I leaned back in my seat as I pushed the now-empty plate away from me. Well, it was really more like a platter. Three steaks—medium rare—with steamed vegetables on the side was my conquest of choice. The delicious smells wafting out of the diner’s kitchen no longer made me want to drool, and the background noise of the lunch rush made for a pleasant ambiance. People nodded to me as they passed my table, some even giving me a thumbs up or other form of encouragement over my role in returning the abducted children. At first, I thought it was just community building with the new guy, but I noticed those people doing the same with Buddy. He saw me noticing and stood up from his table, heading my way.
“May I sit?” he asked when he reached my table.
I nodded and gestured to a seat.
“You looke
