Beau sighed. “That’s not good.”

  “Well it wasn’t fun.” Celeste smirked.

  “No, it’s the computer. It’s got a time code to show me who accessed the computer last,” he ran a hand through his hair, brushing the locks away from his head. “The last time files were opened was around 9:50 and on through 10:20 this morning.”

  Celeste blinked, her mind buzzing with the answer but not really latching on it quite yet.

  “Looks like your buddy has a partner.”

  They rolled into Warren’s neighborhood a little after dinnertime the next evening. Beau pulled up a block away from a condo building in a “up in a month” neighborhood. The building’s condos were painted different colors, mimicking a Rainbow Row style. Warren’s was pink. Celeste had always found that amusing.

  Beau turned off the car and they waited.

  After a few moments, the car began to cool down and the cold January air started to seep in. Beau dug into the back seat and pulled out a heavy jacket and gave it to her. She put it on, trying not to be obvious about breathing in the sweet scent of Beau.

  Beau shifted in his seat, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Now what do you normally do?”

  “Sit and wait. Around midnight or when I’m sure they’re asleep, I’ll take a peek in the trash bin to see if there’s anything important. If he goes somewhere, I follow.”

  Beau nodded, looking at the condo. “He’s not there now.”

  “How do you know?”

  “His spot is empty.”

  She looked, and sure enough, there was a length of car ports with an overhang in front of the condos. Warren’s was open wide, and there were no vehicles in sight. “Great. Missed him.”

  “No, this is a good thing.”

  She looked at him. “You mean like going through the trash bin might be easier?”

  “No. I mean going through the house.” He opened his door and then stepped out of the car.

  What? She couldn’t believe her ear and then got out of the car and followed him. “No way! Can you pick locks?”

  Beau ignored her, walking around the baby trees along the sidewalk. She followed behind, remaining quiet. The moon was almost full, casting a good amount of light. If someone was home, they’d be spotted for sure if they looked outside.

  As it was, they were on Warren’s front stoop and peeking through an open window, with the light left on inside. Celeste could make out paperwork covering a stained, fake antiqued coffee table. A wide screen TV was left on, the screen saver bouncing the brand name around the corners.

  Beau reached over and popped out the screen from the window. It squeaked as he pushed up but it opened. In a minute, he climbed inside and disappeared from view.

  The door opened silently. No alarm sounded. Beau checked around the doorway and told her to wait in the garage while he checked the house.

  She tried to swallow down her heart, keeping an eye on the neighbors, but no one seemed interested. Picking at the trash, sitting by the curb and looking in like she had done with Sanders, that was one thing. This was no joke. She was walking into the house of someone she thought she knew. Could he be in any way involved with the guy who had been after her? Or with her father? It could be the only time she ever really caught a break. Or it could be the only time she really ever got caught and got her butt caught and sent to jail.

  Beau returned a few moments later. He carried a small flashlight in his hand, set on the lowest setting. He had her follow him inside. She kept a hand on his back as he walked forward. Despite the conditions of the moment, half blind by excitement and trying to take in everything at once, his back felt warm and she felt some mild relief knowing he was right there next to her.

  He stopped short in a hallway, looking around. He turned his head to her to whisper. “We’ll start in the office. You can check it out. I’ll keep watch.”

  “You’re not going to help me?”

  “I’m helping you by not letting you get caught. You know him better than I do.”

  She nodded, feeling that edge of excitement slide into her bones, making her nerves jittery.

  The office was to the right of the stairwell. Beau headed upward. She entered the nook area. There was an archway in the back that lead to the kitchen, and that circled back around to the dining room, which was opened back in the living room. Celeste focused on the computer, shaking the mouse to bring it to life, and checking out the files. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary. Just client files. She checked the history on his browser but outside of some mild porn and new feeds, he was pretty business focused. Not even a video game.

  She was going to start in on the file cabinets when she caught Beau heading back down the stairs. “I’m going to keep an eye on the road for his car. If you hear me whistle, get out.”

  She didn’t like the idea of being left alone in the place. But it was probably a good idea. She nodded in agreement, and then focused back on her search.

  She found copies of her dad’s will, along with the copies of the paperwork he needed her to sign. Several sticky notes were attached, and with Warren’s handwriting, she couldn’t make it out. She sat down at his desk, reading through the documents. Something in it was of interest to whoever took the paperwork from her desk originally. She wanted to know why.

  It was ten minutes later before she found the answer. She was just getting ready to put it all back and get out when she heard the latch of the lock on the front door twisting.

  Celeste tiptoed behind the filing cabinet, shrinking down and peeking around the corner. A high pitched laugh shot through the air.

  Leah.

  “You need to think bigger, Warren. Girls don’t like condos. They like houses. Big ones. And that car you drive needs to be updated. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about. Style is everything.” Leah stepped out of Celeste’s view and Warren entered, dark circles under his eyes and his shoulders hunched over.

  “I can’t do it right now. Maybe in the morning we’ll go look at houses.”

  “It has to be a Charleston house. In the old district.”

  “You can get one of those unless someone’s selling.”

  “Trust me. At the right price, everyone is selling.”

