Page 141 of The Body in the Backyard

“Remember when your parents didn’t want you dating me, Marie?” Miguel said, wading into the conversation again.

“That was entirely different. My parents were uptight snobs who were more concerned about appearances than their child’s happiness.”

Nick looked at Riley and gave her a palms-up shrug. “I mean, she opened the door. I can’tnotwalk through it.”

“You really can. I believe in you,” Riley insisted. Her head hurt and not just from her heroic head wound.

“Quick question, Ma. Are your parents the pot or the kettle in that scenario?” Nick asked his mother.

“Excuse me,” a familiar voice piped up. “Can someone get me a sparkling water, a refrigerated eye mask, and an aloe plant? I prefer my aloe straight from the source.”

“I wish I had a foam pit to vomit in,” Riley said as a silk-pajamaed Griffin came into view.

“And I sleep better with the temperature set to sixty-five degrees. That’s American, not Canadian degrees,” Bella said, appearing next to him. She was wearing a pale purple negligee with fur at the bodice and hem and holding her dog…which had on a matching outfit.

“Are those real rabbit tails?” Nick wondered out loud.

Marie’s demeanor underwent an abrupt change. “Of course, Griffin. Right this way. I keep an aloe plant in my home office.”

“I’m Bella,” Bella said, curtsying in her nightgown.

“Yes, dear. I know. I’m Dr. Santiago. We met an hour ago and then again when I showed you to your room.”

“Oh, silly me! I thought that was the housekeeper.”

Marie paused to study the lingerie-clad weather girl. “You’re not by chance getting Oblituspan injections, are you?”

Bella blinked. “I don’t remember.”

Marie slipped her arms through Griffin’s and Bella’s. “Let’s go get that aloe and take a peek at your prescriptions.”

“I don’t suppose you provide dermal filler injections in bed for special VIP guests, do you?” Griffin asked as they headed down the hall.

“I’m a chemical engineer and executive, so no,” Marie said.

“Your mother gave them the guest room and forbade me from giving you the second guest room. She made me take the mattress off the frame and put it in the garage,” Miguel told them. “So you two have to sleep in the basement.”

“That sounds about right,” Nick said. “We’ll be back up for booze and snacks, Dad.”

“The blintzes will be ready in ten minutes. Don’t tell your mother,” Miguel said loud enough that most of the neighborhood knew about the blintzes.

Nick led Riley and Gabe to the basement door and ushered them through.

“Nick?”

“Riley.”

“Why are we here?” she hissed as they descended the carpeted stairs.

“Because someone out there is still trying to whack Gentry.”

“Someone has been trying to whack him for days. Why do we have to sleep in your parents’ basement?”

“Because that human bucket of hair products made sure the entire viewing area knows we’re investigating, which officially makes us targets too. If our new LGBTQ-plus friends found us that easily tonight, imagine how fast another professional killer will do the same.”

Riley came to an abrupt stop on the last step. Nick barreled into her, almost knocking her down, but Riley barely noticed.

The Santiagos’ basement lounge was buried under elderly people in sleeping bags.