Page 97 of Moonlighter

“Eric! This is Duff. The bodyguard from last night?”

“Sure, man. What’s up? Is there a problem?”

“Sort of.” He drops his voice. “Alex is in a bad way. There was a break-in last night. A real pro job.”

“A break in… where?”

“Dude—her apartment. These guys repelled off the roof of her building and came in through the kitchen window. There was nothing on the hallway security video.”

My heart leaps into my mouth. “Jesus Christ. Was shehome?”

“No! It was earlier. While we were busy evading that motorcycle, they broke in and planted a device that stole the data off her phone.”

“Back up,” I grunt. “So the motorcycle was a diversion?”

“Exactly. Kept us busy, right? It was quite the caper—they shut off her internet to prevent any security devices from functioning. Then they swapped out her phone charger for a fake. She plugged in her phone, unlocked it andboom. The phone gets a lobotomy. She couldn’t tell anything was wrong until this morning when it was too late.”

“Oh, fuck.”

“Yeah. I mean, she’s perfectly safe. These guys were after her data, not her person. But she’s shaken up. She’s in the baby’s room trying to build something with, like, hammers. And she won’t let me help. I was wondering if…” He pauses.

“If what?”

“If you could, like, calm her down.”

I let out a snort. “You’re sending me into the lion’s den?”

“Something like that.”

But of course I’m going over there. “How about I pick up some dinner and come by in an hour?”

“Would you? Thank fuck.”

“What do you think she’d want to eat?”

“Dunno,” the kid says. “Just get a lot of it. She was too freaked out to eat lunch. And when that appetite kicks in…” I can almost hear him shiver.

“Roger. See you soon, man.”

25

Eric

When I showmy ID in the lobby of Alex’s building, the guy behind the desk waves me inside. “They’re expecting you.” He peers over the edge of the desk at the bags in my hands. “What did you bring her?”

“This and that.” I basically cleaned out and entire aisle of prepared foods at Eli’s. There are meatballs and pasta salads and olives and pickles. And dumplings. Samosas and some tandoori chicken. Cheeses and charcuterie. I picked up some bagels (plus toppings) and fresh juices and sparkling water. Also cookies.

And a cherry pie.

“Godspeed.” The doorman points at the elevator bank. “You want the penthouse level.”

When the elevator doors open up, I find a small lobby leading to only one door. Alex clearly has the entire floor to herself.

Duff rises from a chair parked just outside her door. “Dude. I thought you’dneverget here. I’ve been fired three times tonight just for offering to help her. But it’s hard to watch her with that hammer. I’ve got 911 on speed dial just in case.”

I hand him the smaller of the take-out bags I brought. “Here. For you. It’s a bunch of samosas and some chicken. Thanks for looking out for my girl.”

Duff blinks. “You didn’t have to do that.”