“I think that would be lovely.” I put my arm around her and gave her a quick hug. “You are such a kind person.”
“A kind person who wants to murder Austin? I think that’s the definition of unkind, although Pastor Bill seems to think my rage is perfectly human.” She pulled away from my hug and took a sip of her coffee. “I’d always thought I was above hate. I chair the South Cove Methodist Women Against Violence Committee, for gosh sake.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “You were hurt. Hurt people, like hurt animals, lash out at times.” I was glad Toby or Greg wasn’t here listening to Sadie’s rambling. They might take her anger out of context and instead of Austin sitting over at the station, she’d be sitting there. Sadie was likely to admit to being guilty for not being more understanding than actually committing a real crime.
“I appreciate you looking at all sides of the issue.” I returned to my coffee. “If you can’t figure out something to make that we can serve, it’s not a big issue. I don’t get a lot of requests for gluten-free products.” Well, that was a big fat fib, but I didn’t want to make her feel bad.
“I’ll figure out something. It will help me take my mind off poor Austin. I can’t believe Greg is still holding him in that cell. Doesn’t he have to charge him or let him go?”
“I think the DA is the one actually holding off on releasing him. It’s not like he hasn’t disappeared before.”
Sadie waved her hand, pushing away the thought. “That was when he was a kid. She lured him into helping her escape. And you know some people will do anything for love.”
I turned toward the door, where the bell had announced Toby’s arrival. He looked like he’d been rode hard and put away wet, or in layman’s terms, like crap. His usual crisp white shirt was replaced with a rumpled T-shirt I was pretty sure I’d seen in the corner of the police station’s locker room when Greg had asked me to get him his coat out of a locker last week. I felt Sadie turn to see what I was staring at and heard her audible gasp.
“I look that bad, do I?” Toby shook his head and went behind the counter. “I’m kind of in between places right now and didn’t feel like going to Elisa’s for a clean shirt this morning.”
“Well, I’d better be going.” Sadie air-kissed me and skittered to the doorway. “Lots of baking to do, you know.”
As she left, I turned back toward Toby, who now had a clean apron over the logo of the classic acid rock band. He looked better, but still drawn and pale. “What do you mean, you’re in between places? I thought you were living with Elisa.”
“She kicked me out. Or we broke up. I can’t remember the exact order, but as of ten o’clock Friday night, I’ve been homeless. I sublet my apartment to a buddy when I moved in with Elisa, and now I can’t find a place that’s close and in my price range. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to look in Bakerstown or even Collinsville.”
“Oh Toby, I’m so sorry. How are you dealing with the breakup?” I wanted to ask about what he’d said a few days ago, that he thought she might be seeing someone else, but I didn’t want to scare him off. It had taken him days to tell me this much.
“I miss that little girl like crazy.” Toby arranged the cups. “But it’s over, so I guess I’d better deal with it. Hey, you don’t know of any apartments going up soon, do you?”
“Did Josh rent out the second apartment next door?” My eyes drifted to the Antiques by Thomas building. Josh lived in one of the top floor apartments, but he had an extra.
“Kyle’s living there now that he’s moved out from his mother’s house. I’d see if I could bunk with him, but he has a girlfriend who stays most nights.” Toby shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to stay. For the last couple nights I’ve been at the station. Greg’s been awesome about letting me crash there, but I need someplace I can sleep past six, since I get off patrol at two.”
“You could stay with me.” The words were out before I really thought about it, but I did have a guest room and a second bedroom upstairs that had a bed in it. The guest room was probably too frilly for Toby’s taste, but he could get used to it until he had a place of his own.
“Not an option. I don’t want to intrude on both of my bosses during our time off. I’d be out of one job or maybe both within the month. And I like working for you.” He grinned one of his special Toby Lady Killer smiles, but I could tell his heart wasn’t in it.