Chapter 25

My cell phone vibrated as I stepped out of Sirius Dynamics into a bitter wind that whipped my breath away. The call display showed Hellhound’s number, and I accepted the call with a smile.

“Hey, darlin’, wave at me,” he said. “I’m lookin’ at ya from the parkin’ lot.”

My grin widened as I waved in the direction of the Subaru Forester idling across the street. “Hey, you creepy stalker,” I teased. “Are you planning to take me to the bar, get me drunk, and take advantage of me?”

“Sounds like a helluva plan.” His voice deepened. “Hey, little girl, come here. I got candy.”

“Mm, I bet you do. Be right there.” I crossed the street and hurried over.

He got out of the SUV as I trotted up, and a moment later I was engulfed in the gentle strength of his hug. Burying my face in his parka, I closed my eyes and let the hurt and fear and anger of the day fall away.

“Hey, darlin’,” Arnie rasped softly, his lips against my hair. “It’s okay. Everythin’s gonna be okay.”

Somehow I managed to stop myself from saying ‘everything’s okay now that you’re here’. Instead, I gave him an extra squeeze and pulled away with a smile. “Thanks for coming. I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Glad I am, too. Hey…” He stroked my quivering hand with frown. “You’re shakin’. Are ya cold? Come on an’ get in the SUV an’ get warmed up.”

“No, I’m just tired and hungry.” I sighed. “And I’ve got one more stop before we go to Eddy’s. Why don’t you head over there and I’ll meet you as soon as I can?”

He frowned. “If you’re so hungry you’re shakin’, ya oughta eat first. ’Specially if ya think ya might run into trouble.” He studied me worriedly. “Are ya gonna be safe, where you’re goin’?”

“Yeah; no big deal,” I assured him. “I just have to stop in at the hospital to check on John and Daniel and Ian.”

“That doesn’t sound like a big enough emergency to skip a meal for.”

“No, but I just…” I trailed off as his words filtered through the fog in my brain. “Shit, you’re right. It can wait. I’m too tired to think straight.”

Hellhound grinned. “An’ that’s why I’m here. Hop in, darlin’. Let’s get ya fed an’ watered.”

“Maybe even beered,” I said hopefully as I hurried around to the passenger side.

The lunch crowd was trickling out when we arrived at Blue Eddy’s, and my favourite table in the corner had just been vacated. Hellhound and I slid into the two chairs with their backs to the wall.

“Ah,” Hellhound said with satisfaction as he shed his jacket and dumped it on one of the remaining chairs. “Best table in the place.”

Darlene hurried over to take our orders, returning with our beer in minutes. I sucked back a cold crisp swallow with a groan of satisfaction. “Damn, that’s good.”

Hellhound grinned. “Hope I can make ya moan like that later.”

“You always do.” I hitched my chair closer to his so I could lean into his shoulder with a contented sigh.

My sigh trailed off into a frown and I sat up again.

“What, darlin’?” Hellhound followed my sightline with a frown of his own. “Uh-oh.”

Our table gave us a commanding view of the entire bar, including the private corridor that led to Eddy’s office. Eddy and another man stood in the hallway talking, their body language tense.

The other man wore a suit that was too expensive for the atmosphere at Blue Eddy’s and he loomed threateningly over Eddy, scowling. Eddy faced him squarely, fists clenched by his sides. I could only see his back, but there was more than anger in his posture.

“I never saw Eddy pissed off before,” Hellhound said.

My pulse sped up as I assessed Eddy’s jerky gestures and the withdrawn angle of his body. “He’s not just pissed off. He’s scared.” I leaned back, resting my ankle on my knee. A quick survey of the bar assured me that nobody was looking, and I slipped my trank pistol out of my ankle holster and into the back of my pants. “I’m going over there. Watch my back.”

“Right behind ya,” Hellhound growled.

We strolled toward the two men. The man in the suit gave us a hostile glare, and Eddy turned to face us.

“Oh. Hi, Aydan; Hellhound. Um, can I talk to you later?” He glanced at the other man, anxiety in his eyes. “I’m just in the middle of something here.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Hellhound rumbled. “Doesn’t look like a good somethin’, either.” He shot a look at the suit-clad man that would have made any sensible person turn tail and flee.

“Uh…” The man eyed Hellhound’s shit-kicker boots and bearded battle-scarred face, and took an uncertain step backward. Then he squared his shoulders and summoned a sneer. “Strong-arm tactics, Carlson? That’s not going to win you any points with AHS.”

“No, no.” Eddy spread his hands in a placating gesture. “That’s not it at all. These are my friends…” He gave us a look that implored us to back off.

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to interrupt,” I said hurriedly. “It’s just that I’m Eddy’s bookkeeper, and I have a quick question for him. It’ll only take a minute.”

“Take as long as you want,” the stranger snapped. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” He strode in that direction, pulling out his phone as he went.

“Sorry, Aydan, now’s not a good time,” Eddy said rapidly. “I’ll talk to you later, okay? Gotta go.” He hurried after the other man.

“AHS. Alberta Health Services,” Hellhound said as we sat down at our table again. “That ain’t good.”

“I can’t imagine Eddy would ever have a problem with the health inspectors,” I replied. “I’ve been in that kitchen. It’s spotless. And Eddy’s kitchen staff have been with him for years. He treats them like family. There’s no way they’d get sloppy and risk a health violation.”

“He sure looked nervous, though,” Hellhound pointed out.

“Yeah…” I frowned and gulped some beer. It didn’t taste quite as good anymore.

Darlene arrived a few minutes later with our burgers and a strained smile.

“What’s with the health inspector?” I asked quietly as she placed the plates on the table.

