Selene continued slowly, inhaling with focused intensity. Her human nose just couldn’t tell her very much. She needed to shift into a dog. But that meant using her ability in an enclosed, populated space. Though she didn’t sense anyone in the immediate vicinity, even entertaining the thought of pulling off a shift in Eve’s apartment building ran counter to all her survival instincts. Yet what was the point of having this gift—she didn’t often think of it as a gift, but if it might help her protect Eve, then that seemed like an appropriate word—if she never took advantage of it?
Pausing on the first-floor landing, she tried to decide what to do. She could hide her clothes in the stairwell and continue her investigation with a far more powerful nose. If the killer was still in the building, approaching him as a dog could very easily protect her own life. Chances were he wouldn’t perceive her as a threat unless she attacked him outright. But as a woman walking alone, she could very easily get herself into trouble if he found her before she found him.
Selene jogged to an isolated corner of the stairwell, tucked back behind a fire-exit door, and tore off her clothes simply because she couldn’t do nothing when Eve might be in danger. If that man was in her apartment right now, she had to find out before Eve got home. If he wasn’t, perhaps she could track him and discover his whereabouts.
The only challenge then would be to explain how she knew he was the man they sought without revealing her method for hunting him down.
Selene shifted into her trusty bloodhound form and put her nose on the ground, taking a deep whiff. The man’s scent filled her nostrils, dark and pungent, and the fur on her back rose in response. She bared her teeth as she followed his trail up to Eve’s third-floor apartment, dismayed when his odor only grew stronger. Trotting down Eve’s hallway, Selene spotted an envelope propped against her doorway. She picked up speed, skidding to a stop over Eve’s welcome mat, which smelled of rubber and wet leaves.
Lowering her nose to the envelope, she sniffed frantically. She blocked out all the other scents that floated around in her olfactory passages, most interested in the strangely familiar one that stood out among the rest. The man’s smell permeated the manila envelope and its contents, but she detected something else. An earthy scent that Selene instantly recognized, but which seemed strangely out of place in this setting.
It smelled like shit. Literally.
Selene inhaled deeply, puzzled. The unmistakable odor certainly came from inside the envelope, so it wasn’t merely a souvenir from the bottom of someone’s shoe. Weird.
Lifting her head, she sniffed around the doorknob. Eve’s scent was there but faint. She hadn’t been here for a while. Selene guessed she hadn’t returned home after their fight last night. She almost hoped she wouldn’t come home tonight.
The man’s scent wasn’t on the door, which meant he hadn’t touched it. Apparently breaking in hadn’t been on his agenda. But how soon until he tried? Despite Eve’s protective detail, he’d been able to leave something at her apartment door unnoticed. He could have just as easily broken in to lie in wait for her return.
Selene’s ears twitched, pulled in the direction of the stairwell. Her canine senses picked up the sound of the building door opening downstairs, then a male voice, and eventually the scent of two men and a woman. A woman whose unique smell Selene would know anywhere.
Eve was home.
Not wanting Eve to come home to a large bloodhound sitting on her doorstep, Selene quickly shifted into the least noticeable creature she could think of: a common fly. It was only the second time she’d tried this shape, and she still didn’t like it. The reality of occupying so little physical space made her uneasy, as did the mechanics involved in using her wings and antennae. Emulating a mammal was so much easier than an insect or arachnid, probably because the basic physiology was relatively similar. Perhaps if she practiced more it would get easier, but Selene had always spent far more time cursing her ability than trying to master its intricacies.
Flying clumsily into the air, she perched on top of the door frame and waited for Eve and the men who accompanied her to appear. As far as she could tell, she had two choices. She could zoom over their heads back into the stairwell, throw on her clothes, and escape from the building undetected. Or she could stick around, a literal fly on the wall, and find out what was inside that envelope.
On second thought, that really wasn’t much of a choice.
The man on Eve’s left was talking when they stepped into view. “We’ll do a quick sweep and be out of your hair in just a few minutes. You’ve got my cell number in your contact list, right?”
