by Vella Day
His gut soured. “I never should have left your side.”
Anna punched in the code to the building, and he followed her upstairs. “You didn’t know more wolves would appear. You were busy fighting your own battle. Besides, if they had come any closer, I would have run, darting in between and around all of the bookcases. I might have been able to tire them out. Though to be honest, I was so scared, it didn’t occur to me to do that until just now.”
The whole thing was too close for comfort. He couldn’t wait until the white moon so Anna could shift. Then he’d teach her to defend herself.
The moment they stepped into the apartment, his tiger went wild remembering them making love earlier tonight. Their lovemaking scent still lingered in the air.
“I’ll pack a few things,” she said.
Dalton didn’t follow her into the bedroom. Not only had they made love a few hours ago, she’d been through a lot and needed some alone time to process things. He was willing to bet that Anna had never seen a dead body before. During the fight with the Changelings, he’d glanced over and seen her watching the tussle. Hearing the growls and shrieks of death would forever be imprinted in her head. At least his adrenaline had been pumping so fast that he barely remembered killing those wolves.
A soft whistling sound came from the bedroom. Either Anna was happy to be staying with him or else she was still scared. Not able to keep away any longer, he entered her small bedroom.
“Are you okay?” he telepathed. When he’d heard her voice in his head at the bookstore, he’d been stunned. Sure, he’d been told telepathy between two mates happened, but he never thought he’d be able to do it.
She spun around and smiled. “I am now.”
Before she asked, he held up his hand. “I don’t know how this works, just that it does.”
“I’m glad. It’s cool. It’s like only we can be in the conversation.”
She turned back to packing, tossing a pair of jeans, two pairs of shorts, and a couple of tops into a suitcase. From what he could tell, her bras and panties were already in there—not that she would need them. He planned to keep her naked and very busy once they were at his place.
Anna stepped past him and made more noise in the bathroom. She returned with a pouch that he suspected contained her toiletries. “Anything else you want to ask me?” he asked.
“Sam explained what he did. I am curious about what the Changelings are going to do with those men who returned without any of the sardonyx? Won’t they want some kind of retaliation?”
His heart pumped faster. “Most likely yes, but the battle for power between them and Rye’s Clan has apparently been going on for a long time.”
She closed her case. “So all the shifters live on edge, waiting for the Changelings’ next attack?”
The way she described it sounded so bleak. “I guess that’s one way to look at it, but most of the time they leave us alone.”
“Not when it comes to sardonyx.”
“That’s true.” He’d have to have a talk with Jackson about not involving Anna any more. If the Changelings ever found out about her power, they’d try to use it for their own good. He picked up her suitcase. “Ready?”
“You bet.” She smiled, and his tiger roared.
*
All last night, Dalton had wanted to tell Anna about Meredith Wilson possibly being her mother, but until Merry was released from jail, he wouldn’t. The woman he was fast falling in love with deserved to have a better reunion with her mother than in a cell. Plus, once they had arrived at his place, there wasn’t much talking happening, as their mutual need for each other was too strong. They spent the night lost in each other’s passion, making love and pushing away the awful thoughts of what they experienced at the bookstore.
As soon as Dalton arrived at work, he received word from the tech department that Merry’s computer had not been tampered with, and that the messages had the correct time stamp.
Happy to have her alibi confirmed, he contacted the district attorney and asked that the charges to be dismissed. That conversation went well, but the one to the judge didn’t. He called Dalton a few names and told him to be better prepared next time if he ever wanted a warrant again. In the end, the judge gave Dalton Merry’s release paper. Why Dalton felt so guilty about the whole ordeal he didn’t know. He’d done his job. The facts pointed to her as the killer, which meant he had every right to arrest her.
After he licked his wounds, he called his sister. While she was pleased Dalton had worked quickly to have the charges dropped, Jillian said he should have been more diligent before arresting her. He couldn’t argue with her there.
As soon as he hung up from speaking with his sister, Kalan came in. He said nothing as he pulled out his desk chair, sat down, and booted up his computer. His partner must still be steamed about being diverted from the fight. In truth, he, Rye, and Connor—and of course, Sam—had been able to handle who they’d sent.
Dalton went over to his partner’s desk and leaned a hip on the corner. “You have to let it go.”
Kalan didn’t look up. “I can’t. I should have suspected they’d pull something like this.”
“It’ll eat you alive if you let it. No one could have seen this coming.”
Kalan let out a breath and finally looked at him. “I know, but it’s hard. It didn’t help that as Jackson and I drove to my parents’ house, I pictured my father dying.” His jaw trembled. “Jackson called Mom but couldn’t get a hold of her. He spoke with our sister, and Blair nearly had a heart attack herself. I’m not sure she’ll ever forgive me or Jackson.”
Dalton didn’t know what to say. He never was very good dealing with emotions. “The only way to take your mind off of this is to figure out who killed Crystal Wedgewood.”
Kalan perked up. “You’re right.”
Dalton explained that the judge would be sending out Meredith’s release papers later this morning. “When he does, I’ll drive her home. I want to ask her if she could be Anna’s mom.”
“How can she be sure?”
