by Lia Davis
He quickly looked around and grabbed a stuffed cat. Jess couldn’t help but laugh. “Nice choice.” She grabbed her cart, started down the aisle again, and then turned. “See you in, say…half an hour?”
“Sounds good. My room number is one-oh-five. We’ll be ready when you get there.”
Chapter 3
Caleb pulled into the motel lot, then parked in front of his room. After getting out, he walked to the back of his truck and started to grab his groceries. The bell above the office door rang and judging by the brisk footsteps approaching him from behind, he could only assume the manager was heading his way. Caleb turned and leaned against the bumper of his truck. He could tell by the man's red, sweaty face his mood bordered on atomic anger and he was about ready to blow. He didn’t have to be a psychic to guess why either.
The manager stopped right in front of him and yelled, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“What do you mean?” Caleb answered innocently even though he knew what the man wanted. He didn’t like the manager’s approach.
“That dog. You let that dog in your room.” He furiously pointed toward Caleb’s room.
“Yeah, so?”
“First, the dog is a stray and probably destroying the room.” The man kept giving anxious side glances toward Caleb’s room. “And second, there’s an extra charge for pets.”
His statement was meant to be firm and final but the way his voice faltered gave Caleb no reason to be intimidated. The manager crossed his arms over his chest and stared. What he didn’t understand was that the thousand-yard stare wouldn’t get him anywhere with Caleb.
“I don’t appreciate the tone you’re taking with me.” Caleb took a deep breath. “And I believe I gave you a credit card when I checked in to cover any charges I might incur. So how ’bout you go back to your office and add the pet charge to my room.”
All of the bravado drained from the man; his chest seemed to deflate right before Caleb’s eyes. Pathetic, really. The manager nodded and walked back to the office, where Caleb would no doubt be getting charged double. He would deal with that when the time came.
He reached into the back of his truck and fished out the bag of dog food, then rested it on his shoulder. After lacing the rest of the bags on his arm, he reached in his pocket and retrieved his key. He opened the door a crack to make sure the dog wouldn’t make a run for it. When she didn’t bolt for the door, he quickly squeezed through the small crack and shut it behind him. He placed the groceries on the small motel desk and scanned the room. Before he had left for the grocery store, he’d made sure she’d have no way to escape while he was gone. He began to set up her food and water bowls. Recalling what Jess had said about portion control, he read the instructions and gave her the designated amount. After grabbing the rest of the groceries, he started to put them away.
The swish of something gliding across the soft carpet made Caleb guess she’d begun belly crawling from under the bed to approach the dishes. He turned to watch. Within minutes she’d finished the whole bowl of food and drained the water. She jumped onto the bed and began to spin in slow, small circles. At last, she found the perfect spot, curled into a tiny ball, then fell asleep.
Caleb glanced at his watch. Jess would arrive in less than fifteen minutes. He headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth and put on some cologne. The nervousness he felt over a girl who had agreed to come over and check out his new dog seemed ridiculous. A throaty laugh escaped him. He shook his head and began to tidy the room.
Jess pulled up to the Sleep EZ and parked in front of room one-oh-five. She grabbed her purse, got out of the vehicle, and walked up to the door. Her stomach twisted with knots and she couldn’t seem to keep from fiddling with her hair. She tried to shake off the nervousness, then raised her hand to knock. Before she could, the door opened a crack.
She jumped back, emitting a gasp.
“Hey, sorry I scared ya.” He glanced behind him and opened the door enough for her to come in. “She just fell asleep. I didn’t want to startle her.”
“That’s totally fine.” She scanned the room and spotted the small black lump at the foot of the bed. An opened bag of dog food and empty bowl were stationed near the wall. “How did she like the food?”
“She inhaled every last piece of kibble. Good thing you told me to only give her a certain amount. I would have kept filling the bowl if you hadn’t.”
