If not, she'd be finding out soon enough. After all, I was Ryder "VIP" Vaughn – the guy who'd lost out on Shark Bike.
Tomorrow, I decided, I'd pay Tessa another visit and see where it went from there.
And while I was at it, I'd be digging for more intel – not from Franny, but from Griff. That is, assuming he wasn't busy taking out a mark.
29
Friendship, Sort Of
Tessa
I'd just peeked out through the blinds when Maisie hoisted her bike onto the front porch.
When her head turned my way, I jumped back and practiced looking casual, even though nobody was there to see. But a minute later, when Maisie opened the front door, I was standing right there, waiting like a gossip hound, ready to pounce.
At the sight of me, her steps faltered. "Hey."
I smiled, trying to play it cool. "So…how was work?"
She gave me a funny look. "Fine. Why?"
Damn it.I should've eased in slower. "No reason."
She laughed. "Oh, there's a reason. I can tell."
"Okay…well, I just heard something, that's all."
"About what?"
"You actually."
Her eyebrows lifted. "Oh?"
"Uh, yeah."How to begin?"By any chance, do you know a woman named Franny?" Yes, I knew the answer, but I had to start somewhere, right?
Maisie practically snorted. "Yeah, everyone knows Franny."
"Noteveryone," I said. "I mean…Ididn't know her."
Maisie didn't even blink. "But you definitely know Frannynow."
Had Maisie heard something?I gave her a funny look of my own. "How'd you know?"
With a knowing smile, she replied, "Call it a hunch."
Not wasting any time, I told Maisie how Franny had stopped by the coffee shop earlier today. To keep it simple, I omitted any distracting details, like the fact Franny had started slinging coffee and muffins on her own.
Maisie didn't look surprised. Mostly, she looked preoccupied, like her mind was somewhere else. As she kicked off her shoes, she asked, "Care if we talk in the kitchen? I've got to see what I've got for sandwiches."
By now, I would've followed her to Timbuktu if only to get some answers. It was nine o'clock at night, and I'd been mentally pacing since lunchtime, when Franny had started flinging rumors like confetti.
After following Maisie into the kitchen, I learned that she had, in fact, hired someone – except the guy was working for sandwiches and a rental bike like mine.
As Maisie turned away to look in the cupboards, I asked, "But why would he work for so little?"
She turned back with a sharp look. "It's not like I twisted his arm."
Yikes."I never said you did."
