Chapter 11
eleveN
I'D FORGOTTEN MR. HOWARD was a retired lawyer until that moment.
"Don't say another word, Haven. You don't have to answer their ridiculous questions."
I looked from him to the two police officers who had just asked if I knew anything about the disappearance of my other neighbor. The creepy one.
"It's alright, Mr. Howard. I don't believe these officers were part of the group that came after my break-in.
" I turned and looked both of them in the eye, noting that the smaller of the two looked away.
I addressed the other one, figuring he was in charge.
"I don't know anything about his disappearance.
I barely knew him. Not even well enough to say hello.
" I tilted my head to the side and pretended to consider my next words. "To be honest, I found him creepy."
"Creepy? In what way?"
The larger of the two had a severe military haircut and a square jaw that made his entire head very cube-like.
"Well, as I said, I barely knew the man, but I often found him staring at me through his windows." I waved at the side of my house. "I even put curtains on all the windows that faced him because of it."
Officer Cube nodded, then handed me a business card. "If you think of anything else, please call that number."
I glanced at the card. Seemed like standard government issue, the name of the precinct at the top and a phone number labeled 'tip line' underneath. I shoved it into a pocket.
"I'll be sure to do that."
Mr. Howard shoved his hand toward me, palm up, as soon as their car doors closed.
"Let me see that card."
I handed it over in confusion.
He snorted. "I still have friends in the department. I'll ask them about those two chuckleheads. Something felt off about them."
He scrutinized the card for another moment, his brows pinched tight—then his expression wiped clean into his usual kind grandfather face, which did absolutely nothing to reassure me.
"Now, tell me how you're doing. You were saying you'd gotten a new security system when those two rolled up."
I smiled. He might not be a good cook, but he had a way about him that put me at ease. It must have served him well when he was still trying cases.
"Yes, I had a consultation with a security company and they installed the system the same day.
" I definitely did not mention that not one, but two intruders had gotten around it like it was made of tissue paper.
I waved at the cameras tucked into the eaves of the roof.
We were standing between our two houses.
I'd been on my way to return the casserole dish when he came outside. "Where are you off to this morning?"
He blushed. "As it happens, I'm off to visit Rose."
At my look of confusion, he waved at the Pyrex dish in my hand.
"The church secretary."
"Oh!" I handed him the cookware. "Please thank her for me. The casserole was delicious."
"I will."
Something blue flashed in the corner of my eye and I startled.
"Are you all right, dear?"
I smiled as big as I could manage, sure I looked crazy. "Yes, I'm fine. I just thought I saw a lightning bug."
He chuckled. "This time of day? Probably just the sun reflecting off something."
I nodded. "Probably."
I said a prayer for anyone else on the roads, and waved him off. Then I spun in a slow circle. I hadn't seen the bond lights since leaving Quin's house, but I would have sworn that's what it was.
I shook my head and sighed. Apparently, I was the kind of person who only appreciated supernatural glowing mate-bond lights once they were gone.
That felt on-brand for me. My lizard brain was telling me I should pack up and get the hell out of town.
Since I'd been here, I'd had my house broken into—twice—and met a monster who killed someone in my bedroom.
The normal reaction to such events would be to faint (again) and then run screaming. Right? I shouldn't be standing in my side yard, staring as an octogenarian's land yacht disappeared around the corner like a dumbstruck ninny.
There was still the better part of a week before I reported to work. Maybe I should call my supervisor and tell them I wasn't able to stay in Damruck.
"They specifically requested you for this location." My former boss's words echoed through my mind. If I refused, would they fire me? Would I care? I could get another job.
A car rolled slowly past and snapped me out of my reverie. I made my way back inside the small rental that had seemed so homey, but now felt haunted. The specter of the dead man infected the space. Could I even stay there?
The idea of leaving wasn't as appealing as it should have been. My lizard brain might know that running was the expected reaction, but every other part of me wanted to stay. Wanted answers. Wanted safety. Wanted... him. Which was another problem entirely.
I shook my head. I was all twisted up and knew that the wyrfangs—and Quin in particular—were the only ones who could straighten me out.
I was going to need punch-card levels of therapy. Buy nine, get the tenth session free.