Page 86 of Demo
“Police!” We hear from behind us, and Dee and I jump, scream, and swivel around. I push the rake out in front of us to find a breathless Monty standing in the entrance to the apartment … with a butter knife extended from a shaky arm.
We let out our breaths and lower our weapons.
“What the hell are you doing with a rake?” he asks as we head back into the living room, where he meets us.
“Oh, what a question coming from a guy with a butter knife,” retorts Dee. “What are you gonna do? Butter my biscuits?”
All three of us plop down shoulder-to-shoulder on the couch. I’m in the middle with the rake standing upright between my legs. A collective sigh escapes us.
“You gave me a freaking heart attack,” Monty says over me to Dee, then he looks at me. “She called all frantic and said your apartment was broken into and something about a key claw and a chainsaw, and I know you can’t call the police, so I grabbed the thing nearest to me—I was making toast when I got the call, for your information—and sped over here.”
“I appreciate it,” I say, patting his bobbing leg. “You guys are the best. You’re totally my people.”
“Yeah, well, we’re going to have to call someone since your place was obviously trashed,” Monty says. “Do you know if they took anything?”
I roll my eyes, yet again, and Dee laughs beside me. “What?” he asks.
I barely register the sound of heavy footsteps bounding up the stairs before the bark of my name has the three of us jump in our seats and turning our heads to find Knox standing in the doorway, a hammer raised above his head, held by a bandaged hand.
I see his face bounce to each of our faces. “What happened? Is anyone here?” Knox rushes out while opening and closing the coat closet, storming into the bedroom, looking under the bed, then letting Kennedy out of the bathroom.
The dog blows right past Knox and practically jumps into my lap.
“It’s OK, buddy,” I say to him as I rub the top of his head and soothe him while he barks. Oddly, I’m thankful the mutt isn’t harmed.
“Why are you guys just sitting there?” Knox asks, putting the hammer down and resting his hands on his hips. “And what’s with the rake?”
We all just stare up at him, then Dee answers, “Oh, you know, we were just gonna make mashed potatoes out of the culprit with this here rake, and then butter him up real good with this here sword.” She juts a thumb toward Monty and the silver blade he’s holding.
A beat goes by, and then Dee, Monty and I erupt into laughter.
Knox just looks from face to face, unsure of what to make of the three of us. Then his features soften, and he even chuckles. “You’re a weird group, you know that?”
“Trust me, I know,” Monty answers as he awkwardly hoists himself up from our old couch with a groan.
“Thanks for calling me, man,” Knox says to him, extending his arm and shaking Monty’s hand. Then he looks around, knowing this is how I left the apartment, and adds, “Well, at least whoever it was didn’t take anything.”
“You called him?” I ask Monty.
He shrugs his shoulders. “I thought he might be closer and could get here before I could.”
Knox shoves his hands into his pockets and peers up at me through his eyelashes.
“No, it’s fine. I just didn’t know the whole cavalry would be coming out.”
Knox and I are still looking at each other when Dee clears her throat. “Well, I think my work here is done, and since it’s Saturday, and I’m off, I’m going back to bed.” She stands, and I follow.
“I’ll walk out with you,” I say, leaving the guys in the apartment. We walk down the stairs and as we approach her car, I start, “Dee—”
“You don’t have to say it,” she interrupts.
“Yes, I do,” I say, and I think I may actually cry. “I’m so sorry for how I spoke to you, and the nasty things I said. I absolutely didn’t mean them and wish I could take them all back.”
“I know,” she says as she pulls me in for a hug. “They did hurt like a bitch, but I know you were just wound up.”
“Thank you for coming,” I say with a trembling voice.
As Dee is backing out of the driveway the guys come down the front stoop, Kennedy on their heels, running to the nearest bush and relieving himself. “I’m heading out,” Monty tells me. “Catherine is probably wondering what the hell is going on.”
