"Oh, hi, Victoria," Isabella said when she opened her front door. Her lone Ha-Ha earring swung gently against her cheek. Other than the wording, it was an exact match as the one I'd found. "Back so soon?"
In some ways, I kind of wished I'd never left her house. Then I wouldn't have to ask her such difficult questions.
"Afraid so. Do you mind if I come in?" Free of distractions like Boxy and Studmuffin? I wanted to add.
I'd told Boxy I was leaving to go check out Patty Planet to see if they could tell me when Mr. Seymour had been there. I hadn't done that yet, but Boxy had seemed to believe me. He hadn't found anyone who'd seen Detective Palmer at the library, so he was just going to head home. Knowing Studmuffin, he'd probably resumed napping on top of the Smithsonian boxes.
"Of course. Come in." Isabella held the door open for me, and I slipped by her. "No kitty this time?"
"Nope, this is his first of two evening nap times before he goes to bed."