Jane left a message. “You can avoid me all you want. Sooner or later, you’re going to talk to me. And girl, you owe me so much you’ll be paying me until you’re dead and buried.”
She disconnected, pleased with the growled message.
Her phone rang right away.
She grinned and answered, “It’s about time you?—”
“Meet me at the ferry.” Her uncle hung up before she could answer.
Jane sighed but grabbed her keys and opened her door to leave.
And ran smack into Raine instead.
“Whoa, easy there, genius. Where are you headed in such a hurry?” Raine wore jeans with a hole in the knee and a faded gray sweatshirt that sat crooked off one shoulder.
Though not deliberate, she looked like she should be modeling designer jeans that no one would notice, their attention instead focused on the pretty girl garbed in casual chic, her hair in a loose ponytail, her pretty face makeup-free.
When Jane wore such an outfit, she looked as if she dressed in hand-me-downs, inviting pitiful looks from her family and friends who offered to help her find real clothes.
“You.” Jane poked her cousin in the chest. “What the heck is going on with you?”
“Huh? Me?” Raine blinked several times.
“Is that supposed to be an innocent expression? You’re one blink away from having a seizure.”
“Ha ha. What’s up, cuz? Where are you headed?”
“Funny you should ask. Uncle Chris just ordered me to meet him at the ferry terminal.”
“Ouch. I’ll let you go—Ow.Get off, Ms. Handsy.” Raine tried to counter Jane’s wrist lock, but Jane wasn’t having it.
They struggled for a few moments before Raine gave up. A good thing, because she’d been precariously close to getting her face introduced to Jane’s floor in a much-needed takedown.
Raine panted. “Fine. You win. Happy now?”
“No.” Jane pulled her inside and slammed the door behind her. “Nowtalk.”
“About…?”
“Raine.”
“Fine. I’m working a case for a friend. Kind of. Malcolm helped me a little before he left. But I’m covering it now. I’m enjoying it too.”
Her cousin did look better. Happier.
“Okay. Do you need help?”
“Really? Sure.”
“With what, exactly?”
“Oh. I can’t tell you.”
Jane let out a sigh, and Raine cracked up.
“Sorry, sorry. Look, go meet up with Uncle Chris. If I get arrested for anything, I’ll call you.”
“Don’t callmeif you get arrested.”
