Chapter 43

“So

what’s on the menu tonight?” Phiz asked cheerfully.

Bryan

snapped his head around to stare at him, but Phiz looked innocent of any

innuendo. Nothing in his eyes except simple interest, mild amusement, and a

flicker of sudden wariness.

Bryan

suspected that mixture was reflected in his own.

Phiz

waltzed his way into Bryan’s flat as if he belonged there. He peered in each

doorway down the narrow hall, until he poked his nose into Bryan’s bedroom. He

had the manners to un-poke it just as swiftly, abashed at being so inquisitive.

“Is the kitchen at the end of the hall?”

Bryan

nodded. He hung up his coat on the wall hooks, put his keys on the designated

shelf, and slipped his suit jacket off onto the hanger he kept by the door for

the purpose. He had a ground floor flat, which included a small garden at both

the front and back of the building, two reasonably-sized bedrooms, a decent

bathroom and a larger than average kitchen. But if he had any idea of giving