Pike was deciding what to do next when he saw Lily Palmer’s son. The kid had returned to his second-floor window, which gave him a view into Wilson’s backyard. This time the kid didn’t duck. He made a smirking grin before turning away, and Pike wondered how much time he spent in the window.

Pike made his way back along the side of the house, let himself out, and knocked on Lily’s door. Her eyes brightened when she saw him, and she gave him a pleasant smile.

“Oh. Hi. I thought you left.”

“No. I’ve been looking around next door. I didn’t tell you the whole truth. Wilson has been having trouble with some bad people. I’m concerned those people might have followed them home. Have you seen or heard anything suspicious?”

Her pleasant smile turned into a concerned frown.

“No, I don’t think so. Like what?”

“Loud voices. Cars that didn’t fit.”

She frowned even harder, then shouted into the house.

“Jared! Jared, come here!”

Jared appeared a few seconds later, shirtless and glistening with sunscreen. His thin chest looked like a birdcage.

“I was just going out.”

“The gentleman wants to know if you saw or heard anything suspicious over there.”

“Next door?”

“Yes, next door. Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”

Jared rubbed his birdcage ribs and nodded toward Pike.

“He was in their backyard just now. That’s pretty suspicious.”

“I know he was in their yard. He told me. Would you please answer the man?”

Jared raked the hair from his face, and made the same sneer he’d made in the window.

“He was peeping in their windows. Probably trying to see Dru’s tits.”

Pike took a step closer, and Jared quickly crossed his arms.

“Dude. It was a joke.”

His mother said, “Would you please act like a man? Wilson and Dru are having some kind of trouble. Try to help.”

“I didn’t see anything suspicious or otherwise. I’m sorry. There’s nothing to see.”

Pike glanced toward Jared’s window.

“Good view from your window. You looking at nothing?”

Jared flushed.

“What should I do, stare at the walls? Bro, it’s another day on the Venice Canals—sunshine and water.”

“When was the last time you saw them?”

“Wilson or Dru?”

“Either.”

“Last night, I guess. That would be Dru. She pulled in when I was coming back from my walk. Gave her a wave. You know. Said whassup. She said whassup back.”

Pike edged closer, and Jared held himself tighter.

“What time?”

“Around six, I guess. Something like that.”

Pike decided this fit. She drove directly home after leaving him at the takeout shop.

“What about this morning?”

“Didn’t see’m this morning, either one.”

Jared waved toward the carport.

“Saw the car, though. Went out to score some brown moo, saw the car.”

“When?”

“Oh, dude, early.”

His mother helped with the answer.