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He frowned. “You’re gonna go all mulish and bray over a set of keys?”
“The sheriff didn’t tell me to expect a visitor.”
The purported deputy chewed his lip. “Fine. I’ll level with you, Marcy. If I hand this task to Jali, she’s going to be pissed, which will result in a call to Harlowe, then he’ll be pissed. I just got out of the doghouse.”
“Not my problem.” I paused. “What got you into it?”
“Open the door and I’ll tell you.”
“I’ll open my door when the keys are on the porch and you’re walking to your truck.”
He held up a finger as if an idea had struck him. “Miss Kitty’s scared of the big bad wolf, isn’t she?”
I glanced at my bat. “No.”
His grin seemed extra sharp. “Oh, yeah, that’s fear. Look at you, poor kitten, quivering high in her window, wondering what tonight will bring.”
I raised my phone where he could see it. “Larry Cho is your name?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Miss,” I corrected, dialing.
The sheriff’s mellow voice held an edge as he answered. “You alright, Miss Davins?”
“There's a Larry Cho skulking around my porch.”
“Oh.” In the background I heard the dull clamor of a bar and what may have been the crack of pool balls colliding. “Black hair, brown eyes, disposition of a tarantula?”
“Yep.”
“He’s mine.”
Suspicion nagging my gut, I sent the sheriff a photo. Upon confirmation, I held the phone to my hip and called, “Ready or not, Larry! Don’t pull any bullshit. I’ve got your boss on the line.”
Larry threw his hands skyward. “Praise Jesus!”
But at the bottom of the staircase my arms were crawling with goosebumps despite the sheriff’s insistence he sent Larry. I peeked through the dining room blinds.
Larry stood with one foot on the outside steps. He noticed me and grinned. His voice came muffled through the glass but clear. “Knock, knock, Little Red!”
“Can you please tell him to leave?” I asked the sheriff. “Blame me.”
The sheriff sighed. “Before I call off my dog, you wanna explain what’s tickling the hair on your neck?”
“The spring peepers shut up. Happens when they’re disturbed. They stopped last night, too, just before the wolves appeared.”
“There are dozens of logical explanations before we need stretch for monsters, Miss Davins.”
“You asked. Anyway, Lisa’s staying with her fiancé and she’s using the spare key fob. This return isn’t urgent. I’d appreciate your deputy turning tail.”
“Would you take them from me? I ain’t far out.”
“Larry says you’re busy.”
“He knows I hate being disturbed on the few hours I have off, but I would prefer your roommate’s involvement formerly ended. Be there in fifteen.” He hung up.
Larry's phone rang. He reached into his pocket.
