Page 5 of Take a Hike
“What jokes?” Charlie asked innocently, trying to channel her angelic twin as she applied herself to capping and sleeving the cups Lou had filled. “He was a stalker—self-professed, I might add—and now he’s your husband. Voilà—stalker-husband. It’s less of an insult and more of a recap of your relationship.”
Fifi snorted, but Lou interrupted before she could argue. “As fascinating as this is, I want to know more about that key. What does it unlock, and why does your mom want it so badly?” After a short pause, she continued, “I guess the answer to the first one will also be the answer to the second, so answer the first one first.”
Charlie blinked at her.
“Sorry.” Lou thrust a mocha with whip at her. “Huge orders stress me out, and that makes me less coherent than normal.”
Making an understanding sound, Charlie accepted the drink and added a cap and a sleeve. “We don’t know the answer to either question, actually. All we know is that this key isimportant to Mom, and she was willing to risk going back to jail to get her hands on it.”
“Oh,” Lou said. “That’s…not the thrilling tale I expected.”
Charlie shrugged as well as she could with her hands full.
“How will she know you have the key—or that you’re here?” Daisy asked.
Grinning, Charlie pointed a coffee stirrer at her. “That was the fun part.”
“Fun for you, maybe,” Fifi complained. “I hate Dutch’s—and so does everyone else except for you.”
“It’s always exciting there,” Charlie said with a warm glow starting in her stomach as she thought about the brawls and deals that’d gone down at Dutch’s. “Fights, bets, skips galore—what’s not to love?”
“Dutch’s,” chorused Fifi and Bennett—the latter who’d been in the bar a grand total ofonetime.
“Who is Dutch, and what does he have to do with your mom knowing the key is here?” Lou asked, making a latte without even looking down at it. Instead, her fascinated gaze was fixed on Charlie and Fifi.
“Wellllll,” Charlie drew out suspense, wanting to laugh at the way the others leaned closer, as if she were a snake charmer and they were her mesmerized serpents. “We all went to Dutch’s—which is a dive bar, by the way—last night and—”
“Wealldid?” Fifi rested her chin on her fist, a smile quivering at the corners of her mouth.
Charlie gave a hoot of laughter. “That’s right! I almost forgot the best part. Norah wasn’t allowed in—Norah!” She laughedagain at the memory before noticing that everyone who wasn’t related to her was looking puzzled. “Sorry, Norah’s our most rule-abiding, cautious sister. I still can’t believe she got banned from Dutch’s. EvenMollydidn’t get banned, and she got the place blown up.”
“I need to hear that story immediately,” Lou breathed.
“Watch that coffee—you’re about to have very hot toes.”
Lou glanced down at what her hands were doing and readjusted so the coffee went into the cup rather than on her feet. “Oops—thanks. Now tell me about your sister blowing up a bar.”
“Nope,” Daisy interrupted. “We need to stay on track. Tell us about last night.”
“Way to focus, Daisy,” Charlie said approvingly as she mentally switched gears. “After Norah was banned…” She couldn’t contain another chuckle. “Norah was banned” was not a phrase Charlie ever thought she’d say, unless it was from an Extroverts Anonymous meeting or something. “Sorry, I just can’t get over that. Anyway, the rest of us non-banned Paxes and Pax accessories”—she gestured toward Bennett, who tipped his chin in acceptance of the term—“got a booth at Dutch’s and proceeded to talk very loudly about the key we found. Both Dane SandersandEddie Cord were there, so they’re sure to have texted Jane that bit of info.”
“Who are they?” Daisy asked.
“Zach Fridley’s minions.” When Lou and Daisy continued looking blank, Charlie elaborated. “Zach’s in prison now, but up until recently, he was Jane’s literal partner in crime.”
“Ooh,” Lou and Daisy chorused.
“But how will your mom know to come to Simpson to find you?” Lou asked.
“We had no less than five tails on our drive from Langston to Simpson,” Fifi said, and then patted Bennett’s arm. “B did a fantastic job of driving, so we didn’t lose even one of them.” Bennett accepted his wife’s praise with a tiny, pleased smile and a kiss on Fifi’s temple.
“He did great,” Charlie added, knowing there would’ve been no way she could’ve driven that slow the entire way up the mountain. Plan or no plan, she would’ve left the tails in her dust by the time they’d reached the outskirts of Langston. Bennett turned that small smile on her but left off the temple kiss, to Charlie’s relief. As much as she liked her new brother-in-law, she barely hugged her own sisters. Physical affection made her feel squirmy.
Lou paused putting all the firefighters’ drinks in carriers and rushed to look out the window. “Where are your tails hiding?” she asked.
With a shrug, Charlie took over readying the cups for travel. “Who knows? Four of the five aren’t too bright, so you’ll probably see them around town, peeking out from behind rocks and trees and road signs. The one to watch out for is Rhys Erie.”
Fifi straightened from her spot cuddled against Bennett’s side, worry creasing the skin between her eyebrows. “You spotted Rhys following us? He must be slipping.”
