"Is that coffee I smell?" Ariel asked, her voice tinged with a hint of casual curiosity as she looked at Leroy meaningfully. “You wouldn’t have had chicken or apples with that, would you?”

Leroy’s eyes widened considerably, while Taylor’s narrowed in response. Shooting the monk a disgusted glance, Taylor turned her attention back to Ariel. “You really need to spend less time together…”

“Chicken and apples… with coffee?” Miss Marlowe interjected, her tone reflecting genuine confusion.

“Who has apples with their coffee?” Leroy persisted, carefully maintaining their code.

“I do,” Ariel answered, trying to sound nonchalant. “And chicken, lots of it.”

Taylor’s face contorted in revulsion. “Ariel, chicken? That monk is finally rubbing off on you—”

The expression Leroy made at Ariel’s mention of ‘lots of chicken’ was even worse than Taylor’s. Despite his discomfort, he managed to return her glare.

“Thompson, since you’ve completed your work in the office, I’ll show you to the Marlowe’s room,” Max said, cutting into the peculiar conversation with a note of finality.

Ariel tensed, her eyes darting between Jasper and Max. Although neither man’s expression was openly readable, years of working closely with them had given Ariel an instinctive understanding. And right now, she recognized the telltale signs of their intent—an intent that seemed to circle around her partner, Leroy.

They can’t get me, so they’re going after Leroy!

“I promised Leroy some lunch,” Ariel cut in, her voice firm and insistent. “After this morning, I owe it to him. I’ll even settle for a few apples.”

Miss Marlowe’s eyes softened slightly, and she gave Ariel a curious look. “I just bought some this morning; you’re welcome to them if you’re hungry. The kitchen is just through the living room.”

Ariel had to suppress a victorious smile. With deliberate movements, she stepped forward, holding Max’s gaze as she ushered Leroy toward the living room.

“Since they’ve decided to take a lunch break, I’ll go to the Marlowe room,” Taylor suggested confidently, joining her partner’s side.

Ariel turned just in time to catch Jasper’s curt nod and Max’s resigned expression. She allowed herself a moment of satisfaction, savoring the small victory.

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“I’ll finish getting your interview, Miss Marlowe…” was the last thing she heard before she and Leroy entered the living room.

Ariel gripped Leroy’s arm tightly as she hurried him across the empty space. “Is it safe—?”

“Shhh,” Ariel cautioned, her voice urgent as she tugged him along.

“Ow, Ariel—” Leroy protested, trying to free his arm from her iron grip.

“Quit whining. I just saved your life,” Ariel shot back, dragging him through a set of swinging double doors. The resemblance to the Inn made her frown.

Perfect.

At least Noah wasn’t waiting on the other side—nor Mrs. Williams wielding a frying pan. Ariel shuddered at the thought and made a mental note to avoid dinner that night.

“Leroy, you’ll never believe what I’ve just been put through,” Ariel began, suddenly turning on the monk mid-step, causing him to stumble.

“Oy—Ariel,” Leroy protested, a finger pressed to her lips to silence her. “We’ve got to be careful… there might be listening devices…”

He glanced around the seemingly innocent kitchen, then continued, “We should talk in code…”

Ariel spotted a glass fruit bowl on the counter next to her. Quickly, she picked up an apple. By the time Leroy faced her again, she was holding the apple to her mouth.

“Have an apple, Leroy,” she said. “But that’s all the more code I’m going to use. This kitchen isn’t bugged, and I have a lot to tell you.”

The monk nodded and took a hearty bite out of the apple with a crisp snap. “I warned you that going with Max would make you chicken.”

Ariel gave Leroy a look of exasperation. She wasn’t in the mood for an ‘I told you so.’ “I didn’t think we’d be compromised so quickly—”

“So you were chicken? What happened?” Leroy asked, suddenly scrutinizing her closely.

Ariel managed a small smile and waved off his concern. “Leroy, this isn’t a spy movie. The worst thing Max did was stare at me with one of those suspicious looks he must have learned from Jasper… or maybe Jasper learned from him.”

“Ariel, this is full-scale espionage,” Leroy insisted. “And Max is Jasper’s hitman.”

Ariel wanted to laugh at Leroy’s dramatic claim, but the recent encounter with the Chinese man was too fresh in her mind to find humor in it. “You know I’m right. We’re his targets, and he won’t rest until we’ve spilled all our—” Leroy paused dramatically, “secrets.”

Ariel swatted his arm, and Leroy smirked at her response. “Fine. If Jasper is having Max do his dirty work, we’ll just have to be more careful.”

“He must be pretty desperate to get your answers, recruiting Max like this,” Leroy commented thoughtfully, taking another bite of his apple.

Ariel frowned slightly. Although she wanted to blame Jasper for everything, Max had assured her he wasn’t involved. That Jasper. I can’t even be mad at you properly.

“I don’t know. Max seems to be acting on his own. I’m sure Jasper has mentioned his suspicions, but when Max was interrogating me, he said he wanted to get away from this town. He might just be trying to wrap up this case quickly…”

“…and if he thinks you have the answers,” Leroy finished for her knowingly.

“Exactly,” Ariel nodded, frustration evident in her posture. She didn’t want Jasper to escape so easily, not after he had relentlessly grilled her for answers.

He still paired me with Max.

The munching in Ariel’s ear stopped, and she glanced at Leroy to see him looking from the fruit in his hand up at her. “We talked chicken. Now, how about them apples?”