OZ #3
I frowned, appraising the other houses on the street, then I raised my eyebrows at Harrison.
He smiled. “Don’t worry. We’ve got all the cars on the block identified as to which house they belong to.
Anyone who doesn’t live here gets reported and checked.
We don’t mind if the neighbors see us. This neighborhood isn’t the type to call in suspicious activity, if you know what I mean.
” He snorted. “In fact, a couple of the neighbors have been the cause of suspicious activity. It keeps things interesting around here.”
I blinked, surveying the houses again. Most of the lawns were reasonably cared for, but no one was gunning for Yard of the Month. I could see faded and peeling paint on a couple of the porches, and at least one derelict car in the yard half a block down.
Mr. Moreno got out of the back seat and headed to the pedestrian gate that led to the walkway to his front door.
Harrison gestured for me to follow. “Even with the cameras, we still do a sweep of the house inside and out before we let Mr. Moreno get on with his day.” Since he worked night shifts, Mr. Moreno slept during the day, so Harrison and I would hang out in the car for the most part, while doing occasional walks around the property.
The man in question huffed as he entered the code on the gate’s keypad. “Mr. Moreno thinks you’re way too cautious.”
Harrison rolled his eyes, but he made sure Mr. Moreno didn’t see.
Inside, the house didn’t appear to have been updated much.
The wood floors were scratched and worn, but would be gorgeous if refinished.
The furniture was a mishmash of styles. A couple of old-fashioned armchairs flanked a big overstuffed couch.
We opened every door, even going so far as to pull down the steps into the attic, though Harrison said we could skip the kitchen cabinets.
The only person whose scent was recent inside the house was Mr. Moreno.
Now that I’d registered it, I’d recognize it anywhere.
It reminded me of the breeze off Lake Michigan when the ice was starting to melt and the first leaves were sprouting on the trees.
We left Mr. Moreno inside the house and walked the perimeter of the front and back yards before checking all the windows from the outside.
Harrison brought up the online log and showed me how to note that the sweep had been completed with no issues.
Using the keypad to unlock the front door, Harrison stuck his head inside and shouted, “All clear! We’ll be in the car out front. ” Then he shut and locked the door.
When we got back in the car, I pulled up the spreadsheet on my phone. The code for the front and back door locks were in there, so I’d try to memorize those before tomorrow.
Harrison walked me through documenting the shift change as well as any sightings of neighbors or strangers on the street.
“Sometimes, especially right after he gets home from work or on the weekends, Mr. Moreno will have visitors. Usually he knows they’re coming and we have them on the schedule.
But either way you need to intercept them at the gate, then go up to the house and make sure that’s who Mr. Moreno is expecting.
Sometimes he wants us to go inside with them.
If they’re drop-ins, usually he’ll come out to talk to them, but half the time he won’t bring them inside.
Those people can get belligerent, but we haven’t had anyone actually try to throw hands or anything. ”
I grimaced. I was not the best person to deescalate an upset person. Harrison chuckled. “You’ll do fine. You’re big enough you can just glare at them and they’ll leave.”
I ignored him and opened the notes app on my phone, typing before showing it to Harrison. What’s so special about him? Why’s his magic like that?
“Shit.” Harrison ran his hand through his hair. “I thought Roman would’ve told you.” He pointed toward the house. “I don’t know anything about his magic, but he’s a healer.”
I stared at him, and Harrison raised one hand. “I swear. I haven’t seen him do it or anything, but apparently if you have magic and you’re sick, he can heal you. Cancer, everything.”
“Shit.”
Harrison grinned. “You got that right.”
“No wonder he needs protection.” I felt completely inadequate for the task.
Whoever ran the Wonder trafficking group that had taken me would no doubt have traded all of us for Mr. Moreno.
I had visions of black helicopters with men in combat gear rappelling down ropes to grab him.
Fuck, more nightmare fuel. Exactly what I needed.
I opened my mouth again, but nothing came out. I unlocked my phone and typed, Is only one guard per shift enough?
Harrison read my question and shrugged. “Most days, yes. But if you get a whiff of anything out of the ordinary, text Roman and Alpha Rafferty immediately. If you’re outnumbered or outgunned, just do your best to follow and see where they take him. Don’t get killed.”
I nodded, regarding the small house with unease. It seemed much more fragile than it had a few minutes ago.