Page 23 of Dead Heat

I jumped to my feet. “Daughters of Darkness, I’ll ask you one more time. Why are you here? Why not address me in your human forms?”

Claude sprang from the middle one’s head to land on myshoulder. The revenant was surprisingly limber for his age and the gnarled state of his digits.

The monstrous hounds glowered at me. The middle one jerked her head in some sort of signal to the other two. The trio spread their wings and took to the air.

I exhaled, continuing to watch them as they flew in the direction of the crossroads. I pulled out my phone to text the group chat. Whichever guards were on duty needed to be warned. Of course, if the hounds came through that way, they’d already know—in which case, why hadn’t they notified me?

I sent the message. I made a mental note to call Weston Davies, the pack’s alpha, as soon as I dealt with Officer Leo.

Bless him. He was still in the patrol car with his forehead resting on the steering wheel. I knocked on the window, causing him to bolt upright. Relief flooded his features at the sight of me, and he rolled down the window.

“All good?” he asked.

“For now. I’m surprised you listened to me.”

“You’re Lorelei. You know things.”

“I do?”

“That’s been my impression. Besides, the chief trusts you.”

“She said that?”

“Not directly, but I’ve learned how to interpret the few grunts she makes.” He grinned. “You’re not her favorite, though. That honor belongs to…”

“West,” I finished for him.

His grin broadened. “You pay attention too.”

“Hypervigilance is one of my superpowers.”

He glanced at the sky, now devoid of otherworldly creatures. “I’ve watched a lot of nature documentaries, but I’ve never heard of flying dogs.” He tapped his thumbs on the wheel. “They sound like monsters out of a video game. They weren’t, though, right? It wasn’t just Ms. Talbot’ssenility finally kicking in? She’s got to be close to a hundred.”

“I promise you they were not monsters out of a video game, and, despite her advanced age, Jessie Talbot remains an extremely reliable witness.”

His shoulders relaxed slightly. “Good to know. Do you know what they were?”

“Bats.”

“Bats the size of dogs?”

“The shadows made them look larger than they actually were.”

“Why did you send me to my car? I don’t mind bats.”

“I assume you mind rabies, though.”

He flinched. “You think they were rabid?”

“Possibly. They weren’t behaving normally.” That much was true.

He exhaled. “I’m glad I don’t have to tell the chief there were three giant dogs with wings. I might get drug tested and put on unpaid leave.”

“What would you have done if I’d confirmed Jessie’s description?”

“Dunno. Told her a few animal balloons escaped their owner from a nearby children’s party.”

I smiled. “Creative. I like it. If you receive any more reports, do me a favor and call me first.”

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