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“I know he has the key.”

“He's helping.”

“How?”

“He’s guarding it.”

I scowl at her, then climb off the bed, forcing her to scoot to the edge with me.

I kneel and look under the bed. Two brown eyes stare back at me.

And there, between his front paws, is the tiny silver key.

“Give it.”

Alibi's tail thumps.

“Roman, you have to be nicer.”

“He stole my handcuff key.”

“He doesn't know it's yours.”

“It’s mine.”

“He thinks you’re playing.”

“I’m not.”

I sigh, then extend my hand. “Alibi.”

His tail thumps harder.

“Come here.”

Nothing.

Callie crouches beside me. Our cuffed hands hang awkwardly between us.

“Baby,” she says sweetly. “Come to Mommy.”

Alibi puts the key in his mouth.

My stomach drops. “Don't fucking swallow that.”

Callie snorts.

I look at her.

She loses it. She laughs so hard that tears spring to her eyes.

“You—” She can barely breathe. “You believed me. That I… swallowed the key.”

“Because you're insane enough to do it.”

“I'm not.”

“Give me one compelling reason I shouldn't assume you'd swallow a key.”