Page 59 of Honeycombs & Homecomings

A moment later, footfalls passed in a path to her right, and two gray pointed heads with fake teeth poked out the top of the stalks. Shark heads?

“Tony!” Allie’s voice shrilled from the same directions she’d seen the two sharks go.

“Allie?” Came Tony’s voice then. “There you are.”

“I told you to wait out front,” Allie barked this time.

Tony spoke again. “I saw the Warners and naturally hurried in to introduce myself.”

Jo slapped a hand to her head. The idiot was going to ruin everything. Again. She went left, straight into a dead end, then doubled back. How was she supposed to get through here?!

“You’re Tony,” Cynthia’s voice drifted over the stalks directly in front of Jo.

Jo clenched her jaw. If Allie didn’t kill Tony, she would. Jo pushed through the stalks, done trying to figure out the maze. She had a sister and a business to save.

She came out the other side. Locks of hair had pulled from her ornate hairdo, some strings draping over her face with pieces of stalk sticking out of it. She whipped a loose leaf off her wool stalking.

Tony yelped. Then laughed. “Oh, it’s just you Jo.”

She leveled her iciest stare at him, and he stepped back. Behind him stood the Warners looking confused. To his left stood two men in suits with shark heads and silk ties with a money print.

“Where’s my sister,” Jo snarled.

Allie stepped out from behind one of the shark head men, Honey stepped around her, his mouth curling back over snarling teeth as he stared at Tony.

“Hey Jo.” Allie waved. “My costume looks so cute on you. I love it.” She pointed at Jo’s head. “But you should take your coat off. And you have a leaf sticking out of your crown . . .”

Jo blinked, mindlessly feeling for the leaf until she found and removed it.

Allie looked fine. Totally and completely fine. She wore a suit that fit her curves perfectly, a skinny black tie, heels, and had her hair back in a twist. She pointed to the shark men. “These are my friends Jason and Greg.”

Jason and Greg waved; their expressions blank as could be.

She blinked. These guys were the loan sharks? She took in their costumes. Shark heads, suits, and money bow ties. Loan . . . sharks. Jo groaned. This had Allie written all over it. What was this? Stockholm syndrome in reverse?

“Aren’t they the cutest?” Allie reached over to the biggest one who stood next to her and fixed his tie. He didn’t move a muscle. “We went shopping before heading back from Atlantic City.” Allie spun around. “I’m Henry. The Boss, can’t you tell? You should have seen Henry’s face when I told him I wanted to be him for Halloween. Priceless.”

“You went shopping with them?” Tony stepped toward Allie.

Honey barked.

Tony came up sharp. “What is this, Allie? You’re making friends with the guys who want to beat me up?”

Allie glared at him. “I want to beat you up, you fiend! Do you have any idea how horrible it was to have Henry calling you for his money and tell you I’m with him, and have you not answer? Oh, and by the way, a hundred grand? Are you insane?”

Tony held up his hands. “I can explain.”

Jo stepped forward, done listening in, and placed her hands on her hips. “And the break in? Can you explain that?”

Tony paled. “I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jo glared. “The cops caught footage of you breaking into the store, breaking the safe, stealing money, and breaking jars of honey all over the floor,” Jo pointed at him. “You spray painted my wall with glittery purple spray paint!”

“You did what?” Allie’s voice came out soft.

Tony glanced at her. “I was desperate. I swear, I was going to pay it all back. As soon as . . .” He pointed to the Warners.

A rustle came from the maze behind Jo.

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