by C. C. Hunter
Miranda crawled off the bed and went to stand beside her sister’s bed. She put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “What’s going on, Tabitha?”
Her sister lifted her face but stared at the ceiling. One tear spilled from her lashes and slipped down her cheek. Then she met Miranda’s gaze.
Tabitha appeared ready to say something, maybe even confess, but her eyes widened with fear. “Crap.”
“What?” Miranda asked, slightly exasperated with her sister’s crazy conversation.
“Your tattoo. It’s … it’s crawling up your neck.”
Miranda felt the spider-on-you kind of tickle on her neck and slapped at it, as if she could knock it off.
Swinging around, she ran into the bathroom. Stopping in front of the mirror, she grasped onto the sink with both hands.
The first thing she spotted were her eyes. Wide and round with fear. How could she not be afraid, when she didn’t have a freaking clue what was happening? Slowly, she forced herself to look at her neck.
“Oh, damn!” The swirly pattern was crawling up to the arch of her neck—almost to her ear.
“What’s happening to me?” Miranda squealed.
“I’m sorry. All of this is my fault. You and Anthony. It’s on me.”
Miranda’s gaze, still locked on the mirror, shifted to her sister behind her. She looked truly remorseful.
The sound of the hospital-room door swooshing open echoed. Voices followed, but Miranda’s focus stayed on the tattoo moving past her ear.
A gulp of air filled her lungs. One vine-like tendril of the tattoo worked its way over her jaw bone, to her cheek. “No. Not my face. Not. My. Face.”
She put her hand over it as if that could stop it.
Voices echoed behind her.
“Daddy,” Tabitha said, her voice sounding splintered.
“Where’s Miranda?” her mom’s voice called out.
“As if my daughter is chopped liver?” Tabitha’s mom commented next.
“Are you okay, Tabitha?” she heard her father ask.
“Can you stop hugging her long enough to find out where your other daughter is?” her mother screeched.
Then her mom and Tabitha’s mom started talking over each other, their voices growing louder. Louder.
“Don’t start this,” her father’s voice boomed.
Miranda looked at the tattoo, the dusty pink vine-like pattern crawling up her temple to her forehead. “Go away!”
“Miranda,” her mom yelled.
Miranda’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, mother cracker.”
Chapter Eleven
Burnett’s gaze was the first thing Perry saw when he opened the door. The vampire offered a barely-there duck of his head. Relief and concern flashed in his eyes. No one looking would even catch it. Perry did. It was a sign of affection.
He turned toward Shawn to acknowledge him. The warlock nodded, but the look in his eyes was anything but welcoming. Not that Perry expected Shawn to be overjoyed with his return. Yet the dislike seemed stronger than before. As if Shawn saw Perry as a threat to his relationship with Miranda.
Good.
The guy could consider himself prewarned.
Perry had every intention of winning Miranda back.
Moving in, Perry nodded at the girl and handed Burnett the backpack. He opened it, set the money and deposit slips aside, and pulled out her wallet. No one said a word as he counted the money.
Only after replacing everything back in her bag, did Burnett look up at Lily. “It’s apparent you’re telling the truth.”
She cut a quick scowl toward Shawn. “I knew this guy was smarter than you. Not that it takes much.”
Perry sucked in his cheeks to keep from smiling.
If the twitch in Shawn’s injured eye meant anything, Lily’s jab hit a nerve. “If you hadn’t turned into the Kung Fu Panda, I—”
“Oh, how cute. The twerp watches cartoons!”
Embarrassment filled Shawn’s eyes. After inhaling, he started again. “If you’d told me about the money in your wallet, I’d’ve counted it, and—”
“Can I go now?” Lily interrupted Shawn to ask Burnett. Yup, Perry had to agree with Lucas and Chase. Something besides simple animosity existed between these two.
“Not quite.” Burnett glanced between Shawn and Lily as if he picked up on the pheromones, too. “We need help finding out who robbed the store and hurt Mr. Crow.”
“But I…” Fear clouded her eyes again.
