“No, not really.” Paul gave the man a backwards glance. Sure enough, he was still there, not even being discreet about his attempt to overhear their conversation. “I don’t know if I trust that guy.”

“Why not? Why does he have a reason to lie?”

“Wait, wait, I didn’t say he was lying. I’m just saying he could be mistaken. You see all the beer bottles in the grass.”

She had but hadn’t wanted to acknowledge his inebriated state. Not when he was saying the things she was so desperate to hear.

“He said he saw Kennedy,” she reminded him. “He recognized her from the picture. Said she was here a few days ago. How could he mistake that?”

“Shit, I don’t know, Deven.” Paul blew a breath and dragged his hand over his face. He was visibly flustered; his normally tanned skin tinted a pinkish hue. “I just know something isn’t right and this girl just up and disappeared. You say they tell you she’s dead, the neighbor says she’s alive. I don’t know what the hell to believe.”

“Well, there’s maybe someone who knows and has some answers for us,” she said, taking another look at Building G. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw the blinds shift. And what followed was that overwhelmingly eerie feeling like she was being watched. Their nosey informant had apparently gotten bored and retreated back to his apartment. They were alone now, or Deven thought they were. She really didn’t know anymore. “I think we need to go over there,” she decided.

Paul looked at her like she had lost her mind. “And do what? Demand to see her?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

“Deven, come on now. That’s crazy. You don’t know who lives over there. Just like I wish you had waited before you went barging to Amber’s apartment.”

“Well, what do you suggest, Paul?” She hadn’t meant to yell. But dammit the man’s logic was aggravating. If she had known he was going to be this much of a hindrance, she would’ve never allowed him to come.

Paul sighed and placed gentle hands on Deven’s shoulders. The gesture was meant to calm her down, but he was surprised to feel the slight tremble underneath his palms. The tension was like a pendulum shifting between them and it was more than obvious Deven was beginning to crack underneath the pressure.

“Okay, we’ll go,” he relented. “But let’s just be careful. And,” he added. “If anything looks off, even a little bit, we get the hell out of there and call the police. Deal?”