Chapter 4
“You’re sure no one knows about this place?” Adalyn peered out the front window, saw no movement along the brick pathway that led to the other townhomes. It was early yet, the sun barely blanketing the city, and they weren’t far from where her sister’s best friend had been murdered.
“I mean…no one knows I’ve been using it as an art studio, but the existence isn’t a secret.” Fleur was curled up on the couch by the electric fireplace in the small living room. “I think the rest of the complex mostly forgets about this place.”
The condo was a one bedroom, one and a half bath, with incredible light streaming into the bedroom, according to her sister. It was in the same complex she and her sister owned, but it wasn’t connected to the other condos. Or townhomes, whatever. She didn’t even know how to classify them at this point. The various places had been built, then rebuilt, then renovated multiple times over the years thanks to hurricanes, code updates and other issues.
The exterior of each two-story townhome was a rich, red brick and all the tenants shared a wide, protected courtyard filled with lush foliage. The eleven townhomes created an almost complete rectangle as they all faced the courtyard. The only openings were the main gate that gave residents security and privacy, and then a little walkway that led to the small condo they were currently in. Adalyn was pretty sure this had been the living quarters for the manager or groundskeeper ages ago. Her grandmother had used it as storage and then her sister had renovated it into a living space.
Some of the artists living in the complex used the courtyard for all its natural light while others took their morning coffee or tea there when the weather was cool enough. Since it was February, it was definitely cool, but spring would be moving in soon. Then the blistering heat of summer would take over the city. And she couldn’t quite see the full courtyard from where she was, only about a quarter of it.
“I feel bad because I know I could rent it out, but I just wanted something for my own. I love Clara—” She broke off, shook her head slightly, swallowed hard. “I loved her, but she’s messy and loud and it was nice to have a place for myself,” she whispered and Adalyn could see the guilt flickering in green eyes a perfect match to her own.
She sat next to Fleur so that their knees were touching. “It’s okay that you wanted some space to yourself. You’re in your late twenties and it’s normal.”
“I know,” she whispered, tears falling freely again. “I just… I’m exhausted and I don’t understand what’s going on. Why would someone want to kill me to hurt you? And why can’t we tell the police? The detective working her case is so nice.”
Adalyn struggled to find the right words, to explain properly. She’d texted Skye, then talked to her as they’d left the diner, but she’d wanted to keep things as brief as possible in front of her driver, and yes, even her sister. But she owed Fleur as much truth as she could give her.
“I don’t know who specifically would want to hurt you to get to me, but I’ve started making a list.” A mental one anyway. She needed to start working with her team, to jump into gear, but she needed to be with her sister, to explain things as much as possible before they made their next move. The main one being that they needed to get to a safe house before Clara’s killer realized that he’d killed the wrong woman.
“Does this have to do with your job? The one you had before this one with the security company?” There was a hint of something in her sister’s eyes. A sort of knowing.
Adalyn went still. “What do you know about my former job?”
“I know that a conservation planner sounds really boring and I can’t see you doing it, even if you did get to travel around the world. And I found a picture once…of you and some soldiers. Your face was mostly covered, but I knew it was you.”
Ah.Adalyn cleared her throat. She actually did have a degree in environmental science and had fallen back on her cover more often than not. As a conservation planner she’d been in a position to advise governments which natural spaces needed protection, had worked with developers and other government officials. And she’d been able to move in and out of certain countries with ease because of her job. Some days she missed her job, her real one, and other days she wished that she had been a real conservation planner, just working to save threatened land. But she’d saved a lot of people, something she had to remind herself of on dark nights. The world was a safter place because of her.
She cleared her throat. “Okay, then. Well, I’m pretty certain someone from my former job wants me dead or to hurt me, or more likely both to hurt me through you, then kill me. I made enemies, and for the most part those enemies shouldn’t know my name or even my face. But…” Life happened. Leaks, unfortunately, happened. But if she’d been exposed, she’d have been warned by the powers that be.
“And they just sent you a text?”
“From a burner phone that they’ve since ditched.”
“Can I see the message?” With wide eyes, her emotions right at the forefront, her sister stared expectantly.
“It’s hard to see.”
“It’s…Clara?”
“Yes. The man who killed her took pictures and sent them to me. He thinks it’s you. Soon enough he’ll realize his mistake.” Which was why they needed to get out of here—and why Adalyn had taken the battery out of her sister’s phone. She’d have to get Fleur a burner soon, but that was on her long list of things to do. First they needed to go to ground somewhere.
“I want to see.”
