Derek’s voice was low and husky. “Don’t answer. She’ll go away.”
The temptation was irresistible, but not very neighborly. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. Wincing, I called out, “Hi, Vinnie. What’s up?”
Her light footsteps pattered down the wide hall.
“We have—oh, hello, Derek,” Vinnie said, smiling brightly. “How nice to see you again.” Derek had met my neighbors a month or so ago after that vicious killer tried to gun me down inside my home.
“Hello, Vinnie,” he said cordially. “How are you?”
“I’m quite well. Isn’t this a nice surprise?”
As she ran back to her apartment, I unlocked my door and pushed it open.
“Suzie,” Vinnie cried. “Brooklyn is at home and Derek—Remember Derek? He is with her. Come quickly and say hello. Bring the wine bottle.”
“Oh, dear God,” I whispered, then laughed as Derek pounded his head against the wall. I walked inside. He followed close behind me and grabbed me at the waist, turned me around and kissed me. I sank my fingers into his hair as my knees grew weak.
Derek’s breath came in ragged gasps as he broke away from the kiss just as Suzie’s steel-toed boots clomped against the hardwood floor outside my door.
Suzie walked in. “Hey, Brooklyn, hey, Derek.”
“Suzie,” he said cordially, and gave her a hug. “You look as lovely as ever.”
How he could sound so cool and debonair after a scorching kiss that had left me shaking was a mystery for the ages?
“Uh, yo, looking good,” Suzie said, flustered and blushing from Derek’s hug. Even a steel-toed lesbian was no match for his charms.
“Come on in,” I said, waving them into the living room. “Make yourselves at home while I put my tools away in the office.”
“You sure?” Suzie asked. “You guys rushing off somewhere or can we hang for a while?”
“Hang away,” Derek said generously, and I flashed him a grateful smile. They were, after all, my favorite neighbors and dear friends.
Still, that whole karma thing was getting on my nerves.
Vinnie walked in a minute later with a large bag of leftover Thai food. As I said, they were my favorite neighbors, and the free food was just one reason why.
I walked with her into the kitchen and she went to work emptying the bag, finding places in my refrigerator for all the little white boxes to fit.
“Anybody home?” a voice called from the door.
“That’s Robin,” I said, mystified.
“Lovely,” Vinnie said, folding the bag. “You’re having a party.”
“That’s what it looks like,” I said, flashing Derek a bewildered look before running to the door.
Robin was already inside, hanging her coat up in my front closet, so I grabbed her for a hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you, too.” She held up a bottle of wine. “My date canceled so I thought maybe you could use a friend to listen to you rant some more. But I can hear you’ve already got a full house.”
“Yes,” I said, then whispered, “Derek is here.”
Her eyes went wide. “He’s here?”
“Yes.”
“Should I get everyone out?”
I laughed. “No, we’re fine. Fabulous, in fact. Please don’t say anything about the other night.”
“Why would I do that?”
“You wouldn’t do it on purpose. I’m just saying.”
“Hmm. Well, now I can’t get the idea of blackmail out of my mind.”
“Don’t even think about it,” I advised her as we walked back into the living area.
“You’re right,” she said with a sad shake of her head. “You’ve got way more dirt on me than I could ever scrape up on you.”
“Which is another sad commentary on my life,” I conceded. “Still, don’t you forget it.”
Everyone greeted each other and more wine was poured. I met Derek’s ironic gaze and laughed. He chuckled. What else could we do but accept the inevitable?
“How’s Gabriel doing?” Robin asked as she topped off her wineglass. “And how’s your little friend, Alice? Did she have fun in Dharma before all the fireworks started?”
I filled everyone in on Gabriel’s recuperation, Alice’s spa treatment, and the latest body count. Everyone wanted to hear details of the latter, especially.
“Do you think Gabriel’s attack is related to these other murders?” Robin asked.
“Absolutely not,” I insisted. “I mean, the only thing the BABA murders and the Dharma attack have in common is me. And I refuse to accept that any of this is connected to me. That would be off the scale.”
“Truly, Brooklyn?” Vinnie said. “You’re the only one who was in the vicinity of all three attacks?”
“Yes.”
“No,” Derek said. “Gunther was there, as well.”
“Gunther?” Shocked, I turned to him. “Do you really think your client had anything to do with Gabriel being shot?”