“Did you hear about the author who was reading her mystery online and disappeared?”
Rose pounds on the wall. “Fake news. It was a hoax to sell her books.”
“Nu-uh. The police thought so at first but now, no one can find her. Check it out. It’s all over Twitter.” Mia sticks out her tongue and bangs back.
“Yeah, and no one tweets anything that isn’t true.” The oldest rolls her eyes and the other makes a face.
“Stop.” Sam jumps in, ending their squabble. “I promise, I’ll look into it.”
Curious, I open up my laptop, bring it to the couch, and lay down while I research the alleged killing. First, I have to reset all my passwords. That’s how long it’s been since I logged on.
Huh. For once, Mia got something right. An authorwasmurdered while reading a chapter of her new book to her fans.
When Marion instructs a woman on hair cutting, Sam wanders over to my futon and looks over my shoulder.
“It’s the second.”
I check today’s date. “No, it’s the fifteenth.”
“No, no. I think this is the killer’s second murder. The MO is the same. There’s someone who gets off killing people online.”
“Did you call Jason?” If she’s right, the artificial intelligence application would be able to confirm her suspicions.
“I did but because so many people are stuck at home, Dr. Jones says the internet has slowed him down. She’s got all her staff trying to work around the gridlock.”
Something crashes in the kitchen and Sam jumps.
“Bad kitty!” She runs to her laptop, places it on the table, and picks up our little monster. “Scoot.”
Enjoying the attention, our kitten prances up the circular staircase. At the top, she stretches long, yawns, and stares between the railings.
“She’s been doing that a lot lately.” Frowning, Sam rejoins the meeting.
“What? Gloating?”
“No, attacking my keyboard, especially if my fingers are moving. She thinks it’s a game.”
“She’s probably bored.” I blink at the kitty who returns my acknowledgment of her greatness with a nod.
“I understand where Catrina is coming from. Damn, I’m dying to walk around the block or shop for groceries. Hey, I got an idea. Want to get naked?”
“Do you feel up to it?” Her brows raise and I chuckle.
“I’m tired, sugar, not dead.”
She kisses me, slips her fingers to the back of my neck, then pales.
“Oh shit.” Running to the bathroom, she returns with the thermometer but I refuse to open my mouth.
With her hands on her hips, she shoots me the look. So, I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. I let her slip it under my tongue. When I try to take it out before it’s done, she slaps my hand away like some naughty kid.
“Suds, stop.”
I am so fucking sick of being sick.
Sighing, she shakes her head as she reads the digits. “Shit. One-oh-three.”
Leaning back on the pillow, my cock shrivels because no way in hell is it having any fun this afternoon.
