“Speak for yourself,” Blake said, with a sniff.

“But when Michael volunteered to help us—well, that was perfect!”

“Unless they put all three of you in jail for burglary,” I said.

“I’m sure it will turn out all right,” Dad said. “But we should be getting down to the station to make our statements. Wish us luck.”

“Good luck, Dad,” I said, giving him a quick hug.

Dr. Blake looked rather wistful. What the hell.

“And you, too, Grandpa,” I said, giving him a hug of his own.

He stiffened, as if he wasn’t quite expecting my hug, but he looked pleased.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “If they try to railroad your friend, we’ll stir up a hornet’s nest!”

Something he was all too good at, I thought with a sigh. But strange to say, I found it nice to think that he was on our side.

They strode out, passing Michael on the way in.

“Here, let me help you,” he said. “Timmy, want a horsie ride downstairs?”

Timmy thought about it a moment, then held out one arm as if to agree to the transfer. Clearly he was very tired. He merely slumped over Michael’s head as if about to fall asleep.

“He should be in bed,” I said, hoisting the bulging diaper bag to my shoulder and heading for the stairs again.

“Well, it’s been an unusual night,” Michael said. “He’ll love having another ride in the police car, and we can get him back into his normal schedule tomorrow.”

“Not really,” I said. “After all, his normal schedule would involve being with Karen. I don’t think Karen is guilty of anything except panicking, but what if they convict her of something anyway? I can see Karen pleading with me to take care of Timmy, just until she gets parole. And me dutifully mailing off pictures of his first day at school, his lead role in the class play, his prom date, his wedding . . . .”

“Well, if it comes to that, we’ll cope,” Michael said. “He’s a good kid. Make a good consolation prize if I can’t convince you we need a couple of our own.”

“Or a nice big brother to those couple of our own,” I said. “But let’s hope in a few days’ time he’ll be back with his mother and we can discuss the whole kid issue in peace and quiet.”

Michael looked happy at that, and there was a bounce in his step as he carried Timmy out to Sammy’s patrol car and set him down. Timmy reflexively grabbed onto my pants leg.

“Okay, Timmy,” I said. “We’re going to take a ride in the police car, and then we’re going to see your mommy!”

Timmy perked up slightly. He wiped his nose, partly on my pants leg and partly on Kiki, and nodded.

“Come on, Kiki,” he said. “Go see Mommy.”

Read on for an excerpt from

Swan for the Money

the next Meg Langslow tale from Donna Andrews—
available soon in hardcover from Minotaur Books!