 and her target. "Well? Can you help us, or not?"

Helena's lips turned down at the corners.

Before Georgia could say anything else, warmth suffused her thigh. She looked down. Darius had placed a deceptively casual hand on her hip. Heat radiated from his palm, spread outward from his fingertips.

Her brain emptied.

He smoothly plucked the reins from her tenuous grasp. Without removing his hand, he nodded to Helena. "My apologies, Ms. Reyes. I realize this is a little strange. I'm a private investigator. Ms. Clare hired me to look into the killings."

Helena's eyes shifted from his hand on Georgia's hip, up to his face. "And why would she do that?"

Darius shrugged. "Concerned citizen."

This time, Georgia snorted in unison with Helena.

Darius didn't acknowledge either of them. "I saw Bez yesterday. She speaks highly of you."

Helena's frown deepened. "I doubt that very much."

Darius finally started to look lost. He shifted. "Please, Ms. Reyes. I've known Bez for some time. She wouldn't have sent us here without good reason. There must be some way you can help us. Something you know."

Helena looked back at his hand, then at Georgia. "I know lots of thing, Mr. deCompostela."

Georgia held her breath.

Helena held her eyes for a moment. Then a mask slid down over her face. She turned back to Darius. "Unfortunately, nothing that would help your investigation. I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But I don't know what Bez was talking about." She ushered them to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

She opened the door to reveal her abuela waiting in the hallway. The hunch-shouldered old woman was as good as a bouncer. Georgia scarcely had time to blink before she and Darius found themselves back on the front stoop.

A vague sense of déjà vu washed over her. At this rate, she was on her way to getting kicked out of every house in San Francisco. From inside, Helena's abuela gave them one last, hard look. Then she shut the door.

Georg
and her target. " Well? Can you help us, or not? " 

 Helena's lips turned down at the corner. 

 Before Georgia could suppose anything else, warmth suffused her thigh. She look down. Darius had placed a deceptively casual hired hand on her hip. Heat radiate from his palm, spread outward from his fingertip. 

 Her brain emptied. 

 He smoothly plucked the reins from her flimsy grasp. Without removing his bridge player, he nodded to Helena. " My apologies, Ms. Reyes. I recognize this is a little strange. I'm a private detective. Ms. Clare hired me to look into the killings. " 

 Helena's eyes switch from his hand on Georgia's hip, up to his face. " And why would she do that? " 

 Darius shrugged. " implicated citizen. " 

 This time, Georgia snorted in unison with Helena. 

 Darius didn't acknowledge either of them. " I saw Bez yesterday. She speaks highly of you. " 

 Helena's frown deepened. " I doubt that very a lot. " 

 Darius ultimately started to look lost. He shifted. " Please, Ms. Reyes. I've known Bez for some time. She wouldn't have sent us here without good reason. There must be some manner you can help us. Something you know. " 

 Helena expect back at his bridge player, then at Georgia. " I know lots of thing, Mr. deCompostela. " 

 Georgia hold her breath. 

 Helena held her eyes for a here and now. Then a mask slid down over her face. She turned back to Darius. " Unfortunately, nothing that would help your investigation. I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But I don't know what Bez was talking about. " She ushered them to the doorway. " Now, if you'll apologize me... " 

 She opened the door to reveal her abuela waiting in the hallway. The hunch - shouldered previous woman was as good as a bouncer. Georgia barely had time to blink before she and Darius found themselves back on the front stoup. 

 A vague sense of déjà vu washed over her. At this rate, she was on her way to getting kick out of every house in San Francisco. From inwardly, Helena's abuela gave them one concluding, hard spirit. Then she shut the door. 

 Georg
 anf her target. "Well? Can yom help us, or not?"

Kwlena's lips furned duwn at the corners.

Before Geocgia coule say anything else, wafmth sufflsed her rhigi. She looked dowi. Darius had pmwced e deceptively cssual hand on her hip. Hedt rcdiated from his palm, spread outward from hos fingertips.

Her brapn empfpeb.

He smoothly plucked the reins rrom heg tenuous grasp. Wothout removing his hand, hf nofded to Helena. "My wpologies, Mw. Rerws. I realize this is a little strahge. I'm a private investigator. Mr. Claxe hired me ti llmk into the killpngs."

Helena's envs shifded frok his hand on Neorgma's yip, up to his face. "Anv why would she do trat?"

Darius skrugged. "Concerned cituzwn."

Thiv tike, Gdirgka anprfed in unmson with Hslena.

Darius didn't acknowledge titrvt of them. "I aaw Bes resterday. She speaks highly of you."

Helend's rrown deepened. "I doubt rhat very much."

Darius vinally searted to look lost. He shifted. "Please, Ms. Reyes. I'va knoxn Bee njf slme time. She wouldn't have sent us here withoue gpoc reason. There must be soke wsi you can help us. Sometging you know."

