“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He paced up and down. “I went even wilder. Drinking, getting in fights, almost losing my badge, until one night I made a mistake that nearly cost me my life. I knew that was when I had to get out of New York. Figured it would be nice and quiet here, and I could get my act together.”
Serrano smiled wearily at me. “You can see how well that worked out. And why I’ve been so focused on Kunes. I’ve let my prejudice blind me to other possibilities.”
I touched his hand. “We all do that from time to time. And we seemed to have switched suspects. I was always so convinced that Chip was the bad guy. Now I’m not so sure.”
He grabbed one of the brownies and took a bite. “Nearly thawed out. I’m off to take a fresh look at this whole situation, Daisy. See ya.”
And with that, he was gone.
• • •
As I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, the phone rang.
“Hullo, Brat, what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Hi, Angus. I’m working. Like I usually do on a Tuesday.”
“And what else happens on Tuesdays?”
There are no stupid questions. Only stupid answers. But the glass of wine I’d had with my shrimp risotto was dulling my tired brain. “I give up. What?”
“It’s the Swamp Pike Flea Market!”
The market was held year-round on Tuesdays and Saturdays, although Tuesdays were the best with a livestock auction and more of the Amish vendors in attendance.
“Come on. Take the day off and go with me,” he begged.
“Look, I can’t just close the store.”
“Please, Daisy? I—ah—really need to talk to you.”
I took a sip of my wine. I could use a break myself, if truth be told. “Okay, okay. Let me call Laura and see if she can cover for me.”
“I already called her. And I’m paying her for the day, too, so we’re all set.”
“Jeez, Angus.” He could be a bit pushy sometimes. “Fine. Well, we don’t have to get there at the butt crack of dawn, do we?”
“If we don’t get there when it opens, we might miss the good deals. And you know how I hate driving around looking for a parking space.”
The market didn’t open until 7 a.m., but I’d been through this routine before.
I sighed. “See you at six. And for God’s sake, bring some coffee.”
Joe grinned as he put away the rest of the risotto in the fridge. “Picking with Angus tomorrow, I take it?”
“I agreed to go in a moment of weakness. It must be your fabulous cooking that softened me up.” I kissed him, put the pan in the sink, and poured in warm water and soap.
“He has been a huge help with the plumbing,” Joe said.
“I know, I’m just kidding. I’ll try not to wake you.”
• • •
At 5:45 a.m., I dressed quickly in my jeans, red thermal shirt, boots, and windbreaker and was ready when Angus pulled up outside. I hopped into the truck, glad to see he’d remembered the coffee.
He made small talk as we headed along River Road and then down Swamp Pike for a couple of miles.