Forcing my eyes elsewhere, I took a bite of my own slice. How was eating pizza erotic? Was I that hard up for sex that watching Mina eat about set me off?
“So, how is your dad? You said he’s been transferred to cardiac rehab, right?”
Her words put a bit of a damper on my libido. “Right. He’s doing as well as expected, I suppose. Chugging along with therapy and not happy about being laid up. My poor mom has her hands full keeping him from going stir-crazy.”
Mina chuckled softly. “I bet. For a man who’s used to being on the go and on job sites all day, it’s probably torture. My own dad would be watching the clock, waiting for them to spring him.”
I smiled. “Yeah. My mom’s spending as much time with him as she can, so he’s not too bored, but it’s not the same as going out and living his daily life. I don’t think he’s quite wrapped his head around the fact it’ll never be the same again, either. He’s going to have to give up some control of the business and let me do more.”
“Are you ready for that?” she asked, lifting her pizza slice to take another bite.
I twitched a shoulder in a small shrug. “I guess. It was always sort of the plan for me to run the business. But I figured I’d have more time to learn it all before that happened.” I had also planned to hire a project manager so I could continue the architectural side of things. Depending on when Dad came back, I might do that sooner rather than later. Trying to do both was already almost more than I could handle alone. In reality, I shouldn’t even be out with Mina this evening. Or last evening, for that matter. I had too much work to do.
The late nights were worth it, though, to get to know her and to dig into the mystery at her café.
“I would offer to help, but there’s a reason I hired your dad to do my renovation.” A sardonic tilt lifted one side of her mouth.
An answering one drew up the right side of my face. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll be fine. Some of the crew have picked up a bit of the slack. We’re managing.”
“Good.” Turning her pizza slice, she bit off a corner of the crust.
“So, do you have any siblings?” she continued, several moments later.
My head bobbed. “I have a younger sister. She’s just graduated from the University of Anchorage with a business degree. She’s been doing some catering and trying to set up her own party planning business.”
“Seriously? That’s amazing. If you bring me some of her business cards, I’ll set them out at the coffeeshop. You’d be surprised by the number of people I get looking for someone to cater or plan events.”
I smiled. “I’ll do that. She’s always looking for ways to drum up business.” Polishing off the last of my pizza, I wiped the grease from my fingers and face. In just a couple more bites, Mina finished.
Grabbing my drink, I pushed away from the table. “Ready?”
She nodded and stood.
After disposing of our trash, we headed out to the truck and in minutes, were back at the library.
Cool air blasted us in the face as we stepped inside.
My gaze roved over the cavernous space. There were more people here today than yesterday, but it was earlier too.
Heading for the reference desk, the same librarian from last evening sat at the computer. He glanced up as we approached and smiled. “Back again?”
With a polite smile, I nodded. “And with a shorter list.”
“That’s good, I hope?”
“It is,” Mina replied.
“Good. When you’re ready for me to fetch the microfiche, just let me know.”
“Thank you,” I said, then gave Mina a nudge toward the catalogue computer.
Grabbing an extra chair, I pulled it over and sat at an angle. Mina sank into the rolling chair in front of the monitor and opened her handbag, taking out the list of names and a pen before handing them to me.
“All right”—she cracked her knuckles—“let’s do this.” Fingers poised over the keyboard, she typed in the first name.
We worked through the list, and I wrote down the reference numbers. There seemed to be more articles on these women, perhaps because the cases were newer.
“That’s the last thing I see for this one.” Mina glanced over, having scrolled through the search results for the final name on our list.