Eve sighed. She looked exhausted. “I do, Detective Munoz. Just like you have Detective Battle’s number. If you know what I mean.”
The dark-haired detective glanced over Eve’s head at his partner, both of them sharing a sheepish grimace. “We’re in charge of making sure nothing happens to you, Doc. What went down last night was definitely relevant to our assignment. Jac is in charge of that assignment, so we had to report back that your movements had become erratic. Especially after you refused to answer your cell phone when I called you first.”
Clearly Eve’s relationship with her protective detail had grown contentious. Selene hoped Eve realized that she needed them now more than ever. Crouching patiently on the edge of the door frame, Selene contended with the challenge of using human intellect to interpret what she saw and heard with her fly’s senses. Though she kept her core intellect and personality despite the form her body took, Selene’s sense of self was filtered through the strengths and frailties of whatever animal she mimicked. Just another reason that she didn’t like shifting into insects. The way they experienced reality was too foreign not to clash with her human sensibilities.
Frankly, it drained her.
“Fair enough,” Eve said, thawing slightly. “I’ll answer my phone next time. Or, better yet, call you first. But please don’t report my every movement to Jac, if you can help it. You know our history. It’s just a little awkward.”
The one she called Munoz nodded. “I get it. The important part is that you’re safe.”
Eve stopped abruptly in the hallway, staring at the envelope on her doorstep. Selene held her breath and waited for a reaction. Her heart ached at the fear that flashed across Eve’s face as she struggled to speak. “We’ve got something.”
The detective on Eve’s right put an arm out, holding her back while Munoz hurried forward to crouch in front of the door. He pulled a pair of latex gloves from his pocket, then covered his mouth and nostrils with his hand as he peeked inside the envelope. Dropping his hand, he said, “Looks like a photograph. Maybe some kind of note.”
Eve walked around the other detective’s arm and joined Munoz at the door. Clearly struggling to maintain her composure, she bristled with fear and anger that nearly knocked Selene over with its intensity. “Let’s get it inside and take a look.”
Munoz looked over his shoulder at his partner. “All right, but you stay back. We’ll go in first.”
As Eve handed Munoz her keys, Selene took a deep breath, readying herself for a risky maneuver. If she wanted to see what was in that envelope, she’d need to launch herself off the door and follow the three of them inside Eve’s apartment. The flying would require certain finesse, but Selene was most concerned about the possibility of getting swatted mid-flight. She’d need to do this quickly, attracting as little attention as possible.
When Munoz swung open the apartment door, Selene leapt from her perch and steered herself directly into Eve’s apartment. The sharp turn, executed with a burst of speed, left Selene disoriented for a moment and she drunkenly buzzed too close to Munoz’s head. He waved his hand absently, missing her by inches, but close enough to get her blood pumping. Taking a moment to orient herself in space, she shifted direction, then landed on the light fixture over Eve’s dining room table, right above where they would probably empty the contents of the envelope to examine them.
The dete
ctives entered the apartment first, guns drawn, and methodically searched every room. Selene stayed within sight of the doorway, watching Eve slump heavily against the wall and close her eyes. She was a jumble of emotions, and Selene couldn’t help sending out a wave of healing energy, her typical shot of calm strength that had always soothed Eve’s nerves. Eve’s eyes snapped open and she inhaled sharply, looking around as though expecting to see a ghost.
Clearly Eve sensed her presence. Knowing it was reckless to use their connection when Eve couldn’t understand the source, Selene pushed back her desire to comfort Eve, shutting off the flow of positive energy. Immediately Eve’s shoulders sagged. Her hand drifted to her forehead and Selene could feel her rush of confusion. Hopefully Eve would simply write it off as misplaced grief, an unfortunate symptom of loss. She couldn’t possibly guess the real reason their connection flared to life in a seemingly empty room.
“All clear,” the unnamed detective called as they strolled back into the front room. “Come on in.”
Eve closed and locked the door behind her. Now Selene was well and truly trapped, at least until the detectives left. “Do you have a spare pair of gloves, Detective Hunt?”
