Right. The only way for Enzo Vitale to help me was for him to wind up behind bars and for me to finally make detective. That was my dream. My only reason for existing was to prove that I could do what my father did, but so much better. To show him and everyone else that I was no longer the screw-up they all knew I used to be.

Clothes flew into my face. I grabbed at them, and Enzo nodded to the clothes he’d tossed at me. Mine were still soaking wet and lying in a balled-up heap in the shower. I had no choice but to slip into his black sweats and the soft, blue t-shirt. He gave me a jacket as well, and I slipped it on as he stood there, staring at me.

“Enzo—”

“You can see yourself out,” he said, his tone clipped. When I turned away, he called my name. I glanced back at him. “Make sure you don’t show up here again.”

Red hot anger flashed through me. I kept my mouth shut, nodded, and exited his room before I said something that would get me killed. I snagged my shoes, shoving my feet inside. Something poked me in the sole. I removed my sneaker and glanced inside. USB port. Somehow, I had forgotten all about it.

Bile rose in my throat, mixing with the anger. There was no telling what I was going to find on that thing. I made a beeline for the door, resolving myself to find out the truth.

No matter how much it hurt.

The steady rumbling of Penelope’s purring was usually the most soothing thing in the world. Tonight it simply grated on my nerves, putting me even more on edge as I sat on my bed going through my father’s files. Penelope’s tail swished, knocking into a folder and scattering paper across the comforter.

“Okay, that’s it. I love you, but you have to go.” I scooped him up, and he laid his massive paws on my shoulder, kneading me through the jacket I still wore. “How about a treat and some music?”

I carried Penelope to the kitchen and took out a can of wet food. He wound around my ankles, meowing at me so loudly it made me laugh. I sat his bowl down and turned on the TV. Soft, quiet music played as I turned off the lights, leaving only the soft glow of the nightlights I’d installed in case Penelope ever got afraid of the dark.

Yeah, that was stupid as hell. My friends pointed that out to me plenty of times, assuring me he could see in the dark, but it still made me feel better to know the lights were there for him.

I gave him a few long, firm pets, and his purring grew. Smiling, I batted his tail back and forth until I knew I couldn’t procrastinate anymore. I stood up and sighed.