Page 119 of Only the Hunter

Evie peers around me.

“Michael. What are you doing here?” He looks at me, and she waves me off. “Ignore him. Come on in.”

She opens the door wider, allowing him entry into her living room.

It’s evening, and it’s cold outside, so I shut the door to keep the cold air out.

“Hi,” the suit says, extending a hand. “I’m Michael Harridan. I work with Evie.” He looks at Evie. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

“Oh. I’m not,” she says. “This is Gabe. An old family friend.” She crosses her arm over her middle. “Gabe, do you mind giving us a minute?”

She just told this guy that I’m an old friend. I’ll step out, but I won’t go far.

I’m still in the room when Evie asks, “What’s up?”

“You’re on a leave of absence. Why don’t you tell me what’s up?”

“I guess you were right,” Evie says.

I slow once I’m in the passageway between the kitchen and living room. Out of sight but within earshot.

“I got too close to the case.”

“And an old family friend came to visit?” Harridan asks.

“Yeah. He actually lives nearby. NoHo.”

“Ah. So why have you been so hard to reach? Did you go on vacation?”

“Visited family,” she says.

“And you’re not dating that guy?”

My jaw locks so tight I feel it in my temples.

“No, Michael. I’m touched you stopped by but⁠—”

“You want to go to dinner sometime?”

This guy. Jumping the moment the fraternization rules get tossed.

“Yeah. Sure.”

Something hot and irrational flares low in my gut.

I have no technical claim.

Doesn’t stop it from burning.

“This weekend?”

“Let me check my calendar. I just got back in town.”

“Yeah, right. Of course. And you’ve got a guest over.”

The voices get harder to discern, and then the door closes.

I step into the room. “Old friend?”