Captain Pancake leaned his entire body against Rachel’s leg.
She looked at the pale fur collecting on her trousers.
“Does he do this to everyone?”
“No,” Hank said.
I looked at him.
“Yes, he does,” Ellie said.
Hank sipped his coffee.
“Ruined it.”
Rachel attempted to step away.
Captain Pancake moved with her.
Hank held out the mug.
“Coffee?”
Rachel inspected the contents.
“Is that fresh?”
“Today.”
She accepted it.
“Perfect.”
She took one sip.
Her face remained professionally neutral.
That was how I knew the coffee was terrible.
The shop phone rang again.
Hank went inside.
“Reef Rascal.”
A pause.
“No.”
He hung up.
Rachel looked from the phone to Ellie.
“I’m Rachel Donovan.”
“I worked that out.”
“I’m sorry this reached you the way it did.”
