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“Fine,” I ground out. “We’re friends. Now, where’s the damn noise?”

“Well, if you’re my friend, ya’d talk to me for two minutes without cuttin’ me off.”

“I did talk to ya for two minutes. Two minutes are up.”

“We weren’t done with our conversation.”

“I ain’t talkin’ to you about Bowen’s love life or possible love life, AK. Now, where’s the damn noise?”

“Well, I’m interested in this seduction comment you made.”

I’m going to cuff her just because she’s disturbing my damn peace of mind.

“No one is seducin’ anybody,” I grind out. “And, we don’t have any interest in each other.”

“Who said that?”

“Me.”

Her brows knit together as if that’s new news. “You’ve never liked me?”

“Of course, I like you. What’s wrong with you?”

“No, I mean like…” She shifts her weight like the question is hard to ask, but she still asks the damn thing. And she’s still pushing it, too. “A crush or somethin’.”

I cock my head to the side because where in the world is this coming from? And now? “Have ya been drinkin’ wine tonight or somethin’? It ain’t that Zinfandel wine again, is it? I thought ya said you were throwin’ that away.”

She glares at me. “I did, and I haven’t.”

“’Cause the last time ya drank that you were singin’ Shania Twain at the top of your lungs⁠—”

“That was one time,” she yell-whispers as if someone in the house may hear us. Maybe that ghost she claims is in her attic. “And I don’t appreciate you bringin’ that up, Dodger.”

“Sheriff,” I correct. “And good. Now, where’s the noise?”

She huffs loudly and points toward the hallway as she begins toward it. “That way.”

I follow when she stops in the middle of it and pauses. “Do you hear it?”

“No.”

Right as I say the word, a small clink sounds from behind the wall in the bathroom.

“It sounds like someone is trapped inside, and they’re getting progressively angrier.”

I peer inside. “Did you run the shower or the sink beforehand?”

“Yes.”

“It’s water hammer.”

Her brows clench together. “It’s what now?”

“Water hammer.”

“Are you makin’ stuff up to keep me calm? Because I don’t emotionally support this noise.”

“It’s real, AK. It’s just old pipes. When water flow suddenly stops, pipes will bang or rattle. It’s normal.”