The next morning, I met Rand at the lot to make sure construction was underway and there were no more delays.
Everything looked to be in order and we were back on course. The crew had arrived on time and the police tape had been cleared.
“What’s wrong with you?” Rand asked after I yawned for the tenth time. He took a long drag on his cigarette, eyeing me.
“I took a sleep aid last night. I’m not used to them. I should’ve only taken half.”
He nodded. “Let’s go to the café. I could use some coffee myself. I have paint samples we can go over.”
He did look tired. I hadn’t noticed before. “Didn’t you get any sleep?”
“None.” He turned away, and that was the end of the conversation.
Maybe I should be more like Rand. He didn’t seem to let his lack of sleep get to him. I, on the other hand, couldn’t shake the fog that permeated my mind. It was as if my brain and body weren’t attached properly.
Along with feeling like a complete slug, I had no idea if Brett had come home last night. He wasn’t there when I finally fell asleep, and he wasn’t there when I woke up.
I trudged over to my car to follow Rand to the café. Before I could get in, he hollered, “You’re coming with me.”
I glanced warily between him and his truck, not wanting to be stranded in a cornfield today. I didn’t have the energy for it. But since I didn’t have the energy to fight with him either, I changed course and met him at his truck. With another wide, gaping yawn that would have my mom scolding me for being unladylike, I pulled myself up into the cab and fastened my seatbelt.
He tapped a book sitting between us. “I put notes on the things I like. Take a look and tell me what you think.”
What I think?
I think I want coffee. An entire pot.
I think I want to know where Brett is.
I think I want to know why we didn’t discover anything useful about Wade.
Actually, I already knew why. Most of Wade’s life predated home computers and Internet. There was no social media to keep track of his every move. All we found of interest was his rap sheet that Sylvia had discovered prior to Aaron’s good luck charm. Wade had two disorderly conducts, a ton of speeding tickets, and a domestic violence charge that had been closed. The last one made the girls curious. They were going to see if they could get more details today.
As Rand pulled out of the lot, a twinkling off in the distance caught my attention.
“Hang on,” I said. “Stop for a moment.”
“Did you need something from your car?”
“No, do you see that?” I pointed out the window, but I knew he wouldn’t see it. I could barely make it out. Whatever it was, it was tiny. Only the smallest pinpoint of light bounced off it.
“Where are you going?” he asked when I slid out of the truck.
“Just give me a second.” I didn’t know why I had to find the small object. But I just had to know what it was. Most likely it was a tin can or some other piece of rubbish.
After a few steps toward it, I lost the light. It was gone. Taking a step back, I found it again.
“Let’s go!” Rand’s annoyance shot out of the truck like a steamroller.
“We will as soon as I find it.”
“You can’t be serious.”
For fear it would disappear again, I kept my focus trained on the spot. “Please.”
“The more you stall, the less money you make.”
“It’ll only take a minute.”
“What happened to it just taking a second?”
“It takes longer when you argue. Come out and help.”
He muttered something and hopped out of the truck. “Now what?”
“Walk twenty paces to the west.”
Amazingly, he did as he was told, then turned to me, looking expectantly.
“Another five paces.”
Getting closer.
“Just one more big step.”
“You owe me for this. I feel like a moron.”
“Move a half step to your left. No, I meant my left. Now another half step.”
“Why didn’t you just say a full step?”
“Back up about ten inches.”
“Ten inches? Should I get the tape measure out or just whip out my—”
“Stop! You’re really close.”
“What in the hell am I looking for?”
“Something shiny.”
He looked around as if it was a giant object that had a neon arrow pointing at it. “I don’t see anything shiny. Just dirt.”
“Look closer.”
He unleashed his signature dark look, the one that told me his patience had run out.
“Fine, just stay right where you are.” I quickly hurried over before he could stomp away. With him being the marker, I should be able to find it fairly quickly.
“Why are you standing so close?” he asked, leaning away as if I was Sylvia and her active hands.
“Because I need to be where you are or I’ll never find it. The angle of the sun is playing tricks.”
“So, I can leave now?” He made an attempt to move back, but I stopped him, tugging him forward.
“Stay here. If you step on it, you’ll end up burying it into the loose dirt.”
“Why do you care about it, anyway? It’s probably just a bottle cap.”
“It’s not.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t. It’s just a feeling I have.”
“Don’t give me that BS about woman’s intuition.”
“I’ll prove you wrong.” I knelt to get a better view. I couldn’t see anything. Was my mind playing tricks on me?
“Hand me your phone,” I said.
“Use your own phone.”
“It’s in my purse. I just need the flashlight on it.”
With another mutter, he slipped it out of his pocket and handed it to me. I turned on the light, hoping something would twinkle and shine.
There.
Just to the left of Rand. I reached around his legs and unearthed a necklace. Standing up triumphantly, I held the golden strand in my hand for him to see.
Rand looked at it in disgust. “You and Emily are a pair. Both of you can sniff out gold like a leprechaun.”
