Today's Promises (Promises #2)(27)

The snow stops the next day, but our little world of Lawrence is still a wintry wonderland. The ground, blanketed in white, sparkles and glows under the sun of a new day. Like woodland creatures emerging from too-long hibernation, people venture out, bleary-eyed.

They’re weary at first, but soon they come to life. By afternoon, the sandwich shop is flooded with customers. It’s so busy that I have to grab an apron and help Jaynie.

“This is a first,” I remark.

“It is,” Jaynie agrees. She then hands me an order pad and pen. “Now get to work.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Things eventually slow down, and when we finally have some time to ourselves, Jaynie says, “Wow, I think that was finally the last customer.”

“We must’ve sold thousands today,” I reply.

“That doesn’t happen often. Bill will be happy.”

“Yeah” I agree, “he will.”

She then wants to know, “Did you make a lot in tips?”

I fish out a handful of bills and some coins from my apron pocket. Depositing the money on the counter, I say, “Between this, your tips, and the money I’ve been bringing in from my other job, we should be able to buy a car real soon.”

“Damn.” Jaynie shakes her head. “I can barely believe it.”

“Believe it, babe.”

“Flynn, this is great.”

Smiling, she nudges me out of the way so she can reach the coffee pot on the shelf behind us. As she pours herself a well-deserved cup of java, and me one as well, she states, “Let’s celebrate with some good strong coffee.”

“Sounds good to me,” I laugh.

As we hit the caffeine, Jaynie remarks, “It’s been a long time since we’ve worked side by side like this.”

“It has,” I agree.

“It was fun… Whoa, hold up a minute. This coffee is way too strong. Can you hand me two of those.” She gestures to a bowl of creamers.

I hand her what she wants, and then say, “Back to what we were talking about. I like working side by side with you. It’s how we work best.” With a wicked grin, I amend, “But then again, we also tend to work pretty well with you on top…or me over you—”

“Flynn!” She smacks my arm, but she can’t hide her grin, or her blush.

Just as I’m about to pull her in for one hell of a hug, someone comes up behind us and clears their throat. Turning simultaneously, we find ourselves face-to-face with Detective Silver.

“Hey!” Jaynie exclaims, still cheery from our goofing around. “What brings you over to our little neck of the woods? Good news about the excavation, I hope.”

Sighing, the detective takes a seat at the counter. “More like no news,” he replies solemnly.

I watch as my girl’s face falls. “Oh,” she murmurs.

The detective asks for a cup of strong coffee, which we have plenty of. I pour him a huge serving, ’cause he sure looks like he could use the pick-me-up.

“You want cream or sugar?” I ask, holding the mug aloft.

“No. Black is fine,” he tells me.

I set the coffee down in front of the him, then grab a stool out from the corner behind the counter. Once I’ve plopped my ass smack dab across from him, I rub my hands together. I have questions for this man, and lots of them. The first of which is, “How in the hell can there be no goddamn news on the case?”

I’m riled now, and Jaynie sidles up beside me to calm me down. Placing her hand on my arm, she says softly, “Flynn, please. I’m sure the detective is doing all he can.”

Peering across the counter, she surprises the hell out of me when she puts him on the spot. “You are doing everything possible to solve this case, right?” she asks pointedly.

I resist the urge to laugh. Jaynie sure has come a long way. Watching her challenge the detective proves just how much progress she’s made. We both have really made giant strides lately.

“Of course I’m doing everything I can to wrap up this case.” Detective Silver clears his throat. “We all are. The state wants the Debbie Canfield case closed as soon as possible.”

He takes a quick sip of coffee, all evasive-like, and Jaynie frowns. “Don’t you mean the state wants the case solved? Not just closed, right?”

“No, I’m afraid ‘closed’ is what they’re asking for now.”

“That doesn’t inspire confidence it will ever be resolved,” Jaynie mumbles.

Tiring of all this double-talk, I set down my cup with a clatter and say, “Just lay it on the line, Detective. What are you trying to tell us?”

He takes a sip of coffee, then releases this long, drawn-out sigh. “I’m sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news, but the sad fact remains that we’ve excavated every inch of that old barn. And as of this afternoon, we’ve found absolutely nothing.”

I raise a brow. “And that means…?”

“It means, Flynn, that if we don’t find some evidence soon, this case is in real danger of being closed for good. Pretty soon I’ll be forced to write up a report. I’ll have no choice but to state that the girl, Debbie, must have run away, despite her last known whereabouts being at the Lowry house.”

“Crap,” Jaynie mumbles.