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without walls and barriers. Off the kitchen and dining area was a covered patio, and beyond that, an extra-large garage accessed from the alley. Every square foot was perfectly designed to assist Greg in living as effortlessly as possible. The home had even been featured in a magazine for the disabled.
    It was in the direction of the guest room that the dog had bee-lined. Seamus, on the other hand, had earlier squished his big furry body under the low buffet in the dining room and was sulking. He looked out at the two of us, especially me, with a murderous eye so intense it was almost a solid death threat.
    Greg’s knowing eye caught on Seamus, then followed Wainwright’s path. The dog let out a few yips and whines, and we could hear him pawing at a closed door.
    “What’s going on?” Greg asked as he wheeled towards the hallway.
    “We sort of have company.”
    Greg cocked an eyebrow in my direction. “And the company is sort of shut up in the guest room?”
    I nodded. “It’s of the four-legged variety.”
    “Feline or canine?”
    “Feline. Laurie Luke’s kitten.”
    “Permanent or temporary?”
    “Not sure yet.”
    Greg started down the hall. “Let’s get a look at the little bugger.”
    Before I left Lisa, she’d asked for a favor—if I’d take Muffin. She cited that it wasn’t fair to the poor creature to be shut up all the time, but she just couldn’t bear to be around the cat. It reminded her too much of her sister. I knew Greg wouldn’t mind, and I knew Wainwright would love the idea of another playmate. The only sourpuss at the Grey-Stevens homestead would be Seamus. That sealed it—three against one. But I took Muffin with the contingency that we were only fostering the animal until Lisa could get back on track. She was right, it wasn’t fair for Muffin to suffer because some monster had killed her owner, but in my heart I hoped that Lisa would, down the line, have giver’s remorse and want the cat back for the same reason she was giving it away—it reminded her of her sister. If that time came, we would return it to her.
    Once Muffin got over the fright of seeing a big yellow dog loping after her, she settled right in and became part of the family. By that evening, she was curled up asleep in Greg’s lap while we watched a movie. The fact that the little animal bonded more with Greg seemed to mollify Seamus a bit. Although he didn’t come up on the sofa with us, he at least came out from under the buffet. Baby steps. Or in this case, kitty steps. It was the same when Wainwright and Greg came into my life.
    “So, we’re still on to visit Gordon Harper tomorrow night?” Greg asked as we got ready for bed.
    I paused mid-tooth brushing as I tried to remember who Gordon Harper was.
    “Gordon Harper,” Greg reminded me. “Crystal Lee Harper’s ex-husband.”
    Of course, victim number two. I spit. “Yes, sure.” I rinsed and spit again. “When and where? Do I need to leave work early?”
    I patted my mouth dry with a towel, then applied moisturizer to my face and cream to my hands. By the time I climbed into bed, the revised family unit was jostling for position. Greg was sitting up, a book propped in his lap. Wainwright was curled on the scatter rug at the foot of the bed. Seamus, unhappy with Muffin’s presence, was standing guard at the end of the bed, trying to keep the newest addition out of his territory. After receiving a few well-placed bats and hisses, Muffin curled up on the outside edge of the bed, against my knees. It was a good thing we had a king-size bed.
    “Probably not.” Greg looked up from his book. “Gordon said he can’t meet us until nine, so why don’t you come home and relax a bit? If you don’t want to cook, let me know, and I’ll pick something up on my way home.”
    I smiled at him as I picked up my own book from the nightstand. “Sounds good.”
    I started to read but couldn’t keep my mind on the page.
    “Greg.” He turned to look at me. “If