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treet。 She kept her eyes on him at all times； he was too busy with his present labors to notice her； thank God； and now； hidden in the bushes； she had the perfect vantage point from which to observe him as he went back and forth between the house and the car。 He was loading his vehicle up with an odd assortment of things： including several awards she knew belonged to Todd。 He was also removing some other items： a variety of fancy ornaments； a marijuana plant in a pot； some framed photographs。 All this； plus nine or ten sealed cardboard boxes； carefully placed in the trunk or on the back seat of his car。 There was no sign of Todd through the process； nor did she hear any exchange from inside the house。 If Todd was here； he was not engaged in conversation with Marco。 But her instincts told her he was not here。
For fully a quarter of an hour she watched him work and finally…putting all the evidence together…she came to the conclusion that she was witnessing an act of theft。 Of course； her dislike of the thief factored into her assessment； but there was no doubt that Caputo looked furtive as he went about his labors。 Every now and then he'd glance up as if he was afraid he was being watched （perhaps he sensed that he was）； and when he did she saw that his face was ill…shaven； and his eyes heavy。 Sleep wasn't ing too easily of late。
She had already decided what she was going to do well before he'd finished with his felony。 She'd follow him when he departed and find out where he was dropping off all his booty。 Then she'd call the police and have him arrested。 Hopefully that would improve Maxine's low opinion of her。 She might even find herself trusted enough to be invited into the charmed circle around Todd。 Well； perhaps that was a little too much to hope for。 But at the very least she'd be stopping Caputo profiting from his theft。
With the car now filled to capacity； Caputo slammed the trunk； and headed back to the house； presumably to lock up。 Once he'd gone Tammy disentangled herself from the blackberry bushes and hurried back to her own car。 It was getting warm。 She felt sweat running from beneath her breasts； and her underwear was bunched in the groove of her butt。 She turned the air…conditioning to its coldest setting； then drove on up the street a little way until she had sufficient room to turn around； and came back down in time to see Caputo's black Lexus easing out of the driveway。 He was the only occupant of the vehicle。
Keeping her distance； she followed the Lexus down through the maze of Bel Air's walls and cameras to Sunset Boulevard。 She almost lost her quarry at the lights； but luckily the eastbound traffic on Sunset was heavy； and with a little discourteous driving she was able to keep him in sight； finally catching up with him again。 He drove with ease and impatience； slipping lanes to overtake tardy drivers； but she was a match for him。 Wherever he was going； she was going to be on his thieving tail。
She had no time to consult the maps she'd picked up； she was too busy keeping her eyes on him。 So when he suddenly swung a left； and took off up into the hills again； she instantly lost all sense of where they were headed。 The traffic soon grew sparse； the streets narrow and serpentine。
Once he halted at a stop sign and he looked back over his shoulder。 She was certain he'd realized he was being followed； and prepared herself for a confrontation。 But no； something he'd laid on the back seat had moved； it seemed； and he was simply leaning over to reposition it。 The job done he then proceeded on his way； and she continued to follow； at a discreet distance。
The road wound so tightly on itself as it ascended that she let him slip out of sight several times rather than risk his realizing he was being pursued。 But she didn't fear losing him。 Unlike Bel Air； which was made up of a warren of small streets； the Canyon into which they were climbing seemed to have only one thoroughfare； and they were both on it。 What little sign of habitation she saw…a wall； and occasionally a gate in a wall… suggested this was not particularly well…fancied real estate； which was surprising given its location。 The trees had been allowed to grow over the road； in some places intertwining their branches to form a leafy vault overhead。 In one spot； where a number of tall palm trees grew close to the road； fallen fronds lay in a brittle carpet on the pot…holed tarmac。
She began to get just a little anxious。 Although she reassured herself that she was just a couple of minutes' drive away from Sunset； this felt like a very different world； a backwater； where who knew what went on？ That very fact； of course； supported her shadier suspicions。 This was a perfect place for an illegal transaction： there didn't appear to be anybody here to witness Caputo's dealing。 Except； of course； herself。
The black Lexus had been out of sight for quite a while when； as she turned a corner； she came upon it parked so badly that she might have ploughed into the back of it had she not acted quickly to avert the collision。 She swung wide of it； glancing back to see Caputo manually opening a pair of immense gates。 The thief started to look round at her； but she put her foot on the accelerator and was out of sight before he could fix his gaze。 She drove on a considerable distance； but the road came to a dead…end； which left her with two options。 One； to turn round and make a conspicuous retreat past the gates； so that he was certain she'd gone； or to hope that the urgency of his mission would make him careless about her presence； and by the time she'd trekked back to his thieves' lair she would have been forgotten。 She decided on the latter。 She'd e too far to turn and run off now with her tail between her legs。
The first thing she noticed when she got out of her car was the deep hush of the canyon。 Though the Bel Air house was nicely situated； away from the din of any major thoroughfare； she'd still been aware that she was in the middle of a city。 But here the only sound was the music of birds； and insects in the grass。 She was careful not to slam the door。 Leaving the key in the car； and the door just slightly ajar in case she needed to make a fast getaway； she headed back down the street to the gate。
There were no cameras mounted along the perimeter this time； which surprised her； but then perhaps she was walking into a nest of infamous felons； and everyone in the vicinity knew to keep their distance。 If so…if the people Marco was doing business with were real villains…then she was in trouble。 She was alone up here； and nobody knew where she'd gone。
This is insanity； she thought to herself as she walked。 But she kept on walking。 The prospect of ing out of this the unlikely heroine was simply too attractive to be turned down。 Yes； there was a risk。 But then perhaps it was time she took a few； instead of hiding away in her house and doting on her picture collection。 She was in the thick of things now； and she wasn't going to allow herself to turn her back on this adventure。 If she did…if she got in her car and drove away…wouldn't she always wonder how different things might have been if for once in her life she'd had the coura