When Rafe hefted his toy weapon onto his shoulder as though preparing to go into battle, she lifted her shield in front of them. At least her armor was really made of metal and would offer some protection if there were a problem.
He eased the door open the rest of the way with his foot. They edged into the hallway, the only lights from those in the floorboards on each side and the exit sign. There was no glow under the conference room doors where Kayn’s programming group held their meetings. Ahri tiptoed closer to the door that accessed her brother’s apartment. It also stood ajar.
“No way would he have missed closingtwodoors,” she whispered, taking out her phone and texting Kayn another message.
Intruder in your apt.
“Agreed,” Rafe said softly, pulling her back a step. “I think we’ll wait for reinforcements.”
What was with him, grabbing her like she couldn’t take care of herself? It was kind of sweet, him playing the protector, even if it irritated her a little.
“I think you should keep going forward,” a gravelly voice said from behind them.
At the same time Rafe spun around, Ahri turned, holding up her shield as a barrier. She hadn’t recognized the man’s voice, but she did his face. The earring she’d told the police about glittered in the emergency exit lighting to the side. He must have been out among their guests because he wore the remnants of a lame costume.
“It’shim,” she breathed.
“Yes, Mrs. Meisner. It’s me.” His droll tone still had an edge to it. He nodded toward Rafe. “Do you really plan toshootme with that?”
“No, but I might hit you with it.” Rafe raised his rifle like a bat.
“Only if you want to die right away.” The man lifted his hand from his side to show a revolver.
With a gasp, Ahri held her shield higher, so angry that her hand shook. This man was tied to Zed’s murder, might have even been the one who killed him. She wanted to scratch the sneer from the guy’s face.
“What do youwant?” she hissed.
“The item yourlatehusband hid.” The emphasis he placed on the word showed her he wanted to hurt her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. If he hid anything, he never told me.” Ahri thought frantically for something Zed could have hidden in their apartment. If it tied back to his job, it had to be information. Were they looking for a flash drive? There’d probably been a dozen of them at the house. Could that really be what they were looking for?
“I didn’t bring any flash drives with me,” she said.
“Ah,” Rafe breathed, seeming to understand.
“You burned them all with the rest of my things in the truck.” Except for her clothes and toiletries, she hadn’t brought anything . . . Ahri went cold. Whatever happened, she wouldnotlead them to Francie’s house.
“Ah, yes, I see you’ve remembered something.” The man’s expression had gone hard, the muscles in his jaw twitching. “Hand it over.”
Rafe edged in front of her.
“It must have been in my mother’s doll.” Ahri pulled on her high school acting abilities to sound as sincere as she could.
“That doll . . .” Rafe’s words faded. He must have remembered where it was.
“Yes.” Ahri forced her gaze to meet the man’s. “The one I mailed back to my mother.”
“What?” the man almost shouted. “Where?”
“Korea.”
She felt the satisfaction of his jaw dropping, but it was short-lived. He studied her with growing agitation, his eyes narrowing. She thought if he didn’t think he needed her, he’d shoot her right there.
“Let’s go find out if you’re lying.” He used the gun to signal they should go through the door into Kayn’s private quarters.
Rafe didn’t move,his heart pounding. The man’s words still echoed in his mind:Only if you want to die right away.Rafe’s gut told him if he turned around, he’d get a bullet. The skin on his back prickled in anticipation. He was excess baggage, but the guy needed Ahri. For now.
Then she shifted her head enough for him to see her lips but still hide them from the man. She mouthedwombo-combo. Rafe barely had time to take in that she meant an in-game attack they used when she was his support while they played REKD.
