I Kissed a Dog

by Carol Van Atta

  I was relieved to see Officer Tate approach the car. Agent Green was nowhere in sight.

  Zane already had the window down and was reaching for his license.

  “I’d like both of you to exit vehicle,” he said all business.

  “Officer Tate,” I greeted him with a little wave. “Please tell me he wasn’t speeding again.”

  “Ms. Carpenter … pardon me, Mrs. Marshall, could you please exit the car with your hands up?”

  Zane was standing beside the overweight officer before I could get my door open.

  “What’s this about?” Zane squared his shoulders, sending a don’t mess with me or mine message loud and clear.

  Officer Tate scanned the area. “I’m sorry, you two, but I don’t have any choice.”

  I made my way around the car and stopped next to Zane, puzzled by the normally friendly police officer’s strange requests. “Is every okay? How’s Barney?” I asked, hoping to diffuse the situation before it got out of hand.

  “I’m sorry, Chloe, but I have to bring you in for questioning. In fact, you’re under arrest for the murders of …”

  I didn’t hear a word he said after “under arrest.” He clamped the handcuffs around my wrists, apologizing in the process. He recited my rights and escorted me to his cruiser.

  Zane, who remained at my side, had grown quiet. This is all wrong, Chloe. I can smell his fear and uncertainty. I’ll contact the pack’s lawyers and will bail you out as soon as they process you, okay? Be strong, baby. We’ll be back together by bedtime.

  Wishing I could believe it would be that simple, I allowed Officer Tate to guide me into the back, where I was left to stare at the divider that kept me separated from any front seat passengers.

  I pressed my face against the side window, my nose touching the glass. Zane followed my example, imploring me with his eyes to stay strong and trust him. I nodded, hoping to reassure him.

  Zane, I love you. Please, get me out of here, after you meet with the others. We have to secure the coins and stop Martin.

  Stop worrying about everyone else. I’m the pack leader now. I have more resources than you can imagine. My first priority is you. Make sure to send me updates once you arrive. At least we can communicate this way. He pointed at his head.

  Knowing I could stay in touch with Zane and the others via mind messages was the one thing keeping me from succumbing to hysterics.

  I heard Officer Tate apologize again to Zane, assuring him he’d do his very best to take care of me, and not to worry because the Plum Beach City Jail was small and safe, and clean in comparison to other locations.

  I guessed I should be glad. A clean jail was better than the alternative.

  Officer Tate slid into the driver’s seat and adjusted his rearview mirror in order to observe me better. “Chloe, I’m out of line saying this, and I’ll deny it if asked, but I know you didn’t do this. But that bastard, Agent Green, has managed to collect some pretty compelling evidence implicating you as a key participant in the murders.”

  I gasped. What could Agent Green possibly have to use against me? I’d sent the one piece of evidence that would lead to Jazmine.

  Leaning forward, I prayed Officer Tate would remember how I saved his dog and answer one question for me. “Can you tell me, please, what in the world does he have on me? I promise I won’t say anything. I just don’t want to be blindsided.”

  He nodded and gave me an answer I wasn’t prepared to hear, “He found a wig. A woman’s red wig with your prints all over it. He remembered your comments at Will’s house about seeing a woman with red hair. You’re the one who mentioned the redheaded female. He doesn’t believe you have any ability to communicate with animals.”

  “How …?” I shook my head, overwhelmed by the implications. “I sent that wig. It was supposed to be delivered to you or Detective Davis.”

  Valamir — of course — he must be working with Agent Green, who was indebted to Jazmine and her crew in some screwed up way. Like everyone else, the twisted agent wanted me out of the picture so he could focus on finding the coins and discrediting everyone I knew. That way he wouldn’t have to worry about us spoiling his plans.

  I needed to inform Zane of my vow to Valamir. I’d have to wait, though; we were pulling into the station, where an onslaught of news reporters hovered like they were waiting for some Hollywood celebrity.

  Cameras spun toward the police car; hands with microphones extended my direction.

  Dear God, they were waiting for me.

  So was a leering Agent Green, along with my parents, Melanie and Luke.

  My best night had just turned into my worst day ever.

