“Never a dull moment with your family,” Derek remarked as he parked the car in my building’s garage. We laughed about the afternoon as we stepped inside the old-fashioned, industrial-size elevator and rode it all the way up until it shuddered to a halt on the top floor. The ancient elevator was one of my favorite features left over from the corset factory that had inhabited this building once upon a time.
In contrast to the clunky old elevator, the corridors leading to the lofts were modern and elegant, with pale blue walls, contemporary white sconces, and wide sisal runners laid over the original dark wood flooring. Since mine was the top floor, there were skylights in the halls to further lighten the space.
Derek and I held hands as we walked to my door. It felt comfortable and right somehow to be coming home with him. But maybe that was just me, still reeling from my mother’s enchantment spell.
“Thanks for taking the time to drive up there with us,” I said.
“I was glad to do it. I would’ve hated to miss your mother’s stories of Wiccans and covens. Although,” he teased, “the ‘hey, nonny, nonny’ chant was my favorite.”
I laughed as I reached into my bag for my keys. “I’ll give Robin a call tomorrow and see how she’s doing.”
Without warning, Derek shoved me against the wall and grabbed hold of my chin to force eye contact with him.
“Stay right here,” he whispered, and drew a gun from his waistband.
Wow. He had gone from indulgent lover to warrior man in a heartbeat. “What’re you—”
“Do as I say.”
That was when I noticed that my front door had been smashed to splinters and was dangling drunkenly from one hinge. “Oh, no.”
He pressed his finger to my mouth to quiet me.
With his foot, Derek nudged open what was left of the door and proceeded to slip inside, holding his gun out in front of him. He checked one way, then the other.
His gun. Where the hell had that come from? I was pretty sure he hadn’t been carrying it in Dharma, but now? Didn’t matter. I was glad he had it with him.
I ventured a few steps closer and managed to catch a look at my studio. A gasp escaped from my throat. It was a shambles. Derek whipped around and dropped his hand so his gun was aimed at the floor. With his other hand, he pointed toward the hall.
“Back. Move. Now,” he said with deadly emphasis.
I nodded slowly and stepped into the hall. He edged back inside to continue his search.
Normally I would’ve bristled at Derek’s commands, but now all I could do was hold my hand over my mouth. I felt sick and scared to death. My home had been trashed. Again. The last time it happened, during the investigation into Abraham Karastovsky’s death, I’d known what the intruder had been looking for. This time, I didn’t have a clue.
Robin.
“Oh, God.” I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the floor.
We’d gotten Robin out of the city just in time. I released the breath I’d been holding, so relieved to know my friend was miles away from here and safe.
There was no way this stupid act of vandalism was an isolated incident. It had to be connected to Alex. And Robin. And that lunatic Galina.
What the hell kind of shit storm had Robin stepped into?
And yes, my mother would have washed my mouth out with soap if she’d heard me using that language, but I didn’t care right now. Whoever had killed Alex and trashed Robin’s place, and then gone on to tear apart Alex’s apartment, had to be the same jerk who’d just wrecked mine.
And I still had no idea what they were looking for.
Last time this happened, I’d been devastated. This time I was just plain mad as hell.
I felt useless and stupid sitting out in the hall. Derek was inside risking his life and I was twiddling my thumbs.
“Well, I can call the cops. Duh.” I grabbed my cell phone and dialed 911 to report the breakin. After a few moments, the dispatcher confirmed that a patrol car was in the area and would arrive shortly. I thanked her and hung up, then punched my speed-dial code for Inspector Lee, refusing to dwell on the fact that I actually had her private number. On speed dial.
Derek walked out of my place and returned the gun to his waistband. “There’s no one inside. Whoever did this is long gone. Are you calling the police?”
“They’re on their way,” I said, pushing myself up to a standing position. “Now I’m waiting for Inspector Lee to answer.”
“Good.” He peered up and down the hall, his eyes shadowed and wary. He looked every inch the tall, dark, and dangerous security expert I knew him to be.
“Derek, where did that gun come from? I didn’t even see you—”
“Wait. Now, what’s this?” he said.
I let out a terrifying scream as something wrapped itself around my legs. The cell phone flew out of my hand. Derek grabbed it, put it to his ear, and walked away, shaking his head—in amusement, it appeared.
I looked down. “Tyler! Jeez, you scared the . . . Never mind. Are you all right?” He looked a little dazed as I knelt down and hugged him tightly, then held him at arm’s length to check that he wasn’t injured.
“The bad man broke your door,” he said in a tense whisper.
“What bad man, honey?”
“Did you catch him?” he demanded. “Did he take my book?”