Free If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz Page B

again? Fish?”
    â€œYou mean Fin?”
    â€œYeah, that guy is
so
nice. Is he seeing anyone?”
    I shrugged.
    â€œAnyway, he pulled over and just like that, he changed my tire for me. It was like he was my guardian angel. I get a flat and boom! He’s right there. I coulda kissed him. I think I did, actually.”
    Was there anyone around here who hadn’t been dazzled by Fin yet?
    Sharona stepped into the tiny bathroom and left the door open. “Look at me. I’m a mess.” She rearranged her hair and applied lipstick. “Did Katy call yet?”
    â€œShe did. I covered for you. I told her you ran out to get change.”
    â€œYou’re awesome.”
    â€œHey, was there anyone with Fin when you saw him?”
    â€œNo, just his dog. A sweet black-and-white mutt. He looked a lot like your dog, actually.” She blotted her red lipstick on a tissue and tossed it into the trash.
    Wait, Fin doesn’t have a dog. That
was
my dog, I mean Lucky’s dog. What was Fin doing with Rocket in his truck?
    Sharona started chattering away like she always does. She liked to catch me up on the highlights of her Saturday night, which was always eventful. The cast of characters in Sharona’s life was colorful and her circle of “friends” seemed to extend far out in every direction. I only half listened to her. I was still preoccupied with Fin and how every time I turned around, he had dug himself just a little bit deeper into my brother’s old life.
    Was I being paranoid? I winced as I thought about something that happened a couple of years ago. I had noticed that a drifter I’d seen around town looked just like a guy wanted for murder in North Dakota whose picture I saw on a poster hanging in the post office. Apparently, I’m the only person in town who actually reads those. I tried to convince everyone I spoke to that we had to turn him in. By then the drifter had been hired by Ralph at the gas station. The guy turned out not to be
that
guy, and I had to avoid the gas station till he left town a year later.
    I dug a bottle of aspirin out of my backpack, popped the top off, and shook one out.
    â€œYou got a headache again?”
    â€œYeah.” I swallowed it with the last bit of my lukewarm coffee. The headaches always started at the base of my neck and crawled up my scalp to the backs of my eyes. That’s when I couldn’t stand it anymore and I had to take an aspirin or two.
    â€œHey, Sharona, would you mind closing alone today? I’ve got a lot of baking to do at the Inn now that they’re selling the cookies in the ‘gift shop.’ ” I used finger quotes.
    â€œSure, no problem. I owe you big time.”
    â€œThanks.” I massaged the back of my neck, lost in thought.

Eleven
    I pulled the back delivery door of the Inn open just in time to hear Marc hurling half French, half English insults at someone. I made my way tentatively to the kitchen. Marc was waving a stainless-steel spoon at the oily grime that Karl had left on the stovetop. I guess he couldn’t even get near it without a weapon. Apparently, Karl had left the kitchen in less-than-premium condition after the brunch shift. I’m sure he got slammed this morning. For the first time this season, all twelve of the Inn rooms were occupied for the weekend.
    Jeff and Miles were running interference.
    â€œIf you could just keep your voice down, I’m sure we can get this place cleaned up in no time,” said Jeff.
    â€œWe? Oh, no, no, no, I don’t clean up after that
connar
d
!”
    Miles cracked the swinging door an inch to check on the dining room. Over his shoulder I saw a few couples lingering with their afternoon coffee. They were looking in the direction of the kitchen with puzzled expressions. Miles let the door close softly and made alarmed eye contact with Jeff.
    I snuck quietly over to the prep table and started working while Jeff and Miles tried