Page 53 of Mace

Growing up, the people that should have been important in Imogen’s life treated her like she was a waste of air.

I wasn’t going to let another person ever make her feel like that again.

If I had to punch an old lady, then you can bet your ass I would.

“We ask her about the report, and then we go.”

“In and out,” I agreed. I laced my fingers through hers, and she raised her other hand to knock on the door.

“Come on,” a frail voice called.

She pushed open the door, and we stepped inside the small apartment.

A lamp to the right cast a shadow in the kitchen, and the only other light was the window on the far wall. A small TV was on the wall playing an episode ofJeopardy,and an old woman sat in a recliner in front of the window.

“Hi, Grandma,” Imogen called.

“Is that you, Sally?”

Imogen rolled her eyes. “Uh, no, it’s me, Imogen. Remember I called you yesterday and told you I was coming to visit today.”

“Oh, yes,” her grandma remembered. “Come have a seat. I’m in the middle of my show.” She motioned to the couch. “Mind the cat hair.”

“Cat?” I hissed.

“It’s assisted living,” she murmured. “She’s allowed to have pets as long as she takes care of them.” Imogen moved into the apartment and sat in the middle of the couch.

“Who are you?” her grandma demanded.

“I’m Jonathon, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.” I didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with her. If she was going to help us, we needed to keep things as civil as possible.

“I’m Janet. Why are you here?”

“Grandma,” Imogen scolded. “He’s my….”

“Fiancé,” I interrupted.

“You’re getting married?” Janet demanded. “Since when?”

Imogen’s jaw dropped, and she struggled to speak.

I sat down next to her and held her hand in my lap. “It just happened, and Imogen is still in shock.”

“Just happened,” Imogen repeated.

Janet eyed me with scrutiny. “Are you a criminal?”

“Grandma!” Janet scolded. “You can’t say that.”

Janet waved her hand at us and sat back in her chair. “I can say whatever I want. I held my tongue for the past eighty-nine years.”

“Mace is not a criminal,” Imogen insisted.

“At least not yet convicted.”

“Mace,” Imogen hissed. “That is not helping.”

Janet busted out laughing. She wagged her finger at me and smiled. “You’re a criminal, but you’re an honest one. I like that.”

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