Free If the Shoe Kills by Lynn Cahoon

haven’t totally verified that yet . . .” Josh gazed around and apparently noticed Jackie’s cold stare causing him to stop talking.
    â€œYou’re forgetting you live next door in that ratty apartment above your store. You don’t think I can see when someone goes up your back stairs. Or did you think I wouldn’t recognize her?” Jackie shook her head. “I’m not talking about this ever again.”
    â€œLovers’ quarrel?” Toby fake-whispered in my ear.
    â€œShhh,” I said, but it was too late. Jackie and Josh both turned and stared at us.
    Josh spoke first, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Enjoying yourselves?”
    â€œNo, I mean, what happened?” I took a step toward the two, hoping I’d be able to turn back if the words started flying my way.
    Jackie put her hands on her hips and stared at Josh. She arched her eyebrows, waiting for him to speak.
    â€œI’d asked your aunt to dinner at Lille’s last night. But then I forgot. I wasn’t even in the apartment until after midnight. No one was there. I swear.” Josh had the saddest basset hound look I’d ever seen. “Maybe you saw those darn cats that keep crying in the middle of the night. I didn’t remember until this morning, when Kyle asked me how the date went. I came right over to explain.”
    â€œAnd you don’t believe him?” I turned to Jackie.
    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Not one word. A cat doesn’t walk on two feet.” She pursed her lips and focused on me. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here for when my shift starts, but right now, I’m going upstairs.”
    Josh started to rise.
    â€œAlone.” Jackie turned and stomped out the back of the store, where a side staircase led to her apartment.
    Toby came by, took Jackie’s cup, and put it in the sink. “Man, you’ve got her hot.” He leaned against the counter. “Take it from a multi-chick serial dater, you’ve got to keep more of a distance between the ladies. Like have one in Bakerstown and one here. You don’t ever date two girls in the same town, that’s just asking for trouble.”
    Josh stood, his shoulders sagging. “I don’t know how to say this any clearer. I’m not seeing anyone except Jackie. And some days, the way she acts, I wonder if we’re even dating.”
    Josh stormed out of the store.
    â€œThat guy has it bad for your aunt.” Toby whistled.
    I nodded, not trusting my voice. Josh was hurting. I headed upstairs to my old apartment. Knocking on the door, I called out, “It’s me.”
    â€œWhat part of ‘alone’ didn’t you hear?” My aunt’s voice came through the door.
    Leaning against the doorframe, I tried again. “Look, Josh seems like he’s telling you the truth. Can’t you just give him the benefit of the doubt?”
    No answer came from the other side of the door.
    â€œAunt Jackie? Are you okay?” I wondered if I should grab the office keys. I had a spare apartment key on the ring, just in case.
    â€œI’d be better if I wasn’t being yelled at through my door.”
    My lips twitched. “I wouldn’t be yelling if you’d open the door.”
    Again the hallway was quiet. Finally I heard the television come on.
    â€œAunt Jackie?” I tried again.
    The words weren’t louder this time, but they somehow held more power. “Let me be, okay? I need some space.”
    â€œCall me if you want to talk. I’m heading home.” I pitched my voice higher, hoping she’d hear me over the television. If she did, I didn’t know because she didn’t answer.
    I thought about Josh’s statement he’d worked through the night. Could he be lying? But if Josh had been in the shop, whom had Jackie seen going up to his apartment? I decided to leave the problem alone. My aunt was a big girl. She needed