by Vella Day
Before he could even consider stopping what had never really started, he needed to solve her parents’ murders, and that meant he had to find out everything he could about this dysfunctional family.
With only an hour’s drive left to the mental hospital in Ohio, he called his dad on his hands-free Blue Tooth set to check on Brian’s whereabouts.
“Brian’s been staking out Blooms of Hope, but don’t worry, I’ve got my eye on him.”
Good thing there weren’t many cars on the road, or he might have crashed into one. His nails extended and his protective nature shot to high alert. “Elana isn’t at the store is she?”
“I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.”
“Dad, I asked you a question.” His father could be annoyingly tight-lipped at times.
“Elana came in about an hour ago and hasn’t left.”
“Damn woman. I told her to stay with Izzy’s parents.”
“Both of whom are across the street from her store. I’m thinking it might be safer for her to be here than alone at the house.”
He had a point. “Let me know if Brian tries anything—or leaves town.”
“Got it under control, son.”
If he didn’t trust his father completely, he’d have been tempted to turn around and ask his questions of Brian’s therapist by phone. Kalan had discussed the pros and cons of driving up to visit the facility where Brian had been treated versus calling the doctor with his boss, but they both felt a face-to-face discussion would provide him with the best information. There might even be others he could speak with.
His appointment with Brian’s therapist wasn’t for another two hours, but he’d intentionally left some time to drive around for a bit so he could get a better sense about the institution.
In need of some caffeine first, he pulled into a coffee shop parking lot. Easing out, he stretched, ready to get this interview over.
Once he purchased his coffee and a small snack, he sat at an outside table and called Elana, needing to make sure she was okay. The air in the Ohio Valley was muggy, causing sweat to pool on the back of his neck, but he didn’t need people overhearing his conversation.
If he warned her that Brian was skulking around, it might prompt her to approach him, and that was the last thing either of them needed.
“Kalan, are you okay?” she asked answering on the first ring.
Elana’s worried reaction made him smile. “I was calling to check up on you. I can take care of myself.”
“So can I.”
No one was within earshot so he could speak freely. “Really? I was unaware that you had magical talents.” Like her best friend.
“Didn’t I mention that I’m a martial arts expert and have a shelf full of sharp shooting trophies?”
She was cute. He couldn’t have been more pleased that she was able to joke at a time like this. Perhaps, it was her way of coping. “No, I didn’t. I guess I don’t have to worry about you then.”
“You don’t have to go that far. I like hearing from you.”
While he was pleased with her comment, it made him uncomfortable at the same time, because she was slowly worming her way into his heart, and he wasn’t prepared for the consequences. “So, is it strange being back at the Bertas’ house?”
Kalan was curious how far she’d go to keep her current location a secret.
“I’m sorry, Kalan. I couldn’t stand being there by myself. I was going stir crazy. I had to come into work. I’m comforted being around my flowers.”
The sudden rush of anxiety had him clutching the coffee cup so hard some spilled over. “I wish you hadn’t.”
“Anna is here with me, and Len has come over about ten times, as have Kathryn, Missy, and Teagan.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’m about to interview Brian’s therapist to see if I can get some answers. I’ll be back in town tomorrow, and I’ll stop in to see you.”
“Really?”
She acted as if he didn’t care about her and that bothered him. He might not be interested in something permanent, but he did enjoy being with her. Stop lying. He wanted her—and so did the bear inside him. “Yes, really, now stay out of trouble.”
“I will. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. You be careful driving home after work.”
He disconnected the call. Just speaking with Elana made his pushy bear return. Keeping that animal in check was getting harder. And that wasn’t the only thing that was getting harder. Fucking hell, I am so screwed.
*
Brian’s therapist looked older than Methuselah, but from all the credentials on the wall, he was highly qualified.
“I’m very sorry to hear about Brian’s parents. This is going to set him back,” Dr. Patterson said.
“I don’t understand why? You said he was suffering from attachment disorder. I’m no therapist, but if he can’t really relate to them, why would he be upset if they were dead? Brian said he hadn’t seen them since he was eight. And secondly, why did he try to save his mother if he wasn’t close to her?” That was probably too many questions to throw at the man at once, but Kalan’s anxiety levels had risen ever since his call to Elana.
“Detective, Brian is not a monster. He has issues, as do many children who are raised in and around an institution, but he possesses some compassion. I was the one who suggested he speak with them to bring some closure. I was hoping they could provide some insight as to why they thought it had been best to send him away when he was young.”
“Was it best?”
He blew out a breath. “For a while, yes, but if his parents had been willing to care and love him, he could have moved back home. I don’t believe he would have harmed his sister, or anyone for that matter. When I spoke with them, I found them to be cold and arrogant.”
Kalan’s heart ached for Elana. Without the support of Izzy and her parents, no telling what kind of woman Elana would have become. “In your professional opinion, do you think Brian could have killed them?”
“No. Not unless something triggered it. Just so you are aware, Brian is bipolar, but when he is properly medicated, he functions just fine in society. He works at the local lumberyard here and seems to be doing well. He doesn’t interact with customers and that suits everyone involved.”
