Page 19 of The Two Last Moments

“Because I want to know.”

“I’m staying calm. Mostly.”

“No urges to bite any faces?”

“Come closer and we’ll see,” I deadpan.

He smiles slowly. I bet I could write a whole book on Danny’s different smiles. Or at least a Wikipedia article. “Want to go to Nina’s house and meet her?”

“Wait, for real?”

He shrugs like this is no big deal. Like he didn’t just invite me into his grandma’s home.Hishome.Me, the rescue he picked up on the street who had to be restrained at the hospital.

“We’re friends, remember?” he says. “Nina’s been hearing about you since yesterday. She can’t wait to meet you in person. You’re the talk of the neighborhood.”

“Oh,great. I’m gossip fodder.”

“Hard not to be when you lose your memory like a soap opera character. You’re famous around here.” He winks. “Unless you’re too tired?”

I am tired. I’m a little all over the place. But I’m also curious about Danny and his family, and I’m not all that excited to head back to the hospital yet. Especially not if more psych evaluations are ahead of me. I want to get better, but I don’t like being prodded and studied.

“Let’s go meet Nina,” I say.

But I’m less excited when Danny mentions, as we’re strolling down the sidewalk, who else will be there.

“There’s a detective from West Oaks PD at the house right now, and you can talk to her as well. She wants to get your statement.”

“A cop?” I stop walking. “Is that necessary?”

“Very necessary.” He turns back to face me. Trees create a background of green behind him, setting off the contrasting strands in his hair. “Lark, you were a victim of a crime. I’ve been dealing with West Oaks PD so far, since you’ve had a lot going on, but they need to interview you. They’re trying to figure out who hurt you. Plus, they’re going to need more info to find your identity.”

“Okay, fine,” I grumble. “That does make sense.”

He takes my hand and pulls me along. “Don’t be nervous. This detective is a friend of mine. It’ll be casual.”

When I think about cops, I don’t get the warm-and-fuzzies. But these are Danny’s friends. So they can’t be all that bad. “You’ll be there the whole time?” I ask, feeling weak but needing to say it anyway.

“I’ve got you.” Danny’s deep blue eyes promise that he means it.

If I’m not careful, I might follow those eyes anywhere.

The house is two stories with a wraparound porch. It looks like a place that could belong out in the country and not in an upper middle-class neighborhood near the beach. Danny jogs up the porch steps, tugging a key ring from his pocket. He unlocks the door and steps inside, waiting for me to follow.

“Hey, I’m home.”

We pass through a large foyer and then a living room. There’s an eclectic mix of furniture, different styles and eras. It’s warm and inviting. A house that’s lived in.

We walk down a wide hallway that has windows all along the right side and doorways on the left. There’s laughter and voices up ahead.

A tall, burly man steps out of a doorway. He grins when he sees Danny and me. “Hey! We were just talking about you. Both of you.” His voice echoes off the hard surfaces of the hallway.

“Lark, this is Matteo De Luca,” Danny says. “He’s my closest friend at West Oaks FD.”

“You mean your coolest friend. The most fun at a party.”

“We just let him think that,” Danny mutters to me. “Gotta give the poor guysomething. He doesn’t have much self-esteem.”

Danny is tall, but Matteo is huge. Thick dark hair, a matching beard, and intense eyes. “So you’re the mystery girl?” Matteo holds out his hand, which dwarfs mine when we shake.

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