Page 17 of Armed ’N’ Ready

“Hoped you’d say that.” He was about to bite into one of the other pieces of sandwich when Tess McTavish, the DPC’s manager, flew into the kitchen, her long, curly red hair bouncing. “Here.” He handed her a wedge. “Try this and tell me if you don’t think it’s the best panini you ever had. This one’s vegetarian. Just for you.”

“Hey, Andi.” Tess’s green eyes sparkled as she smiled in a bubbly way that lit up any room. With her dangly crystal earrings, multicolored tie-dyed tank tucked into cut-off jeans, and Birkenstocks, she was a throwback to hippie-Woodstock days. The woman was only five foot two, but no one would ever overlook her.

“Thanks, Marty.” She accepted the sandwich and was about to take a bite when she gave Andi another look and frowned. “You okay?”

“Rough morning.” And then some. “Fill you in later. Cappuccino first.”

Along with being the manager, Tess had also become Andi’s best friend, and every morning before the lunch rush they gabbed over coffee, and no topic was off-limits. Movies, makeup…and men, of course.

Andi stowed her bag in a locker against the wall then began scooping espresso into the stainless-steel Gaggia.

“Wow,” Tess mumbled between chews then pointed to the plate with the remaining two pieces of panini. “Can I take these out to Kara and Zoe?”

“Sure.” Marty handed her the plate, and she disappeared out the door to share the panini with the senior waitresses. As if twenty-five could be considered senior.

The espresso machine began dripping into two ceramic cups, and Andi started foaming milk. Minutes later, she was sitting at the gleaming, square wooden bar next to Tess, watching Kara wipe down the dozen or so beer taps until they gleamed. Zoe busied herself setting one of the twenty rustic wood tables situated around the dining area.

Andi pivoted on her stool, taking in the earthy decor. Between the tables and bar seating, the café’s legal seating capacity maxed out at about a hundred, less since she’d removed several tables to accommodate a small black piano. To bring in more business, she’d booked a musician for two weeks from this Saturday.

Funny how Joe had shared her love of music and food, but not dogs. He’d hidden that fact at first. That should have been her first clue that not only wasn’t he the right man for her, but he was capable of concealing things from her. Important things.

Next, she gazed fondly at her favorite part of the DPC. The Wall of Dog.

On the south side of the dining room, covering nearly every inch of wall space, were framed photos of dogs, some posing with their owners, some without. It was a decor idea she’d come up with, and her customers loved it. After spending a hundred dollars at the DPC, a customer could hang one framed photo of their pooch. The only exceptions were photos of the stray dogs she’d found homes for and a copy of the photo on the bureau in Joe’s bedroom. The same one Sgt. Houston had said she and Joe looked “pretty cozy” in.

She couldn’t stop her lips from lifting. Since Joe didn’t like dogs, he hadn’t appreciated being tacked to the center of a wall surrounded by canines. She’d hung it there as a joke, intending to take it down right after he’d seen it. Then it had grown on her, and she’d left it there for posterity.

After what he’d done with her bank account… Serves the bastard right.

“Earth to Andi.” Her friend eyed her with concern. “What’s going on?”

She lowered her voice so Kara and Zoe wouldn’t hear. Ten minutes later, she’d related everything about the search warrant.

“Holy crap.” Tess’s green eyes went wide as she set down her cup.

Andi put her finger to her lips, glancing at the two waitresses to see if they’d heard anything. Luckily, they’d moved on to the deck to set the exterior tables. “Trust me, there’s nothing holy about it. If it’s true, then these are bad people Joe’s gotten involved with. You have to promise me that you’ll keep this quiet.”

“Cross my heart.” She dragged her finger down her chest, then from side to side in the shape of a cross. “And the police actually broke into the house while you were still in bed?”

“Not exactly.” She took a sip of cappuccino, and her face flamed, although she couldn’t be certain if it was from the hot coffee or from Sgt. Houston catching her clad only in her oldest, saggiest bathing suit. “I was washing Stray in the shower.”

“Did you hear them come in?” Tess leaned forward on the stool. “I mean, did they at least knock?”

“He said they knocked. Unfortunately, I didn’t hear it, so they had to break in.”

“He said they knocked? He who?” After saying “who,” Tess’s lips remained puckered as if she were whistling.

“Sgt. Nicholas Houston of the Massachusetts State Police, that’s who.” Again, her cheeks heated. “And his K-9 sidekick.”

Tess straightened on the stool. “Are you telling me a state trooper and his dog found you naked in the shower?” She struggled to keep from grinning.

“Of course not.” She rolled her eyes. “I was wearing a bathing suit. I don’t normally wash dogs in the buff. The important thing is that he was pointing a gun at me, and I thought his dog—which turned out to be a very nice dog—was going to tear me to shreds.”

“Was it that old blue string bikini? That thing doesn’t cover much.” Tess laughed. “Was he hot?”

Andi let out an exasperated breath. “No.” Yes. In a rugged, tough-guy way, though admitting it—even to herself—really chapped her ass. “Anyway, since they took my phone, I have no way of contacting Joe. I’ll keep the DPC’s business cell phone with me at all times, so if he calls on the landline, come get me right away. Can you do that, please?”

Tess hunched her shoulders, holding up both hands in a defensive posture. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry for laughing.” Worry lines creased her brow. “In all seriousness, you need to be careful of police, and especially federal agents.”