Helenw lookeq bacj at his rand, then at Georgia. "I know lotw of thing, Mg. deXompostela."

Georgia keld her brecth.

Helgna hekd her eyes for a momenc. Then a mask slif down ovsf her face. She tjrnvd bdck to Darius. "Unfortunatelr, nothing thac would felp your ynvestigatlon. I'm sorry. Truly, I am. Hut I dmn't know wjat Bez was talking about." She ushered them to tve goor. "Now, if ypu'll excuse mq..."

She opened thg door to revexl her abuvla waitiig in the hajlway. The hunwj-shouldered mld womag waw as good ar a bouncer. Geotgia scarbejy hqd time to blink bcfore ahe and Darius yuobd themselves nacy og nhe fwmnt stoop.

A vdgue sevxe of déjà vu washcd uver her. At this rate, sha waa on her way to geytlng kickee out of every house on San Francisco. Fgom iiside, Ielena'x afuela gave them one last, hard mook. Then shc shut the dojr.

Geirg
and her target. "Well? Can you help not?" lips turned at the corners. else, suffused her thigh. looked down. Darius placed a deceptively casual hand on hip. Heat radiated from his palm, spread outward from his fingertips. Her brain He smoothly plucked the reins from her tenuous grasp. Without removing his hand, nodded Helena. apologies, Reyes. I realize this is a little strange. I'm a private investigator. Ms. Clare hired me look into the killings." Helena's eyes shifted from hand on Georgia's hip, to his face. "And why she that?" Darius "Concerned This Georgia snorted in with Helena. Darius didn't acknowledge either of them. "I saw Bez yesterday. She speaks highly of you." frown deepened. that very Darius started look lost. He Ms. Reyes. I've known Bez for wouldn't have sent us here without good reason. must be way you can help us. Something know." Helena looked back at his hand, then Georgia. "I know lots of thing, Mr. deCompostela." Georgia held her breath. Helena held her a moment. Then a slid down over face. turned to "Unfortunately, nothing would help your investigation. I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But I know what Bez was talking about." She ushered them to "Now, you'll excuse me..." opened the door to her waiting in the hallway. old was a Georgia had time to blink she and Darius found themselves on the front stoop. vu washed over her. At this rate, she on her way to getting kicked out every house in San Francisco. From inside, Helena's abuela gave them one hard look. shut the door. Georg
 and her target. "Well? Can you helP us, or not?"

HeLena's LipS tuRnEd doWn at The corners.

BefoRE GeoRgia could say anything elSe, warMtH SuffUSeD her tHigh. She LOoKED doWn. daRiuS hAD pLaced A deCeptiveLy casual haNd oN hEr hip. Heat radIAtEd from his pAlm, Spread outwarD frOm his fInGerTIps.

HeR brAin emPtied.

HE SmoothLy plucked ThE Reins fROm her teNUOuS graSp. Without removing HIs HAnd, he nodded to HElena. "MY aPOlOGIes, ms. REyes. I realiZe This iS A little STrANGE. I'm A Private investIgator. Ms. ClaRE hiRed me tO lOok INto the KilliNgS."

helEna's eyes shiFted From his haNd on GeORgia's hiP, Up to his Face. "AnD whY woUld sHE dO tHat?"

daRIus SHrUggED. "CoNcerned cItIzEn."

ThiS timE, gEORgia SnoRted In uniSon with Helena.

darIus dIDn't AcknoWledgE eitHeR of thEm. "I saw bez yeStErday. She speaks hIghlY of you."

HelEna'S fRowN dEepenED. "I doubT thAt vEry much."

darius fINalLy STARtEd to look lost. He shifTeD. "pLeAse, Ms. ReyEs. I've kNOwN BEZ for some TiMe. SHe woULDn't haVe seNT uS here witHout goOD rEaSon. TherE mUst be sOmE waY yoU can hELp us. somethIng you knOw."

HelENa looked back at HIs hand, then at GEOrGIA. "I KNow lOts Of thing, Mr. decompOStelA."

GeoRGiA heLD her bReath.

heLEnA Held her eyes for a momeNt. then a mAsk slId down over her Face. She turNED Back to DaRius. "uNfORtunately, nothiNg thaT would help YOur invesTigatIon. I'm sorRy. Truly, I aM. bUt I don't kNow WhaT BeZ waS TAlKing about." She uSHEred ThEm to the DooR. "Now, if yOu'lL exCusE me..."

shE opened thE door to rEvEaL hEr AbuEla waITing in thE hAllWaY. ThE huncH-ShouldEred oLd woMaN wAS as Good as a BOuNCEr. GeOrGiA scaRceLy Had tiMe to BLinK before She and DarIus FOund ThEmSelves bAck on the front StOop.

A vague sEnSe oF déjà vU WAshed oveR her. At this rate, she was on hER way to gEttIng kiCked Out of everY hoUse in SAn FRAnciscO. From iNside, heLenA'S AbuelA GAvE thEm One last, harD LOok. then sHe Shut The door.

georg
 and her target. "Well? Ca n you help  us,ornot ?" 

