Page 44 of Protecting His Vampire Mate

Tobias nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“It all happened so fast,” Lisa said, leading us into the dining room. She took a seat at an oval wooden table and we followed suit. “But I can promise you, you’re not going to find any suspects.”

“And why is that?” Tobias asked, pulling out a small notepad and a pen. He glanced up at her. “You sound very sure.”

Lisa hesitated. Then resolve slammed down over her expression and she met his gaze. “It was just a random crime, I think. The person broke in and then—and then I ran. I didn’t see what they looked like. I have no idea who killed my husband or why.”

Tobias and I exchanged a disbelieving glance.

I was the first to recover. “Is this what you told our… colleagues?”

Lisa nodded stiffly, avoiding our gazes. “They didn’t believe me.”

Imagine that, I thought. Even if I hadn’t already known she was lying about what she saw, I still would have known she wasn’t telling the truth. Lisa didn’t have much of a poker face at all.

Lisa went on, “They—the agents, I mean—were very cold to me. I know you guys see terrible things in your line of work, but they were just so… callous. I just lost my husband. It was like they didn’t even care.”

“I’m sorry about that,” Tobias said. “I’m familiar with the gentlemen who spoke with you. They don’t have the best people skills.” He paused. “Listen, Lisa, you really don’t remember anything else from that night? Anything at all? Any detail could help us get justice for your husband.”

Lisa swallowed hard, looking absolutely miserable. Tears began to dance in her eyes. “No. I can’t tell you anything more about what happened. I’m sorry.”

Tobias stared at her for a long moment. “Lisa, come on.”

“I think it’s time for you two to go,” Ash said, appearing in the doorway with two mugs of tea. “She’s already told you everything she knows.”

Tobias and I stood up in the same moment.

“Right. Of course,” Tobias replied, shooting a dark glance in my direction. I could tell he was frustrated but trying not to show it. “We can leave.”

“We know it wasn’t a person who did this to your husband, Lisa,” I said, catching her eye and holding it. “We know what’s inside that house. And we know what it does to people. We need your help to stop it, so that no one else ever has to experience what you’re going through right now.”

The room went absolutely silent.

Tobias shot me a warning look, his hands already coming up into what I was beginning to recognize as his default spell-casting position.

I gave him a minute shake of my head, silently imploring him to trust me.

He seemed to understand because he frowned back and lowered his hands.

Then Lisa’s face crumpled. And she burst into tears that came hot and fast, in a flood down her cheeks. “I didn’t think anyone would believe me.”

“Not another word,” Ash said, setting both cups of tea down on the table. She glared at her sister. “We have no idea who these men are, but they sure as hell aren’t the FBI.”

“You’re right,” I agreed, holding Ash’s gaze for a long moment before I turned back to Lisa. “Look, your sister is correct. We’re not the FBI. We’re the people who deal with the types of encounters that you’ve just been through. We can help. And we’re going to.”

“Is that true?” Lisa asked, glancing from me to Tobias, then back again. She looked almost puzzled. “You guys fight evil spirits?”

I shrugged. “We’re trying to. But we need your help first.”

“I’m sorry I lied,” Lisa whispered. “It’s just that the truth is so crazy. And awful.” She shuddered.

“You were protecting yourself,” Tobias said softly, coming to settle down in the chair next to Lisa. “The truth sounded too impossible—no one would have believed you. So, you lied. That’s understandable. You were probably right to, actually.” He paused, then added, “But can you be honest with us now?”

Lisa nodded, drying her cheeks with the palms of her hands. Then she glanced over at her sister. “They can stay for a few more minutes, Ash. If there’s even the smallest chance that they can get justice for Lee, I have to try to help.”

I came over to stand next to Tobias’s chair. He took Lisa’s hand in his own and met her gaze again. “Lisa,” he said gently. “We know the house is haunted. You aren’t crazy. And none of this was your fault.”

“But it was my fault,” Lisa’s face crumpled up again and one of her hands flew to her mouth. “You don’t understand… I knew what was happening. I knew that thing was going to hurt him. But instead of helping him, I—I ran.”

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