“If she gave up a child for adoption, I can suggest both she and Anna take a blood test.”
Kalan nodded. “Good idea. So where are you on the investigation?”
He told him about seeing Julie and Carlton kissing. “That doesn’t mean much.”
“I know, but it adds one more piece to the puzzle. With Meredith in the clear, and no gunshot residue on Carlton’s clothes, we need to take a serious look at the other three suspects.”
“What should be our plan if the Changelings killed Crystal because she decided to renege on selling the property?”
“We’re basically screwed unless the lab missed something in their analysis.”
Kalan twirled a pen on his knuckles then pointed it at Dalton. “Could be Carlton killed his wife, then was smart enough to change his clothes. His hands were bloody, making the detection of GSR difficult.”
“It’s possible he wore gloves at the time of the murder.”
“True.”
“Anna also suggested that possibility. Without us having access to that other shirt, however, Carlton might have pulled off the perfect murder.”
“Damn.”
Dalton stood. “I need to wait for the signed paper from the judge and then take Merry home. Do you want to check out either Tom DeLuca or Linda Darnell?”
“I’ll take Tom. Even if he’s at work, I wouldn’t mind making sure we didn’t leave any evidence in the store.”
Dalton liked that idea. “That works for me.”
He returned to his desk and decided to do a little bit more research on Linda Darnell. Jackson said he’d look into Julie Dominick and whether she had any problems at the University of Tennessee where they both went to school.
About an hour later, the delivery he’d been waiting for arrived. After he logged in the release document, Meredith was brought out. The poor woman had bags under eyes, and her shoulders were slumped.
“Mrs. Wilson,” he said, wanting
to give her the respect she deserved, “I’d like to drive you home.”
She nodded. “Thank you. I’d call my husband, but he isn’t supposed to drive until the doctor gives him the okay.”
“I understand. I’m very sorry this happened.”
She reached out and touched his hand. “You had a job to do. I understand.”
Dalton was about to argue that if he’d been more thorough, she might not have had to spend even one night in jail, but he decided to accept her comment. “Thank you. I know you want to get home to your husband as quickly as possible, but I’d like to speak with you about something personal. Could I buy you a cup of coffee?”
Chapter Twenty
‡
Meredith’s features pinched. “I guess. I really could go for a good cup. The service in your hotel was less than stellar.”
He chuckled. The bad coffee was his biggest gripe about working there. “Tell me about it.”
Because the Silver Lake Café was several blocks away, he drove. During the short trip, Meredith sat with her back rigid and gazed out the side window. Not that he could blame her, but it was as if she thought he was driving her to her execution instead of setting her free.
When he parked in front of the Café, he rushed to her side to help her out. She stood then faced him. “Is this about Crystal’s death? Did you figure out who murdered her? Or do you need me to do a little snooping?”
He couldn’t keep back his smile. As sure as he was standing there, Merry Wilson was his mate’s mother—determined, strong, and sassy. “It’s not about the murder, and no I don’t know who is responsible, but you have given me an idea. Come inside.”
Once seated, they each ordered a large black coffee. Meredith added a piece of apple pie to her order. Dalton refrained. Now came the hard part. If he mentioned Anna’s talent of being able to see into a person’s past and the woman before him wasn’t a Wendayan, he’d have a lot of explaining to do. However, at some point, he might have to tell her about what Anna was capable of.
The waitress brought over the coffee, and that first sip hit the spot. If he messed things up between Anna and her mother, she’d never forgive him. “Merry, I asked you here because during my investigation I uncovered something.” Technically, that was true since he had learned her maiden name matched that of Anna’s birth mom. He wouldn’t have thought anything of it had Anna not told him about her vision.
She picked up her cup and her hands shook. “What was it?”
“Anna Fairchild was given up at birth in Montana by a woman whose name was Mary Carlyle, only I’m wondering if Anna didn’t misunderstand, and it really was Merry Carlyle.”
Merry’s face paled. “You think that’s me?”
He leaned back in his chair and studied her face. “You tell me. Anna is twenty-five, and her birthday is Oct 17th. Does that ring a bell?”
She set her cup down. “Anna is…my daughter?”
For the first time in his career, he couldn’t tell if her stunned expression was one of dismay or disbelief. “You tell me.”
“How did you find out?” She glanced off to the side. “I told no one.”
“You’ll have to ask Anna, assuming she’s your daughter. A blood test can confirm or deny it.”
Merry faced him again, her breath coming out fast. “I did have to give up a daughter on October 17th, twenty-five years ago. Oh, my God. I never thought I’d find her.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she wiped them away. “You must think I’m terrible, giving her up, but I had my reasons.”
“I’m sure you did.” Merry probably hadn’t been more than a kid herself when Anna was born.
She bit down on her lip. “I’m so confused. I should be jumping up and down, but I guess I’m afraid she’ll hate me—assuming it is her.”
He reached across the table and placed a hand on hers. “That’s where you’re wrong. If Anna is your daughter, I can assure you that she is the most forgiving person you’ll ever meet. You know her—albeit as a customer. How do you think she’ll react?”
“She’s always sweet, unlike some of our customers. Did she ever say if she had a tattoo of a vine on the back of her shoulder?”
