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Turning back to view the Dias The place was crowded If anyone standing on the cobbles had drawn a gun and fired up at the string of lights, there would have been witnesses

He scanned the buildings The renovated warehouses had been separated into individual units, and above each of the bars, cafés, offices and restaurants was a second floor Rylan remembered that David Swanson had said his aparturt Hut He assus above the other businesses Froured the shot must have come from a second-flooron the opposite side of the Diamond

Although it was impossible to pinpoint whichthe shooter had used, Rylan studied each of the on behind eachright there and then That was a task for the police, and despite Bree’s reservations, he had every intention of taking this latest incident to her brother so he could investigate what had happened

The nearest bar was called On the Rocks There was a security guard at the door and, although Rylan couldn’t be sure the sauy had been there earlier, he was hopeful that there hadn’t been tie

“What happened there?” Rylan pointed to the string of lights The gap where the yellow one had been was now a conspicuous dark spot in the center of the colored string

The guard gave hiuess one of the bulbs blew”

“No, that’s not what I ht with —with my friend and it exploded,” Rylan said “Did you see what happened?”

The guy shrugged “If you’re looking for compensation from the city council, I can’t help I’ve been here for the last four hours, but I haven’t seen anything unusual”

Rylan thanked hi that the security guard hadn’t seen the incident, he’d learned enough from the encounter He was convinced that the shot had not been randoain at the buildings fro the distance The shooter had been skilled enough to single out that bulb, and confident enough to know that he could hit it without risking injury to anyone in the crowd below

That meant the shot had been intended as a scare tactic A proficient gun handler, with enough self-assurance to fire over a crowded area, could have killed or injured them if he’d wanted to Instead, he’d chosen to warn them

Even so, this was an escalation Threatening eh A bullet took this to a whole new level Had Bree’s stalker been triggered by seeing her with Rylan? If that was the case, they could expect more Or worse

Which was a good reason not to leave her alone He wasn’t looking forward to the co confrontation, but at least he could be honest with Bree fro her know that he wasn’t leaving her side until this shooter was behind bars

Bree relass that were buried in the wool crunch beneath her gloved fingers She wondered if she should be clutching the gun instead of Papadu made her feel saferand the firearm was only inches away Even so, when the door buzzer sounded, she jurunt

“Sorry, big guy” She patted his head to reassure him

Her security included a video camera linked to the entry systee of Rylan filled the screen

“Bree? Let me in”

She paused Noas probably not the best tiet out of her life forever At this s about his behavior took second place to that bullet She could tell hiht now

I need him

“Bree?”

She pressed the button to admit him and moved to open the door The tension in her jaas reflected in the set of her shoulders, and her stouise the fluttering sensation inside It felt as if her brain were filled with static, firing off randoreet Rylan with stony silence or wild recriminations Until she saw him, Bree had no idea which it would be