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The Dog Hole

Chapter 9: Nothing

"Those dishes are for pot pies."

"Yes, but they're also the perfect size to make the custard."

"...but they're for pot pies."

Bebe pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look. Just let me do this. I promise it will not cut into lunch or dinner prep. Okay?"

"Fine." He said it as if he'd just approved the use of the BFG 10000. "By the way," Bosch started to grin. "I heard you met Shepherd."

"You heard...Snibbly!"

Snibbly guiltily ducked his head low as he served someone eggs from behind the counter.

It was nice to see that this base wasn't as much of a ghost town as it initially appeared. Slowly but surely, at exactly eight o' clock, folks were coming in hungry and ready to eat. As usual when serving food, Bebe always smiled and tended to get a smile back; at least on the mainland. Here, more times than not, her smile was met with a blank stare back or an immediate denial of eye contact altogether. Instead of taking offense, she started to consider the obligatory nature of expecting a smile back and found that she preferred the stares. At least they told her what they honestly thought of her. Occasionally, she was met with a small smile from someone after they assessed her, which meant a lot. One guy, however, had a smile ready for her when his turn had come around.

"Good morning, Lyan," she greeted jovially.

"Good morning, Bebe," he responded in the same exact way.

Bebe would have to remember to tone it down in the future.

Bosch walked up to the counter. "No missus this morning?"

Lyan shook his head. "She has things to do, so I'll be bringing her breakfast."

"Did she miss you last night?"

"Yes, Bosch. We had sex."

Bebe didn't know what made her more uncomfortable. The fact that he was able to say something like that so plainly without a single person within earshot reacting to it, or his blatant admission to putting his penis in his carnivorous plant. She turned to Bosch who put three pancakes on the second tray.

"An extra one since she's working so hard."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it." Lyan nodded to both of them before moving along.

"Poor lad."

"Did something happen?"

"Not my place to say." "Serving doesn't take three. I need you to take this to the Director's office. Be quick. He hates his eggs cold."

Bebe wasn't anxious to do the task, but she was confident that it'd at least be quick. She took the tray and left the mess hall with haste. After taking a breath outside of Cane's door, she knocked twice and opened it.

"Sir?"

There he stood examining himself in front of a full-body mirror next to his desk. Annoyed, he turned to her. "What?"

"I brought you breakfast."

"Put it on the desk there." "Wait." "Too much?"

"Too much for what?"

"You know." Cane simply gestured to all of himself. "It's too much, isn't it?"

Bebe couldn't believe it. The humorless, joyless director was trying to impress someone. She picked up her jaw. "It's best to be yourself."

"That's useless advice."

"Sir, if I may be blunt," "If someone wanted you to know they liked you, would you care what they were wearing when they finally came out with it?"

He mulled over her words. "What would you want to see the other person in?"

Bebe let out some air. "Nothing."

For the first time, director Cane showed an emotion other than quiet disapproval. He shook his head slowly at her. "That's even worse advice."

She pressed her lips and opened the door behind her. "Good luck, sir."

Bebe waited until the door closed behind her fully before cracking a smile.