Bennett silently moved across the alley and knelt by the man, grimacing at the smell of liquor oozing from his pores. She found his wallet, and taking out his license, she pocketed it and then returned the worn leather billfold to his jacket. Bennett pulled a knife from her boot and ran the tip down the man’s face, forever scarring him with a mark she’d recognize if their paths crossed again. She deliberated for a moment before twisting his foot. She snapped his ankle like it was kindling, ensuring he wouldn’t be stalking any other women for quite a while, and after returning the knife to its hiding place, Bennett walked back to Ruby.

“He won’t be bothering anyone for a while.”

Ruby looked across the alley. “He’s not…he’s not dead, is he?”

“No, he’s not. He does, however, reek of alcohol, so I gave him a few things to remember the evening by. That reminds me.” Bennett took out her phone and tapped on the screen for almost a minute. “I just sent a text to a friend of mine in the police department so the bastard won’t freeze to death either, which means we need to get out of here before they arrive.”

“Oh, okay.”

Something on the ground caught Bennett’s eye as she dropped her phone into her pocket. “Is that yours?”

Ruby looked down. “Crap,” she said, and grabbing the trampled bag containing her dinner, she opened a trash can and dropped it inside. “It was supposed to be my dinner.”

“Well, all things being equal, it seemed a fair trade-off.”

Ruby’s grin was instant, and so was Bennett’s scowl. Turning on her heel, Bennett marched to the end of the alley, mentally scolding herself for her heartfelt albeit revealing comment.

Two steps behind, Ruby very nearly skipped her way to the sidewalk and stopped next to Bennett. “Have you eaten yet?”

A modicum of playfulness manifested itself in Bennett’s eyes. “Sorry?”

“No,” Ruby blurted. “I’m talking about food. I mean dinner. I mean a burger or…or spaghetti or something.” Ruby looked to see if anyone was near, and then she whispered, “Not blood.”

Amused by the woman’s fumbling, Bennett took a moment to answer. “Thank you for clearing that up.”

Ruby snorted. “Look, I just tossed out my dinner, and you just saved my life. I’m starving, and I hate to eat alone, so let me buy you dinner. It’ll be my way of saying thanks.”

Bennett regarded Ruby with an unreadable stare. “I’m not sure which assumption is worse. Believing you were in grievous danger, or thinking your life is worth the price of a dinner.”

“Ouch.”

Bennett frowned. “For once, that wasn’t what I meant.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ruby said, walking away. “Sorry I asked.”