Page 84 of Ozzie

“That son of a bitch!” Lightning says. He storms after Thunder.

I glance at Axel, who is shaking his head. “There is no way Thunder pulled a prank. He doesn’t have it in him.”

I’m not so sure, so I follow Lightning. We enter Thunder’s office to find him leaning back in his chair, eating his yogurt with his feet up on his desk. Okay, something is off. He’s not one to kick back like this.

“Why?” Lightning asks.

Thunder sets down his yogurt and spoon and stares at Lightning. The man doesn’t even crack a smile, which isamazing, considering his friend looks like a sparkly karaoke microphone.

“Why what?” he asks.

Lightning’s hands go to his hips, causing some glitter to fall to the floor. “Why glitter?”

Thunder shakes his head. “I have no idea. I didn’t do it. But I do have to say gold is your color.”

“Don’t deny it. I know you did it,” Lightning says.

“He didn’t. I did.”

We all turn to find Piper standing in the hallway.

“And it wasn’t meant for you.” She spins and goes back to her desk.

“Who the hell was it meant for?” Durango is now in the hallway, following Piper.

She shrugs. “Guess we’ll never know now.”

My mind races through our typical routine. “Durango is usually the first person in the kitchen each morning. He makes the coffee and presumably opens the fridge. He was your target. But this morning, he got in here later than normal. As did you.”

Durango crosses his arms across his chest. “Why would she cover me in glitter here when she could do it at home?”

He has a point. That means…no. “I was your target?” Why would she want me covered in glitter?

She shakes her head. “Thunder was supposed to get it. I told him I brought in that special yogurt flavor he likes. That’s why he was whistling and happy.”

I glance at Durango, who shrugs.

“Why? Thunder hates pranks,” I say.

She rolls her eyes. “You two are clueless. You thinkLightning is behind everything. Well, from where I sit, I hear Thunder instigating most of it.”

Her desk is nearest to Thunder’s office, so this is very possible.

Durango storms past me to Thunder’s office. “Is it true?”

Thunder smiles, clearly listening to our conversation. “Yes and no. I only started making suggestions to Lightning last month. Honestly, I was tired of his lack of creativity and wanted him to think beyond food.”

The front door opens, and Durango and I drop our discussion with Thunder to check it out. Jerry steps inside.

“Good morning,” he says.

“Good morning. Are you here about my cousin’s case?” Durango asks.

“I am. Piper, can we talk?”

“Of course.”

“You can use my office,” I offer, so they have some privacy.

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