Page 49 of The Mouse and the Maestro

“We’re more than that,” Blue said, massaging the throbbing pain between his eyes.

“Not much,” Jane said, sighing. “The point is, Charles, have you heard anything on your end about forgeries? About danger?”

Charles laughed. “Janie, you must be joking. The most excitement in my day is balancing my budget. I’m more of an administrator now than I would care to admit. But I’m serious, I want you to stay with me until this all blows over.” He reached for her hand, holding it between both of his.

“She’s not staying with you, she’s staying with me,” Blue replied, resting a possessive hand on Jane’s leg.

“Maybe let’s let Jane decide,” Charles said.

Jane looked between the two men. She opened her mouth to say something, and the window behind them exploded in a spray of glass.

Chapter 22

All three of them dove to the ground beneath the table as pandemonium broke out in the restaurant.

“I think that was a bullet,” Blue said.

“I think so, too,” Charles agreed.

“It could have been another drive by,” Jane added. They weren’t exactly in the chicest part of Philly.

“That’s not a chance I’m willing to take,” Blue replied.

“Me neither,” Charles agreed. They settled Jane between them and herded out of the restaurant’s back entrance on their hands and knees. Once they were outside, Charles withdrew a gun from the holster inside his jacket. Blue withdrew the one from the holster beneath his hoodie.

“Why are you armed?” Blue asked him.

“Because I was mugged last year, and I don’t intend to let it happen again. Why are you?” Charles returned.

“Same reason,” Blue lied, and the two men regarded each other with a wary, distrustful stare.

“Something is off about this whole situation,” Charles said. “And I’m taking Jane with me.” He drew her to him.

“She stays with me,” Blue said, drawing her back.

Jane rolled her eyes. “For goodness sake, why don’t we all get out of here before whoever did the shooting comes looking.”

Blue and Charles nodded their agreement, though neither wanted to be the first to break eye contact. Sighing, Jane turned and began heading out of the alley, forcing them to jog to catch up with her. They flanked her, both of them so tall next to her that they looked like an M in motion. On the street, nothing appeared amiss, but Charles’s car was toward the restaurant and Blue’s was away from it. They went there, intending to drive around until they were certain they were in the clear.

“This is your car?” Charles asked, stopping short in front of Blue’s Jaguar. He whistled. “The Smithsonian must pay better than my museum.”

“I never said I work for the Smithsonian,” Blue replied.

“Where do you work?” Charles asked.

“I never said,” Blue said. They got into the car, locked the doors, and started to drive. Charles turned to the back seat to look at Jane.

“What exactly are you into, Janie?” he asked.

“Nothing, a bit of consulting work,” she replied vaguely.

“Did it ever occur to you the source of your danger is also your driver?” Charles asked her.

“Hmm,” Jane said, pretending to consider Blue. “Now that you mention it, he is a little shifty, what with the tattoos and all.”

Blue smiled. “I thought we were past that.”

“Maybe I’m coming full circle,” Jane said.

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