She sighed. “And I can’t access the retirement accounts without paperwork, and I don’t know how to get a box of mementos that I’m sure is also in police evidence, but I don’t really have to be here anymore. And Sarah’s sick. She needs my help.”

He tightened his arms. “Yes, you need to go. You’re safer and happier in California. No, I don’t want you to return—but we can cross that bridge if and when we come to it. I just can’t leave quite yet.”

She lifted her head. “I thought you might say that, and I hate it even more than I’ve hated any of this—”

He put a hand gently over her mouth. “I wouldn’t stay to engage. I would only stay to wrap up my affairs and see how my coven wants to proceed, and I can pretty much do all that from this safe house. I need to finish setting up the trust fund for them, if that’s what they want, and Josiah Mason needs to resign while he’s on medical leave. Then he’ll vanish.”

She gripped his biceps and asked telepathically, <That’s all you’ll do?>

<That’s all,> he promised. <I swear it. I should be able to leave in a week or so. If you want, I can see if Frank will let me have your box of mementos, and I’ll bring them with me when I come. Forget about the car. You don’t need the money as much as you need to stay safe. Remember how I said you wouldn’t get out of this financially unscathed?>

She replied, <I remember.>

<And your retirement account is still earning money, right?>

She nodded.

“Then leave it,” he said aloud. “Someday it will be safe for you to access it, but you’ve already proven you’re not dead, and to the police, no less. Nobody can try to seize it without your permission.”

“You’re right.” She straightened. “I don’t have to do anything right now.”

He searched her expression. “So, we have an exit strategy?”

“Yes.”

“One of us will drive you to Birmingham, and you can use your new ID to fly out from there.” He gripped her arms with a suddenness that made her flinch. “I just remembered how mad I am at you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Then it’s probably a good thing that I’m leaving?”

“It’s never a good thing when you leave,” he snapped. “And don’t you ever fucking hang up the fucking phone on me again!”

She tried to slide sideways as she mouthed at him silently, Fine. Just fine.

But he couldn’t let her go. His skin, his body, his hungry soul hadn’t gotten enough of her, and he was already going to lose her again for days. Pulling her close, he kissed her until it left them both shaking.