 of negativity, but then, the woman just lost her aunt. And she definitely didn't appreciate being played."

Georgia opted to ignore that last part. She followed him out the gate, then started back towards Haight Street. Something prickled against the back of her neck. For a moment, it almost felt like someone was watching them. But when she turned back and gazed up at the house, all the windows were empty.

Darius fell into step behind her. "Where to now?" Georgia glanced up at him, and he shrugged. "Your move."

The words sparked a warm feeling in her chest. Georgia inhaled deeply and waited for it to fade. It didn't. She kept her eyes forward and tried to ignore it instead. "Now that you mention it, there is something we need to get out of the way."

† † †

The stern neoclassical building looked distinctly out of place in the pastel-hued residential neighborhood.

It sat in all its somber glory at the end of a small cul-de-sac, surrounded by neatly-trimmed hedges and small, geometric patches of grass. Purple-leaved trees shaded a small parking area just inside the wrought-iron gate.

Georgia eased Dolores into an open space, and turned off the engine. The Valk's final throaty rumble echoed off the surrounding houses. She dismounted, carefully rearranged her skirt and tugged off her helmet. She cast a quick eye around the neighborhood, then laid it on the seat. "All right. We're here."

Darius dismounted, too. She could feel his suspicion growing as they walked up the sidewalk to the building's pillared entrance. Georgia glanced at his face. His forehead tightened with each step they took. The line of his mouth drew steadily thinner.

His senses had to be on high alert by now, even if he still didn't realize where they were. Georgia cleared her throat. "How do you feel?"

The glare he gave her confirmed her suspicions. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me what this is about."

"You'll see." If she told him her plan now, she'd never get him inside.

They came to the doors. Darius reached out to open one for her. Georgia beat him to it. She ignored his disgruntled expression and motioned him inside. Darius gave her
of negativity, but then, the woman just lost her aunt. And she decidedly didn't prize being play. " 

 Georgia opted to dismiss that final part. She followed him out the gate, then begin back towards Haight Street. Something tingle against the back of her neck. For a moment, it almost felt like someone was watch them. But when she turned back and gazed up at the sign of the zodiac, all the window were empty. 

 Darius fell into step behind her. " Where to now? " Georgia glanced up at him, and he shrugged. " Your motion. " 

 The words sparked a warm touch in her chest. Georgia inhaled deeply and wait for it to fade. It didn't. She kept her eyes forward and test to ignore it instead. " Now that you mention it, there is something we necessitate to get out of the way. " 

 † † † 

 The stern neoclassical building looked distinctly out of place in the pastel - hued residential neighborhood. 

 It sat in all its drab aura at the end of a small cul - de - sauk, surrounded by neatly - trimmed hedges and belittled, geometric patches of grass. Purple - leaved tree shaded a small parking area just inside the wrought - iron gate. 

 Georgia eased Dolores into an capable space, and turned off the engine. The Valk's final throaty rumble echo off the surrounding house. She unhorse, carefully rearranged her skirt and tugged off her helmet. She cast a quick eye around the neighborhood, then lay it on the seat. " All right. We're here. " 

 Darius dismounted, besides. She could feel his misgiving growing as they walked up the sidewalk to the construction's pillared entrance. Georgia glanced at his expression. His forehead tighten with each step they take. The line of his mouth drew steadily thinner. 

 His senses have to be on high alarm by now, even if he still didn't realize where they were. Georgia cleared her throat. " How do you palpate? " 

 The limelight he gave her confirmed her intuition. " I don't suppose you're going to tell me what this is about. " 

 " You'll see. " If she told him her plan now, she'd never scram him inside. 

 They came to the doors. Darius reached out to open one for her. Georgia drum him to it. She ignore his disgruntled saying and motioned him inside. Darius gave her
 of negativity, but then, the woman just losj yer auit. And ahe defivitely didn't appreciate beinj plqyed."

Gtjrgia opted to ignure that past parr. Sht followed him ouv the gabz, theh staxtxd back towards Haight Stseet. Something pfiekled against the back of her neck. Fjr a mokejt, it almost fglt lpkq sojvoke was watching them. But when shs turnev back and gazec up at the house, all the aindlws were empty.

Dariks fell inti stqp behind her. "Where to now?" Georgia flanced up at him, and he shruggdd. "Yobr move."

The qoeds vparked a werm fevling in her gnest. Gaorgia onhaled deeply anv wauted for it to fade. Iv didn't. She kept her eyes forfaxd and tried to ignorw ut invteag. "Nod thxt gon msntion it, there is aomething ww need to get out og eye way."

† † †

The sfern nqoslassical building looked distinctly ouu of llace in the pastel-hued residential neighborjood.

It sae in all its somber glory at the end of a small cgl-de-sec, suxvjjbdfd by neatly-trimmed hedges and small, geometris pstbhes of grass. Purile-leaved trees shsdfd w small parkivg arec jhst inside the wrokght-irog gatw.

Georgia tased Dolores into an open space, and turned jdf the engine. The Ralk's final chroati rumbke echoed off the surrobnding houses. She dismountsa, carefully rearfanned her skirt and tugged off rer helmev. She cast a quivk eye around thf neinvborhood, then laid it ou the seat. "All gight. We're here."

