Page 88 of It Runs in the Family

“I am. Which is why I’m going to drop you off somewhere.”

I put a hand on my hip, my irritation rising. “And where would that be?”

The expression on his face made it clear he expected me to come up with that answer.

“Yeah, Garrett had that problem this morning too,” I grumbled. “There’s nowhere for me to go. I’m coming with you.”

Determination filled his eyes. “Iris, I’m going to a crime scene.”

“Yeah, I was the one who established that fact. But you said you can’t help me file a report on this mess because you’re out of your jurisdiction, and you don’t even have your badge to flash once we get there. There’s no reason you can’t take me with you. You yourself shouldn’t be going.”

He started to protest, then stopped.

“Besides,” I added, “you haven’t told me what you know.” Then, for good measure, I added, “And I haven’t told you everything I know.”

He huffed out a breath and set the half-filled trash bag in front of the kitchen sink. “Okay, we’ll try this for now, mostly because I am worried about you.” A glint filled his eyes. “But I don’t for a moment believe you don’t have somewhere to stay given your huge family.”

“Ha,” I snorted. “Guess you didn’t pay much attention to my family while you were soaking up Stacy’s attention.”

His face scrunched. “Who?”

“My cousin Stacy.” When he continued to give me a blank look, I rolled my eyes. “She sat between you and Billy and thought you were dessert.”

A grin spread across his face. “Iris, I only had eyes for you at the luncheon.”

I rolled my eyes and picked up my purse, wondering why it was so heavy, then remembering I had the storage container of breakfast burrito filling. I pulled it out and put in the nearly empty fridge.

“We have to stop at Rise-n-Shine first,” I said. “I haven’t had coffee and I don’t want to wait for mine to perk.”

He made a face and pulled some twisted plastic out of the trash bag. “I think it’s coffee-makin’ days are over.”

Great.

I headed to the door with Boone following, but when I turned to lock it, I realized the knob was broken.

“If it makes you feel better,” Boone said in an apologetic tone, “I doubt they can do much more damage.”

He had a point, but it still made me feel vulnerable.

Mrs. Whittleman’s door opened, and she stuck her face in the opening. “You sure are a heap of trouble,” she spat. “I’m callin’ the super. He swore you wouldn’t be any trouble when he let you move in.”

Boone glanced from the elderly woman to me.

I heaved out a sigh. “My place was burgled, Mrs. Whittleman. That wasn’t my fault.” Then, because I was grumpy and hadn’t had any coffee yet, I added, “Sorry if they disturbed you.”

I was about to head down the stairs, but Boone lightly grabbed my arm.

“Wait,” he said. “Ma’am did you hear someone in Iris’s apartment?”

She looked him up and down and sneered. “Which time?”

Boone glanced back at me with a questioning look and I shook my head. “I haven’t been here since late yesterday morning.”

He turned back to my neighbor. “How many times did you hear noises at Iris’s apartment within the last twenty-four hours?”

Her mouth pursed. “The first two guys didn’t make much noise, and neither did the next guy. But they all left and some came back late last night. That time they sounded like a bunch of rutting stags.”

“And you didn’t call the police?” Boone asked in a dry tone.