Sloane dropped into a crouch behind one of the large, manicured shrubs. Then she wiped the raindrops off her glasses, taking stock of her surroundings.

The coast was clear, and her path was straightforward enough. If she hugged the wall, the shrubs would cover her nearly all the way to the pohutukawa tree. Then she could hide herself among the tree's large, twisted branches until she'd found her prize.

She could still feel the imprint of Donovan's fingers on her ...