I didn’t bother with the witty banter. In fact I didn’t even give him a second look. He was scenery as far as I was concerned. About as interesting as the azalea shrubs along the sidewalk. I’m not sure he regarded me with the same detached lack of interest, his eyes burning into the back of my head as I unlocked the front door, but at least he didn’t get out and chase me down. Thank God for small favors.But as soon as I walked in the door, I realized I could have used a bigger one.“Hartley, where have you been?” Mom grabbed me around the middle, doing her boa constrictor imitation again.“Um, out?” I managed with my last breath.She released me and did a quick assessment of my person for blunt force trauma. Finding none, her expression did a quick change, concern instantly replaced with anger. Lots of anger.“Damn it, Hartley, there’s a killer out there!”“Whoa. Did you just swear, Mom?”She ignored me, shaking her head. “You can’t just go ‘out.’ It’s not safe.”“I’m fine, Mom.”“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving the house this morning?”“I never tell you when I leave the house.”“I was worried sick!”“I had my cell with me.”
