Chapter Fourteen
IONA PAUSED IN pouring Italian dressing on top of chicken breasts in a gallon bag and studied Elias’ facial expression. “You’re all right.”
He smiled. “You know that, huh?”
“I know you.”
Elias sobered. “Yeah, you do.”
She resumed pouring the dressing. “Was Andre helpful?”
“Sort of.”
Another pause. “What did he say?”
Elias chuckled. “Not much.”
“You’re kidding.” She scowled. “If he didn’t plan to say much, why did he insist on going to check on you? I trusted him when he said he knew what you needed.”
“He did.”
“Well, if he said little, what did he do that was so helpful?”
“He made me laugh.”
Iona stared for a beat, then blew out a breath.
Of course. Why didn’t she think of that?
Elias wasn’t like her Artemis teammates.
He wouldn’t talk about what was bugging him until he was ready.
Pushing him to talk would make him remain silent longer.
He had to work things out in his head before he’d share.
If he shared. Although they were a couple, Elias had ghosts just as she did.
“I should have thought of that myself. Did the laugh help?”
“Definitely. Do you need help?”
She closed the storage bag and handed it to him. “Put that in the refrigerator. The chicken needs to marinate for a few hours.”
“Dinner?”
She nodded. “What’s the plan for today?”
“We’re taking shifts listening to the conversations at Dutch’s table throughout the day.” He made a face. “Most of the time, we’ll be listening to the air conditioning system kick on and go off. But we might pick up something interesting during mealtimes.”
“This isn’t a normal home with a rhythm where people come and go at the same times every day. This is a clubhouse where people won’t be around much of the time.”
“Got a better idea?”
“Maybe. How do you feel?” She pointed a finger at him. “No sugar-coating, Knight. Tell me the truth.”
“Rough.”
“Think you’re up to going into town again?”
“I can handle that. Why do you want to go?”
“There’s a coffee shop across the street from Katie’s Deli. I’m feeling the need for a cup of coffee.”
His eyebrow rose. “I can make you coffee here.”
“True. What you can’t provide is good old country gossip.”
A slow smile curved his mouth. “Good plan. We should ask Grant and Rayne to join us. Four people look like friends going out to talk. Two looks like a date, and people won’t talk in our vicinity.”
Smart. Iona washed her hands and dried them. “Let’s go see if Rayne and Grant want to come with us.”
They found the couple in what was supposed to be a library, but at the moment was just a sad room filled with empty bookcases and a desk.
“This is just wrong,” Grant said, shaking his head. “Bookshelves should be filled with books.”
“Agreed. How do you feel about a cup of coffee with some good company?” Elias asked him.
“I’m always in the mood for coffee. Why?”
“Iona thinks we might overhear useful information if we hang out in the coffee shop in Red Rock.”
“Sounds good to me.” Rayne headed for the hallway. “If there’s a bookstore in town, that’s also a good place to pick up a few books to place on these shelves.”
“Nope.” Grant caught up with his wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I don’t want to waste good books on a library that isn’t being used. We’ll hold them for our own library.”
After telling Seth what they were doing, Iona handed Grant the keys to the truck. “Since you’re a control freak.”
“Guilty.” Grant unlocked the truck and opened the front passenger door for Rayne. After helping her inside the vehicle, he circled around to the driver’s seat while Elias and Iona climbed into the backseat.
“Elias.” Grant looked in the rearview mirror. “Do a check.”
“Copy that.”
Elias pulled an electronic signal detector from his pocket and turned it on. Immediately, the chaser lights changed from green to red. “Ears.”
“Find it.”
After a careful search, Rayne said, “Here.” She held a black dot on the tip of her finger. She lowered the window and flicked the listening device off her finger. “Check again.”
Elias turned on the signal detector again. This time, the chaser lights stayed green. “We’re clear inside.”
“We probably have a tracker on the truck.”
“Since we’re going to the coffee shop, don’t stop on the side of the road. We can check the truck after we park in town.”
Almost an hour later, Grant pulled into an empty parking space in the lot beside the shop. “Stay here while I check for the tracker.”
“I’ll go with you.” Elias opened his door and climbed out.
When the doors shut, Iona and Rayne stared at each other. “Does he do that often?” Iona asked.
“Every time he can get away with it.” She smiled. “He has a strong protective streak. To keep the peace between us, I let him do the security checks when we’re at home. On missions, we both do the checks.”
