“Are you okay? Hang on while I call.” As she waited she heard Beth’s call to 9-1-1. “Yes. I have an emergency. I think someone is breaking into my apartment.” Beth rattled off the address. “I’m here alone. Send someone fast. He might have a gun.”

Vanni pulled her ear away from the phone, listening for any sound of the driver or Bruce. The alley was quiet, the only noise coming from the traffic down the street.

“Vanni? Vanni?”

“I’m here. Are the police on their way?”

“Yeah. What happened? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“We don’t have time to talk. I have to go. They are probably looking for me. I’m okay so far though. Dump your phone and go to Elvis. I remember his address. Don’t trust anyone and tell my parents to get in the RV. They need to get out of town. I never took Carl to the cabin. He hates the outdoors. I don’t know if Gregory plans to go after them next.”

“Are you serious?”

“They are nuts. You have no idea.”

“I can guess. I told you something was seriously wrong with that family. I’ll meet you at Elvis’ place. How long until you can get there?”

“I can’t. I’m too far away.” Vanni peeked out from behind the dumpster. She didn’t see anyone coming down the alley. Yet.

“Tell me where you are and I’ll come get you.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“Bullshit,” Beth spat. “Where are you?”

“I’ve got a killer hunting for me if that bullet to his thigh didn’t cripple him.”

“You shot someone?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Grab your shit and don’t open that door until the cops arrive. Get out of there and leave your phone so they can’t find you. Ditch your car after you get a few blocks away and have Elvis pick you up. I’m probably being paranoid but they have money. Don’t use your cards. No trace, okay?”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I can call the police and tell them everything.”

“Go to Smiley. The police wouldn’t even take a report when I told them something was wrong. You need protection and Homeland is somewhere no one can get to you.”

“He thinks I drugged him.”

“He doesn’t. We talked.”

“What?”

“You didn’t tell me he’s got such a sexy voice. He—”

“Fucking bitch!” Bruce yelled. “Do you see her?”

“No!” another man shouted. “I think she disappeared somewhere in this area though.”

“I gotta go. I’ll call you when it’s safe.” Vanni hung up and made sure the ringer was off on the phone while she crouched behind the dumpster. It would be her luck that Beth called her back if Bruce’s number showed on the caller ID. She shoved it between her thighs and stomach to muffle it if it vibrated.

Heavy breathing grew louder. “I’m going to kill that bitch.” Bruce was close.

“You’re bleeding.”

“My tie slowed it down.”

“She’ll go to the police if we don’t find that cunt.”

“Gregory has that covered. Dr. Barns is going to say she suffered an emotional break after her rape. He’ll go in after her and take charge. She won’t be going to a hospital though. I’ll drop her off at the morgue myself. Do you know what it’s going to cost us if we have to get her that way?” He seemed to be breathing hard and sounded as if he were right on the other side of the dumpster.

Vanni closed her eyes, slowed her breathing and hoped he didn’t find her.

“Maybe she ran down that other alley. I’d keep booking it if I were her.”

“Go left. I’ll go right. The bitch stole my phone and wallet.”

“Can you track it?”

“Yeah. I just need a laptop to log in to my phone account.”

“There’s a laptop in the limo under the passenger seat. I play online games while I’m waiting to drive Gregory.”

“I’ll go use it. You check the alley. Give it four minutes and then get your ass back to the limo. We’ll track her that way.”

They separated because she heard the driver run farther down the alley and Bruce’s footsteps faded as he headed back toward the limo. Vanni opened her eyes and looked down at the phone. She needed to ditch it. She figured she had about three minutes before Bruce reached that laptop. It would take time for the computer to load and for him to log into the tracking system. She had maybe five minutes tops.

She peeked out and moved once she was sure they weren’t within sight. She went to the street, peered around the corner and saw Bruce about sixty feet away. A group of tourists passed and she moved ahead of them so they’d hide her if he looked back. She ducked into a coffee shop two stores down.

The waiting customer line was long so she entered their unisex bathroom and locked the door. Her hands shook as she stared at the phone. Gregory had a doctor on his payroll. Could they really just send him into a police station to say she was nuts and take her way? It wasn’t a risk she was willing to take.

She dialed and got information. “New Species Homeland.” She pushed the button to connect the number directly. It rang twice and a pleasant male voice answered.

“Homeland. How may I help you?”