Ryker (Hope City #6) - Kris Michaels Page 0,40
this blows over.” Hannah King tsked and kept talking, “Rory needs help with his floors anyway.”
She cut off the engine and leaned back in her seat. “That may work, but I’m going to ask Ryker before I agree to anything.”
“It’s the perfect solution. It is a keyed entry, and there are two cops above him. He has instant backup. That was Dad’s input, although I suggested keeping Gage here for the duration of Ryker’s stay. Your dad thought it was a great idea.”
Brie closed her eyes. “Thank you for the option, we’ll discuss it.” She knew her mother would try to convince her if she didn’t give in and at least accept the possibility.
“Absolutely. Now, I have to run. Gage has a half-day today. I’m picking him up so Dawn doesn’t have to take a half-day off work.” Amber’s stepsister and her mother had coordinated a schedule to pick up Gage after school. “Then we are going to Sharon’s to bake with her and Colleen.”
“Bake? Does Gage like to do that?”
“No, but he likes to eat the finished product, and he’s good with Colleen. She idolizes him.”
She glanced at her watch. The kitchen staff would be knee-deep in lunch prep. She had to make sure Roger had everything he needed. With the screw up in deliveries, he’d need the credit card from the safe and access to pending orders, which were on her computer. “He’s a great kid, they both are. Listen, I’ve got to go, Mom. I love you, and I’ll talk to Ryker.”
“All right, honey. I’ll talk to you tonight. Love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.” She hung up and dropped her cell into her purse. She’d taken the gun last night and placed it in her glove box, locking it in the vehicle while she was at the hospital. She glanced at the glove box and scrunched her nose. It was broad daylight. Those jerks were nowhere around. She cast a glance up and down the alley just to make sure. That camera system was still in her office. Damn it. Another thing she needed to add to the list of things to ask Roger to do. He needed a pay raise or at least a bonus for stepping up while she was with Ryker.
She jumped from her old SUV and locked it as the back door opened and Shane, the dishwasher, exited with two bags of garbage. “Hey, Boss. Your man okay?”
“He’s going to be, thank goodness. Here, let me help you.” She reached for one bag.
“Nah, I got this. Roger said you’d probably be taking a couple days off. Don’t you worry about nothing, Brie, we’ll all chip in and take care of everything. God knows you take care of us well enough.” He propped the door open with his heel.
“Thank you, and if the city doesn’t empty that dumpster tomorrow, you may have to call them. The new guy driving the route has forgotten us twice.”
“No worries. I’ll keep an eye open.” Shane let the door close behind her.
“Brie! How’s Sexy Voice?” Roger shouted the question from across the kitchen, stilling every hand.
“He’ll be okay.” A collective sigh and hurried words preceded the rush to finish lunch prep. She nodded to Roger, who immediately started wiping his hands. They met at her office door and he opened it with her keys.
She flicked on the light and held her hand out for her keys. He dropped them into her palm. “I’m going to take some time off. There are a lot of unanswered questions about what happened last night.”
“You take whatever time you need. We’ll be fine. You’ve trained these guys, and more than that, they respect you. We’ll make a go of it.”
“Thank you. I needed to hear that.” She rubbed her neck. “You’ll need some information and access. Do you have time?”
“Sure. The prep is complete, and I’ve already seasoned the pork tenderloins for tonight’s special.”
"Okay, well, on top of running the show, could you somehow manage to put that up above the back door?”
“What is it?”
“A camera system. Just hook it up to this computer system for now. I’ll try to figure out the cloud stuff when I get back.”
“You got it. What about passwords and such?”
Brie nodded to the chair. “Have a seat and grab a piece of paper. I need to be at the hospital by noon. Oh, can we get two specials to go?”
Roger made to stand and then hesitated. “He can eat non-hospital food?”
“It was his shoulder they