“I have a couple of visitors,” David said drily as Ziya released him. “Come in.” He stepped out of the way to let them into the apartment, gesturing to the men sitting on the couch. A bent spatula sat between the two police officers, one of whom looked like he’d recently discovered that he’d been sitting on a spatula.
“Officers Dell and Reiger,” David said, “this is my neighbor, and her …”
He trailed off, an almost cartoonish expression on his face as he looked questioningly at the new arrivals.
“Friend,” the women said in unison.
“What’s going on?” Ziya asked as Amie glowered at David.
“The gentlemen had a few questions for me about Savannah Harlow,” David explained as he closed the door behind them. “Mainly about an interaction I had with her yesterday.”
“At the grocery store?” Amie asked.
“That’s right,” David said. “If I’m accurately reading between the lines—and, officers, please correct me if I’m not—I believe I’m a suspect for her murder.”
Ziya gasped, looking at Amie. “Savannah’sdead?”
Amie gave her a quick nod before turning back to the cops. “On what grounds is he being accused?” (She wasn’t sure if those were the correct terms to use, but they sounded good to her.)
One of the officers stood, and the other one followed suit. “No one’s making any accusations,” the first one said. “We were given a tip to speak to Mr. Lenski.”
“The officers heard about our argument,” David explained.
“But that was nothing!” Amie exclaimed. “She was yelling at an employee. David was just trying to get her to stop.”
“Did you witness the argument?” the second officer asked.
“Y—” Amie stopped. No, technically, she hadn’t. Not on the specific day they were referring to, at least. She shook her head.
“I think we have everything,” the first officer said. “Mr. Lenski, we’ll be in touch if we need anything else from you.”
David escorted the cops out the door. “ ‘No one’s making any accusations,’ ” he said in a mocking tone as soon as the door shut. “They were soundingpretty accusatory before you two showed up.”
“Are you really their main suspect?” Amie asked as Ziya crossed the room. “I know you two fought a lot, but I feel like she has to have bigger enemies than you.”
“I couldn’t say,” David said. “When you told me earlier what had happened to her, I started thinking about how I was probably one of the last people seen arguing with her. But I just told myself that was my author brain getting carried away.”
“Sorry, just to clarify …” Ziya raised a hand as she sat down on the couch. “Savannah’s dead? By way ofmurder?”
“Does that surprise you?” David asked. “The murder part?”
Ziya shrugged, tilting her head in acquiescence. “Guess not.”
“You’re both terrible,” Amie said.
David let out a scoff as he spotted the bent spatula sitting next to Ziya. “This is why I don’t like visitors.” He picked it up, sitting down next to Ziya as he looked mournfully at the kitchen tool.
“Maybe it should be why you shouldn’t leave spatulas on your couch,” Amie suggested.
David looked up from the wreckage to narrow his eyes at her. “So how’d tonight go?”
Amie let out a strangled yelp. “AHH okay,” she exclaimed, avoiding eye contact with Ziya. “Let’s focus on the issue at hand.”
“Who told the cops about your argument at the grocery store?” Ziya asked.
David shrugged. “They wouldn’t tell me.” He sat forward, hands clasped between his knees. “What I don’t like is that someone’s making an effort to point a finger at me.”
“You think you’re being framed?” Amie asked.
