Free Deadly Greetings (Book 2 in the Cardmaking Mysteries) by Tim Myers Page B

was exhausted myself, though I hadn’t done anything
exceptional all day. The thought of going back to my new place
wasn’t as appealing as it should have been, and if it hadn’t been
for Oggie and Nash, I probably would have delayed returning even
longer, but my roommates hadn’t asked to move, and I wasn’t going
to abandon them just because I was starting to get a little jittery
about my new domicile. I picked up a pizza on the way home, an
extra large that would probably end up being breakfast, too. I
didn’t care if it wasn’t the best dietary choice. That was one of
the joys of living alone; I didn’t have to worry about what anyone
else thought about what I did or didn’t eat.
    The commute to my new home was a lot quicker
than to my old place, even with the stop for pizza, so I was there
before I wanted to be. I walked upstairs and was trying to fit my
key in the lock while balancing the pizza when I heard someone tear
up the steps behind me.
    When I turned, I nearly dropped the pizza.
It was Deputy Wayne Davidson, my brother’s employee and my own
worst nightmare.
    “ Go away, Wayne,” I said as
I fumbled with the key. Why wouldn’t it go in the lock, especially
when I was in such a hurry?
    “ Now Jennifer, is that any
way to act?” I could smell his breath, and it didn’t take a
sobriety test to tell me he was drunk.
    “ Go home and sober up,” I
snapped. Why wasn’t the blasted key working?
    “ Why can’t you be friendlier
to me? You like me; I know you do.”
    He was close enough that I could feel the
heat coming off him now. I was going to have to throw the pizza in
his face and run downstairs, since I couldn’t get my key to
work.
    “ Jennifer, you’re late,”
another voice said from below. There was no way there was room for
three of us on that tiny landing, but I didn’t care. My new
neighbor Barrett was climbing the steps at a good clip. “We’re
eating in my apartment tonight; did you forget?”
    Wayne said, “Sorry, she’s already got plans,
bub.”
    “ You’re right, and they’re
with me.” He reached past Wayne, plucked the pizza out of my hands
and said, “We don’t want this to get cold. I’ve got the wine all
ready, and I picked up a movie on the way home.”
    As I slid past Wayne, Barrett said, “Sorry,
my friend, but there’s just enough for two. Have a good
evening.”
    I followed Barrett into his apartment,
waiting for Wayne to protest, but when I glanced back as the door
was closing, I saw him frowning at us but apparently unable to come
up with a reason to stop us. With the door locked, I said,
“Barrett, you’re a life-saver. How did you know I needed help?”
    My new building mate shrugged. “He wasn’t
exactly keeping his voice down, and in all honesty, I was just
going out to grab a bite myself when I heard him.”
    “ Your timing couldn’t have
been better. After I make a quick telephone call, you’re more than
welcome to share my pizza.”
    He laughed. “Jennifer, you’re certainly
under no obligation to share your food with me. I didn’t do all
that much.”
    He’d done more than he’d ever know.
“Considering the fact that I was about ready to slam the box into
his face and run, I disagree. What do you say?”
    “ I’d be delighted,” he said.
“Let me open a bottle of wine and we’ll eat.”
    “ What, no movie?” I asked,
joking.
    “ I have a healthy selection
of DVDs to choose from. I’m sure we can find something we both
like.”
    I took my jacket off, then said, “You’ve got
a deal. Let me call my brother and then we can eat.”
    He looked at me carefully. “Do you have to
get permission before dating strange men? He’s awfully protective
of you, isn’t he?”
    I shook my head. “He’s that, all right, but
he’s also the sheriff, and that man outside my door is one of his
deputies.”
    Barrett just nodded, then said, “I’ll get
the wine.”
    I dialed Bradford’s cell phone and he picked
up on he third ring.