“You don’t suspect any of our guys, do you?”
I quickly shook my head. “No. I trust all of you with my life. Mallory, though…she suspects everyone until she hears them laugh.”
He gave me a questioning look. “What do you mean?”
“She said the guy had a laugh she’ll never forget.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “This is messed up, Liam.”
“I know. But I’m glad, in a way, that MaryAnne stumbled onto Mallory. I know she’s been lonely.”
“And she doesn’t rememberanything?”
“Nothing. Not her age, where she’s from, her last name…nothing. She said the guy called her Mallory, and she had a brief memory of being in a kitchen with an older woman who also called her Mallory.”
Billy whistled. “This is some true crime scene stuff.”
“Tell me about it. I’m sorry you got dragged into it, but I really need you to keep this to yourself. No one can know Mallory is here. Not until we figure things out.”
He nodded. “You know you can trust me.”
The doorbell rang, and we both looked at the door, then back at each other before I quickly made my way through the house.
“It’s Randy,” MaryAnne said as she stepped away from the door. I opened it, and Randy made his way inside.
With one glance around the room, he asked, “Have we decided not to keep Mallory a secret?”
“It was my fault,” MaryAnne said. “I used my key to let myself in to drop off sandwiches for poker night.”
Randy looked like someone had slapped him. “You dopoker nightand you’ve never invited me?”
I stared at my cousin. “Really? That’s what you’re worried about?”
He shrugged. “I like poker.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Fine, I’ll invite you next time we play.”
He grinned.
“Shoot, I better text the boys and tell them it’s called off for tonight,” Billy said, taking out his cell and sitting down on the couch to send off what I assumed was a group text.
Randy cleared his throat. “I’ve got some developments. Did you want to talk alone or…”
“You can talk in front of Billy and MaryAnne,” I said without thinking. Then I looked at Mallory. “Unless you’d rather he speak with you alone? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed.”
Mallory shook her head. “I don’t mind…unless it’s something bad?”
For the first time since arriving, Randyreallytook in Mallory, giving her a quick perusal in her new clothes, and for amoment, he actually stumbled on his words. “No, not…nothing, um, bad, it…it may be good. Maybe.”
Mallory smiled politely. “Would anyone like any drinks?”
“And we’ve got plenty of sandwiches if anyone’s hungry,” MaryAnne added.
“I’ll take a drink,” Randy said. “And you said sandwiches? I’m starved!”
I helped Mallory pour everyone tea as MaryAnne got out the sandwiches and bag of chips she’d brought for poker night.
Once we were all seated around the table in the kitchen, Randy opened the file he’d carried in with him. “We had a couple of hits.”