She glanced anxiously over her shoulder. “I don’t know,” she whispered, her face tense. “We had a routine inspection a few months ago, but this guy’s acting like he expects to find rat poison in the soup or something. Our kitchen is clean, it’s always been clean, and the food’s always fresh. Eddy loves his customers and he’d never serve bad food!” She gave us a desperate look. “Don’t tell anybody, okay? If Eddy ever went out of business, I’d… I’d just…” Her voice choked off and she blinked rapidly as her eyes filled.

“It’s okay, Eddy’s our friend, too,” I comforted her. “We’re on your side. We won’t say a thing.”

“Thanks.” She pasted on a smile. “Enjoy your burgers…” Her smile wobbled. “If… if you still want them…”

“Hell yeah!” Hellhound took a giant bite. “Kickass,” he mumbled through his mouthful. “Just like always.”

My stomach let out a growl loud enough to be heard over the music. “Nobody’s taking this beauty away from me,” I told Darlene, pulling my plate closer. “Don’t worry, it’s probably just a screwup at AHS.”

She squared her shoulders. “You’re right. Of course.” She put on another smile and scurried off to attend to the rest of the patrons.

We ate in silence for a while, concentrating on the delicious burgers and our own thoughts.

What if they closed Eddy down? This was my home away from home. My haven of good food, good music, good company…

“Fuck,” Hellhound said, glowering at his plate.

My gut clenched. “What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with your food?”

“Huh?” He looked up, his scowl clearing. “Oh. Fuck no, nothin’ like that. Sorry. Just thinkin’.” He absently stuffed a few fries in his mouth and chewed, frowning into middle distance.

I waited.

After a moment he blinked and returned his attention to me just as Eddy hurried over.

“I smell a rat,” Hellhound began.

“Well, don’t say anything to the other customers,” Eddy joked as he slid into one of the chairs across from us, but the usual twinkle was absent from his eyes. “Sorry about that… um… earlier. Everything’s fine. Nothing to worry about.”

I studied him. “Don’t take this wrong, Eddy, but I think you’re fibbing.”

He gave me a hunted look, and I reached across the table to take his hand. “Talk to us, Eddy. We’re your friends. Let us help.”

His grip tightened. “I…” He hesitated, clearly torn. “Oh, heck; I’m not going to lie to you.” He blew out a tense breath. “Somebody called the health department on us. Claimed they’d found a dead mouse in their salad.”

“Gross!” I said at the same time as Hellhound snapped, “Somebody’s harassin’ ya, I knew it. That’s what I meant earlier when I said I smelled a rat.”

“That’s what I told the inspector,” Eddy agreed. “There’s no way that really happened. Nobody’s sent a salad back with a complaint in…” He gazed up at the ceiling as if counting back years.

“Ever,” he finished, returning his attention to us. “Nobody ever sent a salad back, that I can remember. And they sure as heck didn’t do it yesterday, when the complaint was filed with the AHS.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “But this morning…”

He glanced from side to side and leaned in closer to whisper, “There was a dead mouse in the corner of the kitchen. But I know we don’t have mice. They leave mouse dirt everywhere. We’d have known they were there long before one upped and died right out in plain sight.”

“Somebody planted it,” I said with certainty. “Somebody’s trying to get you in…” I suddenly realized I was still holding his hand.

Just like I had yesterday.

I pulled my hand away. “…trouble,” I finished, feeling ill.

“What, Aydan?” Hellhound demanded. “What’s wrong?”

They know how to get to Kelly.

“Eddy,” I said in a small voice. “I’m sorry, but I think this might be my fault.”

“What?” Eddy let out an incredulous laugh. “Not unless you sleep-drove to town carrying a dead mouse, let yourself in, dumped the corpse, locked everything up again, and drove home again without ever waking up. Because I can’t imagine you intentionally doing anything like this.”

“No, I didn’t mean I did it,” I said, my stomach churning. “I mean it’s my fault. I think somebody has been trying to get to me through my friends. Everybody knows I eat here all the time and you’re my bookkeeping client. And you said the complaint came in yesterday afternoon, after we talked at lunchtime. Did you notice any strangers in the bar yesterday?”

“I think you’re reachin’ a bit, darlin’,” Hellhound objected.

“I think so, too.” Eddy frowned. “Unless… is your ex-husband out of jail yet? He might have a score to settle with me, since I’m the one who called the police when he abducted you. What does he look like? When he’s not in drag, I mean.”

Shit, I had known that cover story would come back to bite me in the ass sooner or later. Hellhound and I exchanged a glance.

“He’s got an eye patch and a peg leg,” I said lightly. “You can’t miss him.”

Eddy gave me a mock glare. “Very funny. Seriously, what does he look like? With that wig and makeup on, all I could tell was that he was about average height and build. He could have been hanging around here and I’d never know.”

“I’m sorry, Eddy, I didn’t mean to make fun. He’s still in jail,” I lied. “It can’t be him.”

“Well, I can’t imagine anybody else having a problem with you,” Eddy said. “And even if they did, calling the health department on me is a pretty obscure way to show it.” He patted my hand and rose. “Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. Probably just some small-town politics.” Glancing at the entrance, he smiled. “Maybe I’ll hire CRAPS to look into it.”

Following the direction of his gaze, I spotted Lola and two of her elderly cronies coming in the door. She gave us a cheery wave and headed for the tables that Darlene had pushed together to form a group of ten.

“I have to get back to work,” Eddy said. “Thanks for understanding about…” He gestured toward the kitchen, his lips twisting. “…that. Your food and drinks are on the house today.”

“Eddy, you can’t do that,” I protested. “You’re always giving me free meals. You need to make a living, too.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “I do well enough. See you later.”

He strode away before I could point out that I did his books, so I knew damn well that the bar’s finances were barely in the black.