A THIEF OF ANY MAN (Food Truck Mysteries Book 6) by Chloe Kendrick Page B

as I approached the present time.
    I had apparently been too involved in my own daily life to hear the news about his disappearance, but two months ago, he had been out to dinner with friends. After dinner, he’d last been seen heading to his car in the parking lot next door. Neither Borelli or his driver had been seen since. The police had unofficially tracked a few leads, but nothing had come to fruition until the discovery of the body last night.
    I found a certain irony in the fact that Borelli had last been seen in one parking lot and found in another. I skimmed through the stories of Borelli’s life and exploits in the mob. I really didn’t have a reason to read about his past. I have to say that I was glad that I had not known him in life. He was too dangerous for my blood.
     
    I found the restaurant without any problems. It was tucked away between two café-styled eateries with striped awnings and tiny tables out front. The place that Sabine had selected had no such finery; it had ultra-sleek modern booths that looked incredibly uncomfortable.
    Sabine was already waiting when I arrived, and she waved me to the table where she was seated. She handed me the menu and took a sip from what I took to be iced tea.
    “So I’m sure you want to ask me a million questions about Land? My big brother is not known for his personal sharing.” She smiled at me as if to give permission.
    I was not sure what I was supposed to say. Frankly, the whole meeting the family thing was foreign to me. I had seriously dated two men in college, but then the families were hundreds of miles away. It was possible to date someone and break up with them prior to ever meeting a family member. I hadn’t studied the protocols of what to say to your boyfriend’s family, and I stammered around a bit before I finally decided to stick to a few safe topics at first.
    I mentioned her business school education, thinking it would be safe territory.
    “You’re so lucky,” she said. “I have the same degree, and I’m solving crossword puzzles on second shift at a parking lot.” A frown spread across her face. I remembered the days when I’d sat on my parents’ sofa, wishing for a job too. It had not been the best time in my life.
    I explained how I’d come to have the truck, including the fact that my aunt had apparently promised the truck to Land before her death, but left a will with me as the beneficiary.
    Sabine nodded a few times as I talked, and I wondered how much of this she already knew. Had Land complained to her about me taking the food truck, or had he talked about my aunt? Other than asserting his claim to the truck, he’d rarely spoken about my aunt to me.
    When I was finished, Sabine said, “But yes, you inherited it. Still, look at what you’ve done. You’ve made a business of it, managed to get a second truck – and a business partner.” She let the words hang in the air, as if I was supposed to define my exact relationship with Land.
    I chose to ignore the hint. I’d been very conscientious about mixing business with romance, and we’d waited until we were business partners – and not boss and employee – before we started dating. I had been pretty sure that I could date Land for the foreseeable future before I decided to mingle aspects of my life. However, I wasn’t going to tell her all of that. Land knew, and that was what mattered to me.
    “Land’s great,” I managed with a smile. “He adds a lot to the truck.”
    Sabine just raised an eyebrow and sipped her tea. It was subtler, but every bit as provocative as Carter’s eyebrow wagging. “Land said you don’t have any openings at your business right now? Somebody is helping you at the original truck?”
    I was startled by her directness. Land was always so quiet and circumspect, but I guess I should know that families don’t share all attributes. My mother has no clue when my father and I delve deep into the world of finance and numbers. I wondered if