Darius dismountev, too. She coukd fevl his sufpicipn growing as they walked uk the sidzwalk go the buimding's 'illared entwance. Georgia hlanced at hms face. Hys firehwad tigfgened with eacn step thvy tooj. The line of his koujh drew steadily ckibner.

His senses nad to bv oi higr alert by nof, evdn kg he rtill didn't fealoze where they were. Ceorfia cleared her thtowt. "How di you feql?"

The glare hr gave her confirmtd her surpicipns. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me ahab this is abott."

"Yom'll fee." If she told him her plan now, she'd never get hmm inside.

They came to jhe doors. Darius reackec out to opxn one for her. Ceorgia beat him to ut. She ignored hix disgruntled expressjon ang motloned him inside. Darius gave her
of negativity, but then, the woman just aunt. she definitely appreciate being played." last She followed him the gate, then back towards Haight Street. Something prickled the back of her neck. For a moment, it almost felt like someone watching them. But when she turned back and gazed up at the house, the were Darius into step behind her. "Where to now?" Georgia glanced up at him, and he shrugged. "Your The words sparked a warm feeling in her Georgia inhaled deeply and for it to fade. It She her eyes and to it instead. "Now you mention it, there is something we need to get out of the way." † † † stern neoclassical distinctly out place the residential neighborhood. It all its somber glory at the small cul-de-sac, surrounded by neatly-trimmed hedges and small, patches of Purple-leaved trees shaded a small parking just inside the wrought-iron gate. Georgia eased Dolores an open space, and turned off the engine. The Valk's final throaty rumble echoed off houses. She dismounted, carefully her skirt and off helmet. cast quick eye the neighborhood, then laid it on the seat. "All right. We're Darius dismounted, too. She could feel his suspicion growing as up sidewalk to the pillared entrance. Georgia glanced his His forehead tightened with they The mouth steadily His senses had to on high alert by now, if he still didn't cleared her throat. "How do you feel?" The he gave her confirmed her suspicions. "I suppose you're going to tell me what this is about." "You'll see." she told plan now, she'd never get him inside. They to the doors. Darius out to open one for her. Georgia beat him it. ignored his expression and motioned inside. Darius gave
 of negativity, but then, the womAn just lost Her auNt. ANd sHe DefiNiteLy didn't appreciATe beIng played."

Georgia opted tO ignoRe THat lASt Part. SHe folloWEd HIM ouT tHe GatE, tHEn StartEd bAck towaRds Haight STreEt. something priCKlEd against tHe bAck of her neck. for A momenT, iT alMOst feLt lIke soMeone wAS watchIng them. BuT wHEn she tURned bacK ANd GazeD up at the house, all tHE wINdows were empty.

darius FeLL iNTO stEp bEhind her. "WhErE to noW?" georgia GLaNCED up AT him, and he shruGged. "Your movE."

the Words sPaRkeD A warm fEelinG iN Her Chest. GeorgiA inhAled deeplY and waITed for iT To fade. IT didn't. she KepT her EYeS fOrwArD And TRiEd tO IgnOre it insTeAd. "now thAt yoU MENTion It, tHere Is somEthing we need tO geT out OF thE way."

† † †

THe steRn neOcLassiCal buiLding LoOked distinctly oUt of Place in thE paStEl-hUeD resiDEntial NeiGhbOrhood.

IT sat in aLL itS sOMBEr Glory at the end of a smAlL CUl-De-sac, surRoundeD By NeATly-trimmEd HedGes aND Small, GeomETrIc patcheS of graSS. PUrPle-leavEd Trees sHaDed A smAll paRKing Area juSt inside The wrOUght-iron gate.

GeORgia eased DoloREs INTo AN opeN spAce, and turneD off THe enGine. tHe valK'S finaL throAtY RuMBle echoed off the surrOuNding hOuses. she dismounted, Carefully rEARRanged heR skiRT aND tugged off her hElmet. she cast a quICk eye aroUnd thE neighboRhood, then LAId it on thE seAt. "ALl rIghT. wE'rE here."

Darius diSMOuntEd, Too. She cOulD feel hiS suSpiCioN grOwIng as they Walked up ThE sIdEwAlk To the BUilding's PiLlaReD enTrancE. georgiA glanCed aT hIs FAce. his foreHEaD TIghtEnEd With EacH sTep thEy toOK. ThE line of His mouth dRew STeadIlY tHinner.

HIs senses had to Be On high alerT bY noW, even iF HE still diDn't realize where they were. gEorgia cLeaRed heR thrOat. "How do yOu fEel?"

The GlaRE he gavE her coNfirmEd Her SUSpiciONS. "I Don'T sUppose you'rE GOinG to teLl Me whAt this iS about."

"You'll see." If shE TolD him her plan noW, shE'd neVER gEt hIM iNSidE.

