Page 60 of Top Secret Vampire

“I’ll give you access to the devices and original files whenever you wish.” I kept my voice calm. I itched to track down the person who’d tried to frame Reese. “You’ll find that everything’s authentic.”

Carter tapped the table with a nail, obviously weighing his thoughts. His gaze shifted back to Reese, her face a mask of panic barely kept in check. “This definitely changes things, but I've got to ask you, Reese, who else could it be? Who do you think would want to impersonate you like this?”

Before Reese could respond, Brandon leaned in, his voice as smooth as a blade. “Detective, my client won’t engage in guessing games.”

Carter side-eyed Brandon but didn’t argue. At this point, he had enough sense not to overstep, but he was stuck, looking for direction, wanