* * *

“Do you want me to drive?” Lara asked as she walked toward the car the next morning. “I checked that address and it’s about forty minutes from here. Though you probably haven’t got any reason to have me do it today.”

“On the contrary, I’d like you to drive.” He got in the passenger seat. “I need to check out the grounds before I go in and get Walker to go over these notes with me. We might have to move fast if he has visitors.”

“Wouldn’t he have contacted us if there had been trouble?”

“Hopefully. But I’ve never liked to take chances. As you saw at the hotel yesterday. The apartment address is Three Eighty-Six Sunrise Place. Use GPS. I can’t give you directions. I’ve never been there. Just try to stop the block before you get there and let me get out.”

“Right.” She took off, listening carefully to the GPS. The directions were taking her to a poorer side of town. Shops. 7-Elevens. Grocery stores. Gas stations. She stopped. “Get out here. That should be it on the right.” She pointed to a gray three-story building with chipped paint and a wide porch with a broken swing. “It’s supposed to be on the second floor. Apartment Twelve-G. Where do you want me?”

“A hundred miles from here,” he murmured. His gaze was on the parking lot in front of apartment. “I don’t like that tan Subaru rental car in front of the entrance. Most of the other vehicles in the lot are pretty beat up and old, but that Subaru is sticking out. Just as ours would be if we parked over there. I’m going to check out the rest of the grounds and circle back around. Park at the curb over there.”

“How long?”

“Probably not more than fifteen minutes.” He was out of the car and disappearing into the backyard of the house to their left.

She started to count the minutes.

He’d said only fifteen…

But he was back in ten. And he looked very tense. She asked, “Trouble?”

“Not on the surface. No other vehicles in the parking lots or on the streets in the next three blocks that appeared suspicious.”

“But you never pay attention to surface. Tell me.”

“I don’t like that Subaru. I think it’s time I called Walker.”

He was already dialing. “If he answers and sounds weird, I’m in trouble. If he doesn’t answer, I’m still in trouble.” He listened. “He’s not answering. I’m going over the roof and down the back fire escape to get to him.”

“Why don’t I call the police?”

“Because if he’s still alive, I want to keep him that way. Nothing like police dropping in to cause a ruckus.” He was out of the car again. “Stay put.”

Her hands clenched on the steering wheel. She felt angry and helpless and wanted to hit someone. Stay put?

She stayed in the car for another few minutes, her eyes straining to see what was going on at the apartment house.