Part 112 (1/2)

The site was sealed.

She was leaving.

He was leaving.

It was over.

Folding a pair of jeans neatly along the crease. Dean set them into his hockey bag. He wanted to be ready to go as soon as possible after that someone arrived.

”Austin says that someone'll be along.”

He'd never be able to look at a cat without wondering. As for the rest of it, well, he knew who he was again, so the rest of it didn't matter.

A stack of white briefs, also neatly folded, tucked in beside the jeans.

There'd been a lot left unsaid upstairs in the hall. Claire'd been looking sort of aloof and unapproachable, but also twisting a lock of hair around one finger. Dean had to smile at the combination as he added all but one pair of socks to the bag.

Diana had given him continual advice on the way to the station. About half of it, he hadn't understood.

It didn't much matter.

Claire was leaving.

He was leaving.

At least she hadn't offered to rearrange his memories. He'd have fought to remember the last eight weeks.

”What in tarnation have you done to my hotel?”

Claire, who'd been waiting in the office, stared down at Augustus Smythe, opened and closed her mouth, and finally managed a stunned, ”You?”

”Who else would be willing to run this rattrap?”

”But...”

”Used to be a hole to h.e.l.l in the bas.e.m.e.nt. That sort of thing has to be monitored.” He shrugged out of his overcoat and tossed it up on the counter. ”They say I'm retired, with full pension for years of service rendered, but I know better.” Bushy brows drawn in, he glared around at the renovations. ”So you opened up the elevator; lose anyone?”

”No.”

:Tried it since the hole closed?”

”No, but...”

”Never mind. I'll convince that harpy next door to go for a ride.” To Claire's astonishment, he smoothed back his hair and grinned. After a moment, the grin rearranged itself into the customary scowl. ”Well? Haven't you got somewhere else to go?”

Now that he mentioned it, she had.

The summons grew stronger as she shrugged into her backpack and held open the cat carrier for Austin to climb in. Reaching for her suitcase, she stopped, straightened, and decided Jacques was right. There'd always be a reason to delay.