“It looks old. Rather vintage. What era do you think this is from?”
“I don’t know. It’s gaudy. Who’d wear something with that many loops?”
“It isn’t gaudy.”
“Can we go now?”
“Yeah.” I stared at the necklace in wonder. Who did it belong to? It was too far away from the time capsule to be included. I doubted Wade had worn it during his ultimate demise. Was it Ida’s?
Rand gave a weary sigh and snatched the necklace away.
“Hey!”
He took out a small cloth from his pocket and began to polish it. Once the dirt was removed, I liked it even more.
“Why do you keep a polishing cloth in your pocket?”
“It’s not a polishing cloth.” He held up the necklace by both ends and placed it around my neck. “Still needs some cleaning, but the clasp works.” He reached behind to fasten it, bringing me closer. Good thing Brett wasn’t here. He’d assume the worst.
I felt Rand’s smile more than I saw it.
“What?”
“The golden child always has the best timing.”
“Huh?”
“Take a look behind you.”
I didn’t want to, but I hazarded a peek anyway. Brett stood at the edge of the road with a look that pulverized any of Rand’s.
“Take your hands off her.” Brett flexed his fingers before curling them into a fist.
I pushed Rand away. He let go without a word. I had expected a flippant comment.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Looking for you. You didn’t answer your phone.”
“Oh, sorry. What did you want?”
“To not find you hugging Rand.”
“I found a necklace, and he was helping me put it on.”
“That’s not what it looked like.”
Rand smiled. “And what did it look like?”
“You knew damn well I was here. You looked right at me before getting cozy with Mars.”
“Is that what we’re calling it now? Cozy?” His lips curled in distaste.
“Brett, why were you trying to call me?” I asked, keeping the annoyance out of my voice. When would they finally call a truce?
“I’ll wait for you at the truck,” Rand said to me. “Don’t take long. We have many things to go over. At my apartment.” He sent a wicked grin to Brett before walking away.
“You’re not going to his apartment.”
“He said that just to make you mad. We were actually going to the café down the road.”
“Quit.”
“What?”
“Please. I’ll never ask anything of you except this. Please quit. I don’t trust him.”
“I have to work. He paid me an advance.”
“I’ll repay it.”
“How? You’re just starting to get clients.”
“I’ll find a way.”
“But I like my job. I like the Hog.”
“Please, sweet thing.” He looked at me as though this meant everything to him, as if this decision could break him.
“Fine.”
He smiled and hugged me into him; the scent of spice and soap enveloped me in a warm cocoon.
“I wasn’t finished yet.”
He let go. “What do you mean?”
“I will quit, but only if you do the same.”
“Why would I give up the partnership?”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about one of your clients. You know which one I mean.”
He didn’t say anything, just looked at me funny. “Did you follow me?”
“No, but it doesn’t feel good when you think I did, does it?”
“Then how did you know? It’s not that I was trying to keep it a secret, but we haven’t had much time to talk either.”
“I asked Emmy where to find you. Emily has taken control of the entire office and is making Emmy’s life miserable. I wanted to speak to you about it, but since you were in a strip club, I didn’t feel like going in.”
“I’m sorry you found out that way. You know it’s strictly business, right?”
“I don’t know anything of the sort.”
“How can you say that? You trust me, right?”
“Of course I do. Don’t you trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then can we move on from this? Don’t ask me to give up my work unless you’re willing to do the same.”
He nodded. “Point taken.”
I smiled at him, thankful he was a reasonable sort as long as Rand wasn’t in sight. “And here I was hoping you’d quit the strip club.”
He chuckled, taking my hand into his warm grip. “There’s nothing to worry about there. I’ve been bouncing for them until I can hire someone to take my place.”
“I thought you were training a new guy.”
“He couldn’t seem to focus.”
“Ah.”
“But I can.” He pulled me closer until we were touching. His fleece jacket softened his body. He was snuggly. At this moment I wanted nothing more than to sit in a cabin with him, a fire, and some hot cocoa. Maybe some marshmallows.
He leaned in, kissing me. It made all thoughts of marshmallows melt away.
“You have absolutely no competition, Mars. No one could even come close to you.”
Who was I to argue with such a statement?
“I’m going to be sick,” I heard Rand say.
After one more delicious kiss from Brett, I pulled away. “Are we good now?”
“Yes.” He looked into my eyes, pausing for a moment. “Just tell me if he pushes you too far.”
“I will.”
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“I’d like that.”
“It’ll have to be an early dinner. I have to work later.”
“Okay.”
He squeezed my hand before letting go. “Okay.”
Well, that turned out better than I’d thought it was going to. It seemed as if we were in a very pleasant truce. I’d have to call Mrs. Janowski and see if we could meet earlier than we originally planned.
As Rand drove us to the café, I dug out my phone, seeing the missed calls from Brett and answering an incoming call from Mrs. Janowski. Perfect timing.
“I was just going to call you,” I said.
“They arrested Ida.”