I must have said something hilarious, because she throws her head back and laughs. Hard. Funny, I sort of like it. It’s part giggle, part hearty laugh. “She’s notdead. She’s in—” She looks up for a moment. “—California now, I think.”
“You’re not sure?”
Daisy shrugs and, with a smile, tells me, “She sends postcards.”
“What about your father?”
The smile drops from her face fast. “He’s here.”
I point downward. “Here? As in your apartment.”
Rolling her eyes, Daisy shakes her head. “No. In Ames. He’s a professor.”
“At ISU?” Dumb question, but I have to ask.
“Yeah. American literature.”
Taking my phone out of my back pocket, I open my Notes app and begin to type. “What’s his name?”
“Why?” she snaps. “What do you need withhim? And what are you typing?”
“Oh. Sorry.” I place the phone down next to my leg. Chuckling, I reply, “Habit.”
She releases a breath that makes me wonder what the deal is with Daisy and her father.
“His name is Dorian Buchanan.” After a pause, she adds with an eye roll, “DoctorDorian Buchanan.”
“I take it you’re not close to your dad.”
She scoffs. “My father and I are definitelynotclose.”
“Why’s that?”
Sliding down from the stool, she crosses her arms in front of her. If I’m not careful, she’s going to ask me to leave, and I’ve got more questions. “Does that really have anything to do with my neighbor? It sounds to me like you’re digging for things that don’t relate.”
“Just curious.”
She smirks. “Curiosity killed— the cat.”
I hate that expression. It makes me think of my cat, Pepper Anderson, and I’d be really bummed if anything happened to her. I nod. “It did. But it’s also my job.”
Turning, she moves toward her kitchen. Looking back at me, she asks, “Sure you don’t want some water?”
Maybe I should just accept. It could buy me some time. “Sure. I’ll take some.” I stand and follow her. I need to see her face as she responds to my queries. “So, did you know Kara Becker very well?”
“No. I thought she’d moved out until I saw her last week getting her mail.”
“Did you speak with her?”
“I said hello to her, but that was it.”
“Did she respond?”
Daisy shrugs. “She said hi back.”
“So you didn’t socialize with Ms. Becker?”
My question must surprise her because her head jerks up and our eyes meet. “Socialize?”
