Chapter 21 #3
Sometimes even his charm failed. Though to be honest, the only person it’d ever truly failed with had been Sorcha.
“May we speak with Faro?” Sorcha asked in that soothing tone.
“Yes. Um…please follow me.” Her uncomfortable gaze went to Luke.
“I don’t bite. Promise.”
That only seemed to make her nervous and garnered him another elbow from Sorcha.
Rubbing the spot, he grimaced at her. “You keep doing that and I’m going to make you kiss my boo-boos later.”
Her face turned a becoming shade of red before she quickened her steps to follow after the woman who went down the hallway and opened a door to a very white room. It was so bright, Luke wanted to pull out a pair of sunglasses.
Sparsely furnished with a queen-sized bed, a white nightstand, and gray chest of drawers, it reminded him more of old Colonial Savannah.
As in the Savannah he once visited to barter souls with pirates, privateers, and planters who were trying to make it rich in the lush port town.
The only thing that made the room exquisite and special was the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the water. The palmetto trees were beautiful and haunting.
A man who appeared a couple of years older than the woman immediately clutched blankets higher on his chest. “Tiffany! What are you doing?”
Luke pulled out his badge. “Relax, Faro. We’re just here to ask a few questions.”
“I already spoke to the police.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “We’re not the normal police.”
That caused one brow to shoot up. “What?”
“We’re the ones the police call when they’re dealing with things such as vampires, elves…and werewolves.”
“Are you high?” Faro asked.
Luke laughed under his breath. “On life. Most days. But that’s not what brings us by. We’re investigating headless werewolves. Alphas. And we were told that you were attacked. Did you see who was trying to kill you?”
“Who are you people?” Tiffany asked.
Frowning, Luke arched a brow at Tiffany. “Did they break his nose so that he can’t smell anymore? Does he not know the scent of a hellhound when he meets one?”
“That explains your stench. Never met one before. Had no idea that was what gave you your odor.” Faro jerked his chin toward Sorcha. “I’m not sure what she is either.”
“My partner. Now tell us about your attack.”
Tiffany moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “I told him not to go.”
“Baby, please.” Faro cleared his throat.
“I didn’t really see anything. I’d been out to dinner with a couple of friends.
They’d parked in the parking deck and my car was on the street.
I left them and was heading to my car. Just as I reached it, I became dizzy.
Someone hit me from behind. I tried to fight, but I really couldn’t.
That was when I heard Tony cry out at my attacker.
Him and Wayne came running and I guess they scared off whoever it was. ”
Tiffany stiffened. “They drugged him and gave him a concussion.”
That was interesting. “What did they drug you with?”
“Something very medical sounding. It’s in my medical file, but I don’t remember.”
Luke nodded while Sorcha made notes. “Are you an Alpha?”
“I am. There are six of us with packs around here.”
He was well aware of that. “Five are run by males and the sixth is a female Alpha. Three of the five males have now been attacked.”
Faro gasped. “What?”
“Lawson Myers and Larry Osbourne were both killed…beheaded.”
He reached out for his wife’s hand.
Luke nodded. “I take it that you haven’t heard.”
“No. Really? Larry and Lawson?”
“And you make three.” Sorcha glanced up from her notes. “Any idea why someone would want to hurt you?”
Sighing, Faro shook his head. “I’m an Alpha. Werewolves are always trying to pick a fight for dominance or to take us over. It’s normal.”
Luke crossed his arms over his chest. “But they don’t normally sneak up from behind.”
“No, they don’t.”
“And you saw nothing?” Luke asked again.
“I didn’t even catch a scent.”
Sorcha looked up from her notes. “Do you think your friends might have seen something?”
“Possible. Tony Oliveri and Wayne Hirsch. My wife can get their contact info and addresses if you need them.”
Luke glanced over to Sorcha. “Then I think we’re done. Thank you for your time. Hope you get to feeling better.”
As they started to leave, Faro called out to Luke. “You really think someone is after my head?”
“Yeah. Might be a trophy hunter. We haven’t found Larry or Lawson’s heads yet.”
“Then I hope you get them. Soon.”
“Us, too,” Sorcha said. “Thank you.”
Luke led the way out of the house and back to his car. “You think it’s something other than a werewolf doing this?”
Sorcha shrugged. “You mentioned trophy hunters. Are those real?”
“Sadly, yes. Vicious bastards.”
“Like the ones sent after me?” she asked.
“Possibly.”
“Could they be related?”
Luke paused at her question. That was something he hadn’t considered. “You know what? I’m not ruling that out. You know I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Maybe this isn’t one.”
That was a very scary thought. One he wasn’t so sure about.
Huh…
“Let’s go talk to our witnesses and hope they have more information.”