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“Maybe Shae’s still here.” He headed back into the bedroom and opened the standing wardrobe, but just hanging clothes. He searched the bathroom—empty. Fraser came out of the kitchen shaking his head.
Ned headed to the second bedroom and found an office.
With a computer.
He unplugged it and was shoving it, along with the power cord, into his backpack when he heard it—
“Siren,” Fraser said, popping his head into the room. “We gotta go.”
Ned found his feet, shining his own Bushnell around the room. The beam landed on a wallet, passport, and keys.
And then—his breath caught.
A puddle of gold, what looked like a necklace. He bent and picked it up, the dolphin charm on it dangling between his fingers.
“Ned?”
“It’s Shae’s.” He turned to Fraser, still holding it. “She was here.”
“And she’s not anymore. We gotta go.” Fraser grabbed the wallet, keys, and passport. “Now.”
But Ned couldn’t move. “She was here. What if she left something for me?”
“What, like a secret message?”
“Maybe. I mean—”
“This isn’t a Brad Thor novel. Consider the necklace the message andlet’s go.” He grabbed Ned’s backpack strap.
Ned jerked away. “Hansi is dead—our leads, gone. We needsomething.”
“You got his computer.”
Ned looked up. “I want his phone.” He flashed the light around the room, then strode back out to the body. Knelt, digging through Hansi’s shirt, then pants pockets. Nothing.
Steps, outside, banging, and then—
“Now, Ned!” Fraser grabbed him up and propelled him into the bedroom.
Then out onto the balcony as police—probably police—banged on the door to Hansi’s flat.
Lights had flickered on from apartments around them. Namely, their escape route. Ned glanced over the edge.
“I’m not interested in breaking a leg.” But Fraser put his leg over the edge anyway. “C’mon. I’ll lower you down.”
Right. Fraser would dangle over the edge and let Ned climb down him to the next balcony. Then Ned would pull Fraser in, and they’d repeat all the way down.
Hopefully.
Ned flung himself over the edge as the door to the flat broke in. Used Fraser’s legs to give him leverage and swung into the lower balcony, its light still off.
Then he held up his hand for Fraser to grab it and pulled him into the balcony, nearly on top of himself.
“Haven’t done that in a while,” Fraser said, picking himself off Ned. “Let’s go.”
They repeated the move to the second balcony, then the first, and finally landed on the street below, hugging the building as shouts came from above. Lights scanned the courtyard.
Ned’s breath tightened in his chest. Beside him, in the shadows, Fraser didn’t move.