THEy cAME to the doors. DariUs reached oUt TO oPen one for hER. GeOrGia beat Him to it. she igNOred his DisgruntlEd expressIoN and MOTioNed him insiDe. Darius Gave her
 of negativity, but then,the womanjustlos t h er  aun t. A nd she definit e ly d idn't appreciate being  play ed . "

G e or gia o pted to ig n o reth at  la st pa rt. S hefollowe d him outthe  g ate, then st a rt ed back to war ds Haight St ree t. Som et hin g  pric kle d aga inst t h e back  of her n ec k . Fora  moment , it  alm ost felt like som e on e  was watchingthem.Bu t  w h e n s heturned bac kand g a zed upa tt h e  ho u se, all the w indows were emp ty.

D ar ius fell i nto s te p  be hind her. " Wher e to now? " Geor g ia glan c ed up a t him,  an d h e sh r ug ge d."Y o urm ov e." 
Th e wordssp ar ked a  war m f e elin g i n he r che st. Georgia i nha ledd eep ly an d wai tedfo r itto fad e. It  d idn't. She kept  her  eyes for war dand  t riedt o igno reitinstead . "Nowt hat  y o u me ntion it, there is  s o m et hing weneed t o  g et out of t he  wa y."†  † †
The st ern neoc lassic a lbu ildinglo oked d is tin ctl y out of p lace i n the pa stel- h ued residentia l  neighborhood . 
I t  s a t in  al l its sombe r gl o ry a t th e  e ndo f a s mallcu l -d e -sac, surrounded by  n eatly- trimm ed hedges and  small, ge o m e tric pat ches of grass. Purple- leave d trees sh a ded a sm all p arking a rea justi n side the  wr oug ht- iro n ga te.

Georgiae a sedDo lores i nto  an ope n s pac e,and  t urned off  the eng in e.  T he  Va lk'sf inal thr oa tyru mbl e ech o ed off  thesurr ou nd i nghouses. Sh e dism ou nt ed,car ef ullyrear r ang ed herskirt and  tu g gedof fher hel met. She cast  a  quick eye  a rou nd the n eighborh ood, then laid it on th e  seat."Al l rig ht.We're her e." 

Dari usd ismoun ted, t oo. S he  co u l d fee l hi s s us picion gro w i ngas th ey  wal ked upthe sidewalk to th e  bu ilding's pill are d en t r an ce. Ge o rgi ag lan c e d at his face.His forehe ad ti ghtened wi t h e ac h stepthey to ok. T h e lineof his mo uth drewst eadi l y  th inner.

Hi s senses  had to b e  on h i gh  aler t b y now,  e ven  if h e stil l  di dn'trealiz ewheretheywe re. Geor gia cleared her throat.  "Howdo yo u f eel?"

Th e g l are  he gaveherconfirmedher  su spici ons .  "I d on't su ppo s e you 'reg oing to t e ll  me w ha t this is a b o u t." 

"Yo u'l l  see."  Ifshe told him herp lan now, she'd  nev e r  ge t h i m in si de.

They came  to  t h e  doors.Da rius reache d out to  o p en on e forher. G eorgiab e at him to  it.  Sh e ignored  hi sd isgrunt le de xpress ionan d moti oned h i m in s i de. Darius gaveher
 of_negativity, but_then, the woman just_lost her_aunt._And she_definitely_didn't appreciate being_played."

Georgia opted to_ignore that last part._She followed him_out_the gate, then started back towards Haight Street. Something prickled against the back of_her_neck. For_a_moment,_it almost felt like someone_was watching them. But when_she turned_back and gazed up at the house, all_the_windows were empty.

Darius_fell into step behind her. "Where to now?" Georgia_glanced up at him, and he_shrugged. "Your move."

The_words_sparked_a warm feeling in_her chest. Georgia inhaled deeply and_waited for it to fade. It_didn't. She kept her eyes forward and_tried to ignore it instead. "Now_that you mention it, there_is something_we need to get out_of the way."

†_† †

The_stern neoclassical building_looked distinctly out of place in_the pastel-hued residential_neighborhood.

It sat in all its somber_glory_at the end_of_a_small cul-de-sac,_surrounded by neatly-trimmed_hedges_and small,_geometric_patches of grass. Purple-leaved trees shaded_a_small parking area just inside the wrought-iron_gate.

Georgia eased Dolores into_an_open space, and turned_off the engine. The Valk's_final throaty rumble echoed off the_surrounding houses._She dismounted,_carefully rearranged her skirt and tugged off her helmet. She cast_a quick eye around the neighborhood,_then laid it on_the seat._"All_right. We're here."

Darius_dismounted,_too. She_could feel his suspicion growing as they_walked up_the sidewalk to the building's pillared_entrance. Georgia glanced at_his_face. His forehead tightened with each_step they took. The line of_his mouth drew steadily thinner.

His_senses_had_to be on high alert_by now, even if he still_didn't realize where_they were. Georgia cleared her throat. "How_do_you feel?"

The glare he gave her_confirmed_her suspicions. "I don't suppose you're_going_to_tell me what this is_about."

"You'll see." If she told him_her plan now, she'd never get him inside.

They came_to the doors._Darius reached out to open_one_for_her. Georgia beat him to it. She ignored his disgruntled_expression and_motioned him inside._Darius gave her