Something dark and dangerous flickered in Joe’s eyes. He opened his mouth but whatever he meant to say was cut off by the chiming of Fiona’s phone. She glanced down to check the screen and saw notifications for incoming text messages, one from Dennis and one from Liz.
She ignored Dennis’s message and opened the one from Liz:I got donuts. Where are you?
Crap, she’d totally forgotten their plans for this morning. She typed a response:I’m at Joe’s.
Are you naked?
Why would I be naked?
Why not?
Fiona bit the inside of her cheek to hold back a laugh because if she laughed, Joe would want to know why, and no way was she explaining this.Someone broke into my apartment last night. I was freaked out, so Joe let me crash at his place.
Seconds later, there was a knock at the door.
“That’s probably Liz,” Fiona said as Joe crossed the room and checked the peephole.
He opened the door to reveal Liz on his doorstep, wearing running tights and a Nike long-sleeved shirt, an outfit that totally clashed with the box of pastries in her hands.
“Greetings, I come bearing donuts. Mind if I come in?” She held up the box. “We were supposed to do breakfast this morning. Is that coffee I smell?”
His mouth curved with amusement. “The coffee’s gone but I can always make more. Are there any Boston creams in there?”
“No, but if you let me come in, I’ll let you choose between the maple bacon and powdered Bavarian.”
“Deal.” He opened the door wide enough for her to enter.
As she stepped over the threshold, she handed him the box and made a beeline for Fiona.
“Why didn’t you call me last night? Are you okay? How about Wanda—and your apartment?”
The concern on her friend’s face made Fiona feel bad about not telling her earlier. “I’m sorry. I guess I was a little freaked out and not thinking clearly. I’m fine. Wanda’s fine. I don’t think anything’s missing, but I’m going to take a closer look this morning to make sure.”
“How did they get in? I didn’t see any damage to your door.”
“They probably picked the lock or used a master key,” Joe said right before he bit into the powdered Bavarian.
Fiona eyed the pastry in his hand. “Didn’t you already eat a breakfast bar?”
“Yep,” he said around a mouthful of pastry. “But there’s always room for donuts.”
She wished she had the kind of metabolism that allowed for a second breakfast. As it was, just looking at his donut was making her jeans feel tight.
“I bet it was Dennis,” Liz said, scorn unmistakable in her voice. “That rat bastard probably thinks it’ll scare you into moving back in with him.”
“I don’t know; it doesn’t feel right. If he did it to scare me, he would have trashed the place or hurt Wanda.” Probably both. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. “I still don’t understand why anyone would break into my apartment and not steal anything.”
“Did you check your laundry basket?” Liz asked. “The burglar could have been one of those freaks who likes to steal women’s underwear.”
Fiona’s upper lip curled back. “Why would anyone do that?”
“Beats me.” Liz reached into the donut box and selected the maple bacon. “Criminals do all kinds of weird shit. I was watching this show the other night—America’s Craziest Criminals—and they were talking about this guy who broke into a house wearing nothing but a cowboy hat. He stuck his junk between two slices of bread and—”
“Please stop.” Fiona held out a hand. “I’d rather go to the grave without hearing the rest of that story.”
Joe chuckled. Behind him, the coffeemaker brewed a fresh pot. “Maybe the burglar got spooked and left before he could do any damage. I was mostly keeping an eye on your ex when we pulled into the lot. It’s possible that whoever broke in saw us coming and slipped away before we even got out of the car.”
Liz swallowed a bite of her donut. “Do any of your students—present or former—have an ax to grind?”
