“Yes, for the art,” she said. She gestured between her and Lexi. “We agreed that we’d repay you for all that you’re doing for us by making your house look less like a Motel 6. I take that back, even a motel has better art than you.”

“Hey!” I protested.

“Don’t thank us,” Lexi said. “We’re happy to do it.”

“What if I like bare walls?” I asked.

They looked appalled.

“No one likes a naked house,” Annabelle said.

And just like that, my inner adolescent boy lost his powers of speech. The word naked coming out of Annabelle’s mouth ruined every hard-on-squelching image I’d been able to think of, plus I’d just lost my argument for barren walls. So now it looked like I would be acquiring some art.

Lexi glanced between us with a shrewd look that I ignored. Mercifully, the trailer door opened and Jackson poked his head in. “Nick, a word?”

I noticed the tight line of his jaw. Something was bothering him. I glanced at Lexi and said, “Why don’t you give Annabelle some idea of what you’re looking for in a logo, and I’ll be right back.”

Annabelle was already hauling out her laptop, looking delighted, and her enthusiasm was contagious as Lexi scooted her seat closer to see what Annabelle had already come up with. I wanted to just sit there and stare at them, appreciating how everything was coming together even though it meant keeping them both away from me, but I could feel Jackson’s looming presence like a bootheel poised to drop.

I crossed the trailer, being mindful of every step I took, and went outside onto the narrow platform. Jackson jerked his head to where Micah was standing on the ground a few feet away. I took a deep breath and strode down the short staircase like the man I used to be.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Your sister has made some enemies,” Micah said. “She would kill me if I told you this, but there is more going on than the contractors not showing up today.”

“What do you mean?” I felt my insides tighten.

“In the past month, she’s had her tires slashed,” he said. “Someone called in a bomb threat, and the office was broken into not once but twice.”

“Shit,” I swore. “Did she call the police?”

“Yeah, they said it was junkies likely looking for easy money or something they could sell, but these were pros. No evidence was left behind,” he said.