Jess watched as he approached her slowly, being careful not to startle her. The dog’s whole body tensed, but she didn’t run away. That was a good sign. She watched as Caleb reached out to let the dog sniff his hand. Her body language showed she was unsure of people, but she trusted Caleb enough to let him near.
“Hey girl.” He slowly brought his hand up and started scratching behind her ears. The dog leaned into his hand. “Like that, do ya? I have someone here who wants to meet you.”
Jess approached much the same way Caleb had. She reached her hand out and allowed the dog to sniff her. When she received a quick lick, Jess began to pet the dog’s back. “Aren’t you just the sweetest little thing?”
Her hand brushed Caleb’s and she quickly met his gaze. Heat began to creep up the back of her neck. She got up as quickly as possible without scaring the dog, then crossed to the other side of the room. After clearing her throat, she asked, “Do you want to maybe see if she wants to go for a walk?” Anything to get out of the room he seemed to take up so much space in.
“Sure, I’ll get her ready,” He got up, then grabbed the collar and leash. “What do you say, pup? Wanna go for a walk?”
He brought the collar over and let her sniff the entire thing before he put it on her. She gave a quick shake. He attached the leash and allowed it to rest against her back. Surprised, Jess couldn’t get over how well a dog who’d been living on the streets took to a collar and leash. Maybe she’d been a family dog prior to her unfortunate situation. Caleb led her off the bed and toward the door. Jess followed closely behind.
“She’s doing great.” Jess couldn’t help but notice the obvious neglect the dog had suffered. The dog’s hip bones were protruding from either side of her. A little love and care would do the pup good. “If you want, you can bring her by the shelter tomorrow and I can give her a bath.”
Caleb turned and smirked.
“I’ll definitely do that, especially if she’s planning to sleep on the bed with me.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes before Jess blurted out, “So, why are you really in town?” She pursed her lips and her cheeks burned. How rude could she be? “I’m sorry, that came out totally wrong.” Now she sounded like a twit.
“No, it’s fine. I was actually hoping you would’ve called me, but meeting in the store kinda killed two birds with one stone.” Caleb glanced down at the dog walking right next to him, tail wagging. They both smiled.
Jess watched as he glanced around, his shoulders tight, but when he seemed satisfied with what he saw he relaxed a bit.
“I’m actually here to investigate some suspicious shifter deaths.” He reached into his back pocket and retrieved his Keystone identification, handing the card to her. His gaze met hers. “All the evidence led us to Blackford. We found a vehicle registered to a Paula Campbell on the scene and there were also recent receipts in the vehicle from the gas station here in town. But what’s really concerning me is that I don’t think we are only dealing with humans. It seems they may have a shifter working for them. Helping them track the ideal game.” He stopped and studied her.
“I knew those stories about the zoo animals were bogus.” Jess handed his badge back, stopped, and put her hands on her hips. She turned to face Caleb. “So you are hoping the shifters in Blackford can help you?”
He nodded, but did not speak.
“So what do you need to know?”
“I’m just assuming here—we don’t have all the evidence yet—but we think they are from Blackford. First, do you know Paula?” Again, he did a quick scan before he cont
inued. “Second, can you tell me how many shifters live in Blackford? Have you noticed any of them acting strange? Like someone who’s never around is all of a sudden the center of the action, or maybe they have become a recluse?”
“Paula is a cashier at the bank here in town, but I think she’s still in Mexico. She and her husband were going to be gone for two weeks.” Jess seriously doubted Paula had anything to do with any of the suspicious activity. Paula could be described as one of the sweetest ladies you’d ever meet. She began to rack her brain for more information. “There are three families of shifters: leopards, wolves, and coyotes.” Jess tried to count how many in each family. “If I remember correctly, there are fifteen wolves, four coyotes, and five leopards. But we do have some loners in town too. There are foxes, a wolverine, and last I heard a black bear, but I’ve only seen him a handful of times in the past few years.”