Well, shit. Kalan was no closer to an answer than before. He asked a few more questions, but the doctor didn’t provide any further insight. Kalan saw no reason to wait around to speak with the others since Dr. Patterson had provided a list of names he could contact as references for Brian. “Thank you for your time.”
“I’m sorry you drove all the way up here.”
He wasn’t. The long drive gave him some time to think and put things into perspective. “I might be calling you again.”
“Anytime.”
Bottom line, Brian Stanley was a sad anxious man who had been dealt a bad lot in life. While it was possible something happened in Silver Lake to make Brian snap, it wasn’t looking like he was guilty, though Kalan wouldn’t rule it out. Stranger things had happened.
While he had planned to spend the night in Ohio and drive back to Tennessee tomorrow, after speaking with the doctor, Kalan didn’t want to be away from Elana longer than necessary.
Before he took off, though, he called Dalton and filled him in on what he’d learned. “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on Elana. Just so you know, I’ve asked my dad to help too. Her shop won’t close for another hour, so if you could make sure she gets back to the Berta’s safely, I’d appreciate it. But keep a low profile. I don’t want her to think that something’s wrong.”
“I’ve got your back.”
“I owe you.”
As he headed south to Tennessee, Kalan sifted through the facts of the case. If he assumed Brian was innocent, who would be the next most likely suspect? Elana’s parents were in the import-export business, so perhaps they’d cheated a client or failed to deliver on a promise. With them dead, he wasn’t sure how he’d fin
d the information, and he doubted Elana knew much about their dealings.
As he crossed the Ohio border, his cell rang. A quick glance indicated it was Finn McKinnon, Rye’s brother. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d even spoken to him. If he wasn’t in the middle of a murder case, Kalan might have let it go to voicemail. He tapped his ear piece. “Hey, Finn, what’s up?”
“Sorry to bother you, but I heard about the murders.”
As much as he liked Finn, he wasn’t about to give out any details. “How did you hear about them?” Most likely, Elana told Izzy who told Rye, but there would have been no reason for Rye to mention it to his brother.
“Bartenders hear everything. When I found out it was the Stanleys who’d been murdered, I remembered having a conversation with a guy who was asking about them.”
Kalan gripped the wheel and concentrated on the road. “What did he look like?”
“He was about five feet ten, short, dark brown hair and a little chunky.”
“That was probably Brian Stanley. He’s their son.”
“I know. He came back the night of the murders and told me.”
Finn was tossing too much information at him at once. “Back up and start from the beginning.”
“The first time the guy came into the bar, he asked where the Stanleys lived. He said he was a business acquaintance and was passing through town. I liked the guy. He was super polite and tipped well, despite only having one drink.”
“Did he say anything else?” An exit appeared ahead, and Kalan took it. He pulled into the gas station at the corner and parked, wanting to jot down what Finn told him.
“He wasn’t at the bar for long the first night, but when the guy came in the second time, he was loud and a bit inebriated already. I had to water down his whiskey.”
“Was he talkin’ trash or something?”
“You could say that. Brian told me he was the Stanleys’ son and that he’d come back to Silver Lake to tell them what he thought of them once and for all.”
Acid burned in his stomach. He couldn’t believe someone would tell all that to a bartender. “What time was this?”
“I started work at six and he came in maybe forty-five minutes later.”
“How long did he stay there?” Brian had called 911 around seven-thirty.
“Not long. Maybe half an hour.”
That meant he had enough time to get back to the house and kill them. “I appreciate the intel, Finn.”
“You bet.”
Kalan disconnected, more confused than ever. Needing another caffeine hit, he rushed into the convenience store at the gas station and bought a coffee that he hoped wasn’t stale. Once back in his car, he placed the drink in the cup holder to let it cool first.
He was still having a hard time reconciling the look on Brian’s face when he was with holding his mother to that of a cold-blooded murderer. The therapist implied Brian might have harmed his parents only if something triggered the rage.
Well, shit. Once he drank some of the coffee, which turned out to be quite palatable, he returned to the highway. With one arm over the wheel, he leaned back and almost had to squint at the bright light from the moon. While it wasn’t a blood moon, it had been one a few days ago.
Oh, fuck. Kalan hadn’t even considered the Changelings might have been involved, even though he’d detected a shifter signature in the house. While he’d never witnessed one of them taking the form of another human, the timing sure was right. The only problem with his theory was when would they have run into Brian? Lore had it that a Changeling had a seventy-two hour window around the blood moon to touch a human and then transform into that person.
With so many unanswered questions, it was good that he was returning home tonight. He pressed his foot on the accelerator. If the cops stopped him for speeding, he’d flash his badge and say it was a matter of life and death—Elana’s.
Chapter Nine
‡
Elana was in her pajamas sitting on the bed with Missy who’d insisted on staying at her parents’ house to keep Elana company. In high school, it had been her and Izzy, because Missy was two years younger and was usually banned from their older girls’ convo.
