Free The Perfect Couple by Brenda Novak Page B

if they came over, he'd have to account for her busted lip. And if the drugs they'd given Samantha wore off and she started screaming again, the noise could be difficult to explain.
    With all the activity next door, it was too risky. "No, I'm swamped. I had to bring home a shitload of work."
    "You sure you can't carve out an hour? I rented the best porno you've ever seen, man. I know James will get off on it big-time."
    "Not tonight."
    Disappointment filled a short pause, but Tommy tried to cover it.
    "Okay, no problem."
    "You can come over on Friday," Colin said. By then things should be safe enough to party. "And I'll have better entertainment than a damn movie."
    "What's better than a skin flick?" Tommy said with a laugh.
    "Actual skin," he replied. "You bring pizza and beer, have James bring the rest of that baggie he's been saving and I'll provide the fun."
    Tiffany was staring at him when he hung up. He could sense her misgivings, but he didn't care. She'd enjoy herself. He'd make his friends beg for her, do anything she asked, let her be in charge. By the time it was all over, she'd probably ask if they could do it again.
    "What?" he said, challenging her stare.
    She ducked her head. "Nothing."
    He went back to the window. He could no longer see the man poking around next door, but the old Mercedes was still at the curb.
    Who the hell was this guy? Something about him put Colin on edge.
    He was younger than the detective Colin had met, and he seemed so...intense. Determined. "There's no way anyone can trace Sam to our place, is there?" He'd asked before, but he wanted to make sure Tiffany was telling him everything.
    "None," she said. "She came over on her own."
    "Did anyone see her?"
    "I don't think so. But even if someone did, all we have to do is say she left a few minutes after she stopped by. Just because she was here doesn't mean we did anything to her. We don't have criminal records or any motivation that they know of. You're an up-and-coming real estate attorney.
    I have a respectable job. We have excellent credit. We keep our place clean.
    They'd need more than a brief sighting of her going in our house to get a 58

    search warrant, wouldn't they?"
    She was only repeating what he'd told her in the past, but she was right. They'd need a damn good reason to search his home.
    But that guy next door bothered Colin.
    "When's the last time you checked on Sam?" he asked.
    "I fed her before you got home."
    He twisted around to arch an eyebrow at her. "What'd you give her?"
    She answered so low Colin couldn't make out the words.
    "What did you feed her?" he asked again, letting her know by his tone that she'd better speak more clearly.
    Her sheepish expression made her seem almost childlike, especially with that busted lip. "The leftovers from last night."
    He propped his hands on his hips. "My food?"
    "You don't like to eat the same meal two days in a row."
    "But that's not what she's supposed to get. This isn't some damn luxury hotel."
    "I--I didn't know if I should feed her the same stuff I did Rover or...or if she was going to be a different kind of pet."
    "I like dogs best," he said.
    "So...you want me to feed her the rest of what we have in the garage?"
    "Of course. Why waste it?" He went back to the window. It was getting dark. Once the light went on in Lucassi's kitchen, Colin could see Mr. Lucassi speaking to his guest. Where was the pretty Zoe? "When it's gone, let me know and I'll buy another bag," he added.
    Tiffany perched on the edge of the couch. "Okay."
    "She feeling any better?"
    "I couldn't tell. She didn't say much. When I brought the food, she asked if she could go home. That's all she ever asks. When I told her no, she rolled over and went to sleep."
    "She didn't eat?"
    "Not a bite."
    "She'll be sorry for that." Colin could no longer see anyone in Lucassi's kitchen. They'd moved to another room, out of range.
    Giving up his vigil, he decided to go upstairs and look in on his new pet. Now that his