Page 52 of Dark Obsession

CHAPTER TEN

Sycamore Place sat on Linden Avenue, three blocks past the stoplight before the residential streets gave way to the older neighborhoods of bungalows and colonials. Three squat brick buildings were painted white and arranged in a loose horseshoe around a shared parking lot. It was the kind of complex that had gone up in the late seventies and gotten a budget-conscious facelift sometime in the early 2000s. A weathered wooden sign at the entrance read Sycamore Place Condominiums in routed letters, one of the os in Condominiums worn pale by sun and rain.

Half a dozen of the namesake trees ringed the property, their mottled bark peeling in pale patches. Cody thought they appeared to be wearing tree camouflage. Seed balls littered the asphalt, crunching under his tires as he pulled into a visitor spot near Building B. A few of the units had window boxes with flowers in various stages of life, but most had nothing. One ground-floor balcony was crowded with pots containing overgrown herbs that had started to flower. Another had a folded camp chair leaning against a covered gas grill.

He killed the engine, and they sat for a moment. Cody hadn’t been to her place in years, but he could still point out Zenona’s balcony to Demmy. It was vacant of chairs, plants, or wind chimes. Just a sliding glass door, closed against the heat, the curtains behind parted slightly. Light shone through the gap in the curtains, and the shadow of someone inside drifted past.

“She’s home,” Demmy said.

“Let’s hope she’s not entertaining.”

Demmy made a sound of agreement as they got out of the truck. The sun was behind the buildings now, and their shadows stretched out to cover the parking lot behind them. Birds called, and a few blocks away, Cody heard a big truck rumble past on 118.

A man in his thirties was leaving Zenona’s building, talking at a phone in his hand while someone on speaker spoke back. He held the door for them as he continued his speakerphone conversation, barely giving them a glance and a lift of his chin. That saved them from having to buzz and announce themselves.

“Speakerphone people,” Cody grumbled as they ascended the stairs to the second floor.

TV sounds came from behind one door, and the high-pitched yaps of a small dog from behind another. The smell of cooking meat and a number of spices made Cody’s mouth water. At Zenona’s door, he knocked. Movement from inside, followed by a stretch of silence. He smiled at the peephole she was undoubtedly looking through, and a moment later the lock disengaged and the door swung open.

Zenona stood holding the door with one hand and the door frame with the other, effectively blocking their entry. She wore a pair of lightweight gray sweat pants and a t-shirt, both of which showed off her trim body. Her dark hair was loose and hung around her shoulders in gentle waves, a marked difference from her professional style.

“What are you two doing here? How’d you get inside?”

“Good evening to you, as well,” Cody said.

Zenona furrowed her brow. “Why the hell are you dropping by unannounced?”

“Is that any way to talk to old friends?” Cody said. “We were just in the neighborhood and thought we’d stop in and see how you were doing. One of your less security-conscious neighbors let us in without a second look.”

“Fucking Jason. I’ve talked with him about that.” She sighed and stepped back, waving them inside. “Come on in.”

Cody had only been to Zenona’s condo a couple of times years before. It had been right after their first spooky case—that fucking werewolf out at Parson’s Pines—and about a year before he and Demmy had gotten together. He and Zenona had gone out a few times, trying to reignite the little spark that had flared between them back in high school, but it had never really caught. In the years since he’d been there, Zenona had bought a new sofa and armchairs and painted the living room. The walls were a buttery yellow, reflecting the lamplight and the early evening sun. He glanced down the short hallway where three doors stood open.

“I like what you’ve done,” Cody said.

“Thanks.” She frowned. “How long ago were you here?”

“Oh, um, years ago. Back when we thought Ollie was a werewolf. We tried…” His words died out, and he glanced at Demmy who rolled his eyes.

“I know you two dated back then, it’s not like it’s a big secret.”

Zenona nodded. “Right, I’d forgotten about that.”

“Ouch,” Cody said.

She gave his arm a gentle smack. “Knock it off.”

“I don’t think I’ve been here,” Demmy said. Cody felt him shift to stand a little closer. “It’s nice. Was it always condos?”

“No, I was renting an apartment here when they told us they were going to become condos. I’d just gotten a bump in pay at the hospital and decided I was home to stay, so I upgraded to a second floor two-bedroom with a balcony.” She sat in one of the armchairs, waving them toward the couch. “Now I work so many hours I don’t have time to enjoy the balcony.”

The couch was more comfortable than theirs back home, and Cody sank into the cushions. He hoped he’d have the energy to get back up again. The make up sex—absolutely epic, as he’d anticipated—had relaxed him more than he’d thought.

“How’ve you been doing?” Demmy asked. “Since everything that happened back around Halloween?”

Zenona hugged her knees to her chest. Her feet were bare, toenails painted a delicate pink. “I’m okay. Better now than right after, you know. Is that why you guys stopped by? Because I’m really doing okay.”

“Um, no. Not totally,” Cody said. “We did want to check in on you, of course, outside of the hospital and as a friend. But I also wanted to know why you were driving out to The Rusty Screw last night.”