Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross 8)

“Why would I do that? I’ve learned my lesson with you.” Then Nana started to laugh again. She seemed like her old self again. She’d gotten a clean bill of health from her doctor, or so she said.

I went back to the dining room to clear away the rest of the dishes, but I couldn’t resist taking a quick peek out the front window to check on Jamilla and the kids.

They were out in the street, tossing around Damon’s football. The three of them were laughing. I also noticed that Jamilla had a real good arm, threw a tight spiral. She was used to playing with the boys, wasn’t she?

Chapter 34

JAMILLA WAS STAYING in the bedroom at the top of the stairs, the room we always kept for special guests — presidents, queens, prime ministers, and the like. The kids thought we were doing it for appearances, and we would have, but the unvarnished truth was, Jam and I had never been together that way, had never even kissed before the airport reunion. Jamilla was here to find out if things should go any further between the two of us.

She came in through the back door of the kitchen while I was finishing up the dishes. The kids were still playing outside and Nana was straightening up God knows what upstairs.

Probably the guest room, but maybe the hall bathroom. Or the linen closet?

“I can’t stand it,” I finally said.

“What?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

“You really want to know?”

“Of course I do. We’re buddies, right?”

I didn’t answer, but I grabbed hold of Jamilla’s shoulders and kissed her on the mouth. Then I kissed her again. I was keeping an eye peeled for the kids.

And Nana, of course.

And Rosie our cat, who is a big gossip too.

Jamilla started to laugh. “They all think we’re doing a lot worse than this, the kids, your grandmother, even that nosy cat.”

“Thinking is different from knowing,” I said.

“I like your family a lot,” Jamilla said as she stared into my eyes. “I even like the cat. Hiya there, Rosie. You gonna tell everybody about our kisses?”

“I like you,” I said as I held Jamilla in my arms.

“A lot?” she asked as she pulled away. “You better like me a lot after I came all the way here from San Francisco. God, I hate plane rides these days!”

“Maybe I do like you a lot. I don’t see you saying too much. Not a lot of reciprocation going on here.”

She grabbed me again and kissed me harder. She pressed into me and then Jamilla slid her tongue into my mouth. I liked that — a lot. I was starting to respond in kind, which probably wasn’t a fantastic idea in the kitchen.

“Get a room,” said a voice behind us.

Nana was there, but she was laughing. “Let me call in the kids. I want them to see this too,” she said. “Let me get my Instamatic camera.”

“She’s fooling with us,” I told Jam.

“I know,” she said.

“Heck I am,” said Nana. “I’m rooting for Alex to get to third base.” She was cackling like a cartoon crow again.

Chapter 35

I WOKE UP alone in bed the next morning with the sheets thrown every which way around my body. I was kind of used to the feeling, but I didn’t like it any more than I ever had, especially with Jamilla sleeping just down the hallway in the spare bedroom.

I lay in bed for a few minutes, thinking about other people who wake up feeling alone, even though some of them share a bed with somebody else. I finally slid into some loose-fitting clothes, then tiptoed down the hall to check on Jamilla.

I tapped lightly on the door.