Page 267 of Under Her Skin
Max shot her a look. ‘Obviously,doofus.’
Jess grinned good-naturedly. ‘Sorry, that was dumb, but all of this is new tome.’
They drove to two blocks away from Clem’s house and parked. It was almost dark so they could slip along the street without beingseen.
Clem’s house was indarkness.
‘Ready?’ Max looked at Jess crouched next to him in the alleyway. His gaze drifted downwards to her black top and leggings. She raised her eyebrows at him, amused. Maxsmirked.
‘Is that your special breaking and enteringoutfit?’
She looked down. ‘It’s the only black t-shirt I’vegot.’
‘You look like Cat-woman without themask.’
‘Geek.’
‘Doofus.’
The banter was making her less nervous and she was grateful to Max for making her feelbetter.
‘I don’t think he’s in…let’s give it a try,huh?’
They moved quickly, keeping to the shadows. At the door to the apartment, Jess reached up over the lintel. She shook her head. Max shrugged and reached into his pocket. Kneeling, he picked thelock.
‘They teach you that at Pony?’ Jess grinned athim.
‘Nope. In high school. Came in handy when we used to break into my dad’s liquorcabinet.’
Jess snorted. Max grinned and, flicking on his flashlight, led her in. They stood in the darkened living room. Jess lookedaround.
‘I don’t even know where tostart.‘
Max swept the flashlight over theroom.
‘Drawers, any drawers, boxes, stuff likethat.’
‘Gotit.’
After five minutes, Jess hissed in frustration. ‘Damn it.Nothing’
‘Patience. Check thebedroom.’
Jess grimaced but did what he asked. She heard himthumping.
‘What are youdoing?’
‘Checking for squeakyfloorboards.’
She giggled and went to meet him. ‘I don’t think there’s anything, Max. I know Jules, we’d at least find some exquisitely tailored suits, something that he couldn’t live without, the big asshole. But there’s nothing. This place is steeped in good-old-boynormalcy.’
Max nodded. ‘Yep. The only thing I found is an old newspaper from when you were stabbed. But that could have been hereforever.’
‘Suddenly I feel bad,’ Jess admitted. ‘Poor guy. Let’s get out ofhere.’
They were just about to leave when they heard a truck door slam. Max peeked around thecorner.
Shit.’ Max turned and pushed her back inside. ‘Go,go.’
