Page 131 of Rastor

"What?"

The sad thing was, I didn't know. But I'd find out, and then I'd deal with it. But onlyafterChloe was safely back at my place.

Ihadto make her leave.Now.

"Chloe," I said, trying to keep the edge out of my voice, "I don't want to boss you around, but if you don't get your ass over that fence right now, I'll have to toss you over. And you could get hurt. I don't want that. So just listen to me, alright?" I gave her a pleading look. "Please, baby. Just go. You need to do this, alright?"

She gave me a pleading look. "But I want you to come too."

"I'll be there in a few minutes, a half hour tops. You know how to close the gate, right?"

She nodded.

"Good. Get in the house. Lock the doors, and hit the control for the gate. I'll see you in a little bit."

"Wait," she said. "I should call the police, right?"

"No."

She blinked. "What?"

"Trust me." I flicked my head toward my hands, still waiting to give her a boost. "Now c'mon. You've gotta go, alright?"

After a small hesitation, she stepped cautiously into the foothold. Before she could eventhinkabout backing out, I launched her safely over the fence, hating it when she landed ass-first, on the mulch-covered ground. She glanced back, and our eyes met.

She looked okay, and I breathed a sigh of relief. "Go," I told her.

With obvious reluctance, she stood and started walking toward my house. Halfway there, she turned around and saw me watching.

Yeah, I was still here. Because I wasn't going anywhere until I knew was she safe. As if realizing that fact, she finally turned and disappeared from sight.

Good.

Already, I was reaching for my phone. When Bishop answered, I said in a hushed tone. "You still in town?"

"Why?" he asked. "You planning a party?"

"Cut the crap," I said. "Are you still here or not? Because if you are, you need to get over here now."

Instantly, he was on alert. "Where?"

"Chloe's place. Meet me out back. Okay?"

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes." And then, he was gone.

As for me, I couldn’t afford to wait.

Chapter 67

By the time fifteen minutes passed, I was in the attic above the bonus garage, wondering what the hell I was looking at.

Through the open attic window, I spotted Bishop, making his way across the backyard. Quietly, I called down to him. "Up here."

A minute later, we were both staring at the thing.

"What is it?" I asked.

If anyone would know, it was Bishop. Electronic security was his specialty, and as far as I could tell, the system I was staring at fell into that general category. Either that, or it was just a weird-looking computer that I was too stupid to figure out.