"Perhaps that only means she doesn't plan to stay in L.A. That's good, isn't it?"
While she would have been disappointed to discover the apartment totally decorated, suggesting a permanent relocation, she would have been happy to see Robyn moving on, making a fresh start. But seeing this, she knew Robyn hadn't come to L.A. to start over. She was here to hide.
It was hard for Karl to see the significance. Hope had visited his old apartment once. He'd filled the closets and the fridge and nothing more. At least in his condo, he'd seemed gung-ho furnishing it – the two of them scouring Philly and making weekend trips into New York. That was a good sign, wasn't it? Proof he planned to stick around?
"Hope?"
Karl lifted the laptop. She stuffed it into the backpack.
"Now we need to grab her backup keys and emergency cash, then some clothes – "
He cut her short with a raised hand as his gaze flew toward the front hall. He grabbed the half-zipped backpack in one hand, her arm in the other, dragging her into the living room as the front door lock clicked.
"I don't think I should be doing this," a heavily accented voice said. "Miz Peltier is a good tenant. A very nice woman."
"I have a warrant." A second man's voice, lower pitched with a drawl.
Karl swung Hope in front of him as he hustled to the patio door. The sliding door was ajar, the curtain pulled across, as if he'd prepped for an escape while scouting earlier.
"I'm just looking for anything that might help me find her. Phone numbers of friends, family. An address book, PDA, laptop…"
Karl slid the patio door closed behind them. Hope walked to the far side and looked over the railing.
"Four floors," she whispered. "That's not too bad if we – "
"No." He touched her cheek, so light it sent a shiver through her. "Don't look so disappointed. If he doesn't leave in fifteen minutes, we'll consider a more chaotic solution. In the meantime, just keep quiet." His hands moved to her hips, mouth lowering to her ear. "It's still a rather dangerous situation to be in, police just inside the door, more below."
Hope's shiver turned to a shudder… and not from fear. She pressed against him, her lips moving to the V of his collar, his sweat tangy, as delicious as the chaos vibes circling them.
"None of that," he growled. "Dangerous situation, remember?"
"Mmmm."
He shifted, ostensibly nudging her farther from the window, hands tightening around her hips, fingers splaying over her rear. She undid the top button of his shirt and tickled circles with the tip of her tongue.
"Hope…"
"You could move away."
"And leave you exposed?"
"Hmm, there's a thought." She arched up to nibble his throat.
He wrapped the hem of her shirt around his fist, as if considering. Then he straightened, his werewolf hearing picking up the voices inside. His thoughts gave nothing away. He'd learned to block them from her. But whatever he was hearing, he didn't like it, the chaos flowing off him coming in short bursts of worry.
Hope struggled to keep still, but the vibes were so exquisite that she couldn't help squirming and shivering. A silent laugh vibrated through him and pulled his attention from the patio door. He made the chaos surge, the waves rocking her.
His chin lifted again, gaze returning to the patio door as he tried to listen.
"I've been thinking," she said, running her fingertips along his throat. "Someone has a birthday coming up, which, I believe coincides with our one-year anniversary. A special celebration is in order. Perhaps a fantasy fulfilled. A cabin in the woods…"
His eyes glinted. He shook it off and glanced at the door. "We really should – "
"You're right. We should. In fact, I'm making the reservation as soon as we get home. One deep-woods cabin. One very willing girlfriend at your service all weekend, to fulfill your most uncivilized wolf urges – "
The sound of a voice inside stopped her like a bucket of ice water.
"Shit," she whispered, giving her head a sharp shake as she stepped aside. "Okay, that was stupid. Forget I said anything."
"Not a chance." He rubbed her hip before moving back. "We're going to revisit that one… just at a more appropriate time."
She smiled. "Agreed."
FINN
It looked like finn couldn't even keep a ghostly partner around. And just when he'd been thinking Trent could be useful…
He had enough for a search warrant, so he got that, collected a couple of officers and went to Robyn Peltier's apartment. And that's where Trent seemed to decide police work wasn't for him. On the way to the apartment, he'd been in high spirits, razzing Finn about his poor choice in radio station, making him change it to jazz, then singing along in a pitch-perfect tenor. When they arrived, Trent had driven him nuts, rocking on his heels, eager to get to work while Finn tried to talk to the landlord. He'd told Trent to go on ahead, scope out the apartment.
Ten minutes later, Finn had found him in there, pacing, anxious. He'd said he'd wait outside and disappeared, apparently having forgotten he was supposed to search the places Finn's warrant wouldn't cover.
The warrant allowed them plain-sight search only. Usually Finn could find something – an address book, a Rolodex, a laptop, a PDA, business cards on the fridge, numbers written on the wall. But this place was as sterile as a model suite.
He'd asked the landlord about Peltier's friend from Bane, but the man didn't recognize the description, and said he'd never seen Peltier bring anyone by.
Finn hoped to find Trent outside. Maybe there was something in the apartment – some smell or aura – that bothered ghosts. But Trent was nowhere to be seen. Finn found excuses to linger, talking to the officers staking out the building, but when he did eventually leave, he was, as usual, alone.
Colm had presumed they were part of the investigation. Friends of Robyn Peltier's helping the police to find her.
After seeing their cautious glances, though, he reconsidered. Both had been dressed in dark clothes. They'd taken the stairs, not the elevator like the police. Again he saw that backpack swinging from the man's hand.
Colm hurried after them.
HOPE
We're being followed." Karl said this as casually as he'd remark on the weather.
"Cop?" Hope whispered.
He shook his head.
"Curious neighbor?"
"I don't know. I can only hear and smell him."
"Then how do you know -? Ah. The smell is male and you hear only one set of footsteps. The way he's following suggests he's not a cop. Sneaking after us."
"Very good. So, what should we do?"
Hope knew he wasn't asking her advice. With Karl, she'd always be the student. She was fine with that. She was dating a professional thief almost twice her age – she'd long since stopped worrying about the appropriateness of the relationship.
The question was an opportunity for Hope to build confidence in her ability to make good choices. For the demon, the answer sprang to mind with the weight and surety of a sledgehammer blow. She should turn around and confront their pursuer. She had a gun and the element of surprise. Grab the upper hand, shove it in his face and let the sweet chaos of his reaction rain down.
The moment the demon tossed in its two cents, her conscience reared up with the polar-opposite response. Deny the demon. Don't engage – escape.