Page 30 of See How They Hide

“And?”

“I’m one of three offers, and the seller is looking at them on Saturday. She wanted to know if I was willing to go up, and I said no. If I don’t get it, I don’t get it.”

Matt frowned. Kara sounded so...nonchalant.

“What?” Kara said when he didn’t immediately speak. “You think I should go into huge debt just for a house? I’m happy living at Quantico.”

“You want to live in a dorm for the next couple years?”

“I had a lot of equity in my condo, and my living expenses are low. I put what is a fair offer for that house and I have the plus of a large down payment and pre-approval for a loan and a fast close. It’s what I offered, and I’m not desperate. If it doesn’t work out, it wasn’t meant to be and I’ll find something else.”

“I thought you loved the house.”

“I do. But I try not to get too attached to things. It’s just a house.”

Chris was right about one thing. Where Kara was concerned, Matt’s heart was on the line.

“By the way,” Kara said, “Ryder seemed frustrated when I talked to him earlier. Everything okay?”

“He’s working with multiple agencies and jurisdictions. I would have lost it days ago. But he has a lead from Cybercrimes and I’m hoping we have more by the time you land in Denver tomorrow.”

“Good. Okay, you get back to your bestie and I’m going to channel surf until I get tired.”

“Ireallywish I were there. You wouldn’t need television.”

She laughed, and his heart lifted. “It won’t be long. I mean, if I do get this house, we’re going to have alotof work to do.”

“I didn’t think it needed that much work.”

She laughed harder, and then he realized what she meant.

“Aww, you got me. Yes, every room needs to be given a lot of personal attention.”

“I can’t wait,” she said.

“I love you.”

“Ditto.” She ended the call.

Kara rarely saidI love you, but she showed it. That was what mattered. And Matt didn’t care. Most of the time.

He definitely wished she was here.

11

Fort Collins, Colorado

Riley didn’t know where Thalia lived. She probably moved frequently, staying nowhere long, always on the move. Or maybe she lived in a remote cabin far from anyone, just like they’d grown up, hidden from the world.

With Chris dead, the only other person who knew how to reach Thalia was Jesse. He hadn’t responded to her post on the message board, but she tried not to read too much into that. He probably hadn’t seen it yet. In a day, two maybe, he’d respond. Or maybe he read it and reached out directly to Thalia, because he was loyal to her, not to Riley.

But she didn’tknow, and she had to know that Thalia was safe, that she had a plan. Two people Riley loved were dead. They had to make sure everyone else they’d rescued was safe.

Riley sat in her rental car on the quiet semi-suburban street in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she could see the home of Donovan and Andrew. Donovan had come home from work shortly after five, but Andrew, a veterinary assistant, was still out and it was already seven.

So she waited.

Donovan would slam the door in her face. She wouldn’t blame him.

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