A quick scan over the area told her it wasn’t a tourist spot and the few people around were locals. It reduced the risks as intruders would stand out like a sore thumb.
Leaving the two men to their brooding, she walked down the street, knowing they’d follow.
After checking a few store windows, she lingered inside a baby shop, making a few purchases for Abbie. The poor angel was living on bare essentials, and it was fun to see Nick squirm around all the pink frills. James didn’t seem out of place at all, although all the ladies only had eyes for him. Mercy was caught up too. He was so handsome, it filled her belly with flurries, with a thousand possibilities. The feeling so new to her, it made her feel both stronger and more vulnerable than ever.
After finding the most adorable onesie with funny pandas for Abbie and the softest blanket ever, James snatched everything out of her hands before she could pay for it, giving her a quick wink. It wasn’t a smile, but it was a beginning.
Joining a stern-looking Nick on the sidewalk, James on her heels, she continued walking until a wonderful smell filled her nose, a mix of melting butter, sugar, and orange peel. Her nose led her into the most delightful bakery. The outside was a bright turquoise color, and so was the inside, an incredible ocean vibe awaiting hungry customers.
Mercy slid into a secluded booth by the front window, and as she hoped, James slid in beside her as Nick took the opposite seat.
A waitress, dressed for a 50s diner, approached with a smile and a spring in her step.
“Good afternoon and welcome! I don’t recognize you so you must be first-time customers! I’m Stacy. What do you fancy today?”
James and Nick grumbled something about only wanting a coffee, but Mercy was having none of that and smiled back. “What’s your specialty? What do you recommend?”
At her question, Stacy lit up. “Oh! That’s a trick question! I love the key lime pie, that’s a staple. The homemade strawberry shortcake is divine. We do have a raspberry and pear cobbler to die for, or, if you like classics with a twist, I’ve heard that our Death by Chocolate can nearly produce spontaneous orgasms.”
That last word magically perked the men up and shaking her head, Mercy winked at Stacy. “As my friends here don’t want anything, I’ll have one of each, and I’ll make sure to finish off with the orgasm.”
If Mercy had surprised her, the waitress didn’t let it show and strutted away with their order.
Nick leaned back. “You said you were hungry, but I didn’t know you were looking for a sugar rush.” A faint grin pulled at the mouth of the typically solemn man, and there was teasing when he looked from her to James. “Or an orgasm.”
James frowned in mock menace and leaned forward. “We’re only here for the sugar. The rest, she’s well provided for.”
“Come on, guys. And here I thought you were gentlemen.”
Stacy stopped the playful rant by bringing three coffees in one hand and a large tray in the other. With each plate she put on the table, Mercy was overwhelmed by how amazing they looked, and she couldn’t decide which one to start with.
It was clear the men were debating helping themselves and she glared, pulling the plates toward her.
James didn’t seem to agree with her greed. “You can’t eat all that by yourself.”
Mercy picked up her fork and gestured at the two men. “Neither of you are going to taste any of it unless you change your attitude. Nick you need to loosen up, and James you need to detach yourself from your emotions. I know you’re afraid for your sister, but falling for the taunts of an FBI agent won’t help, especially when I suspect Agent Rao has ulterior motives.”
After dropping that unconfirmed bomb, Mercy drove in, taking a bite of cobbler and was stunned at the burst of tangy-sweet flavor in her mouth. She couldn’t stop herself from checking out the shortcake and then the pie, unable to decide which one was best. She’d always had a thing for sweets, but this bakery was taking it to a brand-new level, and she hesitated before tasting the chocolate.
James put a hand on her thigh. “Whoa, what was that? Do you know something about Rao that we don’t?”
Pausing from her indulgence, Mercy leaned back in the booth, holding her coffee in her hands. “Listen, James, I’ve worked with the FBI a lot, and it’s true, those agents can be cocky and arrogant, but they always have the mission in mind or an ulterior motive. They’re like bloodhounds on steroids, checking theories or questioning and weighing options. Rao? I didn’t feel that in him. He was boasting for sure, testing us, especially you, James, by saying all those awful things about your sister. Did you notice that he didn’t ask one question? We come with a case related to the Henchmen, and he basically tells us to fuck off. Any FBI agent worth his salt would’ve at least used us, see how our case and finding Bethany could bring him closer to his own goal. Did you feel that hunger? I certainly didn’t.”
James frowned while Nick put a finger on the plate and slid the cobbler in front of him, grabbing a fork. “Now that you mention it, Rao was such an ass it was difficult to see beyond that.”
As Nick took a bite, James did the same with the shortcake, and Mercy didn’t comment, glad he was loosening up.
“Why didn’t you confront him about it?”
Good question. “My first impulse was to do exactly that, and to punch him in the face too, but my instinct nagged me to stay quiet.”
Nick snickered on a bite. “Yeah, that doesn’t happen often.”
Ignoring him, Mercy continued. “That’s why, while you boys were sulking in the front seat, I reached out to Imari, asked her to dig into him. I think if we can get a better overview, our next encounter with him may be more productive.”
James took a bite, half enjoying, half thinking. “He agreed to meet with us, so what was his purpose?”
“Maybe he wanted to know what we knew and what we intended to do?” Nick pushed the empty plate aside, and his fingers inched toward the key lime pie. “Maybe it was his way of sizing us up.”
Taking another sip, Mercy considered it, but James, with his frown growing darker, indicated he might have a theory of his own. Her hand went to his on her knee and squeezed.
“I’m replaying the encounter in my head, and he did say all the right things to make me angry, to almost go for him. No questions, no offers of help, no tips on the Henchmen.”
Mercy nodded. “Fishy and weird.”
James finished his dish and fought Nick for the key lime pie. The dark-haired man stole a bite anyway. “So, what should we do now?”
That was the hard question. “I feel that something is wrong but is it because we’re not looking in the right place to find Bethany or because someone is blowing smoke up our asses to blind us from the truth? I hope digging into Rao will set us straight.”
With a sigh, James took his coffee. “If there’s something to dig up, Imari will find it.”
“What do we do while we wait?” Nick said as he eyed her chocolate dessert, but Mercy was having none of that.
“I think we need to be patient and see. Until we have a real thread to pull, or Bethany gives us a sign, we’re stuck. In the meantime, I’ll have my chocolate orgasm. Alone.”
James chuckled, sliding his hand up a little, in a not so subtle hint as she took a bite.