I'm kind of a coward that way.
But that is only part of my interest. I can't shake the thought that if I could get my life back to normal—with less wishes to fulfill—I could figure out how to keep Syd. I've never wanted something so much. Not enough to throw all my previous self-imposed rules out the window.
I can't keep this relationship with Syd while I'm hopping from one brutal crime to another, though. She isn't going to tolerate my antics forever. I need to find out how long this situation is going to last, and if I can hurry it along. Yet anyone who would know what's happening isn't going to tell me.
Except . . .
I halt in my step then lean back and peer down the hallway.
There is one option.
I stalk to Silvia's door and knock.
After a moment, the door opens.
Her eyes widen. “Dimitri? Daddy summoned you?”
“Yeah, he didn't want to wait to tee off.” I push past her and close the door. “What's going on with him?”
She lets down her dark hair and ties it back up. I'm sure it is for my benefit, but I don't see any difference.
“Going on with what? I don't play golf, Dim,” she says. “You know that.”
I roll my eyes. “We weren't really playing golf. I'm asking about the one and a half million dollar donation to the hospital.”
She groans and flops down on her bed. “Don't even get me started on that.”
I cross the room and sit in a chair opposite of her. “So you do know?”
“That he's an idiot?” She gestures toward the ceiling. “Why doesn't he just leave my money alone?”
“It's not yours yet,” I say, mostly to annoy her.
“It's my inheritance. Everything in this house is my inheritance.” Her eyes dart to me. “He needs to fall on a spike.”
“Calm down. You'll get your puppy soon enough, Cruella.” I lean forward, my hair falling into my eyes. “What was the transaction a cover for?”
She shrugs, then her gaze locks onto me. I smile a little. Her tan cheeks turn pink. Then she grabs a pillow off her bed and chucks it at me.
“Get out of my room, Dimitri.” She looks at the ceiling again.
I catch the pillow and hold it on my lap. “Just tell me what you know.”
“I don't know anything!” She growls. “I have no idea what's going on.”
“Well, you can find out.”
She scrambles to sit. “Yeah? How? Tell me, Oh, Wise Oracle.”
“Genie, not Oracle. Though if the position is open … ”
“Seriously, Dim.” She frowns, staring down at her blankets. “What do you expect me to do?”
“Ask the accountant.”
“He's not going to know.” Her eyes land on the manila envelope in my hand. “What is Daddy having you do this time?”
“Just some work in San Diego.”
“I want to go too.” She looks at me with pleading eyes.
“Not a chance.” I push to my feet. “It's awful just driving to Phoenix with you.”
She falls back onto her bed. “Get used to it. I plan to travel a lot.”
And here we go, subtly making wedding plans. Why isn't this weird for her? It is for me.
Then again, I'm not a Walker. I have morals. At least, when their lack of conscience isn't being forced onto me.
I cross the room to drop the pillow onto her head. “See what you can find out for me, okay?”
I turn for the door. She doesn't say anything, but the pillow hits me square in the back on my way out.
Life under Silvia is going to be that slow death I had hoped to avoid.
***
Intel has provided me next to nothing for this assignment. In a way, I'm relieved. After the disaster at the downtown office, I will never fully trust their hookups again.
Still, a little more information to go on would be great. All I have is the address, shift schedule, and the description of the books. They have gold colored spines, and they should be sitting in a box together.
The “should be” is unsettling. I “should be” in bed with Syd, but I'm stomping the gas pedal between Phoenix and San Diego.
I've only visited San Diego once, and that was to break into a home and steal some business plans. As it turned out, the owners had been on vacation. No alarm had been engaged. I miss the easy wishes.
When I arrive into San Diego, the clock shows nearly nine at night. According to the schedule, the lab is used during business hours as a research and teaching facility. At night, it's rented out to a college class and some independent groups.
This means that at no time will the facility be completely empty. It also means I'm better off going during the second shift. The day researchers are more likely to notice someone who doesn't belong than the tenants at night.
The real problem is finding those books. The case file managed to leave out that tidbit. This will be like treasure hunting without a treasure map.