Cooper’s smile was gone. It was probably for the best. It definitely didn’t make him look friendlier. “His old man sent me,” Cooper said. “He’s hosting a rather extravagant fete this evening. Leo will be there, and his father would like you to join them.”

Susan did want to see Leo. “Like a Halloween party?” she asked.

“More like a masquerade ball,” Cooper said.

“Seriously?”

Cooper shrugged. “Rich people,” he said.

Susan considered her options. Jack Reynolds was a criminal—a wealthy and socially prominent criminal, granted. She had met him once, through Archie, the same day she had met Leo. Jack had been rather charming, considering they were there to grill him about a murder. He had a private island. He probably had really good parties. Then there was her supposed boyfriend. Leo had gone off the grid before, but this was different. She hadn’t been entirely honest with Archie. The truth was that she had been the one to storm off last night, outside the club. She had blown up at Leo for making them miss the musical production of Road House and she’d called a cab. But really she’d just been mad about the lap dance he’d bought Archie. Now she was pissed that he wasn’t returning her calls. She wanted to see him, if only to read him the riot act. Susan stubbed her cigarette out, dropped it into the jack-o’-lantern, and stood up to go into the house. Cooper was up the stairs in one step. He didn’t touch her, but she stopped cold.

“I need to change,” she explained. She pulled at her hoodie. Her black tights had a hole in the knee. “I don’t have anything to wear. I need makeup.” That was all true. But she also wanted to go inside and call Archie.

“We’ll take care of all that,” Cooper said. “What are you? A size four?”

Susan nodded, and fidgeted some more with her hoodie. She didn’t like that he was looking at her that closely.

Cooper studied her for a moment and then something seemed to dawn on him. “You’re scared,” he said. “You’re scared of me.” His eyebrows lifted awkwardly, like he was trying to seem amiable. “If Jack Reynolds ever wants you dead, lady, he won’t send me and a car to get you,” he said. “Too many neighbors. People see shit. They remember more than you’d think. Look behind me,” he said.

Susan looked over his shoulder and saw their across-the-street neighbor, Bill, standing in the street by the curb with a rake.