  “Did you kill your coworkers? We heard you hated Rhonda, is that true?” one reporter shouted over the other clamoring voices.

  Coworkers, as in more than Will? Rhonda? What was he saying? Was Rhonda dead too? This was way too much information for me to process.

  Lowering my head, and refusing to make eye contact with anyone, friend or foe, I allowed myself to be hustled into the station. When my cell door slammed behind me, I called for Zane, hurling a mental fastball his way.

  A vicious pain knifed through my forehead, piercing my mind. It was if my message had bounced back, refusing to transmit.

  It was then realized my worst fear had come to pass.

  Agent Green had somehow erected a magic-borne barrier, efficient enough to keep me from communicating with anyone.

  He’d skewered my lifeline.

  The shrewd agent believed my powers were real. He’d known all along and had made arrangements to ensure I couldn’t rely on them.

  Unsure what else to do, I wept.

  Once I released all my tears, I would do what any other innocent person held unjustly by a psychotic, unidentified, supernatural creature would do.

  Break out and prove my innocence.

  Epilogue

  Valamir paced his small quarters. He’d already located Martin and the small band of warriors assigned to guard him. There was ample time to apprehend the pathetic human and procure the ancient coins.

  At present, he had more vital issues harassing his mind — a woman. One he couldn’t have, at least at the moment.

  The human female, Chloe, was keeping him from important business, disturbing his life like none before had dared. Even from behind bars, her unique scent tempted him. Her tangy sweet blood sang to him like a seducing siren, drawing him to her.

  If only Chloe desired him with the same intensity he coveted her.

  Although he’d assisted her revolting werewolf mate take down a mutual enemy, he was now plotting that same werewolf’s demise. It wouldn’t be easy. The purebred was a formable foe, skilled in martial arts and weaponry, and full of magic he wasn’t yet aware.

  In addition, the new Alpha had a loyal and increasingly adept pack at his disposal, making his destruction a challenge.

  Feeling his fangs extend, Valamir chuckled. He’d never been one to turn away from a challenge. In fact, he relished the idea of a worthy opponent. He hadn’t found one in centuries, other than that deplorable demon they’d conquered together. That creature didn’t count, though; it was spawned unnaturally, obeying its obsession to kill, more like a machine than flesh and blood.

  Unable to ignore his overwhelming need to see the woman that would one day be his, he dematerialized, teleporting to the jail in Plum Beach.

  He’d given the wig to the greedy FBI agent, making sure it would implicate Chloe, keeping her confined, safe behind bars, while he completed the task of dismantling Zane’s precious pack.

  Then he would return for her, coins in hand, becoming her hero and comforter following the untimely death of her mate, which of course would be blamed on another.

  With silent precision, he landed outside her cell and glided to the window.

  Her heartbeat beckoned him, the blood flowing through her veins igniting his bloodlust.

  She owed him a favor. Anything he wanted, and she’d have t
o comply.

  As much as he wanted to collect what she owed tonight, he restrained. It might come in handy later.

  An unfamiliar presence approached, staying just outside his line of vision, cloaked in the woods behind the jail.

  Valamir was unafraid, just curious. After all, he was the fiercest of predators.

  He said a silent goodbye to his soon-to-be woman, and prepared to stalk whatever or whoever was brave or stupid enough to taunt him.

  TO BE CONTINUED …

  Watch for the next installment in the Werewolves of the West Series: She Kissed a Vampire, featuring Chloe’s best friend, Melanie Michaels, and the continuing adventures of Zane, Chloe, and the Pacific Pack.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Like most authors, Carol Van Atta is no stranger to the written word. She penned a short novel at age 12 (somewhat frightening illustrations included) and had a creative writing piece published in her high school newspaper. Devouring books from numerous genres, she developed a deep thirst for more reading materials, and could almost always be found with her nose in a book.

  She has contributed to several, popular inspirational anthologies and devotional books, and lives in the rainy wetlands of Oregon with her terrifying teens and a small zoo of animals. She is taking an undetermined hiatus away from inspirational writing to delve into her darker side. It's been rumored this genre-jumping occurred after Carol discovered two suspicious red marks on her neck, and experienced an unquenchable urge to howl at the moon.