What Janie Saw(57)
“You think they’re all students, don’t you?”
* * *
PANCAKES HAD NEVER smelled so delicious, and Rafe’s mother outdid herself in the charm department. If Rafe hadn’t been so tired, he might have protested more.
“That’s my boy,” she told two of her regular customers. “He’s got good taste, and I’m not talking about his choice of restaurants.”
“Mom, don’t get any ideas,” Rafe ordered as he guided Janie to a booth. “We’re working on something.”
His mother nodded. “The Travis case, yes. I’ll get the usual for both of you.”
“Where’s the other waitress?” he asked. Usually, there were two waitresses handling the floor.
“She called in this morning. Doesn’t feel well. Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control.”
Before Rafe could say anything else, an older man slid in beside him. “Glad to hear something’s happening with Brittney’s case. Got anything to report?”
“Now, Bob, you know I can’t share anything with you right now. What I can do, though, is introduce you to Janie Vincent. Janie, meet Bob Hossnell. He spends his day pretending to be a lawyer. Secretly, he wants my job.”
Rafe could read a facial expression; Janie wasn’t any fonder of lawyers than she was of cops.
“Nope, you can have your job,” Bob said, after shaking Janie’s hand. “Unlike you, I don’t get calls in the middle of the night too often. The wife appreciates that.”
For some reason, Bob was gazing at Janie and smiling. Janie looked relieved when Rafe’s mother arrived, delivering two glasses of orange juice. Rafe waited until she left before asking Bob, “Has the name Derek Chaney ever appeared on our court docket?”
“Not that I recall. He’s not from Scorpion Ridge. I’ll do some checking, though.”
Rafe took a small sip of juice before asking, “So, Bob, Tommy Skinley still working for your brother’s construction company?”
Now Rafe had Janie’s attention. She sat up straight, fully engaged. Rafe was getting the idea that while she wasn’t exactly comfortable around cops, she was starting to be more comfortable as part of their world.
Strange, but he wished she was more comfortable because of him, because of how he made her feel. He wished it had nothing to do with this case and everything to do with her desire to be with him.
* * *
“TOMMY’S BEEN WITH them almost two months now,” Bob said.
Janie made a mental note to ask Katie if she knew Tommy. Amanda, Tommy’s sister, was a regular at BAA, especially since Katie signed. The teenager regularly volunteered at fund-raisers and such.
Janie didn’t remember ever seeing her brother, though. Or even hearing about one.
“He a good worker?” Rafe asked.
“His probation officer reports that Tommy shows up to work about five to ten minutes late every day, he’s usually hungover, and he leaves the moment his shift is done. My brother’s a bit more careful in what he says to me because he’s aware that Tommy will go to jail if he gets in trouble again. So, tell me, why do you ask?”