It was the screeching of tires that woke me; I sat straight up in bed; with everything that had gone on over the last few days my nerves were shot. I realized Lorne was gone, as I surveyed the room, I found him standing at the window, he looked agitated. He mumbled a few choice words, grabbed his robe and headed down stairs. I called after him but all I heard was...

"I'm gonna kill him!"

I quickly threw my dressing gown on and followed. Loren was at the back door, she was awful shook up.

"Where's AJ!" Lorne growled.

"He went to see Madame Yu. It's an emergency."

"Why? What happened? Are you alright? Dang it Loren do you see why I have doubts about AJ! Here he is kickin' you out on the curb, then taken of like a bat out of hell!"

"I knew you would do this! I told AJ you wouldn't listen and fly off the handle!"

I could see that this was going nowhere, so I stepped in, "Listen both of you, let's sit down. I'll put on a pot of java, warm up some cobbler and you can explain what happened, alright Loren."

It took a moment but both of them nodded and headed toward the kitchen table. I turned to Lorne and squeezing his hand, whispered, "Honey not vinegar, baby, you'll get better results." I winked at him as I went to fetch some coffee cups. He rolled his eyes at me, he is so cute when he is angry.

Loren explained what transpired during their drive home, with minimal interruptions from Lorne. However, I could tell he was not happy and would most likely give AJ an ear full when he returned. Before Lorne could start in on his sister about AJ, I suggested that she go upstairs to bed. She did not pass up the opportunity and quickly disappeared up the stairs, before her brother protested.

As soon as Loren was out of ear shot Lorne put on his "bad cop" face, I knew I was in trouble. "So, you're running interference for my sister now?"

"Whatever do you mean, dear?" I gave him a sly grin and started clearing the table.

"Myna!" Lorne quickly stepped in front of me. "Myna, I am trying to keep my sister safe and here you are throwing her to the wolves. What if AJ is mixed up in this McGinty mess, have you even considered that possibility?"

"You have got to be kidding Lorne, there is no way AJ has anything to do with Shamus's murder. He told us why he was with Lulu. I'm sure when you speak with Madame Yu, she will back up his story."

"What about your secret ingredient, AJ knows what it is..."

"Stop right there!" I put the tray of dishes down and stood toe to toe with him. "We have already been through this, I have complete trust and faith in AJ and Gyn, for that matter. Please baby, you have to trust me on this. AJ would never sell me out, besides there is someone else who knows about my secret ingredient." The veins on Lorne's head were about to burst. I drive him crazy, I think that's why he loves me.

Through gritted teeth, he growled, "Spill it missy!"

"I didn't put two and two together until after I talked to Tres and told him about the threat I got the other night, he said it wasn't a threat it was a warning. The Mexican grocery store, Tamal Caliente, is where I get my ingredient from, the owner Enché Lotta, orders it for me. What if the girl was trying to warn me that he told someone about my secret?"

I saw the anger drain from Lorne's face and the wheels start moving. "You might be on to something there. But who would he have told?"

"I think I can answer that too...I think he could have told or sold my secret to Shamus McGinty."

"Why would he do that?"

"Shamus came to me a few month's after the muffin prohibition was put in place, he wanted me to sell him muffins for illegal distribution in his speakeasies and I turned him down flat." The veins on his head started twitching again...

"Dang it Myna, why didn't you tell me!! Do you have any idea how important this is! Does anyone else know about this?"

"AJ does, he was here with McGinty came 'round. He heard me tell Shamus to get out and asked me what was going on, so I told him but made sure that he understood that no one else needed to know. I'm sorry Lorne, I just didn't want to put more on your plate, I didn't want you to worry." I really did feel bad about not telling him, he worries about me so much I just didn't want to give him more to worry about.

Lorne stared into my eyes for a few moments then took me into his arms, "Baby doll, you can't keep doing this to me, if you and I are going to be husband and wife, I have to know everything, you can't keep things from me." He took my shoulders and pushed me back, looking very stern and serious. "Do you understand, this is it, I am drawing a line in the sand, if there is anything else you need to tell me, do it now!"

"Yes, I understand, I have told you everything." I hung my head, all of a sudden I was very tired.

Once again Lorne took me into his arms, "You are going to be the death of me yet Myna Darkly. Leave these dishes till the morning, let's go to bed, I have a feeling it is going to be an early day."