The kid shook his head.
Logan took a look at the doorway. The others were still standing there, their eyes wide in surprise. To the kid he said, “How about we start over? Why don’t you tell me your name?”
A pause, then, “Ryan.”
“All right, Ryan. Here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to answer a few questions for me, okay?”
Ryan nodded. “Okay.”
Logan didn’t move. “Are you going to invite me in? It would be a lot better to sit down than do it like this, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, uh, please, let’s go inside.”
“Thanks, Ryan. Now I’m going to get up. So don’t try anything stupid. Again, I mean.”
7
The apartment’s décor screamed college student—a hand-me-down couch, mismatched chairs and tables, and a stack of empty pizza boxes near the kitchen. There was even a leopard print beanbag chair in the corner.
Logan made sure everyone was seated before he pulled over one of the chairs from the dining table and joined them. There was no denying that he was feeling a little annoyed. Not just with Ryan and Angie, but with himself, too. He couldn’t figure out what he’d done to cause their reaction.
Putting on his best nonthreatening smile, he started off by getting the names of the other three. The girls were Maria and Joan, roommates in the apartment directly below Elyse and Angie’s place. The guy’s name was Kenny. He was Maria’s boyfriend, and lived a few miles away.
Still smiling, Logan repeated who he was and why he was there. Joan and Maria seemed to be the first to relax. Kenny was still a bit guarded, but Logan could tell he was also coming around. Angie and Ryan, though, continued to look unhappy.
“You all know Elyse?” Logan asked, focusing most of his attention on Joan, Maria and Kenny.