Free Treacherous Intent by Camy Tang

members would catch any sign of fear. She had known a predator before, and she knew if she didn’t put up a perfectly unconcerned facade, the gang members would start to circle around her.
    She glanced at them idly, and realized they were the same gang members that they’d seen on Jericho Street, leaning against the BMW coupe. Her breath hitched and she tried to even it out. This was not good.
    The man in the purple silk shirt was saying to the other in Tagalog, “No, I don’t want to take my car. I just got it washed and it might rain later today.”
    “They’re the same—” Liam murmured.
    “I know.” Her back was to the two men, but she could hear their footfalls on the sidewalk.
    “You look familiar.”
    Her jaw tightened at the sound of the man’s voice. She relaxed her face into an innocent mask and half turned, regarding him from over her shoulder.
    The gang member in the silk shirt had stopped and was appraising her exactly the same way he’d done before.
    Elisabeth answered lightly, “I saw you on Jericho Street. I was visiting a friend.”
    She was about to turn her head back around when he asked, “So what are you doing here?”
    She hesitated only a split second. “We’re looking at different apartment buildings.” As she turned to face him, she thrust her hips out and put her hand directly over her stomach. With her thick wool peacoat, she knew she looked like she could be a few months pregnant.
    His face cooled into an almost disdainful expression, and she knew she’d read him correctly. He relished his single lifestyle, and children were a complete turnoff.
    At that moment, a man and woman exited the apartment building. In contrast to how he had treated the two Bagsics, the doorman said jovially, “Have a good day, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred.”
    “Thanks, Samuel,” the woman said.
    The couple headed toward them, but as soon as they saw the two Bagsics, their steps quickened and they hurried by, heads down and shoulders hunched. They apparently knew their gang-affiliated neighbors and wanted nothing to do with them.
    “Do you and your friend live here?” Elisabeth asked, playing her part.
    “I do, he doesn’t.” The man in the silk shirt seemed almost reluctant to answer, now that he had no interest in her. “They only give you one parking space in the garage. One of you will have to park on the street.”
    “Oh.” She gave a moue of distaste. “Thanks.”
    The two men walked away and soon drove off.
    Liam blew out his breath. “I can’t believe you talked to them.”
    “It would have looked odd if I hadn’t.”
    “Did you see those people who walked past? The gang has them running scared.”
    Elisabeth sighed. If that couple was any indication, the other residents were clearly afraid of their gang neighbors and would probably be reluctant to talk to Elisabeth and Liam.
    “I have an idea.” She marched up to the front door. The doorman had disappeared and the front door was locked, so she pushed a doorbell button. A small door to the side of the elevators marked Security opened and the doorman, Samuel, hurried toward them. “Yes?” he asked through the closed glass door.
    Elisabeth studied his face. She had noticed his different reactions to the Bagsics and to the couple, and she trusted her instincts about people. “My name is Elisabeth Aday, and this is Liam O’Neill. We’re not police, we’re investigators. We’re trying to protect Joslyn Dimalanta from her ex-boyfriend, Tomas Bantoc.”
    Samuel’s face tightened, and his eyes shifted to the street behind them, looking left and right.
    “Please, will you let us in? We only want to talk to you. We’re not here to get anyone in trouble with the gang.”
    The doorman hesitated, then pushed open the door to let them into the foyer.
    “Thanks.” Elisabeth and Liam slipped inside.
    “This way.” Samuel glanced out to the street once again, then headed to the security room.
    There was only one chair, but Samuel pulled out