Burnett continued, “Look, if you recognized Chuckie’s scent, whom you’ve told us is part were, then he recognized yours. You can connect your stepbrother to the robbery. And if your stepbrother is the person you’ve made him out to be, he won’t let that happen and he won’t stop just because you ran away. He’ll go after the Crows. If you care about them, and it sounds like you do, you have to help us.”
Her shoulders dropped back against the chair. The sigh she let out told Perry she’d cratered.
Her brown eyes filled with a slow kind of unselfish fear and the finest mist of tears. “I’ll do anything. But seriously, I’ve told you what I know.”
Burnett leaned in. “Let’s go over exactly what happened. And I’ll ask questions as you do.”
She nodded and a tear slipped from her dark lashes. “Please don’t let him get to them. He’ll kill them. He’s that warped.”
* * *
Miranda flinched when Tabitha slammed the bathroom door. No doubt offering her a few more seconds to figure out how to explain this. Problem was a few seconds wasn’t enough.
Then even those seconds were cut short when the door slammed back open. “What are you doing?” her mom asked.
Miranda, a palm pressed against her cheek, stared into the mirror, right into her mom’s eyes.
“She was trying to use the restroom. Can you let her be?” Tabitha snapped, still trying to help.
But too late.
Miranda froze. Still facing the mirror. Still locked on the reflection. Still zeroed in on her mother’s eyes. Still about to pee in her panties.
The next instant she realized the look of horror she’d expected to see on her mom’s face wasn’t there. Miranda shifted focus to the reflection of her face, prepared to see … Her heart skipped a beat. What…? How…?
No tattoo.
She moved her hand from her cheek, where the vine-like image had been less than a second before, but now wasn’t. Dropping her gaze down to her arm, expecting to see … Nope. Gone.
“You okay?” her mom asked.
Miranda, shell shocked, nodded. Why had the tattoo hidden itself? Had she made it go away?
“Miranda? Talk to me.” Her mom’s worried high-pitched tone seemed to bounce off the white walls. “Something’s wrong with our daughter,” her mom yelled at her father.
“I’m fine.” Miranda forced the words over the lump of shock in her throat and turned around.
“It’s my fault,” her sister blurted out, obviously standing right behind her mom. “She’d never have gotten it—”
“It’s nobody’s fault.” Miranda hurried past her mom where her sister would see her.
Their gazes met. Her sister’s eyes widened.
“I told you it was her fault,” Miranda’s mom said to her dad. “She’s nothing but trouble!”
“It wasn’t her fault,” Miranda said, but her words were lost in Mary Esther’s booming response.
“Control your two-bit hussy,” Mary Esther shouted at her dad.
Her dad, face red, arms waving about in anger, exchanged words with each woman. Which only made them scream louder.
Pinkies appeared. Threats bounced around the room. Her dad kept yelling.
The noise level shook the room.
Miranda met Tabitha’s gaze and she mouthed the words “I’m sorry.”
Tabitha mouthed back, “No, I’m sorry.”
The door slammed open with a loud whack. The nurse stood in the doorway. Sweet silence fell in the tiny room. “Th
is is a hospital. It’s almost nine at night. We have sick people trying to rest!”
The guard assigned to her door, cowering behind the nurse, looked terrified.
Her father looked embarrassed.
Her mom looked angry.
Mary Esther’s expression held a mix of both.
“Can I leave now?” the nurse asked.
Everyone nodded. Even she and Tabitha. Not that they’d been a part of the chaos. Nope. It was just the adults showing their asses.
As soon as the door closed, Miranda’s mom pulled her into her arms. “I’ve been worried sick.”
Tabitha’s mom did the same with her. Miranda’s father stood there in the middle of the two hug-locked groups as if afraid to move in either direction for fear it would cause another outburst.
Sad thing was, he was probably right.
* * *
Perry stood back, listening to Lily Chambers go over her story for what felt like the fifth time. Burnett would occasionally stop her to ask questions. Sometimes it was the same question he’d asked before, but worded differently hoping to jiggle something loose in the girl’s memory.
