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stop him from stepping back to the couch. “Go ahead, eat. You’ll probably be working late, you need the energy.”
    Greg sank into a chair at the table and unpacked the basket. “This was nice of you.”
    â€œEven if Carrie couldn’t keep a secret?” I stood and walked over to the table, grabbing one of the bottles of root beer.
    â€œDon’t blame her. She thought you were already here, and she’d forgotten to pack something.” Greg chuckled as he made a volcano pocket out of his mashed potatoes to hold the gravy.
    I thought about my walk to the police station. I’d been happy. Now all I could see was the red Mustang. Not that I cared that Ted was dead. The guy had been a jerk, but no one should die that way. Especially not because of a fight. “So, what do you want to know?” I wanted to leave, to go home, cuddle with Emma on the couch, and watch Harry Potter again. Maybe all eight movies.
    â€œEverything you remember from when you left Diamond Lille’s to when you called me.” Greg started tearing apart the chicken.
    â€œI don’t know, I walked. The basket was heavy. I saw your truck in the same spot where it was this afternoon when I walked home. Then I saw Ted’s car and wondered if I could walk around the building to avoid running into him or the mayor.” I sipped the syrupy drink. “Especially since he’d called and yelled at me during my run.”
    â€œThe mayor?” Greg paused, holding the chicken halfway to his mouth.
    I shook my head. “Nope. Ted. He wasn’t happy that Mindy’s assignment got changed last minute when Marie cancelled the class.”
    â€œWhy would he care?” Greg’s voice was thoughtful.
    â€œBecause he had to be in control of everything.” I ripped a biscuit in half and took a bite, but the buttery delight didn’t faze my bad mood. “He’s a jerk.” I stopped and set down the biscuit. “I mean, he was a jerk.”
    Toby stood at the doorway. “Sorry to bother you, Greg, but the reporter and news crew are here from Bakerstown. Do you want to talk to them, or will the mayor?”
    â€œI’m coming out.” Greg wiped his face with a napkin and leaned in to give me a quick kiss. “I’ll have Toby run you home.”
    â€œI can walk.” Suddenly, though, I felt dog-tired. All I wanted was to get home.
    â€œTough guy.” He smiled. “Toby, run your other boss home please.”
    Toby ushered me to the back of the building, where his personal car, a ’69 Chevy Camaro sat. “I don’t have to ride in the cruiser?” I glared at him.
    â€œFigured you’ve had a bad day. Don’t want to give the news hounds a false lead, seeing you carted off.” Toby grinned and unlocked the car. I sank into the leather seat. “Sorry you had to see that.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t understand why he’d do it. Ted was in love with himself. He wouldn’t just end his life.”
    â€œYou never know what problems people are carrying around. Maybe Ted’s past caught up with him and he couldn’t go on?” Toby eased the car into the alley and went down to Gull Street, turning out onto Main next to Diamond Lille’s and away from the circus at City Hall.
    â€œSecrets,” I whispered as I watched the road ahead, thinking about what concerns Ted could have held that would have driven him to such an extreme end.
    Emma smelled the fried chicken on my clothes, even though I hadn’t eaten anything, and nuzzled my hand. “Sorry, girl, no leftovers.” I went over to the stove and turned on the heat under the kettle. A nice cup of tea, a hot bath, then right to bed. Tomorrow was another day. But I wondered when I’d stop thinking about the red Mustang.
    Aunt Jackie called after I’d been lying in bed, not sleeping, for an hour. I glanced at the clock. Eight thirty. No wonder