he shoved on his jeans and headed into the kitchen , where atlas and cuddles were curled up with each other on his rug . you just try and drag me through that dog and pony show , detective . she opened and closed her mouth , and i could tell she wanted to scream at me and probably slap me in the face . it was not as though she could afford the luxury of wasting her brain cells on flirting . all of it swirled together into a tight knot he was n't sure he could loosen . 