Montoya snorted, climbed into the passenger side, and shook his head. “I wouldn’t bet on it. She might not have been dead when the bastard hauled her out of here, but I’m thinking he’s killed her by now.”

“We could get lucky,” Bentz said as he started the car and rolled into traffic. They’d drive down to the club, figure out who had seen Karen last, and find out who’d been in the bar that night. Chances were that her killer had been watching and waiting, maybe followed her home.

“Luck’s for fools,” Montoya said, and reached for his nonexistent pack of cigarettes before he remembered he’d given up the habit.

“Like I said, we could get lucky.”

Jay leaned forward in his chair and said, “So what you’re telling me is that you broke the law by opening the storage unit, then compromised evidence in a potential abduction or murder case, then trespassed in the Wagner House chasing after some ‘blonde’ that you thought might be part of this vampire cult. Then, though you didn’t find the blonde, you heard voices and then looked out the window, saw someone in your apartment, and came streaking back to confront him.” Jay’s disapproval wasn’t hard to miss.

“Someone was here,” Kristi insisted. “And so what if I was breaking a law or two? I’m trying to find out what happened to those girls, damn it. And come on, Jay. You’re not entirely innocent, are you? You dug through government records, right?” Kristi was having none of this blame-game BS. She was seated in her desk chair and rubbing the tension from the back of her neck.

“I didn’t put my life in jeopardy.”

“Just your career. Okay, Jay, let’s just get down to it. Someone was in my apartment and I want to know who. And why.” She glanced at the computer where she, while explaining everything to Jay, had logged on to a couple of chat rooms. A few familiar names had come and gone. Deathmaster7 was cruising the rooms and JustO had lurked for a while but hadn’t joined any conversations.

“Who do you think would break in?” He checked the window she’d left open for the cat, but that would require roof access.

She’d told him that Hiram and Irene were the only ones who possessed keys, so she shrugged and said, “Who else could it be but Hiram and Irene?”

“We’ll start with them. Meanwhile, I’m staying here.” His long legs were stretched in front of him, Bruno lying on the rug wedged between the daybed and the chair.

“I don’t think that’s such a hot idea.”

“Gonna kick me out?” he asked, a dark eyebrow cocking, damned near daring her to try.

“Jay—”