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thing he’d do to get attention and I place the blame squarely at his father’s feet. Too busy with his other interests to discipline the boy and he won’t listen to me—”
    We were all startled when the door slammed shut and we heard retreating footsteps on the other side. What a thing to hear your own mother tell people—I was beginning to feeling sorry for Davo now. I waited to see if anyone was going after him, but his mother rose, acting as if nothing had happened.
    “More coffee or tea?” She gave the squishiest-faced smile yet. No one was going after Davo. I couldn’t let him sit out there—he was really still a kid.
    “I think I’d like to ask Davo some questions. Beverley, thanks for the coffee—sorry I didn’t get to finish it. Valentina, I might catch up with you later.” I picked up my bag and scooted out of there, glad I wasn’t living Davo’s life.
    I found him walking down the sidewalk, kicking stones. He had that teenage mix of a man-sized body with childlike features and expressions—and I’d bet money his mother had used the clippers to achieve that hairstyle.
    “Davo, got a minute?”
    He gave me his best seventeen-year-old surly look. “So you can pin this on me?”
    “Nah, I don’t think you did it.” I flicked my hand, waving the idea away.
    “You don’t? Why not?” His expression vacillated between surprise and suspicion.
    “I’ve got good instincts.”
    He raised his chin. “Work on instincts, do ya? Hows about you and me—”
    Lord, save me. “Don’t push it. I just came out to see if you’re all right.”
    He frowned. “Yeah, I’m not a little kid you gotta check on.”
    I didn’t have any experience with teenagers, except when I’d been one myself—and even though I was only twenty-eight, it seemed like a lifetime ago that I’d been Davo’s age. However, despite my lack of experience, I could tell I’d offended him. “Nah, I wasn’t checking on you, I just wanted to know if you were up for helping me out.”
    “Yeah?”
    Think quick, Fletcher . “Yeah. I’m interviewing the neighbors, but I don’t live here. I thought you could keep an eye out for me after I go home.”
    “Like a spy?” His eyes were so wide with enthusiasm I thought they’d pop.
    “Yeah, just like a spy.” Sean Connery. Daniel Craig. Davo. Right. “And you know the thing about spying is that you can’t tell anyone you’re doing it.”
    “But we get to meet secret-like so I can tell you what I learn?”
    “Sort of. Though not in secret. I’m speaking to everyone, so there’d be nothing suspicious in us talking.”
    “Oh.” His enthusiasm fell a few points, then picked up again. “But we have to be private enough so no one can overhear.”
    I shrugged. “Yeah, I suppose.”
    “There’s a garden shed out the back of—”
    “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Lord almighty. Davo saw me as his own private Bond girl. How did I get myself into these predicaments? “How about I buy you breakfast tomorrow morning at the diner two blocks down?”
    “Cool!”
    Free food … me as a Bond girl … apparently they were equal in the world according to Davo. If my ego had been weak, it might’ve taken a hit over that. But fortunately, it was rock solid.
    He surveyed the street over my shoulder. “What am I looking out for?”
    “Um … anything suspicious.”
    “Right. I’m on it now. See ya, boss chick.”
    Watching him walk away, indiscreetly looking through windows, I wondered if I’d created a monster.

Chapter 3
    My silver chain watch said it was almost midday. Time really flies when you sit around drinking tea and eating cake.
    I was weighing up my options when a car turned into Los Alamos Court—a rare enough occurrence in the small cul-de-sac that I turned to look. It pulled up beside me and Simon’s head appeared out the window. “Hey, Tobi, how’s it going?”
    I crossed my arms. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
    He pushed aviator sunglasses back onto