I had Bud drop me off at my sister’s house, where Aiden said he’d pick me up after he finished work. If my stalker wanted to make a move, he’d be a moron to do it with the three Albertini sisters banded together.
Donna’s neighborhood was as decorated as the retirement community but in a sedated and more color-coordinated way. Her Christmas lights were a light blue fluorescent that glowed prettily. I walked inside, instantly inhaling the scent of pork chops. “Hey.” I kicked out of my boots and hung my coat in the closet before walking the long hallway to the kitchen in the back.
“Hi.” Tessa sat on a bar stool swinging one foot with a glass of wine in front of her.
Donna turned around from stirring something on the stove, a ladle in her hand. “Hi. You okay?”
I nodded and put the box on the counter, quickly ripping it open. While I had ordered the present for my cousin, I probably should’ve double-checked it before leaving the office. Relief, pure and simple, poured through me when I took out the perfectly wrapped book. “It’s for Pauley.”
“The book?” Donna’s brown gaze swept across me. When I nodded, she leaned over and poured red wine into another glass. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I accepted the glass and took a healthy drink. My sister always had the good stuff. My phone buzzed, and I looked down to see a text from Aiden, saying he was going to have to work really late. I figured he was trying to clear his schedule just like I was so we could regroup with this whole dead body and Jareth Davey situation—and maybe even take a vacation. It was starting to seem like it’d be a good idea. I glanced at Donna. “Do you mind if I stay here tonight?”
“Fine by me,” she said. “I have a good alarm system as well as a LadySmith.”
Tessa poured more wine into her glass. “I’ll stay, too. We can have a slumber party and X-box marathon.” She topped off my glass. “Before I forget, do you have extra wrapping paper, D?”
“You know I do,” Donna said, reaching for plates. “You ask every year.”
Tessa grinned.
I texted Aiden back that I’d stay with Donna that night and not to worry about me. Then my phone buzzed, and I answered the call. “Albertini.”
“Hey. It’s Pierce. Don’t have news from the coroner yet, but considering Crackle had a hole in his head, I’m not expecting any surprises. For now, I’ve been tracking down Hoyt Forrest’s loan sharks, and so far, he didn’t owe any of them enough to have put his father in danger. I don’t see that as a motive, although Hoyt might still look good for it. I have to say, Bernie is still the strongest suspect.”
“I feel like Bernie didn’t kill Lawrence,” I said, hoping it was true. I just couldn’t imagine the sweet old Santa killing anybody. “Anything else?”
“Yeah. Prints and blood came back on the knife. The only blood is Lawrence’s, and the only prints are Bernie’s. In addition, it’s a hunting knife commonly sold everywhere, including at Forrest’s Bait and Tackle. It could’ve been Lawrence’s knife, or it could’ve been anybody’s, to be honest.”
I swallowed. “You’re being awfully generous with the information.” Pierce had a good gut, and he must be telling me that Bernie wasn’t a killer.
“It’s Christmas.” Pierce clicked off.
I set my phone aside. “All right. Who wants to take me on in the new velociraptor game?”
“After dinner,” Donna said, bending and taking a pan out of the oven.
Definitely after dinner.
Chapter 34
My phone woke me from my sprawl on Donna’s sofa. Tess had grabbed the guest room, and I’d planned to share the bed with one of them but had fallen asleep in front of the TV. I tugged on my ripped T-shirt and shivered in the boxer shorts I’d borrowed. Groaning, I noted it was only five in the morning. What the heck? “What?” I mumbled sleepily into the phone.
“Hey, it’s Bosco. I need a favor.”
“Sure.” I pushed my hair out of my face and sat up, trying to get my bearings. “What’s up?”
Movement sounded across the phone. “I’ve been called in but have Fabio here. Any chance you could come get him until Knox can grab him later today?”
“Sure.” I yawned. It was nice of Bosco to watch Fabio for Knox, and I always wanted to help. “I’ll drive over to collect him now.”
“Thanks.” Bosco ended the call.
I blinked several times. Then I wrote my sisters a note and put on jeans, boots and coat, borrowing Tessa’s car. It was doubtful my stalker knew where I was, but even so, I kept an eye on my surroundings and the handle of my gun within reach. I wasn’t going to change my life or hide from this jerk, but I wasn’t going to be stupid, either.
I drove through town, reaching Bosco’s place. He lived in an apartment in a converted turn-of-the-century house that had two other apartments in it, and I’d always felt like he’d found the perfect place for himself. I carefully viewed my surroundings, didn’t see anything interesting, and ran up the stairs into the house, falling once and getting my jeans wet.
My key opened his door, and I was nearly bowled over by an energetic and massively big dog. I dropped to scratch his ears. “Hi, Fabio.”
