Despite being visually impaired, Deirdre could still make out who the figure could be. “Tobey? Is that you?”

“Dee!”

Deirdre was startled. She scanned around cautiously before continuing. “I thought you said we’d contact each other over the phone! Why are you suddenly here, in person? What if Brendan’s moles—”

“Don’t sweat it, Dee,” he replied, smiling. “I would only come here in person after being 100% sure both he and his people were gone. It’s just you and me here.”

Deirdre breathed a sigh of relief, though some of her anxiety and paranoia refused to go. She unlocked the door hurriedly and stepped inside. Turning around, she called out to him, “We’ll talk inside.”

“I’ll pass.” The young man looked at the mud caking around his soles. “I’ll talk here.”

Deirdre stopped by the door as Tobey scowled. “Brendan left for Neve, didn’t he? I saw the news. He’s engaged to some woman named Charli McKinsey!”

A beat later, Deirdre answered him placidly. “You’re right.”

“That crazy b*stard!