Page 23 of Deadly Designs

“Yes, sometimes he does, but that’s no one’s businessbut his. He doesn’t hurt anyone, and he’s a good person.”

“So? It’s unnatural.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“You one of them too?”

“One of what?” Her voice was low and held a hint ofwarning. The woman ignored it.

“Cross-dressers? You really a man?”

“You think I’m a male?”

“Man dressed as a woman,” she expounded.

Sensing her impending streak of violence, Christiangrabbed her arm before she could slug the older woman, which wouldno doubt lead to her arrest. She took a deep breath to calm herrising temper.

“Ma’am, could you let us know if you’ve seen him inthe last week?” Christian pressed.

“Ain’t seen him. Don’t wanna see him. Don’t care whathappened to him.” She waved a skeletal hand. “Maybe he went backhome to where he belongs.” She turned her back to pluck dead petalsfrom her petunias.

“He’s from New Jersey.” Aja Blue lunged for her, butChristian grabbed her around the waist in mid-air.

“One hit,” she begged him.

“She’s not worth it. Let’s go.”

“Old bat,” she muttered, and she felt Christianchuckling. She was sorely tempted to kick the planter of daisies infront of her. Instead, she allowed Christian to guide her up theconcrete steps.

Christian stopped before the wooden door with chippedblue paint and a black number six. “Somehow, I expected somethingfancier for Aja Blue LaLonde’s assistant.”

“Jay’s notoriously thrifty,” she informed him. “Hecan afford something better but chooses not to spend themoney.”

Aja Blue knocked, not surprised when there was noanswer.

Christian twisted the handle and it opened with arusty squeak. Aja Blue swung her gaze to him. “I didn’t try thatyesterday.”

“Call out for him,” he whispered.

“Jay? It’s Aja Blue. Are you here?”

Christian opened the door wider, and she jerked to astop. He smacked into her and then clasped her shoulders.“Damn.”

“Yeah.”

Jay’s apartment looked much the same as her condo.Whoever had trashed her place had hit Jay’s too. No surface wasleft untouched by the destruction.

“Aja Blue, I’m going to make sure he isn’t home. Ineed you to wait outside.”

“But if he’s hurt—”

“I’ll let you know. Go outside and call the policewhile I search.”

She wanted to argue. Despite doing so for the firstpart of her life, she didn’t take directions easily. But Christianwas here to help her, and he was the expert. Backing outside, shedialed nine-one-one.

#

Christian feared he’d find Jay Guitterez under one ofthe piles of destroyed furniture and belongings. It wasn’t acoincidence that Jay’s apartment had been trashed like Aja Blue’scondo. He’d bet his 401k the same person had done the damage.

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