“Not cranky. Just distracted,” Cate said. “What’s up?”

“I was hoping you could bring me a sandwich. I’m watching 2B. I think this is the day. I think he’s finally going to walk out of his condo and show himself.”

Cate swallowed a groan. Sharon was fixated on learning the identity of the mysterious resident in 2B. The unit had been bought by a holding company three months ago, and while occasional sounds and cooking smells oozed under the condo door, no one had seen the occupant.

“I love you, but you’re sounding a little psycho,” Cate said.

“It was bought by a holding company,” Sharon said. “Only celebrities and mobsters do that sort of thing. Aren’t you curious?”

“Curious, yes. Obsessed, no.”

“That’s because you don’t have the realtor personality. We need to know these things. We worry about property value.”

“I’m frosting a cake. I can bring you a sandwich as soon as I’m done.”

“Cake?”

“Does that interest you?”

“Can I have some?”

“If you’re willing to help me sing happy birthday to Mrs. Ramirez in 3C.”

“The hell with 2B. I’ll be right there.”

Minutes later, Cate answered Sharon’s knock.

“Wow, I could smell the cake from the hall,” Sharon said. “Fresh-baked cake. From scratch. With frosting.”

“From a mix,” Cate said, returning to the kitchen and sticking a single candle into the middle of the cake. “But you got the rest right.”

“I think it’s great that you make everyone birthday cakes.”

“It’s my thing,” Cate said. “I love making cakes. If I wasn’t going to teach school, I’d be a baker. And I like Mrs. Ramirez. She’s a good person, and I think she’s lonely. Her kids have all grown up and moved away, and now it’s just Mrs. Ramirez and her cat.”