Page 11 of Force At Third

After a few more seconds of silence, I receive a text.

Marks

Deb and Annie checked out all the surrounding neighbors. All good. There are lots of vacant buildings around her vet clinic. Check out the area tomorrow. I want a system there, too.

Me

Will do. Everything good on your end?

Marks

Predictable patterns. Time will tell.

Me

Make sure you get some sleep.

Marks

You do the same.

Pulling down CeCe’s street, I spot her big Victorian house.

“I was feeling bad about cramping your style, CeCe, but damn, that house is way bigger than I thought it would be.”

“It’s big. Not Pope and Whit big, but?—”

“Bigger than any place I’ve ever lived,” I interrupt her as she downplays her accomplishment.

“Yeah. Me, too,” she says quietly.

“You worked hard for this; you should be so damn proud of yourself.” Chloe beams proudly at her sister.

“Without yours and Danny’s help”—she shakes her head—“I wouldn’t have this or Wags.”

“You went through vet school. We didn’t do that,” Chloe says, slowing down to turn into the driveway. “You’re killing it, CeCe.”

“I think you should grab her. I don’t want her to wake up and wonder where the heck she is,” CeCe says, purposely changing the direction of the conversation.

As if on cue, Aggie’s little eyes open. Still sucking on two fingers, she takes in her surroundings then asks, “Gwenie stay with Auntie CeCe, too?”

“She is.” Chloe smiles like nothing in the world is amiss.

“When we go home, Gwenie come to our house, too?”

“I won’t be far behind, Texas Aggie.” I wink at her. “You’d better save me a grape juice box.”

“Okay.” She turns to the window and points. “Daddy on a ladder with the doggy’s daddy.”

Chloe’s lips twitch up as she parks beside my car. “He is. Let’s go say hi.”

I wag my brows at CeCe, and she blushes. Then we all pile out.

I leave them to their whisperings and head over to check on the system.

“What do you think, York?” Danny asks from two stories up.

“You do good work.”

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