Carl pointed at some tiny items hanging off the shredded hose. Amaury followed his finger. Two wires.
“Looks like somebody didn’t want us to get back. Somebody set a charge.”
“Shit.” Amaury raised his head to scan the horizon and then looked at his watch. “Fifteen minutes to sunrise.”
Five
The New York vampires scrambled out of the car and congregated around the open hood. Quinn gave the engine a more than cursory look as he bent over it and sniffed.
“The engine’s shot. We can’t rig it here. Takes too long.” Quinn gave Amaury a knowing look. “Explosives.”
Amaury nodded.
“What now?” Gabriel asked, his voice tense.
“I’ll call Oliver to pick us up in the blackout van.” Carl flipped his phone open.
“No time. We’ll be toast before he gets here. We need to hide,” Amaury said.
“Where?” Yvette asked, looking around the quiet neighborhood. “You don’t suggest we break into a house and scare the shit out of the inhabitants, do you?”
“That’s exactly what we’ll have to do,” Zane insisted. “There’s no time for your misplaced sensitivities.” There was a dangerous undertone in his voice.
“Exposure is to be avoided at all cost,” Yvette retorted.
Zane took a step toward her, going nose to nose as he let out a low snarl. “Would you rather be exposed to the sun? That can be arranged.”
“Shut up, Zane, and leave her alone,” Amaury defended her. He had a better idea. “Let’s go. Keep up with me. There’s a house for sale about four blocks up.”
“As much as I like California, I don’t think this is the time to buy a house, Amaury,” Quinn interrupted. As always he was the most relaxed amongst them.
“You don’t have to buy it, but I’d like to show you guys the inside. Right now.”
Amaury launched into a jog. His friends joined him as he ran along the sidewalk.
“Don’t you need an appointment to show a house?” Quinn asked in a casual tone.
Amaury pulled out his electronic lockbox key from his jacket pocket and waved it at Quinn. “Not if you have a key to it.”
“We’d better be prepared to use our powers in case somebody’s there,” Gabriel advised.
“It’s vacant. I was going to check it out for Samson and Delilah. We can hide out there until Oliver can come and get us.”
Yvette pulled up next to him as they continued running down the street. “I didn’t expect you defending me against Zane.” Was she going to thank him? Now that was a departure from their previous interactions. “In any case, I can take care of myself.”
No, didn’t sound like a thank you after all.
Amaury gave her a sideways glance. “It means nothing.” He didn’t want her to get the impression he’d gone soft. Zane had been out of line, and Yvette’s concern was valid. That was all that was to it. Other than that he didn’t give a rat’s ass about what she thought of him.
“Still keeping up the same old face, huh?” Her voice had a mocking tone in it he didn’t appreciate.
“It’s the only one I got.” Before Yvette could come back with another smart remark, which he sensed was coming any second now, Gabriel’s voice interrupted them.
“Is this it?” He pointed at the large Georgian-style home with a FOR SALE sign on the front lawn.
Amaury sprinted to the gate. He found the familiar blue lockbox bolted to it. Swiftly, he punched his PIN into his electronic key and pointed it at the lockbox. A faint beeping sound indicated the two devices were communicating.
He glanced over his shoulder. In a few seconds the sun would breach the horizon.
Finally, he heard a click and pressed the container. It released a cradle and with it the key to the house.
“Got it.”
When he looked up, he saw his five companions already hovering at the entrance door, their eyes pinned on the horizon. They made way for him to get to the lock. A few seconds later the key turned, and the door opened.
“Quick, pull the blinds and the curtains shut,” he instructed as they rushed in, each of them running into another room to close the drapes and blinds, shielding them from the rising sun.
“There are no blinds in the kitchen,” came Quinn’s voice.
Amaury had already slammed the entrance door shut behind him. “Shut the kitchen door.”
A quick survey of the house showed him that the best place to wait was in the den, which not only had dark drapes, but also backed up to a sheltered yard with lush trees. The property was tastefully staged with rented furniture, even though it was unoccupied.