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The guy had a nice smile. “Sure. I have a basket full of new kittens. My cat is a prowler. I really need to get her fixed.”
“Oh, wow. Can I see the kitties?” His voice was filled with excitement July couldn’t hide.
The guy’s smile never dimmed. “Of course. Maybe you can talk Fletch into taking one. I need all the help I can get.”
July shifted and sat on his bottom. He gave the guard his full attention. “I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Tuff.”
“Well, that’s a name, but so is July. But I gave myself that name. I love the sun and summer. People say I’m sunny too. Not that I think that’s the case. I think I’m mostly just over-caffeinated.” July laughed at his own claim. “I really hope Fletch says it’s okay to get a kitten. It’s been a long time since I could have an animal. I couldn’t risk it with Rex. He liked killing them to punish me. It was a lot more dangerous being my pet than I could handle. What color are the babies?”
Tuff stared at July in a way he couldn’t decipher. A muscle flexed in the guy’s already cut jaw. He was very pretty. Not that July cared beyond thinking it would be fun to do his makeup. Unfortunately, his expression hinted that maybe July should rein it in. He could be really annoying. No one wanted to hear him talk.
“I’m sorry. Please relax your jaw. I promise I won’t talk so much.”
Tuff’s shoulders fell. His features rearranged. “Don’t apologize. I rarely talk at all, so I enjoy being around talkers. Nothing new ever happens around here, so I’m a boring conversationalist.”
July mulled over his words. “Honestly, that sounds kind of nice. Too much happens in my life.”
“Juynad Hampton?”
At the sound of his real name, July scrambled to his feet. He hid behind Tuff.
Tuff had a gun already pointed at the interloper. “You’re currently trespassing on private property. Let me escort you back out.”
July peeked around Tuff.
A man with dark hair and a few days’ worth of growth on his chin leaned sideways a bit and met July’s gaze. “Juynad Hampton?”
July immediately went back to hiding behind Tuff. He buried his face against Tuff’s spine while holding Tuff’s shirt in a death grip.
“Don’t make me repeat myself. You need to leave. Now. Do not force me to shoot you.”
“You really don’t want to do that. I’m Detective Dutch Bailey. I’m here working on a missing person’s case.”
July peeked around Tuff again.
The self-proclaimed detective slowly reached behind him. “I’m just getting my badge.”
Fletch appeared from the trees behind Dutch and pressed the barrel of his gun against the back of Dutch’s head. “You were told to leave.”
Relief rushed through July. He stepped out from behind Tuff. “Are you really a detective?”
Dutch stayed focused on July, as if he fully intended to do his job, guns leveled at him or not. “Yes. If these two would let me get my badge. I—”
Fletch cut him off. “I already know exactly who you are. Your badge doesn’t change the fact that you are trespassing and were asked to leave.”
Dutch didn’t give up. He still never looked away from July. “You have people looking for you. A missing person report was filed. We were told you’re in need of special medications. Something about your mental health.”
July laughed. He covered his mouth and got himself under control. July dropped his hand when he thought he could speak without giggling. “As you can see, I’m not missing. I left of my own volition and I have all my meds. Here I am, completely safe. Case closed.”
Dutch’s gaze swept July. “No offense, but a lot about your situation says otherwise.”
July shrugged. He knew how he looked, recovering from Rex. He glanced between Fletch and Tuff before focusing on Dutch again. “No guns are pointed my way. I’d say you’re the one who isn’t safe.”
Dutch shook his head. “I meant based on your injuries.”
“Wow,” July said, drawing out the word. He looked Tuff’s way. “This guy just insulted my appearance.”
