“Not your fault the customers are slobs.” He grinned, then lowered his voice. “No matter what Mr. Thomas says.”
I said my good-byes and made a mental note to fill the agenda for the next Business-to-Business meeting with anything but Josh’s agenda items. He had gotten his five minutes under Sherry’s agenda. I’d make sure he wouldn’t get the chance again.
You’re being childish. I swept the good angel off my shoulder. I hadn’t even opened the self-help books, and I was already making better decisions. Look out, South Cove, Jill Gardner was on a roll.
Amy glanced at the clock when I stopped in front of her desk. “What are you doing out this early?”
Seriously, I needed to mix up my schedule more. I shrugged. “Wanted to see how Justin was today.”
“I haven’t heard from him since he left the apartment about noon yesterday. He doesn’t drink more than a couple of glasses of wine or a beer or two usually. I don’t think the boy has had a hangover since college.” She snuck a peek at the closed door of the mayor’s office. “Man, Marvin was hot this morning when I came in. I guess he had to answer the phone all day yesterday because Esmeralda told him the calls coming in to his office weren’t part of her job duties.”
“I bet that went over well.” I kept my voice low, not wanting the mayor to hear us talking. I didn’t need a dose of Mayor Baylor today.
“He’s got me putting an amendment to the police dispatcher’s job description into the city council agenda next week. Of course, Greg is going to fight it. He says Esmeralda can’t be expected to juggle everyday calls and emergencies at the same time. And right now, the council loves your boyfriend.” Amy looked at the clock again and sighed. “So, no lunch at Lille’s today?”
I thought about my plans to do laundry and drive into Bakerstown for groceries. And clean the bathroom. When I reached that item on my to-do list, I made a quick decision. “I’ll meet you in our regular booth at eleven o’clock.”
“Not feeling the housework list?” Amy guessed.
“Exactly.” I nodded to the hallway leading to the police department. “Is Greg in yet?”
Amy frowned. “I haven’t seen him. Esmeralda said he was heading over to Bakerstown to see Doc Ames this morning.”
Interesting. “Did she say why? Is this about Kent?”
Amy scanned the still-empty waiting room, lowering her voice. “I don’t know. What have you heard?”
I sighed. “Nothing. Darla thinks it’s murder, but you know Darla. She’s always looking for a juicy story for the Examiner.”
“Well, I haven’t heard anything, but I was out yesterday. According to Esmeralda, Greg wasn’t around much yesterday at all.” Amy cocked her head. “What did he say at dinner?”
“I didn’t see him last night.” My Spidey senses started to tingle.
Amy’s eyebrows raised, just a bit. “I thought you guys always ate together, at least dinner.”
“Not when he’s on a case.” Or avoiding me, I added in my inside voice.
Crap. There I went again, thinking the worst. I squared my shoulders and put on a smile I didn’t feel. “I’m sure he’s just busy.”
Amy opened her mouth, then the buzzer on her phone interrupted.
“Did the mail come yet?” Mayor Baylor’s voice echoed through the empty room.
After rolling her eyes, she pushed a button. “You know it doesn’t arrive until after ten. Jillian doesn’t even open the post office until nine.”
“I told her we needed to be the first stop. I’ve got important things to do. I can’t be waiting on a postal carrier strolling around town gawking at the sites.” The intercom button went dark.
“I’d better get on the phone and see what’s holding up the mayor’s mail.” Amy laughed. “See you at Lille’s.”
I left City Hall wondering what the mayor could be expecting. Most of my snail mail now was junk or bills. I got most of my correspondence from friends through e-mail. Although the historical commission always sent their semiannual “we’re working on your application” letter through the mail. Still, the only news they would provide was a generic status that wasn’t worth the cost of the stamp.
I stepped out into the bright sunlight and almost ran smack into Mary Sullivan, the heart and soul behind South Cove Bed-and-Breakfast. I’d always thought Bill was the business guy of the couple, but after seeing Mary’s analysis of the Christmas festival, I had begun to wonder. Mary’s blond hair, usually neatly combed into a short pageboy, was off center. And she looked like she’d been on a five-mile run. “Hey, are you okay?”