Amy’s grip tightened slightly on the bag.
Mo leaned gently against her knees, blocking her path in what looked entirely affectionate.
“You weaponized your dog,” she muttered.
“I prefer ‘strategically deployed.’ Now how about we talk?”
“Five minutes,” Amy said. “I have a meeting to get to.”
“I’ll take five.” I pointed to one of the many benches the beautification committee had placed along Main Street, and we sat.
Mo wasn’t interested in joining us. He wandered over to Sadie’s Bakery & Café for a treat.
“Don’t take long, Mo,” I called out.
“I miss seeing him,” Amy said.
“And we miss seeing you. So, tell me what’s going on.”
“I so want to tell you everything, Pep. I really do, but I just can’t. At least right now I can’t, I gave my word. And you know how I am when I give my word.”
I had to ask. “Are you ending it with Beau?”
“If anything, he’ll probably end it with me.”
Seeing sorrow in her eyes made me think it wasn’t what she wanted, so I quickly said, “Let me help, Amy.”
She sighed heavily and stood. “I just may need your help but not yet. I need to figure out one more thing, and then we’ll talk.”
“Promise?”
She laughed softly, not a funny laugh but a resigned laugh. “A promise is what got me into this mess.”
“And I’ll help you get out of it if you let me,” I offered, upset at seeing her so stressed.
“Of that I have no doubt.”
She gave me a quick hug and hurried off.
Mo came strolling over to me licking his lips when he suddenly stopped. A slow, steady snarl rolled out of him. One lip lifted just enough to show a flash of teeth.
I knew what it meant… someone he didn’t like was behind me.
I turned to see Stone smiling. “Suddenly, he doesn’t like me? I wonder who changed his mind.”
I knew what he was getting at—Ian. And no doubt he was right. I could just picture Ian showing Mo a photo of Stone and snarling at it, teaching him to do the same thing. I couldn’t keep a smile from my face, though I did intend to speak to Ian about it.
I didn’t share that thought with Stone. Instead, I asked jokingly, well almost jokingly, “Are you following me, Stone?”
“No, I spotted you and thought I’d give you a heads up—there was another bank robbery this morning, Fayetteville. The doors had barely opened when they hit.”
“Two men hit the safety deposit boxes, I’m guessing or you wouldn’t be here telling me about it.”
“You got it. Same as your bank here in Willow Lake.”
“So, it makes no difference to them that their comrade Todd Smith was caught, which means they’re confident that he doesn’t know enough to spill anything important.”
“He’s a dead end,” Stone confirmed.
