“Okay, so if you two are done bonding, I think it’s time for us to leave,” Krankowski said, going to the door. “And if she wants you to have the book, take it, Tully. It ain’t going to stop us from doing our jobs.”

“I would certainly hope not,” Bennett said, following Tully to the door. “And I do wish you luck in finding whatever that weapon was and, of course, whoever is committing these awful crimes. I’d hate to think my neighborhood is going in the same direction as so many others.”

“That’s not going to happen on our watch,” Tully said as he stepped into the hallway. “Thanks for the book.”

“My pleasure. You’ll have to let me know what your nephew thinks of it.”

“I will.”

“Good day, gentlemen.” Bennett closed the door, throwing the latch before she headed to the kitchen.

“Okay, so at the risk of having myself banished from your apartment and your life forever, may I ask why there were two cops here?” Ruby said.

“You may.” Bennett opened a cabinet, and grabbing another coffee cup, she handed it to Ruby. “It seems a drug dealer filed a complaint with the police stating that some of his people were mugged around Back Bay, and yours truly fits the description of their assailant.”

“Wait. A drug dealer…went to the police?”

“I find it amusing, too,” Bennett said, pouring coffee into both cups. “Do you remember hearing about those people murdered in the park?”

“Of course. It was all over the news.”

“Yes, it was, and those two detectives visited me at the gallery shortly afterward. It seems right around the same time as the park killings, yet another lowlife had a run-in with someone in an alley. Unlike the other pushers who were only mugged, this one was killed, and apparently in the same manner as those in the park. So, now they believe the crimes are connected.”

“And they think you did it?”

“It would seem that way.” About to take a sip of her coffee, Bennett stopped when she saw concentration lines etched into Ruby’s forehead. “I don’t make it a habit of killing innocents, in case you’re wondering.”

“What about those not so innocent?”

“They aren’t always as lucky.”