Part 14 (1/2)
”I saw him. I saw his face.” He gave her a pointed look. ”He was very angry.”
”That's because he talked to Tia. They're always mad at each other.”
He clearly disbelieved her. ”Why?”
”They have a love-hate thing.”
He moaned. ”I'm dead.”
”You're making this worse than it is. Come out of the pantry.”
He shook his head.
Sighing, she reached for the broom. ”I'm going to sweep the front. You can sneak out the back or come up and have something nice and warm from the case.”
She went out to the front. The few tables had emptied, and no one waited at the counter. He must have run in when she had the kitchen door propped open to let out the smoke. She wouldn't think such a natty dresser would sit on the floor, but that was probably his least concern.
Starting in the front by the window, she whisked the broom over the floor. A few minutes later, she sensed motion behind her and turned. The man was standing nervously beside the counter, watching her. She pointed toward the case. ”What would you like?”
His Adam's apple moved in his neck. ”There are no fig and pine-nut sticky rolls.”
”No.”
”No spinach, kalamata, and goat cheese.”
”Sarge doesn't like me doing anything different.”
He studied her solemnly, then pointed. ”A cheddar roll, if you wash your hands.”
She set the broom against the wall. ”One cheddar roll coming up.” She washed at the small sink, pulled on a glove, and used a tissue to hand him the food. ”It's on me.”
His brow puckered. ”You don't want me to pay? It's free of charge?”
”Yep. But you should tell me your name. If we're meeting in closets and all.”
That surprised an uneasy smile onto his face. ”It's Miles.”
”Like miles to go before I sleep?”
”Like Miles Standish.”
”Your last name is Standish?”
”I won't tell my last name. Then you could find me.” He jerked a glance over his shoulder, a strange gesture for such a big guy.
”Well, you can find me.”
”Only here. At work. Not where you live.”
”Okay.” She smiled. ”I'm Piper.”
They didn't shake hands. Standing in front of the counter, he devoured the roll without dropping a crumb.
”So here's what I think, Miles. We should talk to the police chief, let him know it was an accident, and offer to help Tia.”
”No. I can't. You didn't see see him.” him.”
She had the other night when he'd upset Tia. He looked hard and edgy. Maybe the chief did have a dark side. What did she really know? ”Well, think about it, okay?”
When he'd gone, she took the broom and finished sweeping, straightened the chairs around the tables, and then placed the call.
The chief strode in a half-hour later. ”You have information for me?”
”His name is Miles. He didn't mean to cause trouble, and he's afraid of you.”
”Of me?”
She nodded.
”He's never even seen me. What are you-”
”He saw you leaving Tia's shop, and you looked mad.”
Jonah planted his hands on his waist. ”Saw me from where?”
”I don't know. I found him in the pantry.”
”What?” The edge was back.
”He was scared.”
”Help me understand. He tore up Tia's shop, then hid over here?”
”He didn't mean to do that.”
”He injured her.”
”What?” She searched his face. ”Tia's hurt?”
”More than she's admitting.”
Miles hadn't said a word about hurting Tia, not a word. How could he not say anything? ”I need to see her.” She locked the register and scooted out around the counter.
”Piper.” His voice was low and even. ”I want to talk to him. If he comes back, you let me know.”
She'd have to. ”Fine.” She motioned him out the door and locked it, flipping her sign, then rushed next-door.
Startled by the knock, Tia b.u.mped her elbow on the shelf and rubbed the pain away as she unlocked the door.
”Are you all right?”