Page 1 of Deadly Threat
One
Threats, Mia Livingston had discovered, were everywhere.
Including those from her older sister.
“You’ll never find your soulmate at the library,” Amber chastised, her voice serious, even as she smiled and winked on screen, teasing. “You like those big, muscular jocks, sis. They don’t get those bodies with their head stuck in books.”
Mia grabbed her messenger bag and slung it on, maneuvering the phone and her arm through the strap. Her twelve pound terrier-mix bounced on her paws at the door, knowing they were going out. “I have a job. Professor Coggins needs info on ancient Egyptian medicines.” Plus, Mia had no interest in finding her soulmate. They didn’t exist, in her opinion, and relationships were off the table for her. Like, forever.
“Have you heard of the internet?”
Her sister was a Grade A smartass. “Believe it or not, there are older texts on the subject that no one has ever scanned and put on the World Wide Web.” She rubbed Taz’s head making the gingery undercoat shine through as she passed the tiny, aged feline lying in the sunny front window of the small apartment. The wide stripes of her tiger tabby coat rippling, the old girl purred and blinked at Mia, a paw gently patting her hand, as if saying thank you. “We’re lucky the university library can access these editions for us.”
“You’re hopeless.” Amber flopped down in the high-backed seat at her office.
“Andyouneed to get laid.” Mia clipped the non-retractable leash on Ladybug’s harness and double-checked the vest with the certifying agency’s logo on it. “Whenever you start chiding me about my love life, it’s a sure sign you need to work on yours.”
“You know me too well.” Amber twirled, looking away from the view outside. Downtown San Diego, with its blue skies, high rises, and a few trees, now framed her head. The buzz of some machine sounded in the background and she grimaced. “I hate gyms. I also hate all this noise. I need to get out of here in order to work.”
The mayor’s office was getting a remodel, and soon Mia’s sister would have to move temporarily from her semi-posh digs into another space during the renovation. “Come to the library. We have knowledge.”
Amber laughed. “I may take you up on that.”
It would be so good to see her in person. The thought made Mia smile. “But you like muscles and sweaty guys,” she reminded her.Just like I do. “The gym is where you find such creatures, so suck it up.”
“Says the sister on her way to the cave-like archives of a library.” Amber made kissy noises at the dog. “Give her a hug for me.”
Mia checked she had Ladybug’s certification and proof of insurance; it was force of habit more than anything else. Shealwayshad the documents, but seeing them before she left the safety of her home helped keep some of the anxiety at bay. “She misses you. We all do.”
“Let’s have dinner tonight.”
Mia faltered at the threshold, Ladybug halting as well, to cock her head. Mia took a deep breath, checked both ways, then stepped through. The canine followed and Mia pulled the door shut. Her hand rattled the knob, making sure it had locked. It had, but she checked again. “That’s not a good idea.”
Her sister sighed, the kind that sounded like she’d pulled it all the way up from her toes. “Mia, he’s dead. Let’s celebrate.”
Mia hurried down the hall, the stink of stale beer and old carpet filling her nose. She hated this place, but who would look for her here? That’s how she planned to keep it.
There was no one out and about yet in the building. She didn’t glance at the screen as she headed for the stairs, Ladybug’s small paws keeping pace. “I’m not celebrating a man’s death,” she said in a low voice.
The dog looked up at her and whined. Then she stopped, putting her body in front of Mia, so she couldn’t take the next step. Mia faltered.
“He kidnapped, tortured, and nearly killed you,” Amber reminded her. As if she needed such a thing. A well-manicured fingernail tapped on her desk. “I’m glad Marcher’s dead, and now you’re free of him and what happened. No more hiding. I want to be able to see you whenever I want, and tonight we’re lifting a glass to your freedom.”
The words reverberated through her—kidnapped, tortured, killed. The old alarm bells went off, Mia’s pulse jumping.No, no, no. Not now.
Ladybug pawed at her leg and whimpered again. The sides of the stairwell seemed to close in on them, threatening to squeeze the air from Mia’s lungs. She stopped, sitting down hard on the cool metal steps. “I can’t do this right now.” Ladybug climbed into her lap and began licking her face. She could barely whisper. Her throat was closing up. “I have to… I have to go…”
Suddenly understanding that she’d triggered an anxiety attack, Amber panicked. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you. Please don’t hate me. I thought you’d be happy, MiMi.”
The nicknamed flowed like water over Mia’s taut nerves. Ladybug, as usual, did her job, pressing her strong, warm body against Mia’s chest and continuing to lick her.
Seconds ticked by. She focused on her breathing, like her therapist told her to. Mentally imagined open fields and wildflowers. Her fingers tangled in the terrier’s fur, soft and wiry at the same time.
Her throat began to relax. The walls receded an inch. She took a breath, then another.
Amber’s voice was distant, faint. Mia continued to breathe, dropped her face into Ladybug’s fur. The walls fell back, the suffocating anxiety with them.
Her lungs expanded. The ringing in her ears subsided. Ladybug barked gently, as Mia lifted her face and blinked.