Adalyn wasn’t sure if it was a mistake or not, but her sister was a grown woman and deserved the reality of their situation. Sighing, she unlocked her phone, held it out. “I’m sorry, Fleur,” she whispered.
Her sister sucked in a breath, but stared at the phone for a long moment. And when she looked back at Adalyn, she saw anger glittering through her tear-filled eyes.
“I’m sorry. This is my fau—”
Her sweet, soft sister shook her head. “Don’t you dare say this is your fault. Some asshole killed my best friend thinking it was me. Then he tried to taunt you. That’s on him, not you.” She rubbed a hand over her face, shook her head slightly. “I want to find out who he is and make sure he goes to jail forever.”
Yeah, well, the world didn’t always work that way—he might end up six feet under. But Adalyn kept that thought to herself.
“Here.” Fleur held out the phone when it started buzzing.
When Adalyn saw it was Skye, she stood as she answered, moving into the small kitchen. “Hey.”
“Hey, sorry it took me a minute to get back to you. I’ve been making calls and…are you sure you guys are safe?”
“Yeah, for now. This place is tucked away from the rest of the complex and there’s a big wall behind us. No real room to get in or out, other than windows. But I’m armed and there’s good security on the whole complex. Cameras anyway.” Unfortunately she had no idea who they were up against or what kind of skills or background they had. Or firepower.
“I’ve sent a crew down to meet up with you and you’re going to all move to a safe house. A big, secure one. At least until we can get a handle on this thing. I wish I could be there, but Colt and I have to take care of something.”
“You don’t need to send a team. I’ve got this handled.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that. They’ll be there soon, and Gage and Hailey are ready to dive into your past with you, see if we can narrow things down. I’ll be in contact but Colt and I might have to go dark for a day or so.”
“I get it, and thank you. I’ll send them the code for the gate and let them know where we are.” There was more she wanted to say, but the words stuck in her throat.
Skye grunted and hung up. Probably because Adalyn had dared to say thank you.
“You’re armed?” Her sister’s quiet question had her looking over at the small, connected living room.
The space might be small, but the walls were covered in bright paintings, there were vases and fun art on other surfaces, a shelf of books, bright knitted throws, and so much color everywhere it felt like a real home. A warm, homey one that anyone would want to return to at the end of the day. Not like the basic, bare place she currently crashed in. “Always.”
Her sister blinked, then nodded. “Okay.”
Adalyn wasn’t sure what to make of her “okay,” but couldn’t dwell on it. “A few people are coming to help us. We’ll be moving to a safe house and then figuring things out from there.”
With dark circles under her eyes, Fleur nodded. “I can’t believe she’s really gone.”
“I know. And I’m so sorry. We’ll find out who did this.” And make them pay.
“You never said why we couldn’t call the police.”
“I don’t think they’ll be any help right now. I’ve got better resources. But if anything changes, we’ll involve them.” Maybe. “Listen, I’m running on zero sleep and I stink. Can I take a shower upstairs? I’ll be fast.”
“Of course. All my stuff is your stuff, always.”
“Thanks. Just don’t open the door, okay? Not for anyone.” She set her pistol on the countertop. “I know how you feel about weapons but—”
“It’s fine. I know how to shoot.” Fleur stood, plucked up the weapon with ease, checked the safety.
Adalyn blinked. “Since when?”
“Ah, we had a guy live here last year who took me to the range a few times. He was insistent I learn after we had a rash of robberies a couple blocks away.”
She raised an eyebrow. “A guy?”
“Not like that,” Fleur said on a laugh. “He was just a friend and ridiculously overprotective of, well, everyone who lived here.”
“He doesn’t sound like an artist type.”
“Oh, he definitely wasn’t. He kinda reminded me of you, which is why I rented the place to him at all.”
“Who was he?”
“Doesn’t matter. He needed a place to feel safe even if he didn’t know it. Then he moved on. Now go shower, stinky.”
“Hey!”
Fleur actually smiled, the first one since Adalyn had arrived. “And brush your teeth.”
“I hate you.”
Fleur snickered now. “I’m just playing. You don’t stink, but you look exhausted. Go shower and I’ll fix you something to eat. Because I know you haven’t eaten.”
“You don’t have to cook for me.”
“I know. I want to and it’ll keep me busy.” The pain flickered back into Fleur’s green eyes so Adalyn nodded.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll be fast, promise.” Adalyn also realized that her sister had expertly evaded telling her about the mystery man who’d somehow convinced Fleur to pick up a weapon. Apparently she wasn’t the only sneaky Bonnevie sister.