Jess and Caleb began to walk again. “What has me worried is that it seems these hunters have a taste for big cats.”
Jess came to a halt, her insides chilled. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Caleb caught the acrid scent of her fear, but also a hint of anger. “Like I said, I’m not completely sure if they are here. However, the information we have pointed to Blackford.”
Her body stiffened with tension. They walked by a bench and she sat down hard, putting her face in her hands. He approached her, then sat down beside her.
“So you have no idea who these people are?” She asked through her hands. He didn’t answer, and she turned to face him. “How am I supposed to keep my family safe if I don’t know what to look out for?”
“That’s why I’m here.” He reached out and took her hand. “I’m going to find them and bring them to justice, by whatever means necessary.”
He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her knuckles, enjoying the feel of her soft skin under his hand.
They sat in silence for a few more moments before the dog started whining. He dropped his hand away from hers. Was that disappointment he saw flash across her gaze? “You don’t have to worry, Jess.”
“Why’s that?”
“I won’t let anything happen to you or your family.” He made sure to look into her eyes in the hope of bring the point home. “I’m going to get these bastards.”
“I believe you.” She shook her head. “Let’s change the subject for now.”
“Okay, what would you like to talk about?” He couldn’t help but watch the way she chewed her lip as she thought. “How about some names for the pup?”
“I’ve thought of a couple.” Jess leaned down beside the dog. Her fingers stroked the dog’s head and she scratched behind her ears.
He watched the dog lean into her caress. A grin spread across his lips.
“Hope, Angel, and Luna come to mind when I see her.” Jess glanced up and gave him a shrug. “I don’t know. What do you have in mind?”
“I really like Luna.” He gazed into the dog’s happy face. “What do you think, pup? Luna sound about right?” The rapid tapping sound of her tail on the ground made his mind up. “Luna it is.”
Jess chewed her lip again and he could not rip his gaze from her. He could only guess at what she was thinking, but the ongoing threat of the hunters and what the consequences meant for her family had to be at the forefront of her mind. “I’m going to do whatever is in my power to make sure you and your family are safe. I really mean that.” Possessiveness began to bubble up in his chest. He couldn’t help but let the urges take over. He’d never met someone like Jess before. Shifters and humans alike tended to avoid him when they first saw him. His predatory nature flowed off of him in waves, causing uneasiness. But Jess had marched right up to him and made sure he understood she wouldn’t back down. The simple act had caught him off guard, and had in turn earned his respect.
“So, what happens now?” She tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.
“I’m going to start by talking to a few shifters here in town. I don’t want to raise any red flags, so I would only like to meet with a couple trusted members of the community.” Until his team gave him something more concrete to go on, there wouldn’t be much more he could do, but that didn’t mean he would sit around and wait. “I know I’ve already asked so much of you, but do you think you could help me get in contact with a few of them?”
Caleb stood and Jess followed. An uneasy smile touched her lips.
“Yeah, I can do that.” She grabbed her cell phone and started typing. “My parents will have an idea of who would be the best bet to chat with. I’ll call them tonight if you want? And I’ll double check the timeline of Paula’s trip while I’m at it.” They began to walk back toward the motel.
When she finished with her phone, she glanced up and beamed.
He wanted to be the one to put a smile on her face. Find ways to make her happy. He cleared his throat. “I really appreciate that, Jess. It will make my job easier.” He hadn’t paid much attention as they walked and before long they’d arrived back at his room. He unlocked his door. “Thank you for helping with Luna. I’ll take you up on your offer of a bath tomorrow.” He nudged the door open just enough for Luna to go in.
Jess let out a laugh. “Yeah, she’s pretty stinky. Good thing she’s cute.” She turned to walk back to her car, but stopped after a few steps. “Hey, do you want my phone number? You know, just in case you need help with Luna or whatever?”
