Page 37 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

“What about the girl?” Van Buren asked.

“She’s innocent,” Fisher said automatically.

“How do you know?” Van Buren snapped.

“I was there when the shop was robbed,” he said. “She loves that place. She was devastated when it was vandalized. This is not someone who would risk her own shop.”

“Maybe she’s mixed up with some heavy hitters,” Brian offered.

“What are you saying? She’s a side piece?” Van Buren asked.

“No!” Fisher denied more adamantly than he’d intended. Both Brian and Van Buren looked at him with raised eyebrows. “No,” he said more softly. “I would say she is naïve and a bit too trusting.”

“Should we bring her into the loop?” Van Buren asked. “Can she be trusted?”

“I’d stake my job on it,” Fisher said.

“You will be,” Van Buren said. “Sit her down and have a talk with her. See if she knows anything that might tell us who is using The Coffee Break to launder money in and out of Phoenix.”

“All right,” Fisher agreed. “I’ll talk to her tonight.”

“Oh, and McCoy.” Van Buren paused before he left. “You’d better be right about her.”

“I am,” Fisher said.

Fisher left his Jeep parked on the curb. He could see the lights on inside The Coffee Break and suspected that Annie was still cleaning up the mess left from the burglary. She’d been hoping to reopen today, but with the wedding all day Saturday, Sunday hadn’t given them enough time to clean up and restock the supplies. He’d spent all day yesterday fixing broken furniture, sorting coffee beans and chasing around Phoenix trying to replace the food goods.

She’d thrown out all of her baked goods. It made him furious to think of someone trashing all her hard work. Who had done this and why?

He jogged up the three steps to the front door. He could see her placing fresh muffins in the display counter at the front of the store. Her hair was pulled back in a thick braid that swung over her shoulder as she leaned over. He felt his fingers flex with the desire to touch it.

The urge to protect her hit him low and hard. He didn’t want to bring her into the loop. He didn’t want to see her hurt. He knew that as surely as he knew he desired her. She would think he’d been using her all along. Perhaps he had been in the beginning, but things had changed between them.

He had no choice, however. They needed her assistance. He only hoped she’d still be willing to help after he told her the truth.

As if sensing his gaze upon her, Annie glanced up. A smile parted her lips as soon as she recognized him. It made his gut twist. He grasped the door handle and pulled. He couldn’t budge it. The door was locked. He frowned. Why did she lock it? Surely, she couldn’t already know...

“Hi, Fisher,” she said as she unlocked the door. “See? I remembered to lock it.”

Fisher felt a sigh of relief escape him. She hadn’t been locking him out.

“Why are you coming in the front door? Did you lose your key?”

“No.” He followed her into the shop, turning the door’s dead bolt behind him. “I thought you might be here.”

“Oh?” she asked, glancing down as if avoiding his gaze. “Did you want to see me?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I need to talk to you about something.”

She glanced up at him. She looked fearful, cautious, as if expecting a blow. But in a blink the look was gone. She stiffened her back and marched back to the display case.

“Okay. How about a slice of hazelnut torte while we talk?” She didn’t wait for him to answer but began dishing out the decadent dessert. She disappeared into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a glass of milk. Placing the food on a nearby table, she gestured for Fisher to sit down.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Talk.”

“I’m glad you locked the door,” he said, stalling for time.

She lifted her eyebrows and then wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m still not buying a personal assault system.”