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“Hey! What’s your name?” she called after thewoman, shocked to hear the words leave her lips.

The redhead turned back, intriguecrisscrossing her features as if trying to work the puzzle that was Kate. “I’mAutumn. Who are you?”

“Kate Carpenter.”

“Well, Kate Carpenter,” she called, “Ipredict you have another ten minutes until that truck is snatched from beneathyou by the po-po. Would be a shame, too. You guys look good together.”

Kate placed a hand over her heart andgrinned. “I’m touched by your depth of care.”

“You’re a cheeky one, aren’t you?” Autumnsaid, pointing at her and walking backward. “Don’t dawdle, now.”

“Wouldn’t want to dawdle,” Kate murmured toherself with a smile. Venice wasn’t so bad. She hopped off the tailgate, closedthe back, and with a final wave to Autumn stepped into the cab. The shortexchange felt like a badly needed exhale from the events of the past fewmonths. Nowhere in the two-minute back and forth did someone look at her withpity, or hero worship, or ask with a heavy heart how she was doing. Yep. Thiswas exactly what she needed. “Helloooo, Venice,” she said quietly, and threw afinal glance at Autumn’s retreating form.

After finally getting in touch with hercontact at Airbnb, he directed her to a small lot marked Seven Shores ResidentsOnly where she could leave her truck. The unit she’d rented was described asrelatively basic, but honestly that’s all she required. True to the photosonline, it was fully furnished and decorated in a navy and white nauticaltheme, complete with a life preserver hanging on the wall with the words “AllAboard” painted around its perimeter. “It’s perfect,” she said to the landlord,an intense guy by the name of Larry Herman. The series of pens sticking out ofhis shirt pocket were just heartbreaking for his dating prospects. She wantedto offer him a beer just to see if he’d ever relax.

“So, what do you want with it?” he askedKate, staring her down.

“I’m sorry? I’m not following you.”

“Why are you renting an apartment on Airbnb?Are you homeless? On vacation?” He paused as a new and alarming thought seemedto hover. “A criminal?” he asked, in a menacing tone.

“I’m a firefighter on leave, looking for somedowntime. That’s about it.”

“Oh,” he said, straightening like a flagpole.“Well, that’s boring.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“Do you know what will disappoint me, MissCarpenter? You not taking care of my unit. Or hosting any loud parties.”

“Lay off, Larry. The routine is getting old.”

He turned to reveal a brunette in hertwenties sitting on a couch in the shared courtyard, a laptop on her knees.“This is none of your concern, Ms. Chase.”

“It’s Isabel, Larry. Call me Isabel. Samename as the last fifty times we’ve spoken.”

“I’ll stick with Ms. Chase, thank you.”

She sighed. “You coming back to the complexlater this week for Had’s thing? You could do some sashaying and regale us withtales from your war reenactments. I never did hear if Washington made it outalive this time around.”

“He always makes it out alive. It’s areenactment of actual events, which means it has the same outcome.” He seemed alittle worked up about the whole thing.

“Oh,” Isabel said, smirking. “Fingers crossedfor his chances next time.” She was playing this guy like a fiddle and enjoyingit. Kate was, too.

A pause. Larry took a step forward. “Did yousay Hadley is having one of her gatherings?” Larry asked. The mention of thisHadley person seemed to perk him right up.

Isabel nodded. “One of her theme nights. Ithink this one is in dedication to Groundhog Day. She bought top hats foreveryone to wear. Last I heard she was attempting to rent a groundhog.”

He seemed perplexed and a little annoyed.“Groundhog Day was two months ago. It would be unorthodox to celebrate now.”

“Yeah, she doesn’t care. Have you metHadley?” Isabel didn’t wait for his answer. She looked around Larry and offeredKate a wave. “Hey, there. Don’t worry about this guy. He’s harmless. Aren’tyou, you weird and endearing little man?”

Larry scowled. “I’m not little. I’m over sixfeet tall.”

She shook her head as if amazed. “I keepmaking that mistake, don’t I?”

He glared. “I tend to make mistakes, too. Likeforgetting to fill repairs on just one of my first-floor units, Ms. Chase.”

“I enjoy your threats, Larry,” Isabel said,smiling. “We should playMs.Pac-mansoon.”