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The question turns my stomach. Not because I don't want answers, but because I'm afraid of what might be waiting for us behind that door.

I glance toward Jules.

He shakes his head. “Nope.”

“What?”

“Absolutely not.” He plants both hands on his hips.

“Jules.”

“You’re not leavin’ me here to deal with Otis if there’s been a crime.”

I stare at him.

He stares right back.

“Your priorities are concernin’.”

“Thank you.”

I can't help laughing. Then reality pushes its way back in. “You have to take care of everythin’ around here. Please.”

Jules reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. “The shelter will still be here when you get back. Go figure out what happened.”

I give him a quick side hug.

Alexei places his hand against the middle of my back. The contact lasts only a second, but heat spreads through me anyway.

“We'll figure out what happened,” he says.

I nod.

Ten minutes later, we're pulling into the parking lot outside my apartment building. The building looks the same as it always does, and that's the first thing that feels wrong. Nothing appears damaged. Nothing looks disturbed. The flower pots near the entrance remain in their usual places, somebody's wind chimes sway gently from a second-floor balcony, and Mr. Harrison's old pickup truck occupies its regular parking spot near the maintenance shed.

I climb out of the SUV and stare at the rough brick exterior. Luka climbs out from behind the wheel while Viktor steps onto the pavement from the passenger side. Alexei follows me from the backseat and comes to stand beside me. All three men begin studying the area around us, their focus moving across parked cars, balconies, windows, and walkways. Watching them should make me feel safer. Instead, it makes the situation feel more real.

“You alright?” Alexei asks.

I drag my attention away from the building and look up at him. “No.”

The honesty earns a small nod. “Fair enough.”

Mr. Harrison steps out of the maintenance office before we reach the entrance. His silver hair sticks out in three different directions, and he removes his reading glasses when he sees me.

“Oh good. There you are.”

He looks relieved to see me. Then he notices Alexei, Luka, and Viktor. The longer he looks at them, the higher his eyebrows climb.

“Well.”

I close the distance and wrap my arms around him before he can decide whether he should be alarmed. “Thank you for calling me.”

He visibly relaxes. “Of course, Miss Maggie.”

When I step back, he lowers his voice. “I didn't like it.”

That makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. “You didn't go inside?”