“What happened?”
“She walked away from a drunk driving accident, and they didn’t. She—” Miguel choked on the hot emotion welling in his throat, and he grabbed a bottle of water sitting in the console between them. He gulped the cool liquid and quelled his unquiet heart. “She never stopped blaming herself or believing that she somehow cheated Death. Well, he finally came for her when she took a bullet meant for Owen. End of story.” With those finalwords, Miguel made it clear that he didn’t want to discuss Ashley anymore.
“You were in love with her.” It was a statement, not a question.
Miguel coughed and chugged more water. “Yeah.”
Julia placed her hand on his leg. He needed her comforting touch. To prove he wasn’t upset with her for delving into a painful part of his past, he covered her hand with his own.
“I’m sorry for prying into your life. I can’t imagine losing someone you love like that. I—” Julia broke off, and he glanced at her. She was biting her lower lip and gripping his leg.
“What?”
“I’ve never felt like that about anyone.”
Something akin to relief swept through him, and he squeezed her hand. “One day you will, Julia, and he’ll be a lucky guy.”
“That’s a sweet thing to say. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. I meant it.”
Neither professed to be hungry, too anxious to beat the Andersons to the safe house. They stopped at a gas station long enough to fill up the tank, use the facilities, and buy some snacks.
As they approached the safe house shortly after dark, Tex informed them that the Andersons weren’t there.
“I’ve disarmed the security system, but unless you can find a key, you’ll have to pick the lock.” Tex paused. “Look under the huge flowerpot on the porch.”
“Nobody does that anymore,” Miguel remarked. “Besides, I have a tool I can use. If I drive through the overgrown weeds and grass, Axis and Axalia will see the tracks. I’m parking in the woods and approaching on foot.”
“Copy that.”
Miguel maneuvered the sedan into a thick grove of trees. He turned off the engine and pressed a button to open thehatchback. He and Julia hopped out and retrieved their Glocks from their duffel bags. They checked their ammunition and stuffed their coat pockets with spare magazines. Both grabbed two sets of zip ties to secure the Andersons when they apprehended them. Miguel holstered his Glock. In one hand he held a flashlight and a pop lock tool in the other. Julia kept her gun handy in case they encountered the fugitives.
“These woods are spooky,” Julia declared. “At least we don’t have to worry about rattlesnakes. It’s been too cold for them to come out.”
Miguel made a face, though she couldn’t see it with their flashlights aimed at the ground. “I hate snakes, especially after Luca and Mallory barely escaped from a snake cult last fall.”
“I read about it online. Like I said, you guys attract the strangest kind of danger.”
They fell silent as they approached the back of the house. Using hand signals only law enforcement understood, Miguel indicated that she should head around the corner of the house and that he would cover her. In a situation like this, he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.
The night remained quiet. On a whim Miguel checked under the large flowerpot filled with dirt and found a key. He held it up and grinned. “I’ll be damned. Tex was right,” he whispered.
He inserted it into the door and jiggled it a bit to pop the lock. Miguel drew his gun and slowly opened the door. It squeaked from unuse. They cautiously crossed the threshold. Their flashlight beams revealed furniture covered in white sheets with thick layers of dust on the cocktail table, lamps, and end tables. Cobwebs hung from a ceiling fan.
“No one has been here for years,” Julia commented. “Do you think there’s electricity?”
“I don’t see any mold, and it doesn’t feel humid in here.” Miguel aimed his flashlight at a wall next to the door and sawa set of switches. He flipped both, and light flooded the room. They turned off their flashlights and gazed around the great room.
“Pretty sparse,” Julia observed. “Nothing personal.”
“Somebody’s been paying the utilities on this place. Let’s find out who.” Miguel called Tex. “Hey, we’re inside the safe house. The electricity is on. Can you find out who’s paying the bill?”
“Sure. Give me a minute.” He came back on the line several seconds later. “Well, this is interesting. Former Laguna Beach Mayor Elliott Gage’s lawyer has been paying the utilities and property taxes. It doesn’t look like there’s any insurance on the house.”
“That’s weird. Nobody’s been in here for a while.”
Tex began to say something, then exclaimed, “Shit! The Andersons are several hundred yards away from the house. They’re driving a dark blue Taurus.”
