Page 38 of Through the Fire
“I’m guessing she ate the couch in at least one of them,” Kit said wryly, remembering the furniture and shoes and even the cell phone she’d lost to Justice’s need to chew.
He laughed, just a tiny huff of an exhale, and Kit felt like she’d won something. “How’d you g-g-guess?”
Before she could answer, Elena slid into the chair that Kit had pushed away from the table for Sam. “Hey, Sammie,” Elena said, turning around to speak to him. “What are you guys talking about?”
As quick as a security door slamming into place, Sam’s expression blanked, all amusement or interest gone in a fraction of a second. Without answering Elena, he turned away, heading back toward the table with the three other kids. Now that she knew about the connection between Sam and Jules, Kit assumed that all four were Jules’s siblings. When Sam sat down next to the little girl, Kit turned away, pushing back her curiosity while promising herself she’d find out more in the future. She mentally added Sam’s past to the long list of things she needed to learn about the residents of her new town.
“He was talking to you for a long time.” Even though Elena was giving Kit her usual sweet smile and wide, innocent eyes, Kit sensed the slightest hint of irritation. “He never says a word to me. What’s the secret to getting him to open up?”
“Mutual interests.” Kit gave a one-sided shrug and decided to change the subject. Even though she’d only just met Sam, she felt oddly protective of him. The kid acted like he’d already drawn the short stick too many times in his young life. It felt wrong to be discussing him with someone he obviously didn’t trust. She wished Elena had waited another few minutes before joining them, since Sam had been starting to relax and open up. Pushing down her resentment at the interruption, Kit forced a friendly tone as she asked, “How was your first day of work?”
“It was hard.” Elena dropped her gaze to the table. “Sorry. That was ungrateful of me. I’m sure I’ll get used to doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen. It’s just not what I’m used to, and Vicki can be kind of…mean.”
Glancing at the kitchen door as Jules pushed it open, Kit caught a glimpse of the cranky-looking cook. “I bet she can be. Hugh mentioned something about her liking practical jokes.”
Elena’s gaze snapped up, her eyes widening. “She does? I didn’t know that. She hasn’t tried any on me. Not yet, at least.”
“At least you have Jules,” Kit said. “She seems like she could never be mean.”
Elena dropped her gaze to the table. “Yes. Jules is very sweet.”
“So I take it your last job didn’t involve dishes?” She probed gently, trying very hard not to slip into interrogation mode.
“No.” There was a pause that went on just a hair too long. “No dishes. It was an office job.”
“Oh? Where was that?” As hard as she was trying to sound casual, Kit knew she was failing. Apparently, talking shop with cops and interrogation were all she was good at anymore—except with Wes. She swallowed a smile at the memory of their radio chat. Conversation was always easy with Wes.
“Um…Chicago.” The frightened bunny expression accompanied the obvious lie. To her relief, Jules arrived at their table at that moment, and her honest smile eased the tension.
“Hey, Elena. Hi, Kit. Did y’all want lunch menus or just coffee?”
As if on cue, Kit’s stomach grumbled. “Lunch for me. I’m only halfway through a long day, and Hugh ate most of my breakfast.”
Jules laughed. “That’s Hugh for you. I swear, eating with him around is like being in a prison cafeteria. You have to protect your food with your life.” She filled their coffee mugs. “How about you, Elena? Are you hungry after washing all those dishes?”
“Yes.” Elena smiled back, but Kit noted a slight stiffness to her expression. Glancing at Jules, Kit couldn’t see any tension on her side, just kindness and a friendly openness. She took a sip of her coffee, savoring the rich heat absently as she studied Jules and Elena. For two people who were supposed to be old friends, they acted more like new acquaintances. The mystery of Elena deepened with each new encounter.
“I’ll bring you both menus, then.” With a final smile, Jules turned away and crossed the room to fill coffee mugs at other tables on her way back to the front.
“It must be tough living with so many people,” Kit said, trying to think of the best way to get the answers she needed in the most casual, roundabout way possible. “I’ve just had one roommate. I can’t imagine having, how many? Six?”
“It’s fine,” Elena said. “Do you have any roommates now?”
“No…not unless you count Justice, my K9 partner.”
“You’re lucky.” Elena dumped four sugar packets into her coffee and then tore the top off a fifth as Kit watched with disgusted fascination as she turned her coffee into syrup. “Did you have a roommate when you lived in Wisconsin?”
The mention of her previous home jarred Kit, and she took a sip of coffee to hide her reaction. “At first I did,” she said, keeping her voice neutral. “Not for the past six years or so, though. It’s just been me, and then me and the doggo.”
Elena played with her mug and then glanced up through her mile-long eyelashes. At the shy look, filled with sympathy, Kit stiffened, bracing herself for whatever Elena was about to say. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. That must’ve been so hard.”
It took a great deal of effort to keep her voice even. “What must’ve been hard?”
Elena’s eyes widened. “Having all your friends turn on you like that, especially since you were just doing what you thought was right.”
Her skin went cold enough to make goose bumps pop up on her arms and the back of her neck. “What are you talking about?” She tried to keep her tone casual and even, but she was pretty sure she failed by the way Elena flinched as if Kit had threatened to slap her.
“Nothing.” Releasing her grip on the mug, Elena tucked her hands onto her lap. “Never mind.”
