A Finder's Fee by Jim Lavene, Joyce

sometimes, but killing someone is different than being cranky.”
    “Ronnie and Tuck will look into it.” Gramps believed every word he said. “They’ll figure out what happened. That’s their job. Not ours.”
    “I know.” Gramps was a stickler for letting people do their jobs, especially when it came to law enforcement. Apparently, he felt like too many people had put in their two cents’ worth while he was sheriff. He wasn’t stepping on anyone else’s toes.
    Changing the subject, he said, “How was your time at the shop today? Sell anything?”
    I told him about my customers but not about planning to meet Dillon this evening. It would’ve been too much explaining that would have left us at odds over repaying Kevin for the fine. Gramps certainly wouldn’t want me to talk to Dillon, much less sell anything to him.
    Gramps would’ve said Kevin knew what he was doing when he agreed to help me. He’d pay the fine, like a man, and go about his business.
    At least that’s what he’d tell me.
    Of course I knew this wasn’t a two-way street. If Kevin had done something similar for Gramps, Gramps would be trying to figure out some way to pay him back. He might not turn to someone like Dillon for help—especially since he knew Dillon was a criminal. Gramps took a dim view of me spending time with anyone outside the law.
    After we’d finished eating and done the dishes, I put on my jacket and started toward the door. “I’m going to finish something at Missing Pieces. Don’t wait up.”
    He put down the dish towel and said, “You don’t have to lie to me, Dae.”
    For a brief moment, I wondered what I’d said that had given me away. Did I look guilty? Was it his famous radar that always knew when I was in trouble as a kid?
    “It’s all right for you to meet Kevin. You don’t have to sneak out or lie about it. You’re an adult now. Although I do wish he’d come around and pick you up to take you out. There are still some rules about a man courting a woman. I would never have guessed Kevin Brickman was that kind of man.”
    I was so relieved that I hugged him. “Thanks. I guess I don’t think about it that way. You’re so old-fashioned!”
    He sat down in his recliner. “I saw Jake Burleson this morning. I think he might want to give Kevin some competition. Did he drop by to see you at the shop?”
    I explained about Jake taking me to Corolla tomorrow night. “He wants me to look at something. You too, if you want to come.”
    “I don’t want to get between a man and a woman he might be interested in. Besides, I’ve got a Lions Club meeting.”
    “Believe me, you won’t be interrupting anything. I’m dating Kevin. Nancy said the same thing about Jake today. I haven’t gotten that feeling from him at all.”
    “Well, we’ll see. At least he’s picking you up at your home, like a man should.” He switched on one of the old shows he liked to watch. “Don’t stay out too late.”
    I assured him that I wouldn’t and slipped out the door.
    I thought about Jake on my way down to Missing Pieces. I hoped I hadn’t given him the wrong impression. Kevin and I weren’t engaged or anything, but there was an implied exclusivity to our relationship.
    I wondered if there was something I could say to Jake that would make him understand, in case there was a problem. I didn’t want to awkwardly ask him if he was interested in me as more than a friend.
    It was a strange, slightly exhilarating experience to deal with. I had never had the opportunity to wonder if a second man was interested in me. In school, I was always the weird one whose grandfather was the sheriff. Tim had been the only boy who ever asked me out.
    It wasn’t fair to lead Jake on though. I liked him and enjoyed his company, but not in that way.
    There was a big chicken and dumplings dinner at one of the local churches near the house. It seemed to be a popular event. Traffic was heavy on Duck Road. I had to walk around some of the cars