“It was Tom’s idea, and Colin did all the work. I just grabbed the kid.”
The young woman looked Gemma up and down. “Uh huh. If you want to work out together sometime, Mike’s gym is at the end of the block. By the way, I’m Rolanda. Roy.”
“I’ve heard about you. Colin says you’re great on a computer.”
“That’s what he tells me, but it’s really odd that when I can’t figure out something, he knows how to do it. The truth is, he thinks that by flattering me I’ll do anything that requires a person to sit in a chair for longer than fifteen minutes.”
“Does it work?”
“Perfectly,” Roy said, smiling. “He and I have an unspoken agreement. I let him dump the paperwork on me, and he lets me bring my son to the office when the sitter flakes out on me.”
Gemma, ever curious, said, “Your husband . . .”
“Single mother. He wanted me and his old girlfriend. I said no.”
“Imagine that.”
The two women smiled at each other.
“What have you heard about the fire?” Gemma asked.
“It’s under control. The family should be back today. Except Mr. Frazier might stay awhile. If any vehicle breaks down, he can fix it.”
“Oh?” Gemma said and knew her expression was giving too much away. She had really missed Colin. “I’m just concerned, is all. Colin said there was no cell phone service there.”
It was Roy’s turn to look surprised. “He called you from the fire?”
“Just once. I haven’t heard anything in a while.”
Roy’s smile broadened. “I heard you’re going out with Dr. Tris.”
“It’s just to a barbecue,” Gemma said, her mind on Colin. “How bad is the fire?”
“We’ve had worse.” Roy was watching Gemma. “You’re all Colin has talked about since he met you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Roy was looking at Gemma in speculation. “He likes you.”
Gemma willed the blood not to rush to her face and give her away. “We’re becoming buddies.”
“That’s not what the town is saying.”
Gemma didn’t think she should reply to that statement. “I better go. I just wanted to introduce myself.”
“Stop by any time. And if you have any problems about anything, give us a call.”
“Okay.” She had her hand on the doorknob but turned back. “What happened about Tara and her flower bed? She said someone was trampling it.”
“Sleepwalking.”
“What?”
Roy smiled. “Colin figured it out, but then he usually does. He’s good at mysteries. He had her put up cameras to make sure. They showed Tara walking through her flowers, wearing her husband’s shoes, and sound asleep. Dr. Tris gave her some pills to help her sleep and told Tara’s husband to get a job that let him stay at home more.” She paused. “I wouldn’t usually tell anyone about a case, but this one is all over town anyway. Poor Tara says she wants to hide.”
“I don’t blame her.” Gemma hesitated. “I need to ask you a question and I don’t know how to say it.”
Roy’s face changed from smiling to serious. “If anyone is bothering you—”