A smile flirted with his face. “I’m going, I’m going.”
She grinned. “I don’t want to give you a chance to change your mind.”
“Trust me,” he tossed over his shoulder. “I don’t want to be back here any more than you want me here. I’ve got plenty of other work—on this case and on others—to keep me busy.”
We crossed the threshold into the front of the store.
“You guys can work out here until I give you the all-clear,” Ozzie tossed over his shoulder.
“Got it, thanks.” I gave him a quick thumbs-up.
He walked away, and I shared a look with Mina. “Well, that went better than expected.”
She chuckled, the sound relieved. “One hundred percent.”
“Are you gonna hang around until he’s done?” I tipped my head toward the door where Ozzie disappeared.
“Probably, yeah. Just to make sure he doesn’t need anything from me.”
A wicked smile spread over my face. I took two steps toward the wall and picked up a spare demo fork. “I’m gonna put you to work.”
An answering, sassy smile bloomed, reaching her eyes. “Yeah?” She took the tool. “Just make sure you point me away from where any more bodies could be hiding.”
With a laugh, I pecked a kiss on her cheek. “Sure thing.”
CHAPTER 19
Mina
“I’m going to pop next door and check on the crew’s progress.” Removing my apron, I looked over my shoulder at one of my baristas. She nodded and waved me away.
It was lunchtime, which was usually a bit slow for us, since we didn’t have lunch-type food. Soon, though, all that would change.
Excitement lit in my belly as I walked into the kitchen and through the back door. All morning, I’d heard the bangs and thumps and couldn’t help but wonder what all they’d gotten done in the few hours since Luke found that earring.
When I stepped into the back room of the antique store, my eyes widened.
The wall was gone.
Well, it was down to the studs, but all the plaster was missing, and I could see through to the front.
As I gaped at the transformation, the front door opened, and Luke walked in, a to-go bag dangling from his fingers.
Smiling, I stepped through the doorway. “Hey. This looks incredible. You guys made a lot of progress.”
“We did. And no more bodies.”
I chuckled. “That’s good.” My eyes went to the bag hanging from his hand. “Forget the stew?”
His smile turned sheepish. “It’s still sitting in my fridge. I slept well, but I also slept like the dead and turned off my first alarm, then hit snooze on the second, not realizing it was the second. So, I was running late and dashed out the door without it. By the time I remembered, it wasn’t worth turning back. I’ll eat it this evening or tomorrow.”
“So, what did you get?” I hooked a finger over the edge of the sack and peered inside.
“A burger and fries. Did you eat?” He reached for an empty bucket and flipped it over, patting the top, indicating I should sit.
I perched on it and answered as he turned over another and sat beside me.
“I have food next door. I’ll grab it when I go back.” That probably wouldn’t stop me from snatching a few of his fries, though.
