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“I didn’t know that.” Imogene smirked. “Are you suggesting I join the search party? Because if so, I’m going to have to decline. I still have a few more hours on my shift, and after that, I’m going home to Killcreek.”

“Want some advice?”

Imogene stood. “Nope.”

He laughed and folded his arms. “Not the same girl who moved here a few months ago.”

“No, I’m not.”

And she never would be again.

Imogene got a few feet from the door when he called her name. She was tempted to ignore him but glanced over her shoulder.

“You ever find yourself in need of my side of the law, call me, okay?” His gaze softened. “After all, we’re family.”

The irony made her smile, and she pointed to him. “Distant.”

He lifted his chin. “Cousins.”

She chuckled. “Second.”

Erik smiled. “Still family.”

Yes, we are.

****

Jekyll eyed the boxes of files stacked up by the door. Most of her things had been moved in last week. Her furniture was being stored in the garage for now. Apparently, she had a whole design of how she wanted to decorate. I don’t fucking know. And it didn’t matter. As long as she was there with him, Imogene had free rein on their house.

There had only been one piece of furniture that she immediately brought into the living room. She called it her reading chair, but he had yet to see her in it. It was always occupied. He glared over at the piece tucked in the corner of the room. Hank was curled in the corner, and when they made eye contact, he let out a slow grumble.

“Growl again, and I’m bringing a fucking dog in this house.”

Imogene hadn’t made any progress with the cat. But for some reason, he’d taken a liking to Jekyll. He jumped off the chair, sauntered to him, and weaved between his legs, rubbing against his boots. Jekyll hadn’t shown him an ounce of affection, but Hank seemed to respect a threat. Another fucking psycho in his life.

He glanced up when he heard the key in the door. Jekyll resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He’d told her over a dozen times that there wasn’t a need to lock the door. She was in the safest spot she could be, especially during the day.

She walked in and smiled. Then dropped her gaze to Hank at his feet. She pouted and huffed. Imogene was seconds from stomping her foot. Here we fucking go.

“It’s so unfair.”

I know.

Her lips pulled down in a severe frown. “I feed him, clean his litter box, and talk to him every day. I even got him those little treats he likes. And toys.” She pointed to the basket near the TV. “Why does he like you and not me?”

’Cause he’s an asshole.

“Yell at him. He likes that shit.”

“I’m not going to yell at him.” Imogene bent down, smiling. “Hi Hank.”

The cat stopped at his feet, looked over at her then walked across the room and jumped up on the chair. This was their routine.

“How’d it go?”

She dropped her bag on the couch and sauntered toward him with a small smile playing on her lips. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and he bent slightly, kissing her.

“I’m officially a full-time resident of Killcreek.”