“At Eli’s house, I guess. Unless he’s told her the truth. Any motels around here?”
“There are, but there’s also an empty apartment above the sheriff’s office. It’s not great. In fact, it’s so gloomy that Colin calls it the Devil’s Den. But it has a bed and a kitchen and . . .” She shrugged.
“And it’s near you,” Jeff said, smiling. “I mean, in case something bad happens, it’s nice to be near law enforcement.”
“Yeah,” Melissa said. “I’m a great shot.”
“Good to know,” Jeff said. “I’m not. Except with a game, then I can vanquish any demon you can throw at me. But in real life I’ve never even held a gun.”
“A person should know about firearms. Maybe you’d like some lessons.”
“I would like that very much,” he said. “Did your nephews have any trouble with level six and the underwater battle?”
“Is that the one with the giant squid?”
“Yeah, and the treasure,” he said.
“They did. Maybe Sunday you could go with me to my sister’s house for dinner and show them a few tricks.”
Jeff took out his phone and began to tap out a text.
“Something urgent?”
“I’m telling our editor that I need six copies of the new game sent by express so they get here by Sunday. That okay with you?”
“More than okay.”
They smiled at each other.
When Jeff’s phone rang and woke him up, he didn’t have to look at the clock or the ID. Of course it was Eli.
“Are you okay?”
“Nothing’s broken,” Jeff said.
“Did you have X-rays to make sure? I hit you too hard. I’m sorry. I’ve never hit anyone before. Where are you now? You didn’t need surgery, did you? You—”
“I’m fine!” Jeff said loudly. “Yes to X-rays, no to surgery, and no hospital. I’m in an apartment above the sheriff’s office and—”
“I don’t blame you for pressing charges.”
“I didn’t,” Jeff said. “I’m dating the sheriff’s deputy. She’s pretty and smart and . . . Oh, well. So how did it go with Chelsea?”
“I didn’t do as well as you did,” Eli said. “She thinks I’m too easy, that I represent no challenge to her.”
“I could have told you that. In fact, I did tell you that.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not the problem. She’s not happy.”
“And you are?”
Eli hesitated. “I need you to do something for me. I want you to buy some camera equipment and camping gear. I’m going to take Chelsea camping and try to renew her interest in photography.”
“That sounds really exciting. Camping.” His voice was sarcastic. “She likes sleeping outdoors?”
“No. She hates it. Always has.”
“Then why—?”