.”
Her long, wavy hair was tamed into a bun at the nape of her neck today. It was pretty, a few pieces of loose hair framing her face. All I could think about, though, was watching her pull the pins from her hair, seeing it cascade around her bare shoulders. And then brushing it aside so I could kiss her there.
“Earth to Grady,” she said.
“Oh, sorry,” I said, realizing I’d gotten carried away with my daydream.
We both ordered the Italian beef and Avon told me about her supposed best friend, Blaire, who never had time to talk to her anymore. I stopped myself after three beers, so I knew I wouldn’t let slip how much I wanted her—or worse, act on it—and after a couple of hours of nice conversation, she pulled her wallet out and went for her credit card.
“Too late,” I said.
She looked up at me. “But the check’s right here.”
“I paid it when I went to the bathroom about an hour ago.”
“Grady. This one was supposed to be on me.”
I put my hands up in mock surrender. “I never agreed to that.”
“Next time I’m getting the check.”
“We’ll see.”
She gave me a look, but her eyes sparkled happily. “Have you been this exasperating since the moment you were born? Or did you have to work your way up to this level?”
“My mom says I was a perfect baby,” I said. “I believe the exact word she used was angel.”
We both stood and put our coats on, then added our stocking caps and gloves. It was barely above zero outside right now.
