Page 30 of Choosing Stella

She held my eyes for a second, then headed toward the bedroom.

“Ten minutes.”

“Take fifteen.”

“Now you’re being generous.”

“I’m trying to become less annoying.”

“It isn’t working.”

The bedroom door closed behind her.

I almost smiled.

By the time Stella came back, she’d traded the socks for black boots and added a dark jacket. The overnight bag hung from one shoulder.

She seemed more awake without being rested.

She was ready.

“Anything you absolutely need from the den?” I asked.

“The deck is packed.”

“Do you have your medication and identification?”

“Both are in the bag.”

“Then we go.”

I took her bag before she could object.

She opened her mouth.

“It keeps one of your hands free.”

Stella closed it again.

“That was annoyingly reasonable.”

“I have moments.”

I checked the hall through the door camera, then opened the apartment door.

The hall was empty.

The elevator was less than twenty yards away.

The service stair was farther in the opposite direction.

The elevator was our fastest route out of the building.

I stepped into the hall.

Stella followed and locked her apartment.

We’d made it three steps when Stella stopped.