“Does that mean you were bestowed clairvoyance upon the auspicious day of my birth?”
“Despite having a detective and sleuth in the family, I don’t have to be either to know when something’s wrong.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And when it comes to you, kiddo….”
“I know.” I leaned back in the chair.
“Are you in trouble?” Pop asked.
I slipped the sunglasses down again so I could actually see Pop’s expression. “Everything will be okay. Calvin’s on the case.”
“Sebastian.”
“Someone broke into the Emporium yesterday and ended up dead in the alley.”
His eyes grew wide. “Oh my God.”
I stood, stepped toward him, and put my hands on Pop’s shoulders. “I’mfine, though.” No way in hell could I or would I tell Pop the full story. I was not looking to put my father into an early grave.
Pop was quiet for a moment. He reached up and put his hand over mine, giving it a squeeze. “I’m going to make us some tea.”
Yuck.
He stepped back and wandered into the kitchen. I lazily followed. Pop was filling a kettle with tap water when I joined him at the long counter space. “How’s Neil involved in all of this?”
“CSU has less than fifty detectives working all the boroughs, Dad. He was bound to end up on Calvin’s cases sooner or later.”
Pop put the kettle on the stovetop and gave me a brief look.
“I hit Neil with a door yesterday.”
He quickly put a hand over his mouth, and I realized after a moment that he was suppressing a laugh. “Is he okay?”
“Actually, I don’t know. He was almost pleasant today. I could practically stand him. I might have knocked something loose.”
“Sometimes you’ll never love someone, kiddo. But when you stop forcing it, you might end up liking them instead.” Pop took some mugs from the cupboard and dropped a tea bag into each. “Maybe that’s all your relationship was meant to be.” He looked at me again. “Friends.”
“Let’s not get carried away.” I turned, opened the cupboard in front of me, and moved aside cereal and granola bar boxes, hunting for my dad’s candy stash.
“With all of this happening, have you boys even gotten to enjoy the new apartment?”
“Not really.” I shut the cupboard and tried the next one. “Pop?”
“Hmm?” He reached out, closed the cupboard I was pawing through, then opened a drawer, revealing bags of hard candies and taffy.
“Thanks.”
“Pop, what?” he prompted.
I glanced up from spinning the wax paper. I pulled the single piece of taffy free while mulling over my choice of words. “Never mind.” I put the candy in my mouth.
Pop reached out and patted my cheek. “What’s on your mind?”
I laughed because, Jesus Christ, wasthata loaded question. I started folding the paper into a tight wad. “I should double-check the mail forwarding because I haven’t gotten even a single preapproved credit card at the new apartment. I hate the Emporium’s new landlord—I’m still waiting for him to cash the rent check. Did I turn off the kitchen light before leaving the house this morning? Was that recently acquired ambrotype photograph of a boy in a tartan hand-tinted? I’ll have to ask Max because I can’t see color. I should start working out, except I hate strenuous activity. I do like sex, though. I’m probably the worst lay Calvin’s ever had.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Pop said, quickly putting his hands up.