  Laughter shot through the room again, reverberating in Celeste’s ears. Then there were kissing sounds and the slipping of clothing.

  Celeste tried not to gag. Where was Beau? He left her there?

  “Give me a minute. I’m going to check on something.” Thumping happened up the stairs, but Warren came around the corner and Celeste backed up to the wall, trying to stay out of sight.

  Warren sat at his desk, rubbing his face with his hands. Then he blinked, looking at his computer. Then something clicked and he turned around, his eyes trying to adjust to the dark room. He reached over, flipped on a light.

  Celeste couldn’t move, even after the light was turned on. She kept crumbled behind the cabinet, breath held. Waiting. After a minute the light flipped off again. The sound of footsteps leaving the room and thumping up the stairs. Celeste waited only a minute, worried she’d miss her chance to escape. She stood up, and tiptoed around the room, heading toward the entrance.

  An arm gripped her by the waist and a hand was pulled over her mouth, catching her scream before it could escape.

  “Celeste.” Warren’s whisper in her ear was as rough as his unkempt chin grinding at her cheek. “We’re going into the kitchen. We’re going quietly and you’re going to whisper to me why you’re here. And if you behave, I won’t call down Leah’s attention. That’s when things will get troublesome for both of us.”

  Celeste nodded. Warren picked her up, carrying her without a sound to the kitchen. He ran the water at the tap and spun her so she faced him. “Start explaining. Now.”

  Celeste felt her lips trembling. Looking into his face, she could simply feel she’d been wrong to think anything about him. “There were photos of you visiting my dad on the day he died. I came to try to figure out why. I should have asked you first, but after everything…” Despite her efforts, tears slid down her cheeks. “Warren, you don’t know. There’s a guy. And Kris. And someone else. I don’t know.”

  Warren groaned, but put arms around Celeste and pulled her close. “Stop crying. I’m sorry about your dad. But I needed to keep something a secret. I didn’t want you involved.” He paused, rubbing her back as she sobbed into his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I thought maybe you were involved.”

  She sniffed. “What do you mean?”

  He sucked in a breath, pulling away from her. “I think someone killed your father.”

  Celeste’s heart froze in place. The moment stretched out. She wasn’t alone. She hadn’t been alone.

  “I know.” She said.

  He looked puzzled at her.

  “I’ve been trying to figure out who,” she confessed. “I thought it was Sanders. I’d been trying to keep an eye on him.”

  A smile slid into his face. “That’s why…”

  There was a thump from the top of the stairs. “Warren! Get up here. I’m cold.”

  “Just a sec!” He fumbled with opening the cabinet doors, pulling out wine glasses and a bottle of red. He leaned back into Celeste and whispered. “I’ll have to explain this later. When I get up the stairs, just sneak out the front. I’ll call you later.”

  He left her alone in the kitchen. Celeste ran out the front door, intent on escaping before she heard something from upstairs that she didn’t really want to know.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  When she woke up in the morning, she was on her side with Beau curled up at her back, and Bonehead curled in a ball at her stomach. She was trapped in the middle. Peanut butter in the sandwich.

  For some reason the tension of the previous day was gone. Sleep restored her energy and patience. While she was lying there, she thought about what she had done, sneaking into the house. She knew it was Beau’s idea but she could have told him no. She should have.

  Beau hadn’t expected Leah’s car and hadn’t known she’d just bought a new one. They’d pass him up before he was able to whistle, and he was standing too close to do so and draw attention. He was only able to watch and wait, hoping Celeste wouldn’t get caught. When she was able to leave the house shortly after Warren had entered, he assumed she had slipped out without confrontation.

  And when he learned the truth from Celeste after, he’d turned the car around, intent for Mexico. Celeste forced him to go back. She knew what they needed to do next. They just had to wait.

  At one point Bonehead got up. Celeste meant to get up after him but Beau shoved an arm around her waist and pulled her back into bed. She felt kisses on her neck and shoulder. She turned around in his arms. He kissed her, and she couldn’t help but wriggle against him.

  “Morning,” he said.

  “Good morning.” she nuzzled at his chest. She ran her hands down to his waist. She could feel he was just in his underwear. She was both excited and a little intimidated by that. “Do you usually sleep in your underwear?”

  “Actually, I normally sleep naked. I’ve been wearing clothes to bed just to not scare you off.”

  She smiled. “Are you scary when you’re naked?”

  “Sweet pea, I’m extraordinary.”

  She laughed. She believed him. He kissed her and she enjoyed the luxury of being wrapped up in his arms. That quiet morning felt so unusual. She thought of the thousands of other people around the world where simply sleeping near someone trustworthy was simply part of the day. He instilled faith in her about people. She had been as mistrusting as all else, and he had stepped up and made her see he was nothing to fear.

  It was then that his cell phone rang in the kitchen. He untangled himself, kissed her on the nose and then hopped from the bed, running to answer before it went to voicemail.

  “Duty calls,” she said, and spun around, wrapping herself in a cocoon of blankets. She was just starting to doze off when Beau bounced on the bed next to her, grabbed her by the arms and shook her.

  “Come on,” he said. “We’ve got to get going. World’s spinning.”