She might have to try something similar with Elias. Iona had noticed the times when he put his body in front of hers. “I might have to adopt a similar policy.”
Rayne studied her for a moment. “Are things serious between you two?” She held up her hand. “Never mind. It’s not my business, and you just started dating. The answer is probably no.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“That’s the answer to your question.”
Her teammate’s face lit up. “Really?”
Iona laughed. “Are you surprised?”
“I shouldn’t be. We’ve been watching you and Elias for months.” She grinned. “In fact, we’ve been speculating how soon you two would finally admit you had feelings for each other.” She mimicked polishing her nails on an invisible lapel. “I won. I can’t wait to tell the others to pay up.”
She should have known. Iona had instigated an observation game when Teagan and Seth began dancing around each other.
The winner usually won dinner at a favorite restaurant, or the other Artemis members would chip in to buy a book or a gift card to the winner’s favorite store. “What will you choose for your prize?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”
The men opened the truck doors and helped the women onto the asphalt. Grant opened the door to the coffee shop, and the four of them went inside.
Iona glanced around. Typical coffee shop decor with a small-town twist. This coffee shop offered coffee blends named after the streets around town.
She remembered them from her session studying the town map.
She’d learned long ago that committing a map of the area to memory was a good practice.
It had saved her life more than once over the years.
Elias nudged her toward the counter. “Order what you want.”
She and Rayne studied the menu posted on the wall behind the employees and ordered hot chocolate and scones. The men ordered scones and coffee. When the worker placed their order on trays at the counter, the operatives headed for the table in the corner.
“This feels strange.” Grant scanned the coffee shop and the occupants scattered among the tables.
“Why?” Rayne asked.
“This isn’t in the detective’s manual on how to solve crimes. I’m used to going after information, not waiting for it to come to me.”
Iona sipped her coffee. “Welcome to the class on low-key investigation methods, where our aim is to teach you how to solve crimes from your recliner.”
“Move over, Jessica Fletcher.” Elias chewed and swallowed a bite of scone as he studied their fellow diners.
The occupants of one table might be their best bet for information.
Iona considered the merits of casually stopping at their table to strike up a conversation.
That would defeat the purpose of eavesdropping, though.
For now, she’d bide her time and see what happened.
The way she interacted with her customers, Megan looked as if she kept her finger on the pulse of Red Rock.
If all else failed, they could try the library or the town bookstore.
Book enthusiasts were usually willing to swap stories.
Two police officers entered the coffee shop and greeted Megan. “Are you boys on a break?” she asked.
“Yeah. What do you have for us?”
“The best Americano coffee you’ve ever tasted, along with a delicious orange and cranberry scone. The scone is guaranteed to melt in your mouth.”
“Sold.” Tall cop leaned over and kissed Megan’s cheek. “We don’t have long, love. We’re short-handed today. If we get a call, we’ll have to roll out of here in a hurry.”
“No problem. I’ll have your order ready in a minute. Take a seat, and I’ll bring the coffee and scones to you.”
“Thanks, Megan.” Short cop smiled at her. “Hopefully, your scones will make your husband a little sweeter.”
“Don’t bet on it.”
Tall cop nudged him toward a table near the operatives.
Watching their actions, Iona got the impression the cops were checking them out while trying not to look like they were interested in the operatives.
They could look. All of them had concealed weapons.
They went nowhere without weapons to defend themselves and others.
If the cops were good, they’d spot the weapons and ask to see permits.
She waited, as did the rest of her companions. They ate their scones and sipped their drinks while carrying on a conversation about the drive to Red Rock from Nashville.
Tall cop eyed them as he and his partner paused by their table. He nodded in greeting. “Ya’ll just passing through town?”
Elias straightened. “We’re staying for a few days.”
Short cop rested his hand on the hilt of his Glock. “Do you boys have permits for those weapons you’re carrying?”
Thank goodness Brent had thought of this possibility when they agreed to work for Fortress. Elias and Grant slowly reached for their wallets, which contained their weapon permits sporting their fake names. Zane and Brent were never caught unawares. They handed the permits to the officers.
The men studied the permits and finally handed them back. “What brings you to town?” Tall cop asked.
“Just wanted to get away for a few days with our Old Ladies,” Grant said.