With temperatures so low I couldn't leaven NB in the car, I found a spot in front of Anderson's building and tugged on his leash, bringing both the dog and box of Anessa's best breakfast muffins. They were basically cupcakes without the frosting, but people liked to think they were healthy, so she'd banned me from calling them breakfast cupcakes in public.

I'd never stopped and asked if they allowed pets in this apartment complex, but since no one dove out of the bushes to tackle us as we walked into the building, I decided it was probably fine.

Rather than hit up Anderson's place, I stopped across the hall and knocked on door 202. Nothing happened.

I knocked again. Where could she be? She had almost an hour and a half until classes started. Was Anderson's neighbor that big of an eager employee? If I had to teach school, I'd rush in at the last millisecond. Teenagers were the worst. I remember because I used to be one.

NB tugged on his leash, wanting to sniff something further down the hall. The movement caught me off guard and the muffin box wiggled in my arms. I hunched over to secure the box and tugged on NB's leash to get him under control.

A door opened behind me and I glanced up looking like a scary version of some ancient Greek statue. Detective Anderson stepped into the hall and I swear his enormous sigh ruffled the hair on my head even though we were feet apart.

"Where's Lainey?" I asked before he got any bright ideas about running away and not answering my questions.

It worked because he stopped in front of his door. "She volunteers for early breakfast duty at the high school. Something about how if a teacher isn't present, the things that happen with Corn Flakes give her nightmares."

"When did you talk to her?" Yeah, I may have been the one who asked him about Lainey's whereabouts, but I didn't like how quickly he answered.

Why was my new best friend talking to the town's only detective?

Anderson pulled out his phone from his tan trench coat-so cliché-and tapped on the screen. "It's my job to know my neighbors."

His brown hair was styled in the same way as normal, and his blue eyes sparkled even though his face said, "Don't mess with me." The big police badge he liked to wear around his neck was the only thing missing from his ensemble.

"I saw her first." I rebalanced the muffins in my hands and finally stood up straight again, trying to appear hardcore.

Anderson rolled his eyes, and something clicked on his apartment door. "You most certainly did not. I carried in three fragile boxes for her the day she moved in."

Shit. "Well, she likes me more."

"Ms. Vines, I will not fight with you over something so stupid." He inched closer to me, keeping his eye on NB.

I gave the leash another tug, but NB didn't care. He was still trying to sniff out the breakfast smells coming from an apartment further down the hall. Someone had decided on bacon.

"What are you going to do, then?" I asked and crossed my fingers he'd spill the beans on what he'd been working so hard to hide about the police force. I had too many active investigations happening at one time. Someone needed to give me info so I could close one of them.

Anderson closed the distance between us, flipped open the top of Anessa's muffin box, stole the bright red one that I assumed was her new strawberry creation, and then stepped away. "Thanks for breakfast. I didn't have time to cook anything."

"Hey, these are for Lainey."

"I'll buy her another," he said around a mouthful of muffin. "This flavor is pretty good. What's Anessa calling it?"

"No idea. Probably strawberry delight or something." Only the taste mattered. Who cared what she named things? "What did all those clicks mean a minute ago?"

Anderson smiled and something in the expression said so much more than his words. "Electronic deadbolt. Only accessible from my phone."

I stared as he held up the phone a few inches from my face while still munching on his muffin. The asshole. How dare he find resources to lock me out? "It would suck if someone stole your phone."

Anderson shrugged. "Ridge has backup plans for such an event."

Ugh. This town was full of stupid former SEALs with too many resources and cunning knowhow. And worst of all, Broadrick had gone and taken a job with them. I wanted a phone-locking deadbolt.

"Whatever."

I'd tried to start the morning off on a pleasant note and bring Lainey a morning treat for information-that's how the deal worked-but I'd only ended up with one less muffin and annoyance at Anderson. Basically, a regular week day.

Anderson waited to walk out with NB and me. It's almost like he expected me to break into Lainey's apartment if he left me alone. He watched my every step and waited until I'd gotten into Rachel and driven away before he got into his car. How suspicious of him.

Little did he know, if I really wanted to break in, I'd just circle the block and wait him out. And if B and E had been in the plans, I'd never have brought NB with me. He was a horrible lookout.

I ate a muffin on the drive to town so it didn't go to waste and parked in front of the bakery. Anessa liked us to save those spots for customers, but this was an emergency. It was cold out.

NB tugged on his leash and ran after the man leaving the bakery with a tall cup of something warm. Antonio stepped back when NB jumped on him but then leaned over and gave him a few good pets behind his ears.

"Hey, BFF," I said, letting NB tug me over to the bounty hunter.

He glanced up at me with a furrow between his brows. "We're not BFFs."

I didn't have time to argue with more men that morning, so I ignored him. "I need a favor."

