“I’ll tell you when we get to Holly’s.”
Assured they hadn’t been followed from Cody’s place, Max parked the car in a metered lot a half a block from the restaurant.
On the walk, Cody peppered her with questions about her job and Dr. Arnoff, which she avoided and deflected. Since Cody was a master of both, he didn’t pressure her for answers.
They snagged a table in the back of the restaurant, near the kitchen. Cody and Max ordered full breakfasts with the works while she stuck with blueberry pancakes.
They traded comments about the weather and the drive and Cody’s job until he planted his elbows on either side of his plate. “Are you going to tell me about this favor you want me to do, Ava?”
Max pointed his fork at Cody. “And don’t forget, you owe her for destroying her career.”
Cody’s eyes bugged out. “You told him about all that, Ava? Are you crazy?”
“He had to know. It’s all tied to what I need from you now.”
“Spit it out.”
“Are you still using, Cody?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “If by ‘using’ you mean addled, dazed and confused—no. I use a little for recreational purposes, mostly weed these days.”
She sighed. “With our family background and your own past addictions, I don’t understand why you risk it.”
“It is what it is, Ava.” He shoveled more food into his mouth.
“Do you have a dealer in Snow Haven?”
As he wiped his mouth with his napkin, his murky green eyes narrowed. “Who wants to know?”
She shoved her plate away from her and her fork clattered to the table. “If I wanted to turn you in, I would’ve done so a long time ago.”
Cody leveled a finger at Max. “You’re not a cop, are you?”
“Do I look like a cop?” He glared at Cody’s finger, and Cody dropped his hand.
“No, but you could be one of those undercover guys.”
“I’m not. Look, we don’t give a damn about your drug use, or at least I don’t. We need a lab, and we need it yesterday.”
Cody’s brows disappeared under the messy curls across his forehead. “You mentioned a lab before. What is this all about, Ava?”
“I know you’ve been involved in the production of meth, Cody.” She held up her hands. “Don’t even bother lying to me.”
“And you want me to secure a meth lab for you?”
“Exactly.” She slid a piece of paper across the table. “And it needs to be stocked with these chemicals.”
He glanced at the list before pocketing it. “Why do you need all this?”
She folded her arms. “You have your secrets, and I have mine. You don’t need to know. I need a place to work, and I need those specific chemicals.”
“What about Dr. Arnoff? Don’t you already have a lab where you work?”
“That lab is no longer feasible.” Max took a sip from his coffee cup, watching Cody over the rim.
Cody balled up his napkin and tossed it onto his plate. “Are you in some kind of trouble, Ava? Is this guy taking advantage of you?”
Ava held her breath as her gaze darted to Max’s clenched jaw.
“You have some nerve saying that after what you put her through.”
Cody flinched. “I know I’m a jerk, but that doesn’t mean I want my sister to get mixed up with anyone else who’s going to hurt her.”
Max’s dark eyes got even darker. “I’m not going to hurt your sister.”
Ava waved her hands between them. “Hey, I’m right here at the table. You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not.”
The waitress broke the tension with her coffeepot. “Refills?”
When the waitress left, Ava turned to Cody. “All you have to know is that Max and I are helping each other. I wouldn’t be here right now without him.”
“Okay, I believe you. So, I’m supposed to find you a lab, no questions asked.”
“Last time I checked, cooking meth was illegal. We’re the ones who won’t ask any questions.” Max wrapped his strong hands around his coffee cup.
Cody swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Deal. I have an option in mind, but just so you know, it won’t be my lab and it won’t come cheap. I don’t cook the stuff.”