Munoz’s partner withdrew a fresh pair of latex gloves from his pocket. “Sure thing, Doc.”
Eve pulled on the gloves, then took the envelope from Detective Munoz. Opening the top, she spilled the contents out onto the table. It was an 8x10 black-and-white photograph of an attractive woman—similar in build and features to Eve. Someone had obviously altered the image, as the background was blurred, making it all but impossible to recognize where it was taken. The woman in the picture was clearly unaware that she was being photographed, half turned away from the camera, her head tipped back in laughter. Selene shivered at the candid nature of the photo and at the possibility that this woman might not yet know that she’d attracted the attention of a psychopath.
Picking up the photograph, Eve squinted at the handwritten words scrawled across the bottom of the image. “‘I wonder if she’ll be as scared as you,’” Eve read aloud. She turned the photograph over, scanned the back, then set it face-up on the table with a shaky exhalation.
“You think she’s still alive?” Hunt asked.
“We have to assume she is.” Eve picked up the print again, gingerly holding it by one corner. “Unfortunately I can’t tell where this was shot. Or when.”
“Me either,” Munoz said. “Looks Photoshopped to me.”
“Very likely.” Setting down the photograph, Eve said, “Give me a few minutes, then we’ll head to the department. I’ll call Jac and have her meet us there.”
Munoz nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Go ahead and wait in your car. I’ll be ready in ten.” At their immediate expressions of protest, Eve raised her hand to quiet them. “You’ve swept the apartment. Nobody’s here. I’ve had a long day and I’d like to change clothes in private. So I’ll be fine, gentlemen, if you don’t mind.”
Detective Munoz gave her a terse nod. “You’ll answer your phone if we call, and call us if you need anything. Even if you just get a weird feeling.”
“Of course.” Eve sounded impatient.
“Let us know when you’re ready to leave. We’ll come to your door and get you.” Hunt spoke to her in a no-nonsense tone. “The game has changed, Dr. Thomas. This guy has been to your place now. He’s getting bolder. Jac wouldn’t want us to let you out of our sight at all. She’s running this operation, and your safety is more important to her than just about anything, so you’ll just have to bear with us.”
Munoz’s voice softened. “We don’t want anything to happen to you. This guy is a sick fucker, right?”
Eve nodded.
“Let us be overprotective, then. It’s our job.”
Relaxing slightly, Eve said, “I get it. And I appreciate you guys being overprotective in the car for the next fifteen minutes.”
As the three of them walked toward the front door, Selene debated internally. She could leave with the detectives, which was probably the wise thing to do, or she could stick around inside Eve’s just a little longer. She wasn’t sure what she hoped to accomplish by staying. She just wasn’t ready to say good-bye yet.
Closing the door, Eve engaged the lock and put on the chain. Then she sighed, pivoting to stare at the table with an expression of pure dread. “Goddamn it.”
More than anything, Selene wanted to come out of hiding, shift back into human form, and hold Eve tight to reassure her that everything would be okay. For a moment the desire to do just that was so strong, Selene could hardly remember all the reasons why shifting back was a bad idea. Like giving Eve a heart attack, for one.
Below her, Eve shivered and closed her eyes. Selene could feel her struggling against a wave of emotion: pain, loss, and yawning grief. Her face contorted and a quiet sob burst from her lips, which she stifled by clapping her hand over her mouth. Eve’s pain sliced into Selene, awakening a fresh wave of sorrow. Heart breaking, Selene left her hiding spot on the light fixture, flying down to land on the wall next to the dining room table. From this vantage point, she could see all of Eve’s turmoil.
“Goddamn you, Selene,” Eve whispered. Dismayed, Selene watched her touch the purple bruise on her neck with a shaking hand. “Get out of my head.”
Startled, Selene didn’t move. It was all too clear that her presence was only causing Eve torment. She should leave. No matter how badly she wanted to make sure Eve was safe, it wasn’t right to stay. Eve didn’t want her here. Their empathetic link no longer brought Eve comfort. After what had happened between them, any hint of that connection had to be confusing and traumatic for Eve, who no doubt wanted nothing more than to forget Selene had ever existed.