She chewed her lip again and he couldn’t seem to tear his gaze from it. “That would be great.” He reached into his jacket pocket and grabbed his phone. As she spoke the digits, he typed them into his contacts, then double-checked the number to be sure he entered it correctly.
“Well, I better get going.” She continued to her car, opened the door, and slid in, then rolled the window down and leaned out. “I’ll call you when I get a hold of everyone, shouldn’t be too long.”
Caleb smiled and nodded, then watched her back out before leaving the parking lot. With a sigh, he walked into his room. Luna was curled up on the bed and he moved to sit by her. He prided himself on the control he exercised in all aspects of his life, personal and professional. But with Jess, he suspected things would not go the way he liked. She would make the journey a bit more interesting.
Chapter 4
The drive to Jess’s parents’ house was second nature to her. She could make the trip with her eyes closed. Rolling hills and golden wheat fields were her personal oasis. Peace and relaxation were usually the feelings the property evoked when she made her way here. But today, she couldn’t seem to take a breath or shake the feeling of dread that sat in her gut like a rock.
She needed to fill her parents in on what Caleb had told her about the suspicious deaths and how the evidence had connected to Blackford. Her mother kept a centralized call list for the shifters, just in case someone injured themself while on the property. They would help her get a hold of a few of the trusted shifters in town. Paula and Jess’s mother had become friends in high school, so her mother would be able give her an idea of when Paula would return from her trip.
She turned onto her parents’ driveway, then followed the long shale-covered road to the large two-story house. The white wood siding looked fresh and clean contrasted with the blue shutters that sat on either side of each window, giving the house a picturesque country farmhouse appearance. She always enjoyed lounging in the shade of the wraparound porch on hot summer days while sipping ice cold lemonade. It made for a perfect summer day.
She pulled up beside her mother’s small white car and put hers into park. Her mother began to descend the porch stairs before she could even close her car door.
“You’ve got perfect timing. The stew is almost ready,” her mother said with a warm smile. It never failed, no matter what time of day Jess showed up, a meal always waited for her when she arrived.
“Sounds great.” She followed her mother up the steps into the house. The scent of stew filled the space with a rich aroma of beef and rosemary, ma
king Jess’s mouth water and stomach growl. “Smells amazing, Mom.”
“Your father is in the den. Would you mind telling him dinner’s ready?” She asked as she headed back to the kitchen.
Jess could predict exactly what her father was doing in the den. Like always, he pretended to read the Blackford Times, but it only disguised what he truly did—nap soundly. He sat in his favorite armchair with his back to the doorway, a newspaper propped up in his hands, his reading glasses resting precariously on his nose, and his head drooping slightly. To anyone else, he appeared engrossed in current events, but she knew better.
She sidled up beside him and knelt down until she could see his face. “Dad.” She nudged his arm gently. “Dad.”
He emitted a small grunt.
“Mom said dinner’s ready.”
His eyes snapped open and met hers. A large grin spread across his face as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“Hey, kiddo.” He closed his newspaper and set it aside. “Good to see you.” Reaching over, he pulled her into a hug and gave her a tight squeeze. He took a deep inhale and pulled back. “Dinner’s ready, you said? Let’s get in there.”
Her mother had just placed the pot of stew in the center of the table when they entered. Their spots had already been set, ready for everyone to sit down.
“Where are Harper and Emma?” Jess asked as she pulled her chair out. They were both usually home for supper. It seemed a bit odd they were missing.
“Harper is at the library studying, and Emma is still shopping with Kels. She said she wouldn’t be home for supper,” her mother explained as she served dinner. “So, what have you been up to, missy? I hear you were at the diner today on your day off.”
“Actually, I have something I need to talk to you guys about.” Jess set down her fork and looked at both of her parents until she’d gained their full attention. “I ran into a jaguar shifter today. His name is Caleb Marsh and he works for Keystone.” Among the shifter community Keystone’s existence was common knowledge though she’d never heard of anyone meeting someone who worked for them.