“Hey are you up yet?” Her eager brown eyes appeared in the crack of the door.
“Yes, I’m trying to get my day started.”
“Well, move faster, I made breakfast, and no one likes cold eggs,” Ridley said before she disappeared down the hall, leaving the appealing scent of bacon in her wake.
Breakfast was as good a reason as any to get up before noon on a Saturday.
“Hey,” I said with a sheepish smile as I stepped into the kitchen.
“You seemed pretty tired last night.” She placed the sizzling bacon and a large helping of egg onto the two plates on the table.
“I was, I think it’s physical as well as emotional exhaustion at this point. There’s just been so much going on,” I said and closed my eyes, savoring the first bite of eggs. “So good.”
“Thanks, the secret is dill and just a little bit of milk,” she said as she lowered the pan to the table.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said and crunched down into the bacon, my bracelet glittered in the morning light.
“That’s pretty,” Ridley said as she gestured to my wrist.
“Oh, thanks, Easton brought it over last night while you were gone,” I said, twisting my wrist so she could see the whole thing.
“Oh I see, he’s bringing you jewelry now?” she asked, amused, and I cringed at the amount of sugar she heaped into her coffee mug.
“Yes, and no. Not the way you think that he would. I don’t think a man’s ever bought me jewelry,” I said, thoughtfully as I reached for the ketchup. “What about you?”
“Me neither, I haven’t dated anyone long enough to give them the opportunity. Most of them just aren’t worth the time,” Ridley explained, and I nodded, knowing how true that was. “Can we go back to your other comment about, not the way I think? I’m confused.”
Fuck, had I said that? Shit. “Well, ummm, I know that Easton definitely is innocent.” Ridley rose one brow and stared at me waiting for me to continue. “He’s like me, he is just trying to find out who killed my brother and bring them to justice.” I twisted the bracelet. “It’s for surveillance, so the cops can keep tabs on everything going on while I am at Sasha’s.”
“Oh.” She gave me a half smile. “He’s a cop or is he working with the cops like you are?”
I paused for a second and then decided to go as vague as possible. “He’s sort of helping the detective like I am.”
Ridley nodded. “Okay, changing topic, what do you plan to do today?”
“I need to get my car fixed but I first need to go get some money. It’s not exactly as if Sasha pays top dollar.”
“Why not just buy a new car? You’ve got the money.”
“I don’t know what kind of reach Dante and his gang have. If I buy a new car then it is titled to me what if they can look that shit up and then see my name isn’t really Allie as I said it was? The old junker I’m driving is still titled to the old man I bought it from, I didn’t exactly take the Bill of Sale to the DMV. I’ll just wait until this is all over then I’ll get a better car.”
“I can loan you some if you need it,” Ridley offered.
I wondered if my face was as flushed as I felt, this woman was too much, I couldn’t get over her kindness, we were still basically strangers. “Thanks, but no. You’ve done enough for me. Just letting me stay here, I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Do you work tonight?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to be able to get your car fixed in time. Why don’t you take my Jeep, I can ride my bike.”
“Bike? It’s too hot to be out there peddling.”
Ridley let out a low chuckle. “No not a bicycle but a bike as in a Harley.”
“You have a motorcycle?”
Ridley nodded.
“Okay, besides teaching me to be a tattoo artist, sometime please teach me to ride,” I was practically begging.
“You’ve got it. So, about money, what are you going to do?”
“I’ve got some things that I can pawn. Do you know of any shops around here?” I lowered my fork to the paper napkin, and finished off my coffee.
“Queen’s Gold, if I was pawning something, that’s where I’d go. My cousin says that the woman, Coco, is fair and kind,” she said, with a shrug. “She’ll give you exactly what your item is worth.”
“Glad to hear it.” I rose from the table to help clean up the breakfast mess. “Thanks.”
“For what?” Ridley asked.
“For everything, for offering to help me.”
Ridley stood from the table, and reached for the white plate in my hand. “I’m always happy to help you. Besides, I don’t think that you’re the kind of person who would just take advantage of me.”
“Absolutely not,” I said, with a firm nod of my head. “And believe me, if you ever need anything at all, I am right here.”
“Noted.” Ridley dropped the dishes into the sink, and my pulse quickened at the sound of glass hitting metal. “The keys are in the bowl,” Ridley said, “just bring her back to me in one piece.”
“Okay.” I was grateful for her generosity. I beamed at her as I turned away to cross the plush carpet of the living room.
I pulled into the parking lot of Queen’s Gold pawnshop and slid my hand over the pocket of my jeans. My mother’s ring sat deep within, and a small wave of guilt washed over me. It was her engagement ring, it
