Free Mission to Murder by Lynn Cahoon Page B

make him talk. Imagining a duck with a ruler, I went into my “we have ways . . .” mentality. “I need to know what’s going on. It’s only fair.”
    Josh took the last few statues out of the box and moved them next to the other items he’d lined up on the counter. He started folding the box and his cold green eyes appraised me. He set the folded cardboard on the top of the boxes already unpacked.
    “I’ll tell you what Craig had on the wall under one condition.” He stepped around the bar and sat in the chair, pulling a rag off the table and polishing one of the figurines, not meeting my eyes.
    Why did I have the feeling this deal would be one with the devil? “Which is?”
    The room quieted while we waited. Finally Josh spoke. “I want a date with your aunt.”

CHAPTER 7
    S itting at my desk, my aunt’s face had never been so red. “Tell me this one more time—he wants me to go out on a date with him? Is the man crazy?”
    I raised my eyebrows. I’d signed another blank check for the mystery author book signing. Against my better judgment. At least after the Cloaked in Mystery event went down in flames, I’d be able to tell her “I told you so” with a clear conscience that I hadn’t deliberately sabotaged it.
    “Oh, give me a break. You know what I mean. It’s not like I’ve ever said one kind word to the guy. In fact, mostly, I’ve been a grump about him. Maybe he’s into M&M stuff.”
    “S&M, Jackie. M&M’s is a candy.” I bit my lip to keep the giggles from flowing out of me. “Think of it as a charitable act. You’ll be helping save the South Cove mission wall project.”
    Jackie shook her head. “You’re not looking at Mother Teresa here.” She tapped her finger on the desk. “Stop making that damn face. I’ll think about it. That’s all I can promise.”
    Grinning, I grabbed my purse. “Thanks. I better get home. Emma’s going to be whining at the door waiting for me.”
    “You spoil that dog. You need to get married, have kids, then you’ll know what it means to be needed.” Jackie focused on the computer and entering yesterday’s receipts. Apparently after dispensing her bit of wisdom I’d been dismissed.
    “I don’t need kids to feel manipulated and drained. I have you and the business for that.” I waited but my aunt didn’t even take the bait. She just waggled her fingers at me. “Whatever.”
    Smiling, I left the office and called out a good-bye to Toby (who was explaining the process of roasting beans to a pretty blonde who didn’t seem to even see the coffee in front of her). Her eyes were focused on Toby and Toby alone. I don’t think the guy even knew the effect he was having on her. Then I saw a glint in his eyes when he responded and waved me off. He knew exactly what he was doing.
    When Toby had been attacked on stakeout guarding me and my house, he’d lost not one but two girlfriends when they’d both showed up at the hospital ready to play nurse to the injured Toby. The man was a horndog. And his charming personality had been increasing sales since Jackie hired him. He was like having our own romance cover model in the business.
    I’d made it about halfway down the road to my house when a truck pulled up next to me. Ray Stewart leaned over the bench to the open window. “Hey, beautiful, want a ride?”
    I walked faster. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
    “I’ll say so. You are the hottest thing in this town.” Ray let the truck coast next to me.
    A thought made me stop. “Hey, what work did you do for Craig?”
    Ray frowned. “Who said I worked for Craig?”
    “You. You said you were waiting for him to pay you when I caught you eavesdropping on Josh and Craig’s fight.” I folded my arms and stared at him.
    “Oh yeah.” Ray shrugged. “I just did some stuff for him. Moving stuff from the docks to his place.”
    “I didn’t realize you were in the moving business, too.” He was lying. I could tell by the grin he’d gotten when he