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also pretty sure he knew cold had nothing to do with it.

    I saw Bobby Sunflower leave here about forty-five minutes ago. And now Gritch is here, I told him.

    Ranger looked at the back of the building. And you think Vinnie might be here?

    The windows are blacked out upstairs. Originally, I thought the embalming rooms were up there, but Lula saw Bobby Sunflower come down the stairs. I reached into the Jeep and got my sweatshirt. I didnt get a chance to check out anything other than the public areas.

    Ranger looked at his watch. Viewing hours are over. The outdoor light was off when we drove by the front of the building. We can hang here for a while and see what goes down.

Sizzling Sixteen
    Page: 22

    Two car engines turned over, and headlights flashed on. The Mercedes rolled past first. The big Lincoln followed. They took the corner and headed for Stark Street.

    Ranger stayed pressed against me, his hand at my waist, his breathing even. His lips brushed my ear, and my cheek, and found my mouth, and the contact produced a rush of heat and desire that filled every part of me. Since we were standing on a public street in a part of town that had killings nightly, I suspected this wasnt going any farther than kissing.

    Are you playing? I asked him.

    Yes, he said, but that could change.

    I felt my fingers curl into his shirt, and I made an effort to uncurl them. I put a couple inches between us, and I smoothed out the wrinkles Id made.

    I need to find Vinnie, I said.

    Ranger looked over at the building. Get in your car and lock the doors. Ill go inside and look around.

    Im sure the funeral parlor has an alarm system.

    Even with the best alarm system, theres a ten to fifteen minute window before anyone responds. And in this part of town, the response is a lot longer . . . If at all.

    Ranger jogged to the back door, and within seconds, he had the door unlocked. He slipped inside, and a couple minutes later, I heard the alarm go off. I gripped the wheel and watched the building, keeping track of the time. Five minutes went by. Ten minutes. I had my teeth sunk into my lower lip, and I was thinking get out, get out, get out! The door opened at fourteen minutes. Ranger emerged alone and jogged back to the car.

    Ill follow you home, Ranger said. I dont want to talk here.

    I pulled away from the curb, and when I got to the corner, the stretch Lincoln slid to a stop in front of the funeral home and three men got out and went to the front door. Ranger and I drove past them and continued on down Stark.

    RANGER WALKED ME to my apartment and stepped inside.

    Obviously, Vinnie wasnt being held at Melons, I said to him.

    The embalming room is in the basement, and it isnt pretty. The upstairs rooms are being used as a cash drop. Theres a counting table and a safe in one of the rooms. The other rooms are storerooms. No sign of Vinnie.

    What about Mickey Gritch? Did he make any more stops?

    I checked with Chet. Mickey Gritch went straight home from Melons. Looks like hes settled in for the night. Ranger unzipped my sweatshirt. We could be settled in for the night, too.

    I moved a step back from him. Are you feeling domestic?

    The corners of his mouth softened into the smallest of smiles. Im feeling friendly. He closed the distance between us, lifted my bag off my shoulder, and his focus moved from me to the bag.

Sizzling Sixteen
    Page: 23

    Its the bottle.

    I took Uncle Pips bottle out of my bag and set it on the kitchen counter. Rex came out of his soup can house and looked through the glass aquarium at the bottle. His beady black eyes glistened, his whiskers whirred, and he put two little pink feet on the side of his cage. He blinked once and turned and scurried back into his soup can.

    Why are you carrying this bottle? Ranger asked.

    This is the bottle I inherited from my Uncle Pip. Its supposed to be lucky, and Lula decided we needed to carry it with us . . . Just in case.

    Rangers smile widened. Cant hurt, he