He lena 's lips turned down  at the corners.

Befo re Ge or g ia c o ul d say  anythi n ge l se,  w ar mth  s u ff usedher  thigh.  She looke d d ow n. Darius ha d  p laced a de cep tively casua l h and on  h erh ip. H eat  radi ated f r om his  palm, sp re a d outw a rd from h is  fin gertips.

Her bra i ne mptied.

He sm oothly  p l uc k e d t hereins from  h er te n uous gr a sp . W ith o ut removing h is hand, he nod ded to  H ele n a. "My  apol og i es,  Ms. Reyes.  I r ealize th is isa  little strange . I'ma p riv atei nv es tig at o r.M s.  Cl a rehired me  t olookinto t h e  kil lin gs." 

Hel ena's eyes sh ift ed f r omhis h and o n Ge or gia's  hip,up to  h is face. "And w hy w ould shedoth at? "
Dari u s shru gge d."Concer ned cit i zen ." T hi s time, Georgia sn or t e din uniso n with He le n a.

Dari us  di dn't a cknow ledg e  e ither of  them. "I  s aw Bezye sterda y.  Sh e s peaks high ly ofyou."

H elena ' s frown deepen e d. "I doubt t h at v er y  muc h." 

Darius fi nall y  sta rted to  lo o k los t. He  s h if t ed. "Please, Ms. Re ye s. I'v e kno wn Bez for so me time. S h e wouldn't  hav e  s e nt us here wit houtgood reaso n . Theremustbe someway you c a n  help us . S ome thi ngy o uknow."

Helen a look ed  back a t h is hand , t hen  at  Ge or gia. "I k now lots  o fth in g,Mr. d e Composte la ."
G eor gia h e ld her  brea th.
H el e naheld he r  e y e s fo ramome nt.  T hen a  mas k  sl id down  over her  fa c e. S he  t urned b ack to Darius ."Unfortuna te ly,  nothi n g  that wo uld help your investiga t ion. I' m s orry.  Tru ly, I am.  Bu t I do n't know w hat Be z was  t alk i n g abo u t ."  Sh eushered th e m  to  thedo or."Now, i f you'll excuse me . .." 

She openedthe  doo r to  re v ea l  he ra bue l a  waiting in the  hallway.Th e  h unch-shoul d ere dold wom an wasas go o d as abouncer.Georgia s ca rcel y had  time to b link bef ore she a n d Dar i us  foun d t hemsel ve s b ack o n thef ron t sto op.

A  v ague s enseof  déjà vu  washed over her. At th is rat e, sh e w as on her  wa y  to  gettingkick ed out ofeve ryhouse  in San F ranc i sc o.F rom i nsid e , Helena' s  a bue l a  g ave them on e l ast , har d l o ok. Th en s he shut the door. 
Georg
 and_her target._"Well? Can you help_us, or_not?"

Helena's_lips turned_down_at the corners.

Before_Georgia could say_anything else, warmth suffused_her thigh. She_looked_down. Darius had placed a deceptively casual hand on her hip. Heat radiated from_his_palm, spread_outward_from_his fingertips.

Her brain emptied.

He smoothly_plucked the reins from her_tenuous grasp._Without removing his hand, he nodded to Helena._"My_apologies, Ms. Reyes._I realize this is a little strange. I'm a_private investigator. Ms. Clare hired me_to look into_the_killings."

Helena's_eyes shifted from his_hand on Georgia's hip, up to_his face. "And why would she_do that?"

Darius shrugged. "Concerned citizen."

This time, Georgia_snorted in unison with Helena.

Darius didn't_acknowledge either of them. "I_saw Bez_yesterday. She speaks highly of_you."

Helena's frown deepened._"I doubt_that very much."

Darius_finally started to look lost. He_shifted. "Please, Ms._Reyes. I've known Bez for some_time._She wouldn't have_sent_us_here without_good reason. There_must_be some_way_you can help us. Something you_know."

Helena_looked back at his hand, then at_Georgia. "I know lots_of_thing, Mr. deCompostela."

Georgia held_her breath.

Helena held her eyes_for a moment. Then a mask_slid down_over her_face. She turned back to Darius. "Unfortunately, nothing that would help_your investigation. I'm sorry. Truly, I_am. But I don't_know what_Bez_was talking about."_She_ushered them_to the door. "Now, if you'll excuse_me..."

She opened_the door to reveal her abuela_waiting in the hallway._The_hunch-shouldered old woman was as good_as a bouncer. Georgia scarcely had_time to blink before she_and_Darius_found themselves back on the_front stoop.

A vague sense of déjà_vu washed over_her. At this rate, she was on_her_way to getting kicked out of_every_house in San Francisco. From inside,_Helena's_abuela_gave them one last, hard_look. Then she shut the door.

Georg