Page 76 of Hiding Hollywood

She shrugged, playing it cool. “Probably. Or you can leave town. They may never find you if you’re clever enough.” She smiled slightly. “If you were smart enough to keep them guessing this long, I’d guess you’re good enough to run and hide.”

He balanced the knife in his hand, staring at it with a cold detachment. Hopefully not weighing his odds on using that thing. He didn’t seem like a guy that had any type of ninja knife skills, but she didn’t want to be around to find out. Her cell phone rang.

They both jumped and stared at it.

The screen showed a number without a name attached. It was a life-line to someone, but no way she’d be able to answer it.

It stopped and went to voice mail.

She let out the breath she’d held. Even Dexter’s shoulders relaxed.

Until it rang again.

Then ended.

And starting up a third time. It had to be Cameron. No way anyone else would be that persistent in trying to reach her this early in the morning. Maybe Trevor? What if something happened to him? She shook herself mentally. She had a second-rate lunatic in front of her with a grubby steak knife contemplating her murder, she didn’t need to play what-if games to occupy her mind at this point.

Cameron’s house phone started ringing. It was him.

The cordless phone’s electronic tone on the console rang out while the wall mounted phone shrilled from the kitchen and reminded her of the phone at her house when she was younger. Eight rings later it stopped.

Addie motioned between them. “This isn’t worth it, Dexter. A computer and a watch aren’t worth it.”

“I don’t want to go to jail. I can’t leave my grandmother.”

“How about I promise not to tell Cameron? They can’t link you to the other crimes. If you leave everything you’ve stolen, you can only be charged for trespassing. That’s not as serious.”

His eyes narrowed into beady little slits in his pale face. “Why would you help me?”

“Because I don’t want to die,” was on the tip of her tongue, but she opted for a sweet, soft smile. “I think people in stressful situations do things they don’t mean to do. Did you come here to hurt me?”

He looked a little uncertain of himself and glanced back at the knife. “No. But now that you’re here…”

She slid to the right, still hoping to aim for the door as her escape. It was close now. About ten yards. If she got him to turn away, she could make it.

Now, getting out the front door without him right behind her was a problem. Her mind raced. She could run to the bathroom. It was a little farther away, but there was a window. Lock the door and climb out?

It was a plan. Better than being a sitting duck for Dexter to make up his mind.

Lacy’s faint barks started again. Instead of coming closer they sounded as though they were getting further away. No way she was like Lassie and about to bring someone to her rescue.

Dexter straightened.

Addie did as well, shifting another step.

Lacy’s barking intensified again.

Dexter walked to the window and looked out.

Addie ran.

22

Cameron hadn’t slept since he’d been with Addie the night before. His eyes felt gritty, and his stomach growled at the lack of food. He’d spent the past sixteen hours alternating between searching for jobs in California and going back over the evidence again for the break-ins. Traffic court started in a few hours, and he had yet to prep.

Instead of doing his job, he’d filled out two applications within an hour’s drive to the Los Angeles area. He could follow Addie across the country, but he didn’t have any desire to police such a large city. Two smaller communities had looked similar to Statem. Not nearly as small, but small enough that Cameron didn’t think he’d end up miserable at his job.

She still might not take him back. God, he wanted to rush over there and find out but he had to get through the day first.

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