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“You’ve given up a lot to live with me. I probably don’t say thank you enough.”
“It’s less than you think.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “And the trade-off has been more than worth it.”
“I just don’t like that this Buzard guy seems to have been living here and operating whatever he’s doing for years, maybe even decades.”
They walked together, cutting the corner to cross the lawn in front of the house. No lights on. None on the neighbors’ houses either, though she saw a couple of flashlights or lanterns in windows. The house had a main structure, two stories, and a wing on the right with four garage doors on the side of the house. No water in the fountain in the middle of the drive. The place reminded her of that resort she’d been to with Jax, where Preston had been shot.
Maybe in the long term, she was going to start to dislike Arizona. It seemed like a lot of things she’d uncovered had been here or near to it. Could be it was the best place for Jax to do his job, though. After all, for the cases they worked, the bureau brought justice and truth where there wouldn’t be any without them. Maybe this area could use all the help it could get.
But then, was it really worse than anywhere else?
People pretended they were civilized. Or that neighborhoods were “safe” or that towns had low crime. Sometimes, it seemed like a moral high ground folks lived on to make themselves feel safe. Or better than those who lived in dangerous, high-crime areas.
Nowhere, no person, was immune to the effect of sin in the world.
Jax continued, “It’s just making me think about how I got my job here. Seems a little coincidental that you met this doctor guy in Colorado, or Wyoming, and he lives in the same city we do.”
Kenna winced. “You think it was orchestrated? That Buzard wanted me, or us, here? Your promotion happened months before we even knewDominatusexisted.”
One of the retired guys whipped his head around—Three.
“What?” Kenna shrugged. “I’m not afraid to say the name, and you know it. Maybe you should have some courage. Fight back.”
“I had a friend who thought the same.”
“Good for him.”
“Sure, because they killed him. Two doesn’t have to worry about any of this anymore. He’s free.” Three turned to the door, did something she couldn’t see, and managed to somehow bump the door open. Or jog the lock loose. Odd, but he stepped aside and held the door open. “Ladies first?” Except for the sneer on his face, that might’ve been a nice sentiment.
She shook her head. “Not on your life.”
One chuckled and started to go in. Gregorio and his guys had gone around the back entrance. The older men from the retirement home—One, Three, Four, and Five—all had no vests and no weapons, but One pulled out a handheld device.
“What is that?”
“Thermal imaging. So we can see if there’s anyone in the house.”
They stepped into an expansive dark lobby where her footsteps echoed up to the ceiling. She followed him down the hall with Jax’s hand on her shoulder so they could keep track of each other in the dark. When they were deep enough into the house, she flipped on a small flashlight that shouldn’t be seen by anyone from outside. She shone it around the dark woodpaneling on the walls and the huge canvas paintings. “This is where you came for treatment?”
There probably wouldn’t be anyone on that scanner. The house remained quiet, and his screen didn’t show any hotspots. The only people he was likely to see were Gregorio and his guys. Maizie had seen an outbuilding, like a pool house, on the listing for the house online, so they were going to check that out before coming inside.
“This is where we always come,” Three said. “If he finds out we’re here when we weren’t asked to…”
“I appreciate you helping me. I told those kids they were safe with the police, but it wasn’t true. Wherever they are, they need help.”
Three said nothing.
Which made her wonder if that was why they were doing this or if Three’s concern for his daughter Dana had him here trying to find her best friend.
“We should check for a basement that isn’t obvious. Or hidden rooms.” There had been quite a lot of those in her life recently, and most of it had to do withDominatus.
“What about spooky attics?” Three asked. “Is that on your list?”
“If it is, you’re going up there.”
Jax squeezed her hand, and she heard a quiet chuckle.
“Still nothing on this thing,” One said. “Everyone, split up. Go through every room.”