“I got a note too.” Rían bustled into the kitchen with a paper bag tucked under his arm and two carryout drink cups smelling like dark roast in his hands. “Are you good practicing with me?”
“Do you have time for this?” I avoided the topic of the Sartoris. Again. “You must be busy.”
“I will always make time for you.” He handed over one cup. “And, really, you’re doing me the favor. Liam had me down for reviewing the quarterly finance report with Terese, our investment advisor. Now I get to spend the morning with you instead.”
“Anytime you need someone to rescue you from the evils of math, feel free to call me.”
Cracking the lid, I was delighted to find cocoa instead of coffee, complete with burnt marshmallow topping.
“I hope you don’t mind.” He nodded toward it. “I took the liberty, since Goldie isn’t here.”
“Not at all.” I sipped to test the temperature. “I wasn’t a big fan of cocoa, but once you have dragon-toasted marshmallows, you never go back.” I jerked my head toward the door. “You’re not going to make me sprint like Fayne, right?”
“I thought we could eat on the way over, so no. You’re safe from cardio with me.”
Sweeter words had never been spoken.
“I knew I liked you for a reason.” I licked marshmallow off my upper lip as we hit the sidewalk. “Have you seen Jess today?”
Yesterday’s spectacle would churn fresh anxiety in someone as antsy as she was on a good day.
“How did you know?” He passed a wrapped sandwich to me. “She was waiting for me at the curb.”
“Just a hunch.” I opened the paper to find a peanut butter and banana flatbread with a honey drizzle. “I hope she wasn’t waiting long.” I took a bite, surprised by a granola crunch. “How was she?”
“It’s common knowledge I’m up and about by six, so I think she had only been waiting for a few minutes. She was nervous but determined to clear the air. Mostly, she just wanted to make sure she wasn’t in any trouble for her actions.” He bit into his breakfast, which looked like an omelet on a toasted bagel. “She’s going to want to check in with you too, so I would keep an eye out for her later.”
“Will do.”
Raised voices drew my attention to the front of the police station, where Old Man Jenkins was waving his arms and yellingat the officers. I wasn’t sure if he had just been released or had circled back to plead his case now that the alcohol had left his system. But his aggressive, fishlike hand gestures weren’t doing him any favors.
“Do you know him?” Rían watched me. “Should we intervene?”
“That’s Old Man Jenkins. I found him passed out on the shore of Lake Harris with an empty vodka bottle yesterday and reported him. I was worried he would roll into the water and drown.”
As we started past, Old Man Jenkins got fed up with the officers and spun away, only to draw up short when he spotted me. A hop in his step, he rushed over with hope glimmering in his bloodshot eyes.
“You were there.” His arm shot out as if to grab me by the wrist. “Come tell them she’s real.”
Unwilling to let him get his hands on me, I couldn’t help wondering. “Who?”
“The mermaid.”
“The only mermaid you saw,” one of the officers sighed, “was in the bottom of a shot glass.”
“You were right there. You must have seen her too.” He staggered closer, his breath sour. “Tell them I’m not crazy. She was there. She’sreal.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but I didn’t see anyone at the park other than you.”
“There were two of you.” He cranked up the volume. “Ask your friend. Maybe she saw.” He aimed a glare at the officers over his shoulder. “I’m not crazy. I had one drink. Always do on my wife’s birthday.” More like one bottle, but I wasn’t one to split hairs when I didn’t have a dog in the fight. “That doesn’t mean I’m a crazy old drunk. I know what I saw, and I saw a mermaid.”
“Ma’am?” The taller of the two officers called out to me. “Is this man bothering you?”
“No.” I didn’t want to get him in more trouble. “He’s fine.”
“Ask your friend,” Old Man Jenkins urged again. “If she can help, I’m Billy Jenkins. I live on Floribunda Street.”
Not waiting for me to finish the introduction, he stalked off with a slight limp.
