Shell Shocked

Chapter 3-2

The officer drove Kiko home so that he could get a new shirt after handing over his stained one for evidence, after which he hurried back to Yolks on You, trying to make himself feel, or at least seem, normal. He was shaken. Those minutes with Chad had been long, too long, and despite having washed up at home he immediately went to the store bathroom to splash water on his face and scrub his hands again.

“Hey,” he said to Dom as he slid behind the counter, trying to get himself back into his customer mannerisms. His smile failed; his entire body seemed charged with worry. “You all right?”

“Yeah,” said Dom. Kiko noticed he was making more than the normal amount of eye contact and wished he was in a better mood to appreciate that. Brown eyes, gold flecks. “You?”

Kiko attempted a chuckle.

“Apart from feeling certain the police suspect me, worrying about Chad, and having half my property sealed off, including all the remaining eggs for the Grand Hunt, everything’s almost going well. Can I get you anything, or are you just here to manipulate my mind with that intense stare?”

Dom broke eye contact to glance toward where Katie was reading a book to the children.

“I took a couple of your coloring books and a package of crayons for the kids when everything was happening, wanted to pay you for them. Oh, and I think Alec needs another adult eggnog. He hated the one from yesterday.”

“My eggnog’s won awards,” said Kiko, punching in the items.

Dom laughed. “I just want it because he hates it. I’m sure it’s good.”

“Ah, spite,” said Kiko as brightly as he could manage, trying not to think about why anyone would want to cause explosions at his store. It was best to not consider that now, to only work. “Pleased Yolks on You has you covered for that.”

“You sure you’re all right?” asked Dom, then, as though not wanting to be overly concerned with Kiko, “Maybe—”

“I can’t take an afternoon off,” said Kiko, moving to grab a glass for the eggnog. “This is the busiest time of the year—or it would be if the cops hadn’t sectioned off half the parking lot. Without Chad I’m down staff, and I’m not allowed any of the eggs for the Hunt since it’s now a crime scene.” He trailed off, wondering why he was saying all this. He was probably still in shock from earlier; regardless, he quieted. Complaining too much never left a good impression.

Dom was staring at him.

“The Hunt? That big egg hunt they have on Sunday?”

“Yes, the Grand Hunt,” said Kiko, filling the glass with eggnog. “Those boxes Chad was unloading were all the eggs for it—each business supplies and stuffs their own. Yolks on You employees hide them. We were already behind schedule when this happened.”

He set the eggnog on the counter and took the card Dom handed him for p*****t.

“You’ll get the eggs back on time, right?” asked Dom.

“Doubt it,” said Kiko, then tried to be upbeat again. He didn’t want it getting around that there would no longer be a Grand Hunt. “But I’ll call around and get more eggs for it. No need to worry about any Sunday events.” He remembered overhearing Dom arguing with his ex about calling the children’s mother; it struck Kiko that Dom might be leaving very soon. For some reason the thought almost panicked him. Yes, definitely affected by what had just happened.

“—hope that goes without any more problems,” Dom was saying. He moved to pick up the eggnog.

“Actually,” said Kiko, trying to meet his eyes again. “If you want an excuse to get away again I could use a little help with the eggs…” He watched Dom as the long seconds of consideration ticked by, then added, “Normally I’d ask an employee, but…”

“What’d I do? Move boxes of eggs?”

“Yes. They’re not heavy, though. And if you wanted more. I need someone to help me hide them.”

“I hope this is a paid position,” said Dom, the briefest of smiles an indication it was a joke. Kiko smiled back, glad the action was so easy.

“I think I could come up with some form of p*****t you’d appreciate.”

Dom leaned back a little but did not leave, staring. The time hung like it had with Chad earlier, but this kind of suspense was a relief, as the worst that could happen was rejection. At this point Dom would have to know Kiko was interested, so whatever decision he made next would determine Kiko’s involvement with him. He watched as Dom shrugged, left the eggnog where it was to reach into his pocket for his phone.

“Sure. I don’t think you mean now, so give me your number. According to Alec, they always go to Pasta la Vista for lunch Friday, so that’s where we’re headed next, and it sounds like you’ve got the store to look after.”

“It wouldn’t be until later anyway,” said Kiko, getting a scrap of paper for Dom to write down his number. “Yolks on You is open until nine during the Eggstravaganza.”

“Lifting boxes. Great,” mumbled Dom as he slid his phone back into his pocket and grabbed the eggnog. “Just how I wanted to spend my vacation. After getting cheated on and—” He stopped abruptly, eyes flicking guiltily toward Kiko for a moment. “You’ll call me, then?”

Kiko nodded.