“Thanks.” Normally she’d let her guest sit and answer her own door, but at the moment she liked the idea of someone else facing the unknown behind it.
Her kitchen kitty-cornered off the living and dining area, out of view of the front door, but she heard both male and female voices.
Jason led the pack and soon her tiny kitchen had filled up with several people she’d never met, all of whom seemed concerned for her safety. Konrad filled them in on what hadhappened.
“Some creep accosted her in the alley. She’s okay though,” he added hurriedly.
Jason shook his head, wearing a grave expression. “I’ll install motion sensors and spotlights back there tomorrow. I’m sorry I didn’t think to do it before.”
“Oh, Jason,” an older woman with short, curly, dyed-brown hair in desperate need of a root touch-up said. “It’s not your fault. How could you know anyone would be foolish enough to hang around in the alley at night.”
Everyone, including Merry, gaped at her. Did she really blameher?She spoke as if instead of merely coming home from work and parking her car right next to her apartment building, she had lollygagged in the alley, waiting for trouble!
“Aunt Dottie, don’t be insensitive. It’s not her fault.”
Thank you, Mr. Hottie. I don’t care if she’s your aunt or not, that was freakin’ rude.
“Damn right,” said Konrad. He shot a pointed look at Dottie. “She was minding her own business—something everyone ought to do.”
Merry fidgeted. “I had just come home from work and somewhere between my car and the back door, this pervert jumped me.” She nodded to Konrad. “Thank goodness you guys got to me as quickly as you did. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there.”
“Died, probably,” said Nathan, her rail-thin neighbor from across the hall.
One of the attractive women who shared an apartment on the third floor threw her hands in the air. She had been introduced as Morgaine. She looked nice enough, although her black-lined eyes, black lipstick, and black nail polish made her seem a bit gothic. Jet black hair and a black dress completed the image. “Well, Nathan, it looks like Dottie’s not the onlyinsensitive person in the room! Anyone else want to take potshots at the poor girl who was just attacked?”
“I wasn’t being insensitive,” Dottie blustered. “I just meant it wasn’t Jason’s fault in case anyone decides to file a lawsuit.” Her eyes narrowed on Merry.
“I wouldn’t sue him, Mrs. Falco. I’m not like that.”
Dottie crossed her arms over her small chest and continued to cast a suspicious look her way. “Well, I noticed that one of the friends you listed as a reference is a lawyer.”
“So? She’s a defense attorney.”
“So? She’s still a lawyer.”
Jason put his arm around his aunt and steered her out of the kitchen. “Leave the poor girl alone, Aunt Dottie. She’s just been through a horrible experience.”
“Fine. I will,” she said in a miffed tone. Merry blew out a breath of relief when Jason returned without her.
“I apologize for my aunt, Merry. She isn’t usually like that.”
“Only when she’s breathing,” Konrad mumbled.
Apparently, the others overheard him and chuckled softly.
Jason heaved a sigh. “She’s just looking out for my best interests since we’re family.” He focused his gaze on Merry and a deep look of concern crossed his face. “Are you really all right, Merry? Do you want me to call anyone? Your father maybe?”
“God, no!”I’d better squash that line of thinking immediately or I’ll be hauled back to Rhode Island kicking and screaming.“Look.” She squared her shoulders. “No one has to tiptoe around me. I’m not a fragile little girl. I’m tougher than I look. I understand that these things happen and assigning blame isn’t especially constructive. I happened to step out of my car at the wrong time. I think I’ve calmed down enough to call the police and report the incident.”
“No!” Konrad jumped right out of his chair and stood between her and the old-fashioned wall phone.
He reacted in such a commanding way that Merry wondered what could possibly threaten a big guy like him. Did he need to avoid the police for his own reasons?
“I—I won’t bring you into it if you don’t want me to, but I should at least tell them what happened.”
“And how are you going to do that without bringing me and Sly into it?”
Jason scratched his head. “Who’s Sly?”
