Betrayals (Cainsville 4)

"TC's in there."

"Huh?"

"Liv's cat--"

"I know who TC is. Stupidest name ever. If that damned beast ran off, I can promise you he's not in there."

"I heard him yowling."

"Unless he's learned to pick locks, he's not in that apartment."

"It isn't locked."

She jangled the handle. "Yes, it is."

"Look, I don't care what's in there. Just bring TC out. I won't even peek."

"Peek at what? There's nothing inside but dusty old furniture."

He sighed. "Fine, Grace. Just let the cat out. I can't sleep with him yowling."

Her wrinkled face puckered. "What yowling?"

"Damn it, Grace. Just--"

A meow cut him short. TC came trotting from the stairwell. He saw Ricky and gave another meow, sounding exasperated now, as if to say, There you are. He walked over and planted himself in front of Ricky. Then he looked at the stairwell and meowed again.

"Someone's telling you to get back to bed," Grace said.

"He was in there. I heard him." Ricky turned to the apartment door.

Grace reached up and took hold of his chin. He let her tilt his face down to hers as she straightened to her full five feet and squinted up into his eyes.

"You got in after dinner last night," she said.

"Right. You were out front. I brought you a scone."

"I'm not senile, boy. I'm asking if you had dinner first."

"No, you were stating a fact, which I was confirming. A question is worded--"

She gave his chin a sharp shake and glowered up at him, but there was no malice in it, no honest annoyance, either. As if he was a kid mouthing back, and she was glad to see he had spine.

"I'm asking if you had anything to eat or drink in Cainsville."

"Then say that," he said. "No, I didn't."

"And in Olivia's apartment?"

"A beer and half a sandwich. Peanut butter, if that helps."

"Did you speak to anyone when you got here? Other than me?"

"No, I--" He stiffened. "Liv."

"Well, I'd hope you'd speak to her, though from the sounds of things you two are usually a little too busy for talking."

He wasn't going to ask how she could hear that from three stories down. He shook it off, said a quick good night, and started down the hall.