Page 19 of Guarding Grace

That was the address of her apartment building.

“Thanks, Jordy.” I checked my mirror and burned rubber, leaving the curb. Damn her. Her apartment would be the first place Russo’s people would stake out looking for her.

“If you like the service, I accept payment in Amazon gift cards,” Jordy joked.

“Right.” I hung up and punched the gas after the next turn. The big twin-turbo V-8 roared.

I had to get to her in time.

CHAPTER 5

Grace

After pushingmy apartment door open, my heart slowed, and I breathed easier when I spotted the trash bag. Val always left it for me to take down to the dumpster.

“Everything okay?” Millie called.

“Peachy,” I replied before closing the door and latching the deadbolt.

Clyde, my American shorthair, ran over to brush against my leg, while Bonnie, my Persian, watched from her perch on the back of the couch.

Picking up Clyde, I crossed over and closed the window. Good thing it was only cracked open, not wide enough for a cat to get through.

Things were off. I cataloged the discrepancies. Two drawers in the kitchen were partially open, and my tiny desk wasn’t as orderly as I’d left it.

Val was more careful than this. My blood chilled as I held my warm cat closer. Somebody had been in my space, looking for something.

Setting Clyde down, I pulled the treat bag from the cupboard. The crinkle of the plastic bag motivated Bonnie to jump down and hustle over. They each got two treats before I toured the rest of my space.

I seethed when I went into the bathroom and found the toilet seat up. That was my answer. Only three people had ever had a key to my apartment—Serena, Val, and Elliot, because I’d taken him in last summer when his girlfriend dumped him.

He promised he’d given back his only copy when he’d moved out, but obviously not.

After checking my watch, I rushed to my nightstand and retrieved the extra copy of the warehouse key from the small wooden box at the back of the second drawer. I certainly wasn’t giving him the one from my keychain.

Elliot was a shitty cousin with a very loose relationship with the truth. But he was blood. I owed it to him to help, no matter what. But family or not, I’d be giving him a piece of my mind when I saw him, the little shit.

With no time to spare, I swapped last night’s heels for a pair of Nikes and pulled out my phone to type the location into the rideshare app. I’d have to come back afterward to change for work and do my makeup. Swapping the useless clutch for my oversized handbag, I headed out.

Terry

I was almostat Grace’s address when the call came in.

“What’s up, Jordy?”

“You need to divert. She’s not there anymore. She caught another Uber.”

“Work?”

“No. A Burger King on Weatherby. Me? I prefer the Waffle Palace for breakfast.” He read off the address for me.

“How far behind am I?”

“I’m not tracking the ride, but she got picked up ten minutes ago.”

“Thanks, man.” Clicking off the call, I took the next left at speed.

It didn’t add up… I clenched the wheel harder and let the V-8 roar. I’d just passed a Burger King close to her building. If she was hungry, why go all the way to Weatherby?