He smiled. Her Wendayan stamp. “She has a lot of tattoos, but that marking isn’t a tattoo, is it?”
Her cheeks reddened. “No.”
Well, well. Dalton couldn’t wait to hear this story. A blood test might not be needed after all.
*
“Anna?” Elana called from the front of the store.
Even though Anna was in the middle of cutting the baby’s breath for the arrangement she was working on, her boss must need her to retrieve something from the back room. Anna rushed to the door that separated the two rooms and stuck her head out. “What do you need?”
“You have company.” When Elana nodded toward Meredith, joy spread through Anna.
She’d been released! I knew she was innocent.
“Meredith, so good to see you.” Anna wiped her palms on her apron, a bit confused why the manager of a bookstore would take the time to stop by and see her. Sure, she read, but Anna didn’t buy that many paperbacks. Oh, crap. She probably wanted to see if she was still suffering any after effects of being in the science fiction section of her store. “How can I help you?”
Meredith looked over Anna’s shoulder into the other room. “Is there someplace where we can talk in private?”
That sounded ominous. She hoped someone else hadn’t been murdered at the store. Even if they had, why come to her? Anna glanced to Elana who nodded. “Sure, we can chat in the back room.”
Her heart suddenly dropped to her stomach. Dalton must have mentioned the vision Anna had seen, and her blood pressure shot up. He had no right.
Meredith appeared uncomfortable more than upset, so perhaps she wasn’t here to chastise her for intruding in her privacy, though it wasn’t like Anna could help it that she saw things.
Once in the back room, Anna moved her vase, scissors, cuttings, and flowers she had yet to place into the arrangement off to the side. She then dragged the chair from the desk to an area next to the counter and motioned for Meredith to sit.
She shook her head. “I’m too nervous. I’d rather stand. Actually, I’d rather pace.”
Okay, that wasn’t good. “What is it? Is it about Crystal?”
“No. I spoke with Officer Garner, and he mentioned that you’d been adopted.”
Chills covered her. Her past was something she kept private. “I was.”
Meredith grabbed the back of the chair. “Maybe I do need to sit down. I want to tell you something about me.”
Anna hopped up on the counter, feeling more secure up there. It was where she sat when she wanted to think. “Go on.”
“I’m not sure where to start, so I’ll start at the beginning. I was seventeen and a senior in high school. I’d been accepted to Bozeman State University in Montana and was so happy. My life was perfect. I had a bright future, and I was in love. My boyfriend, Tommy Sanders, and I wanted to do something romantic on Valentine’s Day, so I suggested we steal away to my parents’ cabin in the mountains.” A small smile lifted her lips. “If they’d known what I was planning to do, they would have locked me in my room. I told them a bunch of my girlfriends and I wanted to spend the weekend there, and they actually believed me.”
While Anna wasn’t sexually promiscuous, she never had parents who cared enough to question where she was or what she did. “I take it something happened?”
“Yes. My father, who was a powerful and influential man, loved me in his own way, but he also wanted to control me. I was never allowed to do anything even remotely crazy since it would shed a bad light on the family.” She waved a hand. “Long story short, Tommy and I had a wonderful and wild fling.”
The image returned of her holding a baby with an older couple looking on. She could fill in the blanks. “And you became pregnant?”
Her eyes widened. “Yes, how did—”
�
�Why else go to a secluded place with a hot guy if not to have some privacy?” Perhaps Dalton hadn’t mentioned her vision after all.
“True. Stupid me, I was certain that I couldn’t get pregnant, but I did.”
Anna placed a hand on her stomach, not sure what she’d been thinking having unprotected sex with Dalton. Now that they were mated, it might turn out to be a good thing. “What happened?”
“My parents were furious. The scandal nearly killed my dad.”
“And Tommy? How did he react?” Most young men didn’t want the responsibility.
Meredith smiled. “He was so excited about being a father that he asked me to marry him.”
“That’s sweet. I’m glad you had support.”
“Me too.” A dark cloud passed over her face, and she looked off to the side. Meredith pressed her lips together, and her chin trembled. “A week after I graduated from high school, we were going to be married. We’d decided to elope since my parents said they were cutting me off. No college, no nothing. I didn’t care. I was having a baby and marrying the man I loved. How we were going to support ourselves, I wasn’t sure, but he had a good job as a garage mechanic.”
This was a lovely story, albeit a sad one, but Anna wasn’t sure why Meredith was telling her. They weren’t exactly friends. “So are you still married to him?”
“No. Tommy was killed in a car wreck on his way to pick me up for the wedding.”
Anna sucked in a breath. She couldn’t think of anything more tragic. “I’m so sorry.”
Meredith dragged a hand down her face, her eyes watery. “Thank you. I had the baby, but without Tommy, I realized I couldn’t work and raise a child, so I had to give it up for adoption.”
That must have been the vision she’d seen. Like a huge wave crashing down on her, reality sunk in. “When was the child’s birthday?”
“My daughter was born October 17th. She’ll be twenty-six this year.” Merry looked up at Anna.
“And you think that child might be me?”
She stood. “You are.”
A million questions bombarded her. “How do you know?”