Tony sipped on his drink and flicked his sunglasses to the top of his head. His soft brown eyes shown in the morning light. "Don't you owe me three favors?"

NB peed on the empty planter in front of the bakery. "BFFs don't keep track, and plus, I warned you."

His eyebrows shot up. "You did?"

I shrugged and tugged on NB to stop him from walking into the street. "It's possible I only had that convo in my head."

Tony shook his head. "There are no girls like you in New Mexico."

His comment made me stop trying to save NB from tripping himself on his leash. "You're from New Mexico?" I thought he'd said California. I needed to find my notebook with notes on Tony.

"No," he deadpanned.

Hmm. Okay, then. I'd let him continue being Mr. Elusive... for now. Best friends didn't keep secrets.

"What's this favor?" he asked to break our stare-off.

I instantly smiled. Favors went over better when you smiled. "Oh yeah. Can you watch NB for me?"

"Who in the hell is NB?" he almost took another sip but hesitated for some reason.

I grabbed NB from the sidewalk. "You remember NB. He used to be called Brent, but then we discovered he wasn't Brent, so he became Not Brent. We called him Nut Bread for a few days, but it didn't really stick, so now he's just NB."

"That is a ridiculous name for a dog," he said, finally taking the sip of his drink.

"Which one?"

"All of them." I laughed, but he didn't.

"Name aside, can you watch him for me? I have to work a shift at the bakery, but I can't take him home because an attack cat is squatting at my place right now, so it's not a safe space for him. I can't afford therapy bills." Dog therapy had to be pricey.

Tony rubbed his head. "You won't stop until I say yes. Will you?"

"Nope." Tony was my last chance. I didn't ask anyone else, but he was here in front of me, and if willing, I wouldn't question God's plans.

"Give me his leash."

"Thanks so much, Tony." I handed over NB's leash and patted him on the shoulder. "There's a muffin in my car if you want it."

I sneezed. The cold air from being outside too long had made my allergies mess up.

"No thanks on the muffin."

Tony helped NB get into his massively tall truck. He'd upgraded the tires, and I waved as they drove away. Hopefully, NB painted Tony a magnificent picture on his truck window. From the looks of it as they backed out of the space, he planned to start immediately.

I let myself into the bakery, and Anessa waved to me from behind the counter. "How did Operation Muffin go this morning?"

She handed me a bright pink apron as I crossed over the counter and shook my head. "Lainey wasn't home, but Anderson stole the strawberry one. He liked it."

"I'll bill him for it later," she said, using a pink towel to wipe off the counter.

Anessa painted everything pink prior to opening the bakery a few years ago, the only things not bright Barbie pink were the tables and chairs, which she'd spray painted with jeweled tones. Lately, she'd been talking about turning them pink as well.

Hours passed with a steady flow of customers to keep us busy, but that didn't stop me from contemplating my next moves. I had to juggle the attack cat, investigate the police, and solve the most recent murder. The murder had to come first.

I washed my hands at the sink in the bakery after a sneeze, and Anessa stared at me. "You still sick?"

"Allergies."

"You look tired. Tabitha is coming in for the afternoon and dinner rushes, so why don't you head out and catch a nap?"

I'd been moments away from coming up with a great protest, even though the idea of a nap sounded killer-in a good way-but then someone knocked on the big glass window at the front of the bakery and drew our attention.

"He better not get fingerprints on my glass. It's too cold to clean it out there," Anessa said with a frown at Tony as he knocked again.

"That's Tony. He's watching NB for me."

Anessa glance in my direction. "I thought he said his name was Antonio."

"Yeah, he gets confused. Is it really okay if I head off?" I asked as Tony waved the end of the leash in front of him.

"Go for it. Take a cookie," Anessa said, handing me a double chocolate chunk cookie.

"Thanks!" I grabbed the snack and met Tony outside the bakery.

He passed me the leash immediately like when my sister and I used to play "you touched it last" during bedroom cleanup. "Your dog licked my window."

"Created you a masterpiece, you mean." Men got that kind of thing confused a lot. "Hey, while you're not busy, can I get a ride?"

"Who said I'm not busy and where to? Isn't that your car parked over there?"

Damn, the bounty hunter had good eyes. "Yeah, but I can't leave NB in the car while I do my errand."

Tony shook his head. "Fine. Get in." He gestured to his truck, and I opened the passenger door before he changed his mind.

NB happily returned to the vehicle, and I held him on my lap after buckling my seatbelt.

"Where to?" Tony asked as he started the truck.

I waited until he put it in reverse to answer. Then he really couldn't back out. "The morgue."

He slammed on the brakes, leaving us half in and half out of the parking space. "Why?"

NB retook his spot against the window and added to his current art piece. I tilted my head to the side, like a clown directing traffic. "To bribe a mortician, obviously. Want to help?"