'A jar of mayonnaise on it makes it bad,' she said. 'And there's a gallon of oil in those fries.'
'That's what makes them good.' Turning his back on her, he called, 'All right, boys, here's your snack. I made the sandwiches without any of my hot barbecue sauce, Theo, just in case you were worried.'
Noah and Theo were looking over the list. She nudged her father and whispered, 'Did you trade Theo for Noah as your partner
in the tournament?'
He looked guilty as sin. 'Honey, I had to.'
Incredulous, she asked, 'Why?' She didn't give him time to answer. 'How friendly was that, making a promise and then
breaking it?'
'I was being practical.'
'What does that mean?'
She followed him back into the kitchen. 'Wrap up my sandwich for me, Mike, so I can take it home with
me.'
She got the foil out and did as he asked. 'You still haven't answered me,' she reminded him.
Jake leaned against the island and folded his arms. 'The way I see it, we stand a better chance of winning if there's four of
us trying for the prize instead of just two, and Noah was going to sweet-talk you into partnering with him. I didn't figure Theo would appreciate hearing that, so I told Noah I'd be his partner. Now you and Theo can spend the whole day together. You
should be happy to be included.'
He was exasperating. 'In other words, that means you think Noah might be a better fisherman?'
'He did mention he's done a whole heck of a lot more fishing in the past four years, but that isn't the reason why I switched,' he hastened to add when he saw that stubborn glint come into his daughter's eyes. 'There isn't any reason to get in a snit about this. You should be thanking me for paying your fee.'
'I don't want to fish Saturday. I have a hundred other things to do.'
'You could win the prize. Everyone knows you're a better fisherman than I am.'
She wasn't buying it. 'That's not true, and you know it. Are you trying to play matchmaker? Is that why you want me to
partner with Theo?'
'After the way I heard you talking to him? I don't need to do any matchmaking. You're holding your own just fine.'
'Daddy, I was teasing…'
He acted as though he hadn't heard her. 'Noah might be doing a little matchmaking. He told me he's never seen Theo acting
like he does around you.'
That remark got her full attention. Her father nodded, then went to the refrigerator to get some milk. He poured himself a full glass and took a long swallow.
'How does Theo act?' she asked.
'Noah says he's smiling a lot. I got the feeling that's a rarity.'
'The man's on vacation. That's why he's smiling. Is your stomach bothering you? You only drink milk when you have indigestion.'
'My stomach's just fine,' he said impatiently, and then went right back to the subject at hand. 'And when it comes to Theo,
you've got a reason for everything. So explain this: How come he can't take his eyes off you? Noah noticed, and after he pointed
it out to me, I took notice too.' Before she could argue, he said, 'Did you know that Noah works for the FBI? He wears a gun,
just like Theo's. I saw it clipped to his waistband. I'm telling you, Theo has some real influential friends.'
'And you know a lot of people who need help from influential friends.'
Jake finished his milk and set the glass in the sink. When he turned around, she noticed in the harsh overhead light how tired he looked.
'Why don't you go home now and let Theo and me close up.'
'I can see to it.'
'I know you can, but the next couple of days are going to be busy. People are going to be stopping in to sign up and eat, and you know how crowded it gets in here on Thursday and Friday. Go home, Daddy. Get off your feet and rest.'
'You need your rest too. You've got to start working on those papers at the clinic.'
'I'll have help.'
'All right, then,' he said. 'I am tired, so I'll go on home. You shut down at one instead of two.'
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. 'I'll see you tomorrow.'
He opened the back door, then closed it. 'Oh, I forgot to tell you that Ben Nelson called looking for you. He still doesn't have
any news or any suspects, but he's going to keep an eye out just in case something else bad happens. Now, I ask you, is that something you want to say to a father? He had me worried sick about you, but then I remembered Theo is staying with you.
You turn your deadbolts tonight.' He reopened the door and stepped out into the moonlight. 'It's a comfort,' he said.
'What's a comfort?'
'Knowing Theo's going to be there with you.'
Michelle nodded. It was a comfort. She locked the door, flipped off the light, and went back into the bar. Theo and Noah had carried their plates over to one of the round tables and were eating their sandwiches.
One of the regulars wanted a refill. She noticed how bleary-eyed he was and asked, 'Are you driving home tonight, Paulie?'
'Connie's coming by to pick me up after her shift's over at the plant. She's my designated driver tonight.'
'Okay, then,' she said, smiling. She poured another glass of beer, noticed how stuffy it was inside, and turned up the speed on
the overhead fan. There were only five customers in The Swan. She made sure everyone was happy, then filled two tall
glasses with ice water and carried them over to Noah and Theo.
Theo pulled a chair out. 'Sit with us.'
She handed Noah his water, then sat down between him and Theo and put Theo's glass next to his plate.
'I hope you don't mind, but I sent Daddy home, which means I have to close up the bar tonight,' she said.
'It's so damned cute that you call your dad 'Daddy.' Is that a southern thing?' Noah asked.
'It's a Renard thing,' she said.
Noah had just popped the last of his french fries into his mouth and was washing it down with a big gulp of water when she
asked him if he wanted her to accompany him to her clinic to survey the damage.
'I've already been there. I think Theo's right. Kids didn't do it. It was a one-man operation. And whoever it was got real
frustrated looking for something. Did you notice the desk? The lock was destroyed. Somebody took a long time working at
that lock.'
'Michelle thinks maybe it's one of Robinson's patients trying to steal his file.'
'Couldn't a patient simply ask for his records?' Noah asked.
