“Yep, just didn’t need to go today.”
“Oh my, what happened to you, Ladybug?” Sue scratched the dog’s ears, and Ladybug preened.
Mia froze for a second. She hadn’t thought about Ladybug and her injury giving them away, but it was a possibility if Sue had seen the video of the attack.
The dog wiggled and leaned in for more pets, showering Sue with air kisses.
“She went after a squirrel,” Mia lied, juggling the bag and squirming dog. “Didn’t win this round unfortunately. The vet said she’d be fine in short order.”
“Did she break her leg?”
“Just a mild bruise.”
Behind her sunglasses, Sue seemed to study them. She stroked the dog’s ears. “Ladybug, you need to pick your battles. Did your job get canceled for the professor?”
Mia rolled her eyes and made something up. “Not quite, but his grant is on hold, so for now, he doesn’t need me. You know how it goes.”
Sue made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. “Did you see the news about the mayor? What a terrible world we live in, isn’t it? I sure hope she’ll be okay.”
Mia’s heart tripped over itself. “They’ll find her,” she said with as much confidence as she could muster. She wasn’t sure if it was for herself or Sue. “The app crashed, so here’s cash.”
“Thanks.” She accepted it and tucked it into a bag she kept near her leg. “You look like you took on a few squirrels yourself. You good?”
Mia stepped away, stomach falling. She hated lying again, but what else could she do? “I was up late, searching for another research job. Gotta run. See ya!”
Stupid! What was I thinking?
Before she made it back across the street to the apartment, her stomach fell even farther.
Malachi stood in the entrance to her building, scowling like an angry bear.
Twelve
Malachi’s oh-shit meter went Code Red when he woke up and couldn’t find Mia. Like in the Marines, it had sent warning messages all up and down his central nervous system.
The missing dog, however, had given him pause. Through his blurry daze and stiff neck, he had realized Mia had most likely taken Ladybug out for her morning constitutional.
Still, even that was dangerous at the moment, and he wished she’d waited for him.
It was his fault for falling asleep on her, and not even waking when she’d left the apartment this morning. He hadn’t slept like that in… Well, it had been a damn long time.
Maybe even before he’d joined the military. That was saying something, but he didn’t have time to analyze it now.
As Mia hustled toward him, Ladybug cradled in her arms, he breathed a relieved sigh. She had to pause and wait for a passing vehicle, and as she did so, he noticed her tight features. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. Something had spooked her.
Down the block, an older Subaru sat parked, the driver watching Mia in the rearview. Malachi’s warning system started up all over again.
She jogged to him, giving him a shaky smile. “Good morning.”
He reined in the lecture he wanted to give her and tried to smile back. A white bag bounced in her grip. Ladybug’s tail wagged hard. Gently taking her by the elbow, he cast surreptitious glances around. The sidewalk and street were fairly empty but wouldn’t be for long. The Subaru idled at the curb. He mentally noted the license plate number.
Instead of directing Mia through the main entrance, he led her to the side. The path here was overgrown with weeds and empty beer cans. “Who’s the woman you were talking to?”
Mia seemed confused, more about their trajectory than his question. “She’s a driver for WeGo. I booked her to take me to the university all week and forgot to cancel.” She hefted the bag. “We have muffins for breakfast, thanks to her.”
Malachi took it and motioned for Mia to stay put. A glance around the corner assured him the driver had gone. “She could have recognized you from the video.”
Mia gave him a regretful nod. “I know. I didn’t think about that. I felt bad that I’d forgotten to cancel, and then the app wouldn’t work to pay her. Plus, these muffins are to die for.” She set the wiggling terrier down. The dog limp-walked to a bush and sniffed. “Sue’s a good person, and no one’s after me. They took Amber. Besides, I’m done hiding.”
