Page 87 of Bright Dark Curses

If I protested again, he’d let me go. But then I wouldn’t be on his lap and he was totally right—they’d still totally know something had happened. It wasn’t as if I could keep the silly grin off my face.

“Fine,” I said with a huff.

Shane opened the kitchen door, raised his eyebrows at the scene, then approached the coffee maker to pour himself a cup.

“Want me to make you some grilled ham and cheese sandwiches?” I asked.

“He’s got this,” Ian answered.

Shane’s mouth twitched. “I got this.” He poured some cereal from a box in a cupboard into a big bowl, filled it with milk, and brought it to the table.

Rufus ambled into the kitchen and nudged Ian, then Shane.

“Key said we had an urgent meeting?” he asked as he wolfed down his cereal.

Renewed excitement thrummed through me. “Yes! We found a new suspect.”

“What’s wrong with the three we had?”

“Sanders and Curtis were nowhere near the trailer or the other incidents, and Lee is dead.”

“She could still be guilty.”

“I don’t like to act based only on assumptions.”

Shane glanced at Ian, seemed to read something there, then smiled and focused on his cereal.

I turned my head to study Ian, but he had his patented granite expression going on, if slightly more relaxed than his usual. Hmph.

“What about Officer Brooks?” Shane asked.

“I haven’t called her yet.” Veva had texted me Brooks’s personal number overnight, with a warning to make sure I only used it for important matters. “Ian thought it would be best to wait and see what we decide about our new suspect,” I said with pride.

It bore repeating: for once, I wasn’t the adult who didn’t want to call the police.

“Sounds good.”

Ian grunted.

A few minutes later, Alex came into the house. “Good morning, bosses.”

“Hi, Alex, want me to make you a grilled ham and cheese sandwich?” I asked. Why was I suddenly worrying so much about feeding the strays?

“Nah, I’m good. Key said she’d grab breakfast for us on the way.”

Shane immediately shoved a few spoonfuls of cereal into his mouth, stood, emptied the rest into the sink, and sat back down like his breakfast had never existed.

I pressed my lips tightly to stop myself from laughing.

Alex winked at me, then got his own cup of coffee. He was giving Rufus some pets when Key ran into the house, cheeks flushed and obviously winded.

“Sorry I’m late,” she exclaimed. “There was a line at the bagel place.”

I perked up. Sure, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches were the best, but a good bagel came a close second.

Fluffy trotted into the kitchen, yipping her good mornings, and we all took a turn scratching her favorite spot. Content with her reception, Fluffy lay on Rufus’s bed, much to his annoyance.

Key put the bag of bagels on the table while Shane got her some coffee.

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