A cloud of guilt hung over Elana for not grieving more, but right now, Elana wanted to forget the horror and concentrate on something pleasant—like catching Kalan Murdoch’s eye. “I can’t believe I broke down in front of Kalan. And trust me, I’m an ugly crier.”
“He’ll understand.”
“I hope so. Now, I’m just numb. I don’t think I could cry if I wanted to.”
Missy reached out and clasped her hand. “People grieve in different ways. I know this isn’t the same thing, but when I was in maybe seventh grade, one of my classmate’s dogs had passed away. I knew she loved that animal more than anything, but the next day she acted as if nothing had happened. Then about three months later, she was reading a story and started bawling her eyes out. Something in the passage triggered the memory of her dog’s death and that was how she reacted.”
Missy was always trying to soothe the way between people. “I appreciate that. Everything is still surreal—especially finding out I have a brother. Your support and your family’s have been wonderful. I don’t know what I would have done without you all.”
Missy scooted across the bed and hugged her. “You have Kalan too. He seems to want to protect you.”
“I hardly have Kalan even when he’s around, but I’ll admit it’s nice to be able to focus on something new and fresh, even if it is only temporary.” She wasn’t so naïve to believe that men like him stayed with one woman for long.
“I think that’s smart. So are you going to work tomorrow again?”
“Yes. Kalan said he will be back in town, and I bet he stops over. Keeping busy helps me stay sane.”
Missy slid off the bed and straightened her T-shirt. “I’ll let you get some sleep then. If you wake up and need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
“Thank you.” With Kalan in her dreams, she’d make it through the night.
*
Even after waking up several times from her erotic dreams, Elana actually felt moderately refreshed in the morning—or else it was the extra strong coffee Kathryn had made for her that had done the trick. As soon as Elana got to work, she planned to call Teagan and ask if she’d had any more premonitions, even though she wasn’t totally buying into the whole statue vision thing. Elana was unaware of any kind of magic that could turn a human into a rock, though it was possible the stone was some kind of metaphor.
“You can stay at the house if you want,” Izzy’s mom said. “Or you can go into work. I know that solitude can often be daunting.”
“I appreciate that. I want to keep busy.”
“We’ll make sure to keep an eye out for you then.”
Izzy’s parents were too good to her. Why couldn’t she have been born into this family instead of hers? Most likely, the adversity had made her work harder and created the desire to start her own business.
When it was time to leave, all four of them piled into Mr. Berta’s car. Now that Kalan would be back in town, Elana felt comfortable returning to her own apartment, but she’d broach that topic with him after work.
Len Berta dropped her off in front of her building. “I’ll stop by later and make sure you’re doing okay.”
Len was very protective of his family, and to deny him the ability to help wouldn’t allow him to show how much he cared. “I appreciate it.”
Elana entered through the front door then locked it behind her. Before she opened for business, she needed to go up to her apartment. Last night, her hairbrush had snapped in half while brushing her unruly hair, and she needed to find her spare.
For some reason, the air seemed to have a stronger flower aroma than usual, and the scent calmed her ragged nerves.
After taking the back staircase, Elana was about to unlock her door when she noticed it was already ajar. What the hell? Pinpricks of fear
stabbed her, and her stomach twisted into knots. Had she left it unlocked when Kalan had escorted her to the Bertas? She hadn’t even ventured upstairs yesterday because she hadn’t needed anything.
“Hello?” Her voice cracked, and her jaw wobbled. If someone was in her apartment, it was probably dumb to call out, but her brains were too scrambled to think straight.
When no one responded, Elana pushed the door open and gasped at the destruction. Cushions were torn, pictures that had been straight were now askew, and her kitchen cabinets were all open. Her heart jackknifed and then her blood pressure plummeted, forcing her to grab onto the doorjamb for support.
As much as she wanted to go inside and check it out, it was as if she had turned into some kind of marble statue. Unable to move or think, she stared for at least thirty seconds before the adrenaline kicked in, and she was able to function once more.
Warning lights flashed in her brain. Run!
As fast as she could, Elana raced back down the staircase fearing her intruder was still inside. When no one seemed to be following her, she slowed, but then thought if no one was upstairs, whoever had done this might return. She had to leave.
She unlocked the front door to the store, checked that no one was near, and dashed across the street. She then burst into Len’s vacant cellular phone store.
“Elana, what is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
Her heart was hammering in her chest so hard it was difficult to get the words out. “Someone broke into my apartment.”
“What?” Len rushed to the front store window and glanced across the street, though she had no idea what he thought he might see. He spun around. “Are you okay?”
Emotionally, she was devastated. Two shocks within two days were too much to take. It was wearing her down. “Yes.”
“I’m contacting the sheriff’s office.”
“Okay. I’ll call Kalan. He should be on the road heading back to Silver Lake.”
For some reason, she thought he might know what to do. He had hinted that whoever had killed her parents might come after her for something, assuming he hadn’t found what he was looking for in the first place. Shit. Her purse was across the street, along with her phone and Kalan’s number that he’d written down after he’d taken her to the Bertas.