“I want to swing by Kate’s place,” she said once they were out of earshot. “Just to make sure everything’s okay.”
Duke studied her expression, reading more into what she didn’t say than what she did. “I’ll drive.”
Relief flickered through her. “Thank you.”
They told the team what they were doing before leaving together.
Whatever was waiting for them across town, Andi knew she wouldn’t be facing it alone.
The drive to Kate’s was quiet.
As Duke watched the streets roll by, his thoughts still churned.
“You still think you’re overreacting?” he asked Andi as they turned onto a narrower residential road.
Andi gave a small, rueful smile. “Probably. But I won’t know until I check.”
“That’s reason enough.”
They pulled into a low-slung apartment complex tucked a few blocks off the main road—one of those older LA places that looked more like a retro motel than housing. The building formed a shallow U around a cracked concrete courtyard, doors opening directly to the outside. A faded neonVacancysign still buzzed weakly above the office, even though Duke doubted it had been accurate in years.
Palm trees crowded the edges of the lot, their fronds brushing against sagging power lines. A handful of cars were parked at odd angles beneath metal carports, paint sun-bleached, bumpers nicked and scarred. The air smelled faintly of hot asphalt and something fried drifting in from somewhere nearby.
Duke scanned the lot as they got out—balconies, stairwells, blind corners—automatically mapping lines of sight and places someone could watch without being seen.
No one lingered. There was no movement he didn’t recognize as normal. Still, he wanted to be cautious.
He and Andi walked side by side toward the building, Andi leading them to the correct unit. Duke slowed as they reached the door, his attention narrowing.
Something was wrong.
He didn’t know how he knew it—only that the feeling hit him all at once, sharp and unmistakable.
When he took a closer look, he realized the door wasn’t fully closed.
It wasn’t wide open. Just . . . not latched.
Just like Gina’s apartment had been. Just like Andi’s hotel room door.
Andi noticed it a split second later and stopped short. “Oh, no. Not again.”
Duke stepped in front of her, one hand lifting slightly as a silent signal to stay back.
This only confirmed his fears that someone evil had followed them to LA.
Duke drew his phone from his pocket and used it to push the door open inch by inch, careful not to disturb anything more than necessary.
Inside, the apartment was silent.
He quickly scanned the place—left, right, ceiling, corners.
Then Duke checked out the apartment thoroughly—bedroom, bathroom, kitchen.
Nothing appeared to be touched.
He stepped back toward the door and motioned for Andi to come inside.
“Anything?” she asked.
