Sizzle by Julie Garwood

know what was going on.
    Sidney was the quiet one in the family. She was an observer, not a participant, which was why she, like Lyra, was going to be so good in the field they had chosen. She was also independent and determined to live her life on her own terms. In general, she wanted her brothers to stay out of her business and let her make her own decisions—good or bad—but what happened this afternoon was different. Lyra needed their help. Sidney realized that her best friend was in serious danger. Hopefully, one of her brothers would figure out why.
    Sidney decided to wait until they were done at the hospital before making the call. Lyra had followed the ambulance in her car so that Sidney would have a way home.
    The physician on duty in the emergency room examined Sidney and then ordered an X-ray and a CT scan. “To be safe,” he said. The results were good. Sidney had a mild concussion, but it wasn’t necessary for her to stay overnight. On the drive back home, she nagged Lyra to stop at the store to get some desperately needed chocolate, and Lyra gave in.
    “I called maintenance,” Lyra said when they were back in traffic.
    “What for?”
    “The apartment door. Hank should be putting the frame back together now. If those men broke the lock, Hank will put a new one in. I chose this apartment because it was so close to campus but also because I thought it was safe. The electronic gate and the proximity to the police station … safety outweighed how tiny the apartment was. How did they get inside the main entrance?”
    “They probably followed another tenant in. Getting into our apartment was easier. That front door is so old, one good kick and they’re inside.”
    “They tried the lock first,” Lyra said. “There were scratches all over it.”
    “I noticed that,” Sidney admitted, “but I didn’t notice the frame was messed up until I was walking inside.” She shook her head. “I wasn’t paying attention. I’ve gotten lazy.”
    “Me, too,” Lyra said. “Tell me what happened next.”
    “One of them grabbed me. The other guy pulled out a photo, looked at it, and shook his head. He said, ‘It’s the other one.’”
    “The other one?”
    “You, Lyra.”
    Lyra slowed down when they reached their street. They could both see their apartment door. Hank wasn’t working on it.
    He must have already finished, Lyra thought. She pulled up to the gate and pushed the numbers. The parking lot gate slowly opened.
    “Did you see the photo? Where did they get a picture of me?” she asked as she drove through.
    “Someone’s been watching you. The photo was of the two of us walking across the quad.”
    “This is so creepy,” Lyra whispered. She pulled into her parking spot and turned off the motor.
    “Yes, it is,” Sidney agreed. “The one holding me loosened his grip, and I kicked him hard you know where. That got him mad and he punched me right under the chin. Knocked me out. I’m kind of surprised I didn’t chip a tooth. I don’t know how long I was out, but when I woke up, I stayed still and kept my eyes closed so I could listen to them talking.
    They were waiting for you to get home, and were planning to take you somewhere. I think they wanted you to give them something.”
    “What?”
    “I have no idea. Neither of them said what they were after. That’s all I got before you opened the door.”

    “Come on. Let’s go upstairs. I want this day to end.”
    “I want chocolate,” Sidney said as she followed Lyra, who had pepper spray and her keys in her hands and a box of chocolates tucked under her arm.
    “I want a Taser,” Lyra said. “And mace … lots of mace.”
    “Are either of those legal in California?”
    Lyra shrugged.
    Sidney followed her toward the apartment building.
    “How’s your poor little leg?” Sidney asked. “I can’t believe you were shot and didn’t say anything when the police got here.”
    Lyra laughed. “No big deal. The paramedic was so sweet. How’s