I hadn't slept a wink and it was already morning. It stepped into the kitchen from the back door and immediately cringed at that smell that assaulted my nose.

Peaches and cream muffins.... "MYNA!!!"

She hollered back... something about being down in a minute. I grabbed an apron and started to remove the evidence. I began to throw every last muffin away...

"Well hello stranger, 'bout time you stopped by to see me." She leans in and kisses my cheek. "Would you like some breakfast, Dear? I can get you a hot cup of joe and some fresh baked sinkers?"

There she stood a beautiful picture of perfection and remorse. It was written clearly upon her face. "You promised, Myna," I said holding up a muffin.

"Oh that," she takes it from my hand. "That's nothing. Your sister was feeling mighty blue so I just whipped up some of Granny's muffins to lighten her mood."

"What's she got be upset about? I'm the one who was mortified that my sister was hauled in, dressed like some ...some..." I still couldn't bring myself to call her any of the number of names that sprung to mind.

I growled in frustration and took back the muffin... "And now this?!" I added it to the others I was throwing away.

"You know this muffin prohibition is a load of bushwa! It's nearly destroyed the Ritzy!" 

"Even if that's true. That's not for you to decide. It's the law, Myna! A law I've been sworn to uphold!" Even as I said the words, I knew there was no talking sense to her. She was a stubborn as I was bullheaded. Where my world was black and white, Myna always steadily walked the tightrope inbetween. 

I was beat, my head was beginning to pound and I rubbed the back of my neck hoping to relieve the ache. Wanting to change the subject I asked, "You hear anything from those pigeons of yours?"

She relented yelling at me and decided to take pity on me instead. "Come, sit down. You look like somethin' the cat dragged in. No, I haven't heard anything. The pigeons are keepin' tight lipped on this one. What did you find out at the clubhouse?

She poured me a cup of joe, grabbed a plate of sinkers and sat next to me at the table. Her eyes met mine. God, she was beautiful.

"I'm sorry Lorne, I shouldn't be adding to your worries. I will lock away the muffin recipes. I promise. No more muffins." 

I gave her a discerning look, "It's gotta be iron clad this time, Baby. EVERYTHING has to go. No more muffins for anyone. It's too dangerous. Especially now." 

"Dangerous... what you mean?" 

I took a swig of joe and a bite of the sinker, grateful for some sustenance. 

"There may be a reason you aren't hearing from your stoolies. You may have been black listed. I would have called you. Told you I was in town but I've been duking it out with the DA not to close you down. I won, but I had to give my personal reassurance that you weren't baking muffins anymore. If it were them and not me that walked in today, the Ritzy would have been shut down and I would have lost my badge." 

"Your badge? Why would you..." 

Her look of concern grew. I hated having to worry her in this way but nothing but the truth would do. "Awe Sweetheart... it's a mess. There was a muffin found at the crime scene, it was a peaches and cream muffin. You're the peach queen in this city. I swore on my badge that it wasn't yours."

Watching her shuttered eyes widen in surprise, I said...

"Yes, I perjured myself for you and if they find out I lied, it will not only mean the end of the Ritzy, but also my entire career." 

She stood up suddenly alarmed. "WHAT, NO! It ain't my muffin recipe, ain't no way! I swear to you, Lorne! I haven't sold any muffins! Sure, I made a few here and there but they don't leave The Ritzy!" 

"I'd seen the tox report, Sweetheart. Right now they aren't releasing the information on this case to the press, but I don't know how long the blackout will last. It had every single ingredient, Myna... even your Gran's secret ingredient. Who else knows the recipe?" 

Myna looked hesitant to say. "Gyn. AJ."

At the mention of AJ's name I know my features changed. I felt my jaw clench. "AJ? Gyn?" 

"NO, Lorne. I would trust them with my life!"

"I trusted AJ with my sister and you'd seen how that turned out. He was too busy fighting in the NoLuk's ring to protect her. Gyn is his shadow. She is glued to his side. Whatever he does, wherever he goes, she follows. There's been talk of war between the Irish and the NoLuks. McGinty was the biggest distributor of muffins here and in Oh Aces. We've been tracking him for some time. He was getting his muffins from somewhere." 

"You think the NoLuks responsible?" 

"I don't know what to think... but I do know AJ and I are overdue for a man to g-man talk."