  “Five more minutes,” she murmured cozily.

  She could feel a kiss on the back of her neck and then felt his hand drift down to rest on her stomach. “As you wish.”

  Twenty minutes later, Beau was in the shower and Celeste was brushing her hair. She flipped on the television. The images made her sit down hard on the couch.

  It was the news, and her face was the highlight. It looked like it was taking from inside the hospital. The reporter announced that Celeste was being sought by the police, a suspect in a gang drug incident. A drug thug had been arrested, and said Celeste and an unknown had tried to buy drugs from him. He was looking for a plea deal in exchange for more information about the incident. Someone had taken a photo while she was asleep in the hospital and released the hospital record of her being admitted for suspected “drug use”.

  Sheldon.

  There was a knock at the door. Celeste flipped the television off and tried looking through the peep hole. She couldn’t see who it was, and unlocked the door, opening it just a notch. Leah’s red head appeared, her eyes wide. She made a fist and pounded at the door. “Let me in! I’ll get the cops here right now if you don’t open this door.”

  Celeste fumbled to twist the chain and get it out of the way. Leah pushed her out of the way, the door slamming into the wall.

  “You’re a piece of work. I can’t wait until they arrest you. Thank God Beau has some brains.”

  Celeste shook her head, blinking. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to pay off Beau. He did better than expected. I may give him a little bonus.” She flashed a grin at Celeste. Her dog’s head popped up out of her purse. Leah lifted it out and put it on the ground. The dog began sniffing and lifted a leg at the orange couch leg.

  “You let your dog pee on furniture?”

  “Honey, he’ll be able to buy a new couch.” She made a face as she glanced around the apartment. “Hell, he’ll be able to buy a new house.”

  Beau, get out of the shower, Celeste screamed mentally toward the bathroom. “Look, I don’t know what you learned, but it’s all a misunderstanding. We just need to talk to the cops to clear it up.”

  Leah laughed. “Uh huh. I didn’t know you’d be here. I’ll be nice. I’m giving you a warning. You need to get out of town.”

  Celeste rolled her eyes, moving to pick up paper towels and wipe the couch. The dog intently sniffed at the couch. “Why do you want me out so bad? What’s your deal.”

  Leah crossed the room, turned on the TV and then pulled out her cell phone. She flipped through the channels and then checked her cell phone again. “Wait for it.”

  Celeste tossed the soiled paper towels.

  “Welcome to the new Logan Enterprises.” Celeste turned at the sound of Leah’s voice but startled in surprise when she realized it had come from the television. Leah’s bikini-clad body strutted along one of Charleston’s beaches, and then she appeared in front of a wine and cheese shop. “An elegant transition for a new generation.” There were cut scenes of old business store fronts that faded into a Saks Fifth. More small businesses were changed into other shops meant for the rich.

  When the commercial ended, Leah was beaming. She turned on Celeste. “You’re too old and now worthless to Logan.”

  Celeste felt heat radiating through her. Her fists clenched. “Get out.”

  Leah laughed and dropped the remote on the floor. “Whatever. I’ve got to…” Her phone started to buzz in her hand and she clicked to answer. “Oh honey. I’m glad you called. Did you like my surprise? The guys in marketing were just perfect.”

  A cat’s howl rung through the apartment just as the shower turned off in the bathroom. A high pitched yipping followed, and Leah’s dog bolted for the open front door. Beau was just leaning his head out the door in time to see Bonehead in pursuit. The cat stopped short of the open door, sniffing at the frame.

  Leah hung up on Sanders, glaring at Celeste. “If that cat hurt my dog…” She stomped out and Celeste closed the door on her.

  Bonehead retreated to jump up on the kitchen counter, licking his paws.

  Beau stared blankly at Celeste, his mouth open and his hair dripping. “I’m not even going to ask.”

  When he was dried and dressed, he checked himself in the mirror again, brushing his hair for the third time. He knew Celeste knew. He didn’t know exactly how mad she was, but he knew she was fuming. He could hear her footsteps as she paced the room. In the days he had been following her, he knew that she was thinking. It was a quirk he found amusing in her.

  He wasn’t so amused now.

  Whatever Leah had told him, he was sure it was probably completely wrong and totally in the wrong tone.

  But she was probably more honest than he was. He never did like the idea of looking for lurid photos or something to pin on Celeste to make her out to be a bad person. From the way Leah had described Celeste, it sounded as if it was an easy thing to do, and that Celeste really did deserve it. He’d spent weeks looking for the smallest thing he could pin her with. Celeste was clean.

  He groaned to himself, putting down the brush. He needed to get this over with. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad.

  He stepped out, his bare feet feeling the rough carpet. The smell of dog urine hit his nose and he noticed the wet spot by the couch. He’d have to deal with Leah later.

  Celeste paused in her pacing, glaring out the window and out into the water of Charleston’s bay. The sun was high, but she could feel the cool air through the glass. It was actually giving her a headache, but she could turn to face him yet.

  “I need to go home,” she said.

  Beau stepped toward her, and arm’s length away, and stopped. He wanted to touch her, but knew he was on delicate ground. He could cut through the tension between them, a wall a mile thick. “What did she tell you?”