Uncle Roy’s face became the color of a ripe turnip. A sure sign of an escalating temper. “Why don’t you take me seriously?” Joe’s face showed the beginning signs of redness. “If not for the fact that I’m an officer of the law, then because I’m family.” “It ain’t that.” Uncle Roy took a deep breath. “I’m not going to run scared from my house, and that’s final.” “I could order it.” “No, you can’t, and don’t threaten me, boy. I can still take you down.” At his comment, a giggle escaped me. The vision of roly-poly Uncle Roy taking down muscular, burly Joe did me in. The two men turned to glare at me. “I’m requesting a transfer.” Joe folded his arms. “I can’t work in the same town my family lives in.” He’d been making that threat for years. I held up a hand to ward off his words. “Sorry. Just tired.” I snorted. “I’ll stay, Joe.” Ethan crossed his arms. “There’s room for me on the sofa. If anything happens, you’ll be the first I call.”
