She sits back, holding Zoey close to her chest, running a hand down her back.
“Oh, you can never be too careful.” She averts her gaze. “I had your dad pull some strings with some friends. Had to find out everything when you moved to that neighborhood. You never know about everyone who lives around you. They could be bad.”
“You ran reports on my neighbors?” I ask incredulously. “I moved in next to Char and Bob. Tell me you didn’t pry into their life.”
She purses her lips.
“Ma,” I groan. “I’m an adult. Not to mention, I’m a detective. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “A parent’s concern never ends. Right, Jack?”
Jackie smothers her laughter, pursing her lips like a duck and nodding.
“What are you smiling about?” Mom asks, looking at Jackie out of the corner of her eye. “Whatever I do for him, I do for you too. I don’t trust the director of that day care you’re taking our little Zoey to.”
The smile immediately drops from Jackie’s face. “There is nothing wrong with Kensley. She’s a great director.”
Jackie’s defense of the woman falls flat. The way she pinches the skin of her neck only furthers my suspicion.
Mom’s lips thin out in an expression that says she’s not impressed.
“What did you dig up on Kensley?” I ask, now curious who’s watching over my niece, while simultaneously enjoying Jackie’s irritation.
“She was tough to crack. Had to get access to her expunged records. She was quite the party animal in college.”
Jackie’s shoulders relax, and the lines on her forehead retreat. “So was I,” she says, throwing her hands up in the air. “If only you knew the shit I got away with.”
Mom covers one ear with her hand. “I’m not listening. You were a perfect angel.”
“She was a demon,” I say, popping another almond into my mouth. “Remember that time when you—”
“Shut it, Benedict,” Jackie snaps in my direction.
I grin around a mouthful, just happy to have the conversation off me for a bit.
“You two are so gullible. I didn’t pull any strings. That would be illegal.”
Jackie and I share a look, unconvinced by Mom’s claim of innocence.
“Back to your Alyssa,” Mom says, ending my reprieve quicker than I thought possible.
I groan, head falling back.My Alyssa?
Caroline West is a seasoned manipulator of emotions when it comes to her children and their love lives.
“My Alyssahappens to be amazing. She’s smart, witty, caring…” My words trail off when I get a glimpse of Mom. She’s one step away from a cartoon character with heart-shaped eyes bugged out of their sockets.
I can practically see the cogs in her head drumming up all the details of how to ensure Alyssa Mann never escapes.
I clear my throat. “Anyway. Like I said…it’s new.”
Mom waves a hand in the air. “Semantics. Your father and I fell in love in a week.”
“You were at Summer Jam, Ma. I’m not sure love factored into that week.”
She glares at me, and I have the good sense to snap my mouth shut.
“Your father is a retired FBI agent; we did not partake in the weed.”
