“Is she local?”
“Nope.”
“Where’s she from?”
“Have no clue.” He’d wondered about it, though. Several times, in fact.
“What’s her story?”
“Don’t know.” The light was now green, and Gus strode into the intersection, Walker close on his heel.
“You have servers and people at your fingertips who can find out anything about anyone on the planet. Christ, you have Dozer for God’s sake. He could find Elvis if you needed him to.”
“Can we drop this?” He glanced over Walker’s shoulder. Faith had continued down the street with Ford, Benjamin happily leading her dog. The park was a block ahead. They looked cozy. The three of them. And though it shouldn’t, the sight of Ford Boone with Faith looking as if they were on a date or something didn’t sit right with him.
“Someone didn’t eat their Frosted Flakes this morning.”
“Let’s get a beer,” was his answer.
Walker grinned. “Thought we had to go to the hardware store.”
“Not in the mood.”
“Copy that. Now where the hell do we go for a drink in this Hallmark movie town?”
* * *
He took Walker to Tully’s for lunch since it was close by, and after that, the two men headed out of town to The Dock. It was a beautiful day; the Mets were about to start a double-header, and they bellied up to the bar for a couple of cold ones and the game. With the Fourth of July around the corner, the place was packed with tourists. By six, they were back at Lawson House, groceries in hand, prepared to barbecue steaks.
“How long you are staying?” he asked Walker as they walked into the house.
“Unsure. Does it matter?”
“Nope.” He glanced at his friend. “You gonna tell me why you’re here?”
“Truth?”
Gus sighed and set his bag down on the hall table. He grabbed a beer from the bag and took a good long pull. Walker showing up in Fire Lake had been unexpected. He’d been happy to see his closest friend, but now he was thinking there was more to it.
Walker grabbed a beer for himself and leaned against the table. “Look, the guys are worried is all. We respect that you’ve got to deal with some stuff, but I was dispatched to check up on you.”
“I’m a big boy. I don’t need looking after.”
“No shit. It was Mary who left me no choice. Said she’d kick my ass all the way to New York State and back if I didn’t swing by Fire Lake and make sure her precious little August was doing okay.”
That got a smile out of him. Mary, their office manager, was on the back end of sixty, two inches past five feet, with thicksilver hair she wore in two braids. She treated all the men as her own and he’d do anything for the woman.
“Tell Mary I’m good.”
“Aye, aye captain.” Walker paused. “We’ve got enough steaks to feed an army. Why don’t we have a little party in the backyard?”
“Because I want some peace and quiet.”
“Do you?” Walker grinned. “Come on. I know you’re a grouch and all, but I’d like to get to know your neighbors.” He grabbed the bag and headed for the stairs. “I’ll put this stuff away and you can do the honors.”
He raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Invite them.”