Exhaling, Eve dropped her hands to her sides and shook them out. Then she straightened her shoulders, walking briskly to her bedroom. She tugged her shirt over her head as she went, offering Selene a tantalizing view of her bare stomach and bra-encased breasts.
Now it was definitely wrong to stick around. Without hesitation, Selene launched herself across the room, flying for the front door as quickly as she could. She wasn’t entirely sure how she would escape the apartment, but she sure as hell had to try, for Eve’s sake as well as her own. It was excruciating to see the woman she loved in such distress, especially when she was the cause.
Selene landed on the floor mat just inside Eve’s entryway, examining the narrow gap between the bottom of the door and the wooden floor. Although there seemed to be more than enough room for her to squeeze through, the thought of wedging her body into such a tight space nauseated her. She just couldn’t shed her very human sense of caution that told her that squeezing into an opening an inch wide wasn’t a good idea.
Unfortunately she had no choice. She needed to get away from Eve, from the overwhelming evidence that she’d lost Eve forever. More important, she needed to follow the stalker’s trail while it was still fresh. This might be her best opportunity to track him down.
Taking a deep breath, Selene cleared her mind of fear and crawled beneath the door frame. As predicted, she made it through with ease, though the sensation of the thick door hovering close to her head and the unyielding floor beneath her feet was enough to make her stop and gasp for air as soon as she emerged on the other side.
On the tail end of her panic, Selene felt her blood surge with exhilaration. Since meeting Eve, she had tested and stretched her abilities in ways she never could have anticipated. Protecting Eve was the best reason to embrace her nature and shift, and now that she was getting more comfortable with it, a part of her actually enjoyed experiencing the world from different perspectives. That her ability might actually give her an edge over normal people when it came to hunting Eve’s stalker made her cherish it for the very first time in her life.
And damn, that felt good.
Quickly buzzing down the hall and around the corner, Selene landed on the carpet and swiveled, making sure nobody was watching. Then she ga
thered her strength and shifted back into bloodhound form. Each shift was more difficult than the last, and she would be exhausted when she got home tonight. She would come back for her clothes later, once she’d followed his trail.
Hopefully she’d have something to show for her effort. Either way, Selene was prepared to make protecting Eve her new full-time job. Eve’s stalker was going down.
Chapter Twenty-four
When Eve arrived at the homicide division flanked by Detectives Munoz and Hunt, Jac was already at her desk. She jumped up as soon as she spotted Eve, worry etched across her face. “Are you all right?”
Embarrassed by Jac’s obvious concern, Eve waved her off. “I’m fine. It’s the woman in the picture he left for me that we need to worry about.” Setting the envelope on Jac’s desk, Eve waited as Jac rolled an extra office chair over so they could examine its contents together. “Unfortunately, I’m not sure he gave us much to work with.”
“Let’s take a look.” Jac glanced at the detectives, who stood silently as though waiting to be addressed. “You guys want to take a break? Grab something to eat?”
Hunt nodded. “That’d be nice.”
“You sure you don’t need us?” Munoz asked, always the professional. Though Eve had given him a lot of grief, the man was clearly dedicated to his job—and Jac.
“We’ll be fine.” Jac gestured for Eve to sit and, once she had, dropped into the chair beside her. “Go ahead and relax. We’ll dust for prints, see if we can come up with anything.”
The detectives left them with muttered thanks, and Eve was glad to see them go. She knew they were just looking out for her, but she was really starting to feel like her life was no longer her own. In a perfect world she wouldn’t have to spend the evening with Jac, either. She could soak in her bathtub and concentrate on not thinking about Selene.
Who was she kidding? That was clearly impossible. For almost the entire fifteen minutes she’d spent in her apartment earlier that evening, Selene’s presence had lingered so strongly that Eve could have sworn she was in the next room. No matter how badly Eve wanted to write off Selene and move on—to not allow herself to grieve for a woman she’d known only a month—she was hopelessly, desperately sad that things had ended the way they had. Breaking up was bad enough, but not having seen it coming was even worse.
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