“Daniel.”
“I’m kidding.”
At least, I hoped he was.
He went back to the cabinet.
“Mark is stopping by later to return my torque wrench. Maybe he can help with the interview.”
I lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Maya will never bring anyone home again if you keep this up.”
Daniel laughed.
Mark and Daniel had known each other since their twenties.
They weren’t especially close anymore.
Sometimes Mark appeared at barbecues.
They exchanged birthday messages.
Occasionally, they borrowed tools from each other.
Their friendship seemed to exist mostly because of history.
I had never thought much about it.
At six thirty, the front door opened.
Maya walked in holding hands with Evan.
My first thought was that he looked nervous.
My second was that I understood why Maya had warned us.
Evan was thin and pale, with dyed black hair that fell almost to his jaw.
His fingernails were painted black.
Dark eyeliner framed his eyes, and tattoos covered part of his left forearm.
He wore black jeans, heavy boots, and an old band shirt.
His appearance was dramatic, but there was something shy about the way he stood beside Maya.
“Mom, Dad, this is Evan.”
I smiled.
“Hi, Evan.”
Daniel didn’t respond.
He simply stared.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Daniel’s eyes widened.
He stood so quickly that his chair shifted behind him.
“No.”
Maya blinked.
“What?”
Daniel looked directly at Evan.
“I think you should leave.”
