“Like I said,” I said, “disaster. And beforeyousay anything,” I jabbed a finger toward Myra, “I have two words for the job you did with this last year: chocolatetoilets.”
Myra had the good grace to wince. “We took care ofit.”
Was she blushing? I hoped she wasblushing.
“Wereplacedevery public toilet in Ordinary, including the heads in half the boats docked in the bay. If I never see another stanky wax ring, flange, or flapper in my life, it will be toosoon.”
“Good band name,” Hatternoted.
“Flange andFlapper?”
“Stanky WaxRing.”
I grinned at him. There was a reason he and I got along like sinner andsinnest.
“Are you done?” Nowthatwas Delaney’s bossvoice.
“With?”
“Stalling to try to get out of this? I’m sending Hatter out withyou.”
“I can do italone.”
“You won’t because I said you won’t. I expect you to update me as soon as you makecontact.”
“Contact?” Hatter pulled a stick of gum out of his pocket and tossed it in his mouth, breath-freshening like an interviewee in suck-upmode.
“The head gnome,” I grumbled. I stormed over to the little table in the hall that held the coffee pot and usually a few snacks. Nothing but dregs and crumbs. “I expect a fresh pot of this when I get back.” I lifted the coffee pot. Shookit.
Four sets of fingers zeroed in onnoses.
“Oh, forreal?”
Delaney chuckled. “I’ll make coffee before I end my shift. Call as soon as you find theleader.”
And because she was my big sister, and because she sounded genuinely concerned, and because I knew just how dangerous this assignment could be, Inodded.
“Where have we last seen headless Abner?” Iasked.
“Myra?” Delaneyasked.
Myra shook her head and sat at her desk. She tapped a screen there. “Last we saw him, he was on the corner of Ebb and4th.”
“By the old fire hall?” Iasked.
“That was last March. I drove by yesterday and didn’t seehim.”
Of course she had. Myra was thorough like that. Responsible. Got things done in the proper order of doing them. Despite the milk chocolate toiletdebacle.
“We’ll start there.” I grabbed mycoat.
“What do they look like?” Ryder asked all casual, like he wasn’t chomping at the bit to find out a little more about Ordinary’s more unusualcitizens.
“Gnomes? They look like gnomes,” Isaid.
“So....red hats?” heventured.
“You’ve seen gnomes,Ryder.”
“All right,” he said in a go-ontone.
I just grinned. “Maybe if you do something kinky for Delaney, she’ll tell you all aboutit.”
Delaney sighed and covered her face with one hand. Ryder let out a surprised laugh, but that look in his eyes as he watched her reaction was all lust andlove.
“Maybe I will,” he saidquietly.
I gave him two thumbsup.
What could I say? I was a romantic atheart.
