“Marc.”
“What?”
Calvin looked at me briefly. “His name is Marc.”
I twisted my fingers together, trying to keep conversation casual. Sometimes Calvin made learning more about him harder than pulling teeth. I knew he had reasons for not talking about himself. I did. I only wished he would understand that it was important to me to know because I cared about him.
I was supposed to know these things about Calvin. Like it or not. That was basically rule number one in the boyfriend hand guide, right?
“What’s he do?”
Calvin didn’t answer right away. He was quiet for several blocks, and I thought that had been it.
“He’s an architect.”
Well, then. All I needed now was to know his blood type, and I’d have learned all there was regarding Marc Winter, the architect.
“What about your sister?”
“Not now, Sebastian.”
Shot down.
I looked into the passenger mirror and caught Quinn’s gaze. She didn’t seem surprised by the mention of Calvin’s brother. Part of me hoped she didn’t know more than I did, but then I considered, if she did, that meant Calvin was talking tosomeone. And he needed that. He desperately needed to talk, because he kept everything inside, and I was afraid of how he would try coping when it all finally boiled over.
It was slow progress getting across town to the East Village, but at least it had stopped spitting snow and rain by the time Calvin found a place to park on the Emporium’s block. We all climbed out of the car. I rubbed my side where Ricky had grazed me with the hammer. I’d really been lucky.
“Max isn’t at the shop today, is he?” Calvin asked as he rounded the front of the car and stood at my side. He put a hand on my shoulder and held me back from taking a step toward the Emporium.
I made a face and looked up at him. “No, why?”
“There’s a light on.”
“What?” I turned back to the storefront. Just through the metal gate and newly replaced window, I could see a faint illumination. My office light, maybe? “Oh hell no,” I said, trying to walk to the door again.
“Stay back,” Calvin ordered firmly. He pulled me out of view of the window, standing off to the side. “Quinn, there’s an alley in between.”
I hastily reached into my pockets, pulled out keys, and moved to the alley door between mine and Beth’s shops. I unlocked it and tugged it open. Quinn pulled her weapon and nodded at Calvin before vanishing down the walkway.
“Sebastian.”
I turned around.
“Open the gate.”
I went back to the front door and did as I was told, quickly getting the gate lifted, which anyone inside would hear. By anyone, I meant Luther North. Because it had to be him. Which really pissed me off, because I was a good tenant and never complained, until my window was busted, at least…. I mean, what the fuck was his problem? I knew he was a bit of a homophobic dickhead, but this had nothing to do with my preferred bedroom partner.
He was stalking me. Killing people. All in the name of curiosity.
No one had run out the back door yet, because surely we’d have heard Quinn. So he—Luther—was still inside. Doing what, though? Hiding? Hoping I had come by for normal work and not specifically because we’d cracked the case of Meredith Brown and Calvin was going to arrest his sweaty ass?
Maybe I had left the light on Wednesday evening. It was hard to remember. It felt like ages ago.
“Give me your keys,” Calvin said.
“No.”
“Don’t argue,” he said firmly, holding one hand out and pulling his gun with the other.
