“Oh, fuck off,” he shouted back. “How was I supposed to know he lived there?”
Aiden appeared in the living room doorway. “If you’d asked me instead of charging off half-cocked, I would have told you. He moved in about the same time we started work on your kitchen.”
Ed stared at him, incredulous. “Why didn’t you mention that to start with?”
“I thought you knew. When you rushed out the door, I figured you were either going to chat him up or take him a spare key. Maybe both.” When Ed huffed, he added, “Hey, I never thought for one second you were going to call the police on him.” He smiled, shaking his head. “What did they say, anyway?”
“Not much.” He narrowed his eyes. “Do you happen to know Oliver’s last name?”
“Um. . .” Aiden scratched the back of his head. “Walker, maybe?”
“Fuck.” Ed blew out a breath. “I think the police officer was his brother.”
When Aiden grinned again, Ed sighed and walked past him, heading towards the old dining room. “Piss off and finish my bloody kitchen.”
Laughter followed him down the hall.
CHAPTER TWO
Oliver waited for Ed to disappear inside before turning to face Betty. “So that’s Ed, then?”
“Yes, I told you he was nice.” She patted his arm. “I’m going to put the kettle on. Do you either of you boys want a drink?” She looked from Oliver to Rob.
Oliver shook his head. “No thanks, but I will have one of those cookies I can smell baking.”
She sniffed the air. “I can’t smell anything; must be your imagination.”
“Mhmm. Sure it is.” Not only could he smell chocolate wafting down the hall, she always made them on a Friday. Without fail.
“What about you, Rob? Have you got time for one?” She smiled at him, a little hopeful.
Rob shook his head. “As much as I’d love to, I have to get back to the station.”
“Wait there then, I’ll get some cookies for you to take with you.”
As she walked back towards the kitchen to get them, Oliver called after her. “Oh, so he gets cookies. Fine, I see how it is.”
Soft laughter sounded, then the rustling of paper. A few minutes later Betty reappeared, small parcel in hand. She nudged Oliver as she passed him. “Yours are in the kitchen.” After handing the cookies to Rob, she said, “I’m just going to check on Monty,” and left them to it.
When she was out of ear shot, Rob raised an eyebrow. “Monty? Do I want to know?”
Oliver smiled at the thought of the big black cat that had arrived yesterday. “Last minute foster. The woman who was supposed to have him came down with some sort of stomach bug. Betty said we’d take him until she’s back on her feet.” His smile widened. “You’d like him. He’s huge. Like a mini black panther.” He held his hands about two feet apart, which might be a slight exaggeration, but Monty was a big boy. “Want to come say hello?”
“No.” Rob shook his head. “Not a chance. I remember the last time you asked me to cometake a look.”
Oliver remembered too. One look at the ginger and black kittens curled together and Rob had been done for. “Yeah, but they’d love a big brother.”
Rob sighed. “If I had the room...” Holding out his hands, he walked backwards towards his car. “Naomi would kill me.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m just teasing.” It’d be a while before Monty was ready to go anywhere anyway.
“I’ll give you a ring over the weekend,” Rob said as he opened the car door. “And try not to forget your keys again. They’re going to take the piss back at the station as it is.” He pointed a finger at next door. “Maybe you could give Ed a spare key? Hmm?” He laughed when Oliver mouthed “fuck off” at him. But it wasn’t the worst idea.
Elise had had one for years.
He’d only forgotten his key because he’d taken it off his key ring to get a couple more cut. These days, it wasn’t unusual for Betty to wander out the front door after one of her cats and forget to put the door on the latch, and if the patio doors were locked, then she was stuck. He’d been intending to get one of the keylock things to put it in, but maybe Rob was right?
He and Ed might not have got off to the best of starts, but Oliver could forgive him considering he’d only been looking out for Betty. Should he ask him to keep hold of a spare key?
