Chapter 77

“No, sorry.”

Dammit

“See? It would have only gone one floor.”

Well, that was disappointing. I dropped the subject. “Do you want to go on up to Theo’s or down to the car? It’s the same distance either way.”

“I’ve got no intention of missing out on Theo’s baklava.”

“In that case, up it is. Ladies, it was a pleasure. Have a good day.” I helped Mark toward the stairs leading up to the third floor.

“Bye, Mark,” Layla called softly. “Watch out for those ladders.”

“You bet.” He grinned back at them over his shoulder. If he meant it as devilish, it fell far short. There was more weariness in it than I liked. “Bye.”

“Lean on me, Mark,” I ordered as he prepared to set his left foot on the first stair tread.

“Yes, master.” He leaned heavily against me. After the first two stairs, he cocked his head. “You gonna say ‘I told you so’?”

“No.”

“Thanks.”

I pinched his hip, then looked up at the remaining eighteen stairs and drew in a breath. “Okay, onward and upward.”