“Okay, one more time,” Burnett said. “What all can you remember about the guys.”
“I told you already,” Lily whined. “I barely saw them when they ran past the office door. They all had gloves and masks. Other than Chuckie, I don’t know what color hair, eyes, or skin.”
“Close your eyes this time, and try to see them.”
She did as Burnett requested and again Perry noticed something, a slight tilt of her head. It was as if she was trying to remember something but couldn’t grasp it.
“Chuckie was the tall one. The other two were smaller. One of them was thin and the other not so thin.”
“Who seemed to be in charge?” Burnett asked.
“Chuckie. He spouted out the orders.”
“Anything else, Lily?” Burnett asked.
“No.” She opened her eyes, but Perry saw something in her brown gaze. Not a lie, just uncertainty, as if she still couldn’t recall something.
Perry racked his mind for anything Burnett hadn’t asked.
“Okay,” Burnett said.
Lily went to stand.
“Did they say anything?” Perry moved to the table. “The other guys, did they ever speak?”
The girl’s eyes widened. “That’s it. I knew there was something. One of the guys answered Chuckie and he had an accent.”
“An accent?” Burnett cut Perry a good-job glance. “What kind of accent.”
“Not Spanish.” She looked at Shawn. “Like the guy who came in with you earlier.”
“French?” Shawn asked.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Burnett raked a hand through his hair as if trying to put a mental puzzle together. “And you got the scent of a vampire?”
“Yeah. But it couldn’t have been that guy. Because this guy was definitely part shape-shifter, because they shifted.”
Burnett scratched his five o’clock shadow. “You know for certain no one got out through a back door?”
“Yeah,” Lily said.
“Anthony’s all vampire,” Shawn said.
“I know,” Burnett said. “But his uncle is married to a shape-shifter.” Burnett paused again. “Didn’t Anthony go with you to the hospital?”
“Yes,” Shawn answered.
“Did he stay there the whole time?” Burnett asked.
“I … He walked off with Kylie and Della to get coffee. They came back without him. I didn’t see him again for at least an hour.”
“And the restaurant where you guys were meeting for lunch is right next to the jewelry store, right?” Burnett asked.
Shawn nodded.
Lily fidgeted as if ready to leave, Perry stood listening, trying to follow. “You think Anthony was involved in what happened at the drug house and this thing with Jax?”
Burnett’s brow wrinkled as if trying to put a puzzle together that didn’t fit. “Well, we know Anthony was at the drug house. We know his cousins are French, and they’re vampire and shape-shifter. If he picked the restaurant…”
Burnett pulled out his phone and dialed. After a second, he said, “Miranda. Who picked the restaurant that you guys were going to eat at for lunch?” He paused. “I’ll explain later. Thanks.” He hung up. “Anthony picked it. He supposedly had gone there the day before with his cousin.”
“So you think his cousin was casing the store?” Perry tried to piece it together.
Shawn spoke next, “You just told me that you believed Anthony when he said he didn’t have anything to do with the drug house.”
“I’ve been wrong before.” Burnett frowned and blew out a mouthful of frustrated air. “Nothing makes sense.”
“Hey, you Sherlocks. While you solve the crime, can I go?” Lily asked.
Burnett focused back on her, but didn’t speak.
“I want to go see Mr. Crow,” Lily said, a bit unnerved.
Burnett looked to Shawn. “Take her to the hospital and then…” His gaze went back to Lily. “We’ll put you up in a safe house for a few days until—”
“What about the Crows?” Lily asked.
“They’re not supernatural. But I could have an agent do run-bys to—”
“Then no,” she said. “I’d rather stay with them.”
Burnett’s lips thinned. “I can’t guarantee your safety if…”
“I’m not leaving them.” Her chin lifted at a stubborn angle.
“Fine. Someone should be checking in every hour or so.”
“Not him.” She pointed to Shawn. “And I can call Uber to get me to the hospital.”
Frustration wrinkled Burnett’s brow. “The agent I assign won’t stay with you. He’ll just make passes by the place to assure—”
“Not him!” She jabbed her finger toward Shawn.
* * *
Shawn followed Burnett and Perry out of the interrogation room. Shawn’s chest tightened. He was ticked at Lily Chambers. But more ticked at himself. He’d screwed up. Though for the life of him, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where he’d gone wrong. Hadn’t he followed protocol? Okay, maybe he should have announced himself as an FRU agent sooner, but …
Burnett came to a dead halt in the middle of the hallway and swung around to face Shawn. Air caught between his tonsils. Was Burnett about to dish him up a ration of shit?
Probably. Shawn might even deserve it. Then again, he’d followed his gut. And one of Burnett’s rules was to always follow your instincts.
All the evidence had pointed to … Who was he kidding? It didn’t matter where it pointed. The girl wasn’t guilty.
Meeting Burnett’s gaze, he prepared himself for a reprimand. But then he saw Perry. Surely Burnett wouldn’t tear him a new asshole in anyone else’s presence.
Had Perry returned for good? More importantly, was the guy thinking he would pick up where he’d left off with Miranda?
If so, the shifter had better like disappointment.
Shawn wasn’t about to be pushed aside. The shot of confidence gave his backbone an extra inch but he lost it just as quickly. The decision wasn’t all his, but Miranda’s. Yet, Perry had already hurt Miranda. Surely, she wouldn’t go back for round two.
Instantly realizing that Burnett stood there, eyes on him, Shawn motioned to Burnett’s office. “Can we step into—”
Burnett didn’t wait for him to finish. “Get Uber’s last name and run a check on him before she leaves with him.”
“Uber?” Shawn saw Perry bite back a grin, but he didn’t jump in to correct Burnett. No, he left that to Shawn, and no one liked correcting Burnett.
“Uber isn’t a person,” Shawn said.
Burnett’s brow tightened. “She said she was calling him to give her a ride to the hospital.”
“It’s a cab service.”
“Then why didn’t she just say she’d call a cab?”
“It’s a new kind of cab service,” Shawn s
aid.
The crease between his brows deepened. “Just drive her to the hospital and—”
“Me?” Shawn asked.
“And stay with her until she goes home. I’ll have to assign someone for the night shift to keep an eye on the Crows’ house.”
“But … you heard her,” Shawn offered. “She—”
“Stop.” Burnett glanced at Perry. “Wait in my office,” he told the shape-shifter.
Okay, now Shawn was going to get shit.
Shawn watched Perry walk away before continuing. “I think she’d prefer another agent.”
“Probably because you nearly fried her ass,” Burnett said, not quite a reprimand, but definitely a jab.
Shawn knew he deserved it, but … “I didn’t mean—”
Burnett held up his hand. “Not your fault. Sounds as if the situation just got out of hand. But it is your problem. Agents have to deal with all kinds of people and situations, even the difficult ones. Oh, and Miss Chambers doesn’t get to pick who works her case. I do that.”
Shawn should shut up, but he wasn’t one to always do what he should. “Don’t you think it would be easier if you assigned Chase or Lucas to her? I could work Miranda’s case—”
“My gut says it might be the same case,” Burnett said in a firm tone. “Go do your job. And whatever shit she dishes out to you is a lesson on how you’ll approach the next difficult suspect.”
Shawn turned and found the “lesson” waiting outside the interrogation room door.
* * *
Perry moved away from the door where he’d eavesdropped on the conversation. It seemed odd that Burnett had assigned Shawn to Lily Chambers when the girl had been so adamant. Not that Perry didn’t like it. Maybe the warlock would fall for Lily and leave Miranda free and clear. Could Burnett actually be doing it to … help Perry out?
No, Burnett wouldn’t play matchmaker.
Hearing footsteps down the hall, Perry moved all the way over to Burnett’s desk. He picked up a picture of Hannah, Burnett and Holiday’s daughter.
The baby had grown. Before he’d left, she’d squealed every time he walked into the room. Would she even recognize Perry now? He kind of fancied himself as the girl’s uncle. Setting the picture down, he vowed to make up for lost time when he got back for good.