“Aren’t you closed today?”
“The coffee machine is never closed,” she replied dramatically.
“In that case, caffeine me up. And if you feel like throwing in some sugar, I won’t complain.” I offered her a more genuine smile, and her shoulders softened.
Breeze sure got attached to people quickly. She reminded me of a child who hadn’t yet been crushed by the world. The thought immediately made me feel guilty. She’d already lost both her parents, and I knew a little about that. I guessed people evolved differently around their wounds.
Dax leaned in closer. “We’ll do fingerprints this afternoon and change the locks so the place feels secure.”
I nodded. I didn’t really care. All I could think about were those videotapes. If they had still been in that wall cabinet, where were they now? What would someone do with them?
My face twisted as I imagined some creep in a dark room foaming at the mouth over kids in their pyjamas being abused. Or worse still, I imagined having to make an in-depth statement about my experience if they were handed over to the police. I knew I'd discovered an important reason to speak up about that place and Miss Lissy in particular, but I barely coped walking into the house today. I didn’t want to imagine what would happen if I had to identify five-year-old me on a grainy VHS.
“When’s your next date with Pissy Lissy?” Breeze had been more than willing to adopt her new name.
I groaned and rounded my forehead onto the counter. “Never. And when hell freezes over. And never?”
Sure, I knew I couldn’t actually stay away. Someone needed to monitor Ema. But it didn’t mean I couldn’t complain about it.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’ve got a mystery to solve, Harriet,” she replied.
I narrowed my eyes.
“Harriet the Spy,” she said, omitting the duh that was obvious in her tone.
“Oh,thatHarriet,” I replied, though I was still none the wiser.
“You should have seen me back in the day. Sitting out on that bench across the road, scribbling furiously about everyone who walked past, hoping I’d witness something terrible.” She rubbed her hands together, eyes wide.
I lifted my forehead from the counter and frowned at her.
“You’d have made a skilled detective,” Dax said, his voice sarcastic. I’d nearly forgotten he was still here.
“I might have,” Breeze said, placing coffees in front of us both and waving away Dax’s neat stack of coins. “We’re closed today. And nope, it’s the Cinderella service life for me,” she sighed, leaning her back against the wall.
“Don’t be like that. We’re going to turn it around.” The “we’re,“ slipped out before I had time to think better of it. I still hadn’t figured out how.
“Are you thinking about sticking around, Riley Walls?” Breeze asked, her wide smile showing perfect teeth.
“Just long enough to solve my mystery and be that spy chick.”
She deflated a little. “Harr-i-et. Youcouldstay though. It’s so freaking helpful having you here. Plus, Taco loves you.”
My mouth pricked up at the corners. “I love her too. But I’m out of here as soon as my business is done. And maybe a teensy bit longer to help you,” I added at the end, not being able to handle her tilting bottom lip.
“Yay!” she said, clasping her hands together. I noticed Dax smiling in my periphery, and it annoyed me although I couldn’t understand why except that most things about him annoyed me.
“Why do you have to see Lissy Fotherington?” Dax asked, his eyes fixed on me. It sounded weird hearing someone use her full name. I’d always assumed she was like all evil people and only needed one name. Like Voldemort, or the Joker.
“Unfinished business.”
“She’s trying to find out who left her the house,” Breeze answered for me as she filled up the coins in the till.
I would have kicked her if I could have reached. I settled for a death glare.
“What? He might be able to help. Don’t forget who he is,” she said, unaffected by my face. I put my head in my hands. Silence filled the room, and a hand gently patted my back. A subtle, slow vibration soothed me. Perhaps I was so exhausted from the way too public nervous breakdown to flinch like I would have, had anyone else come into my space without warning.
“Tell me, Miss Breeze, what are your plans with this place?” Dax asked, switching topics while he kept patting my back.
