Skipper paled. “Shit. Thank you, Andi. You find your way out? I’ve got things to do.” With that Skipper left the kitchen, Indica hot on his heels. He was muttering curses under his breath.
“A nice day to you too!” Andi yelled after him. Skipper just waved vaguely in their direction.
“We’re done here.” Andi led the way outside, closing the door behind them. Once they were back in the car, George looked at him. “Two questions. You probably won’t answer the first one, but I simply have to ask. How did you know about those barnacles? Or did you make that up?”
“You’re right, I’m not going to answer that. And I never make things up. At least I try. Second question?”
“How do you know Skipper told you everything?”
Andi thought about that for a moment. “I met Skipper about ten years ago. I hadn’t been a detective for long, and I arrested him for dealing weed. He was addicted to cocaine and had quit six months before that. The dealing was his way of financing his way back into society. He’s the perfect informant because he knows practically everybody through his marijuana dealings, and he also has an in with the shadier types from his addict days. There isn’t much he doesn’t know about the goings-on in Charleston’s criminal underbelly, and nobody views him as a threat. Which is another reason I try not to use him too often. As for why I trust him about the information—or lack thereof—even though it didn’t look like it, Skipper and I get along. I help him out sometimes, and I turn a blind eye on his dealing. He appreciates that. I also directed him toward a perfectly legal enterprise with which he makes most of his money these days.” This time there was definitely a smile on Andi’s face.
“What kind of enterprise? The way you say it, it can’t be anything mundane.”
Now Andi was grinning. “I told him about the wonderful opportunities in the world of insect cuisine.”
George didn’t understand. “Can you elaborate?”
“Gladly. Skipper breeds different kinds of bugs—locusts, mealworms, crickets and the likes—for gourmet restaurants all over the US. He’s quite famous for the high quality of his merchandise.”
“And I’m out.” George shivered. “Eating insects isn’t for me. The thought alone gives me goose bumps.”
“You do realize there’s a high chance that you’ll have to get used to it? Apart from the fact that there’s numerous cultures in which eating insects is the norm, they do have other advantages as well. One pound of beef requires 1,799 gallons of water during production, whereas one pound of insects, like crickets, only requires one gallon of water. Insects also have a high nutritional value because of their mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and are rich in trace elements such as copper, iron, and zinc. In light of climate change and a growing world population, insects are likely going to be the food source of the future.”
George started the car and tried not to think about food that could crawl off his plate. “That may be the case, but I think I’m going vegan then. Just thinking about eating something with more than four legs makes me shiver.”
“It’s actually not that bad. Fried crickets are quite tasty, and I like the crunch.”
“And here I thought you were picky. What’s with the plain bagel every morning?”
“My stomach is delicate in the morning. A plain bagel is all I can keep down. Lunch can also be tricky, but dinner is when my adventurous side awakens.” George saw Andi winking at him from the corner of his eye.
“My idea of adventure is ordering the new burger variation at my favorite diner. I normally stick to one dish.”
“Sounds like a wild life.”
George shrugged. “I prefer my food to be predictable.”
“Which isn’t wrong. Just boring,” Andi teased.
“Believe it or not, Iloveboring. Especially on the job.” Boring meant nobody died. George liked that.
“Only our job isn’t boring at the moment.” Andi sighed. “I really thought Skipper would be more helpful.”
“Yeah. We’re still stuck. All we have are dead ends and three dead girls. That’s not good. Not at all.”
“Let’s see if Shireen has found something new when we’re back at the precinct. If not, I have to take more drastic measures.”
“Do you need help?” George couldn’t resist offering.
Andi laughed. “Nice try, buddy.”
For the rest of the drive, they kept bouncing theories around, but without anything solid to build on, it was more a thought experiment than anything else. When they entered the precinct, Rose stopped them before they could reach their desks.
“Andi, George, Chief Norris wishes to see you. She said you should go to her as soon as you’re back.”
George saw Andi’s shoulders stiffen a little. There definitely wasn’t any love lost between him and the chief. He had the sudden urge to touch Andi’s shoulder to show his support and was brave enough to actually risk it. He was rewarded with a grateful look from Andi and an open mouth from Rose, who stared at his hand on Andi’s shoulder as if it were an alien being. George didn’t push his luck, though. Andi was like a cat in many respects, definitely solitary with sudden outbursts of the cuddles but strictly limited and on his terms. That Andi had allowed him to touch his shoulder was already a big win, and George wouldn’t risk it by getting cocky.
Side by side they went for the chief’s office. George knocked, feeling Andi’s reluctance to talk to Norris. The chief asked them inside, and after they had taken a seat, she wasted no time getting to the point.
