Page 35 of Just Beachy

Then he follows us up the stairs to where my grandmother stands, arms crossed over her lacy robe, one foot tapping on the floor. She isn’t glad to see us, either.

“What on earth are you doing here?” she asks me. “And why have you brought Luke with you?” Grand shakes her head. “I’m pretty sure I’m too old to be a runaway. And I certainly don’t need anyone’s permission, especially not my granddaughter’s, to sleep with a man of my choosing.”

Luke blushes, which is not something you see a policeman do every day. Though I kind of wish the writers had thought of it when my now ex-boyfriend, Jake Bodie, was playing Cassie Everheart’s cheating boyfriend. Like they say, one look can be worth a thousand words.

“We’re here because there’s been another break-in,Grand. They came in the back again and this time they went through your car. The lining in your trunk is slashed and so is the upholstery.”

“And once again you appear to be the only target,” Luke says to Grand, though his eyes are on Brian.

“But that’s crazy,” Brian says.

Luke spears him with a look. “Are you suggesting that we’re lying, Mr. Boyer? And if so, for what possible reason?”

Luke keeps him pinned with that look and I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end of it.

“No, of course not. This is all just so…”

“So, what, Brian?” I ask, surprised to hear my voice sounding a lot like Cassie’s while talking to a perp.

“It just seems so…odd. I mean, what could she possibly have that someone would want so badly?”

Grand stiffens.

“No offense,” Brian says.

“None taken,” Grand replies. But I’m pretty sure she doesn’t mean it.

“That would be the question, wouldn’t it, Mr. Boyer?” Luke adds. “What could she have that someone would want badly enough to break in repeatedly? And while we’re at it: Did you and Lillian know each other before she moved here? Or at any time in the past?”

“No, of course not!”

Luke and I exchange glances while Grand and Brian go up to retrieve her things.

“I’ve never heard someone say ‘No, of course not’ quite so many times,” Luke says quietly.

I nod in agreement.Methinks the man doth protest too much.

Grand, Luke, and I walk back to Grand’s place. Myra’s lights go out once we’ve passed and I have no doubt her curiosity is killing her.

I wait until Luke does a thorough look around Grand’s unit, her garage, and her bonus area to make sure no one is lying in wait.

After he leaves, Grand and I stare at each other for a long moment.

“Do you want coffee?” I ask.

“Might as well.” She still sounds annoyed at being dragged out of Brian’s bed. Or maybe she’s afraid, as she should be, of what’s going on.

• • •

Grand rummages inthe fridge while I make us cups of coffee. She retrieves a leftover piece of pound cake and brings it, and two forks, to the table.

For a few minutes we sip our coffee and demolish the piece of cake in silence. Then Grand takes the empty plate and puts it in the sink. “I think I’m going to go upstairs and lie down for a bit,” she says.

I reach out a hand to stop her. “Before you go, I need you to tell me one thing.”

Reluctantly, Grand sits back down.

“You know what the thief, or thieves, are looking for, don’t you, Grand?”

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