“I don’t know.” She had major suspicions, but Roger didn’t need to have that information. “I’ve asked my sister Bekki to look into what is going on. I’m going to give her the name of the vendors that have suddenly been unable to fulfill our orders and let her go to work. Anything we say about this could derail her investigation, so we are going to be mute on this problem. Got it?”
“Yeah. I don’t like it, but I get it.” He glanced at the door before he stood and started back toward the kitchen. “My pasta is ready. I need to sheet it and start the raviolis.”
“I’ll finish with this and call Bekki. I need to talk with you and Lola after lunch service.”
Roger stopped, spun, and asked, “Something wrong?”
“No. Not at all. Just a couple changes I want to make. Oh, and thank you for installing the camera.”
“It was really easy. The battery will last a month, so I set up a recurring reminder on your computer to remind you when to pull it and charge it. There is a folder on the system’s desktop where the videos are accessible. I set it to keep them for a week, then delete them. The owner’s manual is in your top desk drawer.” He shouted the last words as he walked back into the kitchen.
Ryker’s injury had changed her in so many ways, and yet her world was just the same as it was when she stepped away a week ago. The familiar chatter, occasional shouted orders, and laughter faded into the background. Where it should be, a small voice inside her head reminded her. She’d built a successful business and had a great team in place. Working normal hours while still providing the leadership necessary wasn’t impossible. She’d just need to tweak her schedule if problems came up, and those nights that Ryker would be busy she would stay at work and help. It was… liberating and scary. She’d worked so hard for so long, taking a step back seemed like a luxury, although it wasn’t—it was just the reward for all the hard work she’d invested into her pride and joy.
She shook her head, clearing away the meandering thoughts, and grabbed her cell. Scrolling down to her sister’s number, she called Bekki.
“What’s up?” Her sister seemed distracted.
“Is this a bad time?” Her information could wait. Bekki worked on several stories at a time.
“Huh? No, no. I’m just frustrated. What’s on your mind?”
“Well, remember I told you about the vendors that weren’t filling our orders anymore?”
“Like it was yesterday.”
“Well, there are three, and they have consistently declined to fill our orders while filling other restaurants, at least according to my chef.”
“Okay. Could you do me a favor? I’m not in the office. Could you text me the names of the vendors and the dates of your orders? Hell, even a copy of your orders would help.” Bekki sounded like she was walking in a crowded building.
“I can scan them and send you an email.”
“That would be perfect. Hey, have you heard from Blay lately?”
She frowned as she thought. “No. I haven’t seen him since Sunday dinner at Brody’s. Why?”
“Nothing. I need help to navigate some construction permits and since he’s Builder Bob, I thought he could point me in the right direction. I don’t want to bother Brody at work.”
“But you’ll bother Blay?”
“Ha, well, yeah. Unless he’s putting out a fire, he’s just lazing around, right?” Bekki laughed loudly.
“You know, I don’t think that’s how it is at the firehouse.” She knew Blay worked hard. What he did all day if there wasn’t a call she wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t picture Blay with his feet kicked up watching television along with the rest of the station.
“Whatever. He needs to call me back.” Bekki snorted the reply.
“And when did you call him?”
“About… ten minutes ago.”
She snorted at Bekki’s impatience. “Give him a half-hour before you call him again. He might be doing something important.”
“Again, whatever. Doesn’t he know that his world rotates around me?” Bekki cackled an evil laugh.
“You’re horrible.”
“Nah, I’m perfect. Look, I got to go. My Uber is pulling up. Send me that email and I’ll look into it. Don’t engage with these guys, just find a workaround until I get answers.”
“We’ve done that.” Or rather, Roger had done that.
“Okay. I’ll call as soon as I have anything. Got to fly. Bye.” The line went dead.
She shifted the phone away from her ear. “Bye.” Her sister personified perpetual energy that seemed wound just a bit too tight. She was a wonderful person but a lot to take if you didn’t know her. Well, even if you knew her, she was a lot to handle. With a chuckle, she grabbed the orders that her vendors didn’t fill and scanned them into the computer. She needed to get through the paperwork so she could meet Ryker at home tonight. A smile filled her heart. She had a reason to leave work. Damn, could life get any better?
Chapter 15
Ryker sat down in the rehab facility’s intake room. The need to speak with Mouse privately put them in the small room. He looked up when the door opened.
“What happened to you?” Mouse froze just inside the door. She looked better. Her skin held a pink tint instead of the grey pallor she’d had the last time they’d met. Her hair was clean and secured in a ponytail, her eyes were clear, but there were still dark rings under them.
“A bullet.” He would not pull any punches with her.
“Because of me?” She leaned against the wall instead of sitting down across from him.
“I think so. Care to fill me in?”
She looked down at her fingers she’d knotted in the hem of her hospital scrub top. “They couldn’t have found you through me. I was careful.”
“You used your friend Alice to reach out to me. They found Alice floating. They knew my number.
