Page 7 of Fish out of Water
Lovely.
“But you’re here for a reason.” I spoke slowly, hoping that would help her stay with me. “Right?”
“I already told you. I’m here to feed the fish.” Banana Pants lifted up a ring of keys. “Mr. Frazier brought me his key and asked me to feed his fish while he was gone.”
Now we were getting somewhere. “So he left?”
Her lips flattened out again, pressing together until they turned white.
Whoever in the hell this woman was, she had a surprisingly strong sense of loyalty to my uncle. “How do you know him?”
Her lips held their flat line a little longer before finally relaxing. “He’s my neighbor.”
“You live here?”
“Not here.” She pointed at the laminate flooring under her feet before swinging her arms around. “Here.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to squeeze away the frustration this woman was causing. “I got it.”
“Well it didn’t seem like you did.” She crossed both arms tight over her chest, pursing her lips again. “Where do you think Mr. Frazier went?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, but you’re making it incredibly difficult.” I’d spent the day dealing with one problem after another, and this woman might still come out as the day’s biggest pain in my ass.
“I’mmaking it difficult?” She had the audacity to sound irritated with me. “Maybeyou’rethe one making it difficult for me.”
“What could I possibly be making difficult for you?” I’d given her my name. I’d shown her proof I was who I said I was.
“Maybe you’re not the only one worried about him.” Her brows snapped up. “Did you ever think of that?”
Oh no.
I shook my head. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m sure he’s fine. Probably just took a little trip.”
“At midnight?”
The last thing I needed was this woman getting caught up in whatever shenanigans my uncle was part of. “Maybe he wanted to get a head start on his vacation.”
“These people don’t go anywhere at midnight.”
Her observation brought me back to what she said earlier. “Why do you live here?”
Sweet Side Apartments was a retirement community. The rent was modest and the units were nice. It was what attracted my uncle.
Vito wasn’t known for being the brightest tool in the shed, and his lifelong habit of making bad decisions left him with little in the bank to fund his golden years.
Her chin tipped up. “I like it here.”
“It’s all old people.” I pointed at her. “You’re clearly not the target demographic.” She couldn’t be more than thirty, even though what she was wearing looked more like something a teenager would choose. My pointing finger dropped to her feet. “Are those cow slippers?”
Her mouth dropped and her nose scrunched. “Mrs. Sherling bought these for me so you better not talk shit about them.”
This was insane.
After tonight I was done being Vito’s keeper. Someone else would have to fly down and check on him next time. “I don’t even know why I’m still standing here talking to you.” I backed toward the door, pulling it open. “Go to your apartment. I’ve got this under control.”
“Fine.” She marched past me, nose in the air. “Tell your girlfriend I think she’s pretty.”
“Cricket’s not my girlfriend.” Anymore.
