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A noise at the window made me pause. I looked outside, squinting into the dark front yard, dimly illuminated by the streetlight.
All I saw was the big oak tree outside swaying in the wind. When I was sure there was nothing there, I sent the pictures to myself, forwarded his emails to my burner account, and copied the files he had on upcoming tests.
I didn’t even have to go to anyone else’s house. The conversations Victor had with his friends would be enough to incriminate them all. Too bad they were all underage.
I left the house as I’d entered, through the unlocked back door.
The feeling of being watched returned as soon as I was outside. I took in the empty backyard, drawing my gun. The night was quiet, only the occasional car driving past. But I’d learned not to ignore my instincts.
Sprinting down the street, I rounded a corner, holstering the gun, then climbed up a fire escape. Once on the roof, I peeked over the edge.
The alley was quiet.
I must be more paranoid than usual.
Creeping over the roof, I climbed back down on the other side.
Time to find out what the internet thought of Victor’s extracurricular activities.
8
JUDE
Someone was alreadyat the house. I could see a shadow moving in front of a window. Then a dim light was turned on, probably a computer. The person inside was doing what I’d been planning to do. Needing to get a better look, I climbed the side of the house, grateful for the giant maple trees lining the property.
A small figure was hunched over a laptop on the desk, their fingers flitting over the keyboard. They wore all black and a beanie, and it was hard to make out if it was a woman or a boy.
Looks like little Victor made another enemy.
I slipped on the ledge, making a small scratching sound. Jumping into the tree to avoid getting caught, I scraped my arm from elbow to hand.
Someone stepped in front of the window, looking outside. I couldn’t make out a face in the dark. They glanced around for a few seconds, then disappeared again.
The light went out, and a minute later, the back door slid open. A figure jogged underneath the tree I was sitting in.
Dropping to the ground, I followed. But I wasn’t fast enough, and there was no sign of them when I turned onto the street.
After walking up and down the street and down a few alleys without finding anything, I gave up and drove back home. The light in Ariel and Lenny’s apartment was on, and I fought the urge to knock on their door.
When it came to women, I usually lost interest quickly, never committing to more than a night. But I’d known Ariel for weeks and was still addicted to talking to her, to being near her.
Once I’d entered my apartment, I threw my keys on the kitchen counter and went to the fridge in the dark.
I pulled out a beer, grinning. “You want one?”
“Fuck you,” Gabriel growled. “One day I’ll get you.”
My brothers had been trying to catch me unawares since we were little. It would never happen. For one, I had the place rigged to let me know if anyone so much as looked at my front door. And two, my brothers didn’t get the need to not put on products when trying to sneak up on someone.
I loved putting goop in my hair and a splash of aftershave on my face as much as they did. But I knew when I couldn’t afford to leave a scent trail.
Not that I’d ever tell them how I always knew they were there.
Sitting on the couch opposite Gabriel, who was in one of my armchairs, I took a long sip, then glanced at my watch. “Why are you here this late?”
“Vanna is having a girls’ night with Freya and Quinn.”
“So you’re only here because you were bored? You flatter me, big brother.”
