Page 62 of Risky Obsession

“Ready?” I said.

She nodded and her eyes shimmered with hope.

We lifted the board away. But there was nothing. Just the map and its fucking secrets that taunted us.

“Damn it.” She threw her hands out in frustration. “It’s empty.”

I tossed the keys onto the chair. “I don’t know what kind of treasure hunting you’ve done, but mine have never been that easy.”

“I know.” She rolled her eyes.

“Fancy a drink?” I wiggled my eyebrows. “I noticed there was a bar downstairs.”

Her shoulders sagged.

“Come on. Just one. I feel like we should celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” she frowned.

“Yeah. Day one of treasure hunting and we didn’t kill each other.”

She released a half huff, half chuckle. “Sure. Let’s celebrate.”

“You fold up that map. I’ll fold up Pops’.”

She frowned. “We can just leave them.”

“No,” I said way too quickly. “Never leave valuables in the hotel.”

“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

“Not mine personally. Pops.” I folded up Pops’ map and slotted it back into the yellow envelope.

“Should I get changed?”

“Why?”

“I look scruffy.”

She looked anything but scruffy. “Nah. We look like tourists, we’ll fit right in.”

“Okay.” As Tory added the map we bought today to the envelope, I shifted the glass frame off the bed and rested it against the wall. I put the yellow envelope into my jacket pocket and pulled on my coat.

She grabbed her bag, and as she slotted it over her shoulder, sadness seemed to wash over her.

“Hey.” I pressed my hand to her shoulder. “Cheer up. We’ll figure this out.”

Tory offered me a half-hearted smile, then opened the door.

I followed her down the stairs, past the empty reception counter to the dimly lit bar at the rear of the inn where flames were flickering on the logs in the fireplace. Four couples were seated around the area, and a young man was playing with his phone behind the bar.

Tory and I ordered a glass of red wine each, and then we carried them to a pair of oversized black leather seats in front of the fire.

“This is nice,” she said as she settled into the seat.

Rather than talk about the disappointment upstairs, I decided on something more upbeat. “So, other than Gunter’s weird actions, did you enjoy your first antique fair?”

Tory held the glass in front of her and seemed to be studying the fire through the dark wine. “Yes, absolutely. And you?”