Chapter 103

Erasmus, the black cat that had turned up on my doorstep one day and decided to stay despite my efforts to get rid of it, twined around my legs as I stepped into the foyer and hung my light jacket on a hook near the door. I turned on the light to the living room and admired the half-finished space. It was coming along nicely.

“Hey, buddy,” I said, bending to pet my spoiled rotten feline, then heading to the kitchen to get some kitty food. I poured his dinner in a bowl and gave him some water. “Here ya go, Mussy.” The cat ignored me, as was typical, and focused on the chow. I rolled my eyes. “You’re welcome.”

I put my keys and cell phone on the table, then got the day-old casserole from the refrigerator and heated it while I took a quick shower. Cleaned and dressed in sweats and an old T-shirt, I grabbed a beer and ate my food.

Halfway through my meal in the kitchen, my cell phone rang. I sighed. There could be only one person calling me after eight on a Friday night.