Page 72 of Rules

"Exactly, only two," Keyboard nods her agreement.

I wait for one of them to tell me what the two explanations are, but neither of them does. They just look at me with their intense gazes.

"Alright, if it's not money, what's the motivation?"

"To keep people distracted," Keyboard says.

"Or, revenge," Mouse says.

"Maybe even a little of both," I say more to myself.

"Now he gets it," Mouse smiles.

"See, brains and cuteness," Keyboard winks.

A finger snap from behind me reminds me that Sebastian is standing by the coffee station. "Respect," he barks at the two.

"I think..." I weigh my words carefully. "I think Michael is testing the waters. These break-ins are probing our response capabilities, seeing how quickly we react, how we allocate resources. The violence is increasing because he's measuring how much we can handle."

Law nods slowly. "Nope, I think they're exactly the opposite. I think the goal is to wear you all down."

Mouse and Keyboard nod in agreement to Law's statement.

Well, shit, I hadn't considered this idea but it seems to make sense. "Stress and stretch out the police force so," I stop talking when my head fills in the rest.

Law says exactly what I was thinking, "So they don't see when the big blow comes."

"And the dead girl?"

"Either coincidence or a point-blank message," Law says. "We're not sure about that one. The ladies wanted to get some information about the victim to do some checking."

"Sure, I'll have Holly email over all the information." That brings about small smiles from the ladies.

"Is anyone here?" A familiar female voice calls out.

Law connects eyes with Sebastian, the two move as one to the door of the room. Sebastian steps behind the door. Law nods then calls out.

"Back here."

The smell of sweet pastries hits us before Evelyn Whitaker, carrying a large cling-wrapped tray, appears in the doorway.

"Evelyn," Law says, "welcome."

"Hello, everyone." She steps through, setting the tray on the table. Two things then simultaneously happen. First, the girls catapult themselves into Evelyn's arms, telling her how good it is to see her. Second, Ferris, Law's big boy enforcer, comes into the room.

"I smell it, but I don't believe it," he says, sniffing the air.

"Yummy, is all I smell. Auntie, you make these?" Keyboard pulls away from Evelyn in enough time to pick up the other side of the tray, Ferris holding the other side. The two look about to have a tug of war.

"You want to do this, girly?" Ferris pulls the tray.

"Bring it, big boy," Keyboard pulls it back.

"But, these smell like gator cakes," Ferris closes his eyes while he takes a large whiff. "They're a different shape than what my MeeMaw would make. But they sure smell the same."

Evelyn gives a clap. "I'm so happy, that's exactly what they are. My aunt lived in Louisiana and she taught me how to make them."

"What's a gator?" Mouse asks, wrinkling her nose.

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