“You fuck him up?” Jeff asked Max with an edge of enthusiasm then he again turned to me and muttered. “Uh… sorry again.”
I smiled my “I’m okay with the f-word” to Jeff but even as I did I was feeling uncertain if Max should brag about parking lot fisticuffs at The Dog to policemen and I opened my mouth to speak but Max got there before me.
“Got a few in, best part, Nina shoved him and he went back at least five feet,” Max replied.
There were more man chuckles at the idea of me shoving Damon and I wasn’t certain how to take this but decided to let it go and change the subject.
“Does anyone want coffee?” I asked and Max squeezed my shoulder.
“Love a cup,” Mick replied and Jeff nodded.
I started to move away and as I did so Max muttered, “Thanks, baby.”
I liked these two words and how he said them so much, without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder and gave him a small smile then went to the coffeepot.
“Mindy okay?” Jeff asked when I grabbed the pot and moved to the sink.
“Hangin’ in there,” Max answered.
“She shot of Matthews now?” Jeff continued with more than a hint of curiosity and I turned off the tap and moved to the coffeemaker, looking him over.
He was taller than Damon, lighter hair, leaner of build but fit and perhaps not as overtly good-looking he was also not unattractive in the slightest. In fact, since he was more obviously comfortable with who he was and how he looked instead of being in your face about it as Damon was, he was more attractive.
Hmm.
“I’m thinkin’, yeah,” Max said but when I looked at him he was also studying Jeff closely.
“Good news,” Jeff mumbled and I lifted the top to the coffeemaker and poured the water in.
“So, Bitsy’s home?” Max was obviously bringing the conversation full circle.
“Yeah,” Mick answered.
“And you’re here…” Max prompted and Mick lifted a hand to the back of his neck.
“Wouldn’t ask –” he started.
“You need me,” Max cut him off, his words mysterious.
Mick dropped his arm and I turned my attention to the cupboards, finding the gourmet coffee I bought in Denver in the second one I opened.
“Yeah, Max. I know –” Mick said.
Max interrupted again. “She doin’ okay?”
“Murdered, cheatin’ husband and life ahead of her in a wheelchair, all alone?” Mick asked then answered, “No.”
“I’ll go see her today,” Max said and he didn’t sound like he enjoyed saying those words because, I suspected, he knew he wasn’t going to enjoy his visit which was even more mysterious since, from what he said before about Bitsy, I thought he liked her.
I measured coffee into the filter and Mick mumbled, “Thanks, Max.”
“You got any leads?” Max asked.
“Looks hired,” Mick answered and I was surprised he shared this information.
“Hired?” Max sounded surprised too but probably not that Mick was sharing.
“Hit was execution style, no muss, no fuss, in and out, Dodd was dead before he hit the floor,” Mick shared. “Didn’t touch nothin’, didn’t take nothin’, left nothin’ behind.”
“Got leads on who hired him?” Max went on.
“Leads? No. List of possible suspects a mile long? Yes,” Mick replied.
I flipped on the coffee and pulled down mugs as Mindy hit the counter and slid on a stool.
“Hey Mick,” she greeted, her eyes skimmed over Jeff and then dipped to the counter. “Hey Jeff.”
“Mindy, darlin’,” Mick greeted back.
“Hey Mindy,” Jeff said in a gentle voice, in fact, his whole face had grown gentle and my eyes went to Max.
Max was watching Jeff then his eyes came to mine. I bugged them out and then jerked my head at Jeff and Mindy. Max shook his head and grinned.
“Coffee will be ready in a jiffy,” I announced, leaning a hip against the counter.
“Kind of you Nina,” Jeff said and I smiled brightly at him.
“Sure you boys could use some sustenance,” I surmised. “Mindy makes some mean bacon and eggs. You want some?”
Mindy’s head snapped up and my eyes slid to Max who was looking at the floor but I could see he was pressing his lips together.
“Haven’t had breakfast,” Jeff replied too casually.
“Well, that’s just awful,” I noted, making this news sound dire, my eyes going to his hands. “No wife to fill your belly before a hard day of the God’s honest work of tackling crime?”
Max’s head came up and he made a strangled noise which I hoped was him choking back laughter because he thought I was cute.
“Nope,” Jeff answered through his grin.
“Good-looking guy like you? That’s a miracle. Isn’t that a miracle, Mindy?” I called and looked at her. Her eyes were huge and her face was aflame.
“Uh… yeah,” she muttered.
“Come here, sweetheart, let’s make these local heroes some breakfast,” I urged, she reluctantly slid off her seat and headed into the kitchen.