Nick suddenly felt self-conscious. “I’m not ‘duded up.’”
“You didn’t leave the house looking like that this morning,” Riley said, giving him the once-over. “Is that a new shirt?”
He pulled at the collar of his short-sleeved button-down. Alistair and Danny had insisted it was the right cut for him, but now he felt like he was being strangled. “No,” he lied.
“Are those boat shoes?” she asked.
He felt like kicking them off in the direction of the dumpster and changing back into gym clothes. Except for maybe the shorts. He really did like the shorts. They were a dark gray and made out of that moisture-wicking crap golfers liked. According to Alistair, they could be crumpled up under the bed for two weeks and still never wrinkle. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“You look good,” she said.
“Good enough to eat,” Mrs. Penny agreed as she sauntered past him toward the house.
“Jesus. What is that smell?” Nick said, shoving his nose into the crook of his elbow.
“Burt got into some people food,” Riley said with a sigh.
“A lot of people food,” Gabe announced. The man had taco sauce and lettuce on his shirt and a slab of apple pie in his hand.
“Why are you so grumpy about looking good?” Riley asked.
“I’m not grumpy,” he grumbled. “Come on. Let’s go.”
He took her hand and dragged her back to the Jeep.
“Where are we going? I have to write up my report for Weber,” she complained.
“Need I remind you thatI’myour boss. Weber’s just the middle manager I loaned you to.”
“Fine,boss. Where are we going?”
“We’re paying a visit to a couple of Larry Rupley’s coworkers. Your co-conspirators can stay here and walk Burt until all that food comes out.”
Mrs. Penny stomped her foot in her orthopedic shoe. “You’re no fun, Santiago.”
“It would be my honor,” Gabe said before shoving the last taco in his mouth in one bite.
“Got any more work for me?” Mrs. Penny asked.
He felt the weight of Riley’s gaze on him.
Nick narrowed his eyes at Mrs. Penny. The woman couldn’t keep a secret to save anyone’s life. “I don’t have any moreerrandsto run,” he said pointedly.
The woman brushed her finger over her nose. “Read you loud and clear, boss.”
“Mrs. Penny, if you don’t have anything to do, you could check out Bianca’s YouTube channel and scroll through the comments. Maybe someone there wanted to do her harm,” Riley suggested.
“I’m on it. All I need is a laptop, a sandwich, and four martinis.”
Riley ruffled Burt’s ears. “You be a good boy and poop a lot outside before we get back. Okay?”
Burt licked her face.
“Ugh. He tastes like pho.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot he ate half a bowl after he knocked down the guy who bought it,” Mrs. Penny said.
Nick could feel the muscle under his eye twitching. Before he met Riley, his eye muscles had never twitched. “Let’s go, Thorn.”
