Page 4 of The Vampire and the Case of the Cozy Christmas

I rifled through my first-aid kit to find a wad of gauze. ‘Here, press this against your forehead until the bleeding stops.’

He took it and, after wiping his eyes clear, pressed it to the gash. We both knew it’d heal the second he shifted so nothing else was needed for now. I studied him. ‘Frank, I have to ask. Have you been drinking?’

‘No, Officer Squirrel! I’m dry. I swear.’

‘Bunny,’ I corrected stiffly, unsure if he was taking the piss or if he’d just remembered I had some sort of rodent-related name.

He flushed. ‘Right. Bunny. Sorry. How did you get a name like that anyway?’

I stared at him for a beat. ‘I once angered a bunny spirit, so I agreed to take the name to appease it.’

He gaped at me. ‘An angry bunny spirit?’

‘A wraith,’ I elaborated and his eyes widened. Enough tall tales. ‘What happened, Frank? Please don’t ruin my first Portlock Christmas.’

‘It was an accident. I hit the ice and couldn’t stop sliding even though I tried.’ His voice was sincere and I believed him.

I nodded. ‘Fine, I’m going to take your information and the other driver’s and we’ll deal with this after the holidays. Is your truck driveable?’

He crunched his brows together. ‘I – I’m not sure. I haven’t tried to start it. I’m a little woozy just now.’

That was no surprise with such a wound on his head. ‘We’re going to get the other driver out and looked at by the paramedics. You can see them, too. I’ll try to reverse your truck off her car. If it’s driveable and the paramedics think you’re okay, you can go on home. If not, you’ll have to hang around for the tow truck.’

‘Okay. Thanks for believing me, Officer Bunny.’

I gave him a quick smile. Supernat senses were a gift most of the time and I knew he wasn’t lying. I could smell he hadn’t been drinking, so there was no need for a breathalyser. I was relieved that our town held its own and refused to give liquor to a man who couldn’t resist it; at least now I didn’t need to tell the Grimes’ brothers off.

By the time I’d finished checking on Frank, the paramedics had arrived, taken the woman out of the car and checked her over. She had a lump on the side of her head where she’d banged into the side window, and a possible mild concussion. While they went over Frank in the ambulance, I tried to reverse his truck.

The engine started, which was a good sign, and the truck rolled off the car. I parked it a short distance from the scene of the accident and returned to the ambulance.

Frank had shifted and healed his wound, so he was good to go home; I had his details because I’d booked him before. I let him set off whilst I wrote down Anna Lee’s details. Unlike Frank, her vehicle couldn’t be driven, so I called the tow truck and put out cones to alert other drivers. It was very quiet: everyone was home enjoying their feasts with their friends and families. Lucky ducks.

It was time I was with mine. Situation dealt with, I climbed back into the Nomo SUV and headed back to Connor’s – and to the best Christmas ever!

Chapter 4

The gate was open when I returned and Liv was parked on the drive. Looking a shade nonplussed, Connor was talking to her through her open window. I stopped and clambered out of the SUV.

Connor smiled at me then mouthed, ‘Did you do this?’and pointed at the roof of Liv’s car.

I nodded and jerked my head towards the house. ‘Let her in,’I mouthed back.

He looked at me curiously but opened her car door and gestured for her to climb out. She was carrying two ancient-looking bottles of wine, no doubt more expensive and more rare than any bottle I’d ever had before – and that was saying something because my mum was a wine snob.

I bolted inside. It would be best to give the others the tiniest warning. I hung up my coat and opened the door from the garage into the kitchen. The smell of food hit me and mystomach grumbled loudly. Trays of goodies were still laid out in the kitchen, covered with lids to keep them warm. ‘Hello, dear.’ Sigrid smiled at me.

‘You waited for me,’ I said dumbly.

She slipped an arm around my shoulders. ‘Of course we did.’

There was no ‘of course’ about it. Mum would never have delayed a meal for me. Being late – or walking out – would have been considered the height of rudeness on my part. Nothing came between Mum and her precious routine: dinner at 7pm, come what may.

‘I invited Liv,’ I blurted out to Sigrid. ‘She’s lonely.’

Sigrid’s eyes softened. ‘Well, we can’t have that, can we?’ Such was the depth of her compassion that she didn’t bat an eyelid at me inviting in the woman who had almost killed her – albeit Livhadbeen possessed at the time.

‘Gunnar…’ I started.

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