Page 47

Story: Hide and Seek

“Ready to order?” Hilton asked brightly, reappearing tableside.

Apparently, the thought of a “big risk” didn’t do any harm to Quinn’s appetite. He ordered a dinner salad, the B&B burger with bacon, blue-cheese crumbles, lettuce, tomato, onion, served on toasted brioche bun, sweet potato fries, and another Sazerac.

Andy threw a cursory glance at the menu and ordered the first item listed which turned out to be seared salmon with a maple chipotle glaze, mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies.

“Another one?” Hilton nodded at his glass.

Andy said bleakly, “Why not?”

Hilton stepped away, and Quinn reached across the table, covering Andy’s wrist with his hand. Andy stilled. There was warmth and strength in that grip—reassurance without restraint. He met Quinn’s green eyes and summoned a crooked smile.

Quinn said quietly, “I made you a promise. I intend to keep it.”

“I know. I appreciate that, but I’m not sure you understand what you’re letting yourself in for. Marcus is very good at navigating the legal system.”

“Oh, I know.” Quinn grinned. “Marcus told me this morning all about the things he’s done and why he thinks he’s untouchable. Marcus thinks he’s a criminal mastermind.”

For the life of him, Andy couldn’t understand why Quinn seemed to find that so entertaining. “He doesn’t have to be a mastermind. He gets all the mileage he needs out of blunt force trauma.”

Quinn stopped smiling. “Not anymore.”

“Yeah, but Quinn, you’re putting yourself in his path. He doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t forgive.”

“You leave Bok to me.” Quinn gave Andy a quick, hard squeeze, and released him. “What were you telling me earlier about snow globes?”

It was a commentary on Andy’s life that Uncle C.’s unknown assailant and their possible criminal intentions was a secondary consideration to Marcus’s obsessive, abusive behavior.

He filled Quinn in on what he’d learned at Miriam Labelle’s, and Quinn listened in thoughtful silence.

“I think we can rule out the snow globes themselves—” Quinn broke off as Hilton arrived with their meals.

She set their plates before them, asked if there was anything else they needed, wished them enjoyable meals, and departed.

“I agree,” Andy said. “But it also seems like Miriam’s intruder didn’t know what he was looking for. Beyond it being something inside a snow globe. Miriam’s collection is—was—mostly vintage. But the intruder destroyed everything, oldandnew.”

“The snow globe Cutty sold Miriam was new?”

“Yes. It was one of those Sutton House globes. They’re pretty. They look vintage. But they’re mass produced for big-box stores.”

“I see. Well, I wouldn’t know an old snow globe from a new one. I don’t think most people would.”

Andy frowned into his drink. “Yeah. I mean, probably.” He glanced up and found Quinn watching him with a little smile.

“What?”

Quinn shook his head. “You said Miriam’s snow globe was one of the last Cutty sold before the break-in?”

“One of the last he noted in his ledger. But I don’t know what time frame I should be looking at. Maybe I should belooking further back. And whatever Cutty sold a day or two before he was attacked was not listed.”

“Were you able to complete your inventory?”

“Complete? No. But I did manage to inventory the front of the shop and most of the sales floor. It seems like we’re short one snow globe. Maybe. Nothing else appears to be missing.”

“Was anything there that shouldn’t have been there?”

Andy shook his head. “I thought of that. No.”

Quinn made a thoughtful, “Hmm,” and sipped his drink.