The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

On the other side of town.

Leopold, with Adam in tow, strolled through the labyrinthine streets of Rivenwood's largest urban village.

Twisting alleys had Leopold nursing a headache. Without his trusty GPS, he half-expected Adam to lead him into an unfamiliar alleyway for a swift, unseen dispatch.

"When are we getting there?" Thomas surveyed the surrounding high-rises, nearly indistinguishable from one another.

Above, a tangle of clotheslines and electric wires-a fire trap if there ever was one.

And to think, someone working for the Abernathy family lived in such a place? Quite the understatement.

Adam led the way, occasionally glancing back to ensure Leopold and Thomas's group kept pace. "Just up ahead. This place, it's a maze. Looks like there are many ways through, but most are dead ends. Without a local guide, it's easy to get lost."

Leopold noted, "I heard you guys have dorms. Why does Keith choose to live here?"

A hint of frustration crossed Adam's face. "Who knows what goes through his mind? An orphan, yet he insists on living amidst this chaos. I've offered him a dorm room multiple times, but he always refuses, claiming he needs his freedom."

"Talking about the intern salary not even hitting eight grand, in a place as pricey as Rivenwood, even these rundown flats cost a couple grand a month. Half his salary gone just on rent, not to mention commuting and living expenses. Barely saves anything by month's end."

Adam had more to say about Keith. "And that kid keeps dreaming about getting married. With his spending habits, which girl would even consider?"

Leopold and Thomas listened in silence.

Glancing back at their team, Leopold had his suspicions. Claiming to dislike restrictions was probably just an excuse for avoiding too close a contact with Abernathy family members in the dorms. Their conversation meandered, extracting even Keith's police academy entry date.

As they neared the end of their chat, they finally arrived at the base of Keith's building.

Rivenwood, well past midnight.

scattered lights were on; the rest of the building was shrouded

had

they not left two men at the

faced a metal door covered in flyers, looking as if

hand to knock but was stopped by Leopold. "Let's

huh? Dragged out in the

lighthearted, his hands

The door creaked open.

as an opportunity to shine. Just stay behind me; wouldn't want Keith catching you off guard again." "In this

Zzzap...

electric current

tensed, instinctively readying for a fight, then heard a click. The room lit

Adam. "Why didn't you

Silence fell.

For a moment, Leopold wished the earth would swallow

blame to Thomas's hasty actions. "I brought you for backup, not

peering inside, retorted, "Does it look like anyone's

there be no one... Keith must

confidence faded as he took in the room. No sign of Keith or

Where the hell had Keith

studio, left nowhere to hide. From the neatly made bed to the half-eaten snacks on the table, everything was in plain view. Thomas clapped a rigid Leopold on the shoulder. "Let's head back.

up, protested. "Isn't this too

an