Page 16 of Saltwater Promises
Chapter 7
It had been half an hour since Lynn had called. What had happened? Mike checked his phone again – still no word. He was about to get up from the table and go looking for her when she walked through the door.
He let out a sigh. “You made it.”
“I did. But it was close.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.” Lynn walked over to the table and took a seat. “I considered taking the plane back to Bellingham and leaving you stranded.”
He smiled. “What stopped you?”
She sighed, putting her phone onto the table. “I don’t have a pilot’s license.”
“Ah.” Mike settled back into his seat, trying not to smile. “I am sorry about that. Something came up.”
“Something that has to do with Lorraine Benzini?”
He offered a casual shrug. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“Is she an old flame, Mike?”
“No,” he said quickly. “She is not.”
Lynn smiled, folding her hands in front of her. “I didn’t think so, but I thought I’d offer you the out.”
“Very kind.”
“But she is part of the ‘mission’ you’re involved in. Come on, Mike. Tell me what’s going on.”
He picked up a menu. “I hear that the salmon roll is quite good.”
She was quiet for a moment before saying, “Then I guess you don’t want to see any of the pictures that I took?”
He set the menu down. “What pictures?”
A smile spread across her face. “You know, just a few of Lorraine sauntering around the gallery, talking to her associates. Maybe some pictures from inside the Rolls.”
Now she had his attention. Mike narrowed his eyes. “Do you have to notice everything?”
“I can’t help it,” she said with a shrug. “Tell me what you’re up to! Then I’ll show you the pictures.”
“I can’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. How is it that you can play around with this stuff, but I can’t?”
“Because you’re not supposed to play around with things, and I’mreallynot supposed to. I don’t want to get you in trouble, and I’m not going to drag you into this.”
She slipped her phone back into her purse. “Fine. I’ll just delete them.”
He put up a hand. “Well, don’t be hasty. I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Oh?” She turned back to the menu. “Look at that. They have a whole section of fried sushi. I like these donut-shaped ones. So fun.”
Mike smiled. Lynn knew how to play the game all right. “I can tell you one thing.”
She peered at him from behind the menu. “One thing? Related to what you’re up to?”
