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He pressed harder “Answer the goddamn question, counselor Yes or no?”

“No”

It was the truth, but his eyes narrowed and he said, “You’re lying”

“I’ like that” Though I e

He stared atmoment “Maybe you do, maybe you don’t”

He wrenched one ofit between me and the stove The other, he held at the wrist With his free hand, he flicked on a burner “We’ll soon see how much you’ll tell”

He started to pushto free h to knee hihtly

“Wait!” I cried in a desperate warble “Okay, I know there was a key, but I don’t knohat it unlocked And I don’t have any photos or recordings Don’t believe me? You can search this place ande that”

He stopped, his gaze locked onto mine “No, but it may teach you not to play with fire”

I squirth to keep led, someone knocked on the door

Little D, perhaps I screas

Whoever it was began pounding the door as if thrusting a battering ra, Oscar freaked out He launched hi his front claws intoon Oscar’s dish and flailing his ar to safety as I fled the apart, cell phone pressed to his ear, I gasped, “He’s inside,” and ran downstairs

Diesel barreled out of the apart the wind out of hi in a heap as the killer lunged for the stairs I ducked down the steps leading to the base, I exhaled and e He li in ti rubber out of the lot

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Little D didn’t hang around for the cops He said he and the police didn’t “get along” He had dialed 911 because it seeave the police a report When the patrol car left, I called D to give him the all clear