His chuckle followed her all the way across the street, but he quieted when they reached the fire escape. He caught the lowest rung and pulled the ladder down, waiting for her to scramble up before following. They ascended as quickly and quietly as possible. The last thing Gina wanted was to alert Mrs. Bogetti to their presence. It sucked they couldn’t camp out on the fire escape outside her window. It really was the perfect spot. But the roof would have to do. At least they could see if anyone was coming.
Once up top, Gina grabbed the lawn chair she had brought up the night before and made herself comfortable.
Rick deposited her backpack on the ground next to her and looked around. “No chair for me?”
She shrugged and dug a piece of baklava out of the bag. “Sorry, big guy. I brought this one up last night. Wasn’t really expecting company.”
He frowned at her and wandered off. She didn’t know what he thought he’d find up here, but since he was out of her hair for the moment, she was going to enjoy her treat. She bit into the pastry, savoring the slightly bitter chocolate and honey flavor as the flaky layers melted on her tongue. It never ceased to amaze her that Eric, who had once burned water (well, he’d forgotten about it and the pot it was boiling in got scorched once the water had evaporated), could make something so delicious. Granted, it was the only thing he made well, but since he had Nat to bake the rest of Street Treats’ delicacies, they were good to go.
She jumped when Rick dropped a camp chair next to her, scraping the metal legs on the ground as he set it up. He’d somehow managed to scrounge up one of those really nice chairs that hard-core soccer moms set up camp with at games.
“Where did you find that?” she asked.
He gestured with his thumb to some vague spot over his shoulder. “It was over on the other side.”
“Are there any more?” Because it looked a whole lot comfier than the hard threaded plastic one she was sitting in.
“Nope. Only one,” he said, not bothering to hide his smug smile.
“I’m surprised at you, Officer. That’s stealing, you know,” she said, sitting back in her chair.
“According to you, it’s borrowing. I’m not going to remove it from the roof. The owner will never even know it’s gone.”
“Wow. Officer Boyd. I think I’m impressed. Didn’t know a guy like you could bend the rules like that.”
He gave her a slight frown. “I’m not bending any rules. It’s not hurting anyone. I only moved it a few feet.”
Gina laughed. “Relax, I’m only yanking your chain.”
“Uh-huh.” He reached out and snagged the bakery bag from her. “Just for that…” He dug his hand inside, pulled out the last piece of baklava, and sank his teeth into it before she could stop him.
“Hey!” she said, swiping the bag back.
“Shh.” He held his finger up to his chocolate-and-honey-smeared lips. “You’ll blow our cover.”
She glared at him and his smile stretched wide enough to show his perfectly straight, white teeth. Someone had had braces as a kid.
“Want the last half?” he asked, holding it out to her.
She did, actually. Especially since the impression from his mouth was still on it. Ugh! That seemed all kinds of twisted. She turned her nose up at it. “No, thanks. It’s covered in cop cooties now.”
Rick chuckled again and popped the remaining piece into his mouth. “Your loss. That stuff is incredible.”
“Yes. I know.”
“Ah, cheer up, buttercup. Maybe we’ll catch your truck vandal and you’ll be rid of me.”
She bestowed a brilliant grin on him. “Now, that would cheer me up.”
“Here,” he said, pulling the night-vision binoculars she’d swiped from his backpack. “I brought you a peace offering.”
“Oooh. For these, I might even forgive you.” She raised them to her eyes and took a look around.
“They are on loan only. And I get them back at the end of the night.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hush up before you blow our cover.”
He quietly chuckled and leaned over the edge of the building, glancing up and down the street.
“Hey,” he loudly whispered, leaning over to get closer to her ear. “You know with those nifty streetlamps they have down there, you don’t really need those things.”
“I know. But they’re cool.” She smirked at him and went back to her surveillance.
Every time someone walked past the truck, her heart would stop for a second. No one so much as slowed down near it, though.
She let out a long sigh and Rick turned to her, eyebrows raised. “You’re really attached to that truck, aren’t you?”