Seventh Seal - Jacquelyn Faye Page 0,49

backup camera in the dash, it seemed kind of stupid, too.

"What event?"

"I don't know. He said something about a protest outside city hall. He wanted to be there in case things got out of hand?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"What the hell do the people of this town have to protest?"

"Beats the hell out of me. Could be witches for all I know." I laughed at my own joke, and then realized it might not have been.

Jimmy stared at me while I stared at him. "What time?"

"Eight."

"We'll grab some dinner and then check it out. We can catch the later show," he answered levelly.

"Good idea." I sighed and stared out the window, my appetite halved from the worry. "What reason would they have to stage a protest? I mean even if it was about witches, who the hell would go stand outside in the middle of winter to hold up as sign that says, 'Down with the witches.'"

"Dumb people."

"We're doomed."

Jimmy chuckled half-heartedly.

"What's for dinner?"

"Well, I was thinking pizza and beer."

"That sounds kinda fucking perfect." I grinned at him.

"Antonios?"

"Is there any other place to get pizza in this town?"

"There's the Hut."

"That's not pizza."

"True story."

He turned toward the hospital and hung a left on Elm, parking us across the street from the entrance. "I don't know why I don't order from here more. It's literally two minutes away." I sniffed the air outside the truck as I vacated the vehicle.

"This is Cedar Falls. Everything is two minutes away."

"Fair enough."

Jimmy pulled out his phone. "Dennis just got off. He's meeting us here."

"Sweet."

We walked across the street and Jimmy stepped ahead of me to pull open the brass handled wood door.

"Thank you, Sir."

"Ooh. You called me sir. I like that."

I leaned toward him and took his earlobe in between my teeth, giving it a little squeeze and a lick. "Would you like it better if I called you, Master?"

He shivered in response.

"Keep dreaming." I kissed his cheek and stepped inside.

Antonio's was more of a takeout place, but they did have a small seating area to the right of the kitchen and counter. Jimmy pointed at the tables and nodded to whom I assumed was Antonio.

"Sure thing, Jimbo."

"Jimbo?" I chuckled as he pulled out a chair and offered it to me.

"High School. Don't ask."

I giggled and had every intention of asking. "Split a pie and a pitcher?"

"Now you speaka my language." He grinned and sat.

"Pepperoni or sausage?'

"Meatza?"

"Depends on what the hell that is," I answered fearfully.

"Pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and meatball."

"Fuck yeah."

"This is why I love you. One of the three million reasons."

I just grinned.

The only waitress, a fifty something brunette who looked like she could have been Antonio's mother, took our order and brought us a pitcher of beer and three glasses.

"How'd she know?" I nodded at the glass next to Jimmy.

"Because I don't think I've ever been here without Dennis," he answered thoughtfully.

"Not even on a date?"

He chuckled and poured us each a glass. "Couldn't go on a date without my wingman."

"You have issues."

"I know." He grinned and handed me my beer.

Two guys at the table two away from ours kept looking in our direction. One was openly staring, and the other was glancing occasionally over his shoulder. Jimmy was facing me and couldn't see them. I was trying to ignore them, but they were wearing identical T-shirts with the same owl logo on the front and chest.

"What's the matter?" Jimmy asked and took a sip of his beer.

"Nothing yet. Ever see a T-shirt with an owl on it?"

"Nope. Wait. I saw a tootsie pop one once."

"Different owl," I muttered quietly, not wanting them to hear our conversation.

Jimmy, not one to beat around the bush, turned around and caught both of them staring. "We got a problem, guys?"

As if by magic, they both focused on their pizza.

Jimmy turned back around and smiled. "Problem solved."

"Real smooth." I chuckled.

"Let me know if they start staring again."

"How'd you know they were staring?"

"Only one thing in this world would bother you."

"Being the center of attention," I answered for him, with a little sigh and nodding in agreement.

He smiled in response and then waved at the door.

I almost yelped when a set of lips touched my cheek. "Sorry, Dot."

"Just startled me." He had. The guys in the OWL shirt's kind of put me on edge. I'd jumped when Dennis kissed me, even though I had known he was there. Not a good sign. I took a sip of beer and tried to relax.

"What's up?" Dennis could feel the tension in the