Page 61 of A Seer and Present Danger

“How’s it hopping, Pipes?”

“Like turtles.”

He laughed. “No rabbits?”

“Nice lull, really.” I studied his face. He looked even more tired than usual. “You been sleeping okay, Buzz?”

“Enough. My back likes to remind me I’m not twenty anymore. My knees get in on the chat, too, and they make it loud.”

“I hear that,” I said. “My feet and shoulders.”

“Aw, you’re still young,” he grinned. He had no idea I was old enough to be his grandmama.

“You are too, Buzz.”

His smile shifted, tinged with sadness. “In this business? I’m the age they put cooks out to pasture.”

“Have you thought about sharing the load? Hiring?”

“We’re at our max. This is what we can afford right now, last I checked. I can’t keep track of all that stuff. I need twenty-four more hours in my twenty-four hours.”

I thought about Kenny running his business into the ground and how Gail had wanted it to fail so she could sell it. Hugo only cared about himself and the items—possibly magical—that he stole and sold.

But sometimes partnerships worked well. Jules, Dusi, and I seemed to be a great team for getting the Rookery up and running. Bertie absolutely relied on a team to make her festivals and charity drives work.

“You know,” I said, “I’ve offered to help.”

Buzz nodded. “I need you on the floor. You’re my best.”

A little thrill ran through me at the complement, so I built on it. “I’m opening a store soon. Out at the Rookery. Yarn and stuff. I want to do a few classes maybe, but it’s going to be very casual. I’ll have time on my hands. And…and I wonder if you’d ever think about a partner going in with you on the diner.”

His eyebrows rose and he blinked.

“Just maybe think about it?”

“Sure. Sure, Pipes. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Good. Say, about the night when Hugo was killed…”

He finished his soda and nodded.

“You went out for your break. Did you see anyone out there? Hear anything unusual?”

“I heard cars leaving the parking lot out front. Normal. And that was it. I wish I’d seen someone—even Hugo. But it was quiet. Sorry. I don’t like the idea of a killer this close to my diner, either.”

“It’s a lot,” I agreed. “And I know the police already questioned you.”

“Over and over. Hatter and Shoe really make you feel like you need to tell them your life story even when you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Order!” Shelly called out, pushing a receipt across the pass-through.

“My adoring audience calls.” Buzz pushed off the counter and took up his station at the grill.

I filled coffee, brought out the highchair for the kiddo who was going to show up with parents in a couple minutes. Plated up the cobbler the sisters were going to order soon. Than was gone, having left a very nice tip.

Aggie was working at a steady pace, too, but she was scowling.

I crossed paths with her near the water pitchers. “Hey. How’s it going?”