Page 49 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“Interesting that he acknowledged that giving Ophelia playtime wasn’t a big ask,” I say.
“That’s just it.If I’m the deputy commissioner and I’ve worked my whole life to get this position, why would I then risk it to get my daughter put into dead time spots?The fact that Demoraux knew that she was being slotted into dead times supports my theory that it’s not Galliano.”
“That’s a good point.Of course, she can still say she played at all these well-known clubs.It’s not like you put the times on your resume.”
Maddie eats another bruschetta.“Hmm.That’s true.But is that significant enough?”
“No.Not enough to risk your career.”
“I think it’s an attempt to muddy the waters and make it look like Galliano, which means it’s one of the other two.But Ward spends his spare time making miniatures, and Pommer seems devoted to building better playgrounds, so it’s hard to imagine they’re corrupt.I need proof, but this inspector interview solidified my feeling that it’s not Galliano.”Maddie bites her lip.“Especially Demoraux’s sneer at the end.But now I need to figure out if it’s Ward or Pommer.”
“Follow the numbers, as we say in accounting.”
“Would you be willing to review numbers for me, or do you hate it too much?”
“I don’t hate it.I enjoy it in moderation—it’s so orderly.It’s not my passion, but doing the books for various small businesses helps pay the bills.”I had a dual major in college of accounting and music—so that my mother didn’t die an early death, as she put it.“Have you found more people who have had faulty repairs?”
“Yes.I have the human element angle,” Maddie says.“I just interviewed a mom with a newborn, and the kitchen sink had been turned off because of a leak.Imagine having to cook with water from the bathroom with a baby.”
Our pizzas arrive, and my mouth waters at the smell of melting cheese and tomato.Maddie ordered broccoli and sausage, and I ordered the chicken and vegetables.I serve Maddie and then take my first slice.
“I thought you’d have to eat lettuce and grilled chicken.Aren’t you going shirtless?”
“Luckily, I seem to have inherited an amazing metabolism.”
“Lucky,” Maddie says as she purses her lips around her straw.
I should not be looking at Maddie’s lips.
“I’m glad that you don’t want to eat lettuce and grilled chicken.”I need to keep this conversation on track and not let my mind wander off where it seems to want to go: shirtless me and Maddie’s lips.
“I feel like I burned off enough with the adrenaline of that meeting,” she says.“Enough talk about this case.Do you feel ready with the dance routine?”
I nod.“It’s the most amazing feeling when I’m dancing in sync with the backup dancers.I wouldn’t have thought it would be, but I’m totally into it now.”
“I’m impressed.”She hands me a small package.“I bought this for you online as a thank-you.”
I unbox it, and it’s a miniature guitar on its own little stand.“Wow.Thank you.”
“And see, underneath is a 1/12 scale notebook for songwriting.It opens.”
“Are you encouraging my songwriting?”I ask, touched.
She nods, blushing.
“I bought you a gift too.”I open my backpack and pull out the hat wrapped in tissue paper.
Maddie unwraps it.“A Sherlock hat!Wow!I love it!”She hugs it.“I’m so impressed.”
Take that, Luca’s spy gadget closet.
She puts it on, tilting her head for me.“How do I look?”
“Adorable.”
“I should look intellectual,” she says.
“That too.”I take a photo and show her.It fits her.
