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“I told you, I don’t know them. They’re strangers.”
“They’re loud!”
“They sure are.”
“Why don’t you let them in?”
“Because they’re strangers.”
“She said she was your cousin.”
“Yeah, well, she lied.” Elizabeth leaned over Chloe’s bed and straightened the cover.
“Why would she lie?”
“Beats me.”
“I want to meet her!”
“Don’t be silly, we don’t even know her.”
“Lissa has cousins. Lots of ’em and so does Bibi,” Chloe argued.
“Well, great. Lucky for them.” When Chloe remained obstinate, Elizabeth added, “I don’t know that she’s my cousin. Just because she says she is, doesn’t make it true. This could all be a ruse.”
Chloe scowled up at her. “What’s a rube?”
“A ruse,” Elizabeth corrected. “It’s like a fake.”
“Why would anyone say they were a fake cousin?”
“Chloe . . .”
“You don’t want to have a cousin,” Chloe wailed, scooting away when Elizabeth reached for her. She tossed her blanket aside and sprinted to the front door.
“Wait!” Elizabeth yelled. She charged forward but caught a foot in the blanket and nearly fell over.
Just that moment’s delay was enough and suddenly Chloe was unlocking the door and throwing it open. “Hi,” she yelled. “Come back!”
“Chloe!” Elizabeth caught up with her and saw Kingston and Ravinia had started off the porch. But the girl was lightning fast, and she swept back before Elizabeth could get Chloe out of the way.
“Hey,” Ravinia said to Chloe.
“Are you my cousin, too?”
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said at the same time. “My daughter should never have opened the door.”
“Why?” her daughter demanded.
“If you don’t leave, I’ll . . . call the police,” Elizabeth said.
“Good idea,” Kingston said, coming up behind Ravinia. “Give them my name. I used to work on the force.” His gaze was level and she believed him. Something about him suggested he’d been a cop, maybe his stance or forcefulness. “Call Barney O’Callaghan or Mike Tatum. Detectives.”
The last thing she needed was to get involved with any more detectives. He’d called her bluff.
“You want to come in?” Chloe invited.
“Only if your mom says it’s okay,” Kingston told her.
