InSight

all I have to do is face you and we can have a normal conversation?”
    “That’s right. If I miss something I’ll ask you to repeat what you said. That’s normal, I guess. Whatever normal is.”
    “Cool.” And as if the previous exchange hadn’t occurred, Lucy said, “Meyer’s coming over after he has dinner with his son. Is that okay?”
    “Sure. He’s always invited.”
    “It’ll be like a double date,” Lucy said.
    Ah, Lucy. A breath of fresh air. My never-grew-up mother still on double dates. Abby sensed that if she could see Luke, he’d be smiling.
    “Meyer is Lucy’s significant other, Luke. He’s the nicest man in the world and he loves Lucy.”
    “He is cute, isn’t he?” Lucy said. “Well, you wouldn’t know, but he is. Not matinee idol handsome like you, Luke, but a cuddly teddy bear type. Kind of like Ed Asner when he played Lou Grant on the old Mary Tyler Moore show. Now you relax with your young man while I make dinner.”
    Abby smiled at Lucy’s contrived way of telling her that Luke was handsome, which she already knew and couldn’t care less about. It’s going to be a long evening.
    “There’s a pitcher of margaritas on the counter, Lucy,” Luke said. “Help yourself.”
    Abby’s breath caught in her throat. She’d been so concerned about keeping the news about the break-ins from Lucy that she forgot to warn Luke about the margaritas. There was a long pause, then Lucy said, “Um, thanks, but I think I’ll pass. It’ll interfere with my cooking.”
    Abby let out a breath and mentally praised the way her mother handled it. Interfere? That’s a euphemism. Still, she knew the temptation would always be there.
    “Where’s Daisy?” Lucy asked.
    Glad for the change the subject, Abby said, “Um, a car sideswiped her the other day. She has a nasty gash on her head. The vet’s keeping her for a day or two to make sure she’s okay.”
    “Will she be all right?” Lucy asked, concerned.
    “She’ll be fine.”
    “Good thing it’s the weekend and you have company.”
    Abby had moved to the opposite end of the sofa from Luke when Lucy came in, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her beside him, unwilling to play platonic. Now when Lucy got her alone she’d grill her endlessly about their relationship.
    Abby had been asked out on dates, but she had her work and a comfortable life and hadn’t wanted the complications that came with a romantic involvement. The idea of going through the getting-to-know-you stage had appealed to her about as much as sour milk. And here she sat next to Luke, enjoying every minute of what she’d avoided for the last eight years.
    “Chicken stir-fry,” Lucy said. “Come and get it.”
    Luke raved about the dinner, and Lucy responded like the quintessential teenager to a handsome young stud. Before the end of evening, Luke had won her over—his intention, Abby surmised.
    Meyer arrived with a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider and poured four glasses. “So, Luke, what do you do?”
    “I was a detective with the police department until my accident. I’m still technically a detective, only not on the streets. Right now I’m doing research and hope to transfer to the crime scene unit.”
    Abby liked the positive sound of his answer. Both Lucy and Meyer bombarded Luke with questions, which he handled beautifully. By the time they left, Abby’s nerves were shot.
    “Your mother’s a piece of work.”
    “You noticed.”
    “I bet she was a hell of a lot of fun when you were a kid.”
    Abby shifted in her seat. “Lucy was a drunk.”
    “Drunk? You mean she drank.”
    “No, I mean she was a falling-down, passing-out drunk. I spent a good part of my childhood taking care of her. All’s forgiven, but growing up with Lucy was hell. She quit drinking after I was shot and has tried her damnedest to make it up to me, but those are twenty years I’d rather put behind me.”
    Luke wrapped his arm around her. “I’m sorry, Abby. Come here.” He pulled her close and planted a kiss on top of her head.
    God, this feels good . They cuddled for the rest of the evening while Luke watched a closed caption Braves game on TV. Abby listened and took pleasure in the warmth of his body. She felt comfortable and warm and secure for the first time in ages. She liked it a lot.

Chapter Ten
    Dark Shadow

    U nless Abby changed her schedule, a taxi waited in front of her house at exactly eight thirty every workday morning to take her to the office. The