Page 63 of Perfect Sin

“So you talked to him?”

“Someone needs to keep me in the loop. Lord knows your brother, Sin, and yourself are pretty tight-lipped.”

“A couple of days ago I would have told you it’s because we trust each other more than anyone else, but I’m not sure that’s still true. Anyway, I stayed with Jen last night, but I don’t want to put her out. I’m not ready to go home. Not yet.”

“I’ve got the address. I’ll be there shortly. And, Raven—”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you think it’s time you started calling me Grant?”

“It sounds weird,” I reply.

“Well, it’s my name, weird to you or not.”

“Fine,Grant, I’ll be waiting for you.”

I tidy up, putting the sofa back together, and leave a note for Jen thanking her for letting me stay. By the time I’ve put her living room back together, Holbrook has pulled out front of her apartment.

We drive to the apartment he shares with Agent Marks. It’s conveniently located near downtown and seems to cater to up and coming executives, perfect for two single FBI agents.

“This place is swanky,” I comment as I wander around the open living space.

“We aren’t here much. You guys keep us pretty busy. Still, there’s a guest room you’re welcome to.”

I follow him down the hallway to a nice guest room done up in pale blue decor. “If you aren’t here much, why bother having a guest room?”

Grant stares off in the distance, a sad look coming over his face. “I’ve always kept a room ready, just in case. Ted never told you why I became an FBI agent, has he?”

I shake my head. “Teddy seems to keep his secrets close to his chest until he needs to unveil them.”

He nods. “Yeah, he’s a cagey one. I lost someone when I was a teenager. My older sister went missing. There were never any answers, so I dedicated my life to finding them. You remind me of her. She was a couple years younger than you when she went missing. Helping you makes me feel like I’m doing something for her in a way.”

“We’re a bunch of broken people. How can we fix all that’s wrong around us if we can’t fix ourselves?”

“We aren’t broken, Raven, we’re survivors. Have faith.”

A short laugh bursts free. “You’re the second person today to tell me to have faith.”

“Take it as a sign then, and hold on.”

I turn to stare out the window without actually seeing anything. My eyes fill with tears I refuse to shed. “I’m not sure there’s anything left for me to hold on to.”

19

Regret

Sin

“Raven!”I shout as Shane steps aside letting me into their apartment.

He closes the door behind me. “By all means, come in. You’re not going to find her, though. As I told you when you called, she’s not here.”

Ford steps out of his room in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts, and my molars grind.

“Easy killer,” he says. “You can look if you need to, but she’s not here.”

“I know she left with you. We’ve got exterior cameras.”

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