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Ray exaggerated a look pasthis head forward, like he’d expected me to arrive with soned surprise

But I was alone on purpose

Both Nick and I agreed it would be better if he stayed out of this for now Ray knew Nick and I were partners He knehere to find him

I plastered on, I dripped, "Hello, Ray" I adjustedI carried in my arms I’d rubbed dirt on my clothes at the last pit stop, to add to the authenticity, but the hair on ent sas completely mine alone No need to up that ante "It’s so nice to see you again It’s been a little too long in between stalkings I’ve missed our happy fun tiot yourself into some serious trouble this time Care to explain?" He levered himself away fro over my ensemble with little interest

"Ray, you know perfectly well I can’t explain so I haven’t seen yet I just arrived back in town froo Froe of my absence and trashed my apartment"

Ray crossed his arms "That’s a convenient way to look at it"

"Giave him my best pissy look "You know damn well in my line of work I make ene like this is not exactly out of the ordinary, but I shouldn’t have to explain that to you You’re the detective"

Ray grunted his response and shifted his body so he stood directly behind me as I reached for my doorknob

I paused otten about a key

Oh, for shitssake

Instead of reaching into my shorts, where I kneouldn’t find one, I continued reaching for the knob, praying the door would miraculously be unlocked

I casually turned the knob

Nothing

The knob had in fact turned, but the deadbolt above it was engaged, so it didn’t give an inch Jeff the super had a set of keys and must have buttoned it up after the cops left Inside the door, hing I couldn’t shoulder it either The bolt was top of the line, courtesy of a certain Alpha father, and fashioned from some sort of unbreakable titaniues without much effort, but that would be a tad too suspicious in front of a detective when I was gunning for co

I hesitated for atofor these?" A ring of keys bounced in front of lanced back at Ray His face was inscrutable, but his eyes were focused on , I’m sure, to note some kind of major reaction onoff hiood at this sniffing game, the rat bastard

When I didn’t answer, he said, "These were found in your purse--along with all the other goodies you’d think solasses" The cynicism dripped heavily "Not many women I knoho’d leave toithout their purse tucked under their arainst my door Then I crossed a started "Listen, Ray I realize you think I had so to do with this wholethe , juicy secret from the world Possibly hidden soto find out exactly what it is,the way, but here’s the truth--are you ready? I’" Well, other than the fact that I’d just turned into a scary olf "I’s and I don’t deal them I don’t have ties to the Colombians, and more importantly, I haven’t broken any laws The truth is,at the last oodness it wasn’t tornado season "It was just one of those happy, carefree decisions people et theone, someone trashed my place That’s the end of the incredibly juicy story" I reached up and snatched the dangling keys frorasp and turned to unlock my damn door

Ray’s voice hummed with conteht now? Shouldn’t he be here with you, so he can unlock your door with his key? And help you see about all your troubles?"

"Nope," I said as the deadbolt snapped open "The last tiirl who could handle her own proble any of it, but I didn’t havethe truth was not an option and I had no other alibi at this point Ray didn’t have any legal right to harass hts--but if I tossed hie ju up was just short of ad enough distraction, so we could focus on a new topic, like how I had nothing to do with any of it