“It’s the adrenaline rush we’ve been dealing with since three o’clock this morning. Even Cyrus seems antsy. A nice, leisurely breakfast is a good way to wind down,” Dennis said as he brought the van to a stop in front of the casino and turned it over to the valet.

“You go in and get us a table. I’ll walk Cyrus and meet up with you in a few minutes. I’ll wash up, then you can take your turn when I get in there.”

Jack looked left and right. “Okay, big guy, pick a direction and let’s have at it.” Cyrus dutifully sauntered off and returned in seven minutes.

Business taken care of, Jack sat down at a table and savored his first cup of coffee of the day. It was always the best. They gave their order and just stared at each other. Dennis spoke first.

“I know you must have some thoughts swirling about inside that head of yours, Jack, so let’s hear them. Tonight was definitely not a waste of time, but I have no idea what it all means other than that Zack Meadows is fully professional at lifting license plates and doing things he shouldn’t be doing at three in the morning. Do you think there’s a mole, a ringer, a plant of some kind, someone living in Happy Village who is tied to Meadows?”

“I’d say that’s a pretty good bet since nothing else makes sense. How would anyone know? He could have had whoever it is moved in years ago, months ago. In the business, we call them sleepers. They operate legitimately, have jobs, go about their business until they’re called upon to do something. It’s all about blending in so no one gets suspicious. If that’s the case, the next question is why? What’s the end game? What is it they’re aiming for? Was it to shoot Cosmo Cricket? That doesn’t even make sense, since no one knew he was going out to Happy Village that day.”

“I don’t think we’re going to know anything until Mr. Cricket is able to talk and make sense. For all we know, he might know nothing and was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. Ahhh, here comes our food.”

Jack blinked at the stack of a dozen fluffy pancakes with melted butter and warm syrup dripping down the sides and onto his plate. He sighed mightily as he wondered if he could possibly eat all of them. Then he eyed Cyrus’s plate—four scrambled eggs, one sausage patty, and four slices of bacon, extra crisp, along with two side dishes of carrots and apples. A metal water bowl with a few tinkling ice cubes was set on the floor by the waiter. Cyrus waited patiently, knowing his food had to cool before Jack would let him eat.