Free Perfect Crime by Jack Parker Page B

idea,” he said.
    “My postcard. My call.”
    “Since I have the postcard, you now have a partner.” He grabbed a few toiletries from the connecting bath, and tossed them in the bag. An absent hand ran through his short blond hair. “What time is it?”
    Tessa checked her watch, “Inching up on 10.”
    “We’ve got about an hour.” Scott zipped the suitcase. “Let’s go get your things.”
    His look dared her to argue. She didn’t.
    The drive over to her condominium on the west side was uneventful. No high-speed chase; nothing out of the ordinary, other than the annoying wind blowing through the shot-out window; a constant reminder to both, that this night was far from ordinary. And when they arrived, Scott didn’t pull up to the curb and let her walk in. He circled the block twice, checked his mirrors, and then got out with her.
    After she unlocked the front entrance, Scott reached past and held open the door for her to enter the small common area. Together, they took the elevator to the third floor. Even though the hour was still fairly early, the halls were eerily empty. The hum of the overhead lights gave an industrial feel to the bland beige walls. But nothing really appeared to be wrong. No lurking shadowy figures. “I think you’re being paranoid for nothing, I told him I’d be at the restaurant, it’s all good.” Tessa finally said.
    “Let’s hope it’s that simple.” He watched while she punched a code on a keypad to open her condo. “Or perhaps the alarm system you’ve got deterred them.”
    “Then it’s worth the 50 bucks a month,” Tessa quipped, as she cautiously opened the door.
    Everything looked as it had when she’d left earlier in the day. Flipping the lights on, she observed the well-placed furniture, the undisturbed stack of mail. “Coast is clear.”
    Following her inside, Scott closed the door behind them. His rapid glance gleaned only an impression that her living space was much like her office—simple, dust free, and impersonal. All except her shoes. She’d discarded them in a haphazard fashion and walked barefoot onto the plush carpet. Bending down, he stacked them neatly, putting them in order to match their surroundings.
    Scott said, “Laying low for a few days might be a good idea. Got any place you can go? Family? Friends?”
    Tessa looked at her guest. He was already acting like he was in charge. She’d have to put a stop to that.
    She pressed a button on the control panel situated next to the door. Light piano music filtered into the room. A small smile flickered at the corners of her mouth; the obscure song of Petrassi’s always relaxed her. “I’m going to New York,” she said.
    “Why?”
    “Well, if you think I should get out of Dodge, it makes sense to keep working on Darla’s trail.” Tessa wandered around the large combination living room/dining room while Scott remained still in the foyer. She tried not to dwell on Scott’s theory that her personal space might not be here when she decided to return. If she was found in New York, I’d like a firsthand look. Besides,” she winked, “that’s where you’re going.”
    “Really?”
    “Don’t get cagey on me. I’m betting you already made reservations to go to New York, even before we left the office.”
    Scott chuckled softly.
    She took that as a yes. “You did say we were partners.”
    “So I did.”
    He might have offered more, but Tessa was already walking towards her bedroom, saying, “I’ll be back in five. You’re not the only one who can pack fast.”
    Scott amused himself in her absence by mimicking her earlier circle of the living room. He paused where she had paused, checking the mail, lifting a picture for closer inspection. The classical music was soothing, but he struggled to identify the piano melody. Her CD collection seemed to hold quite a bit of Beethoven, a little bit of jazz.
    He turned at a sound behind him. Tessa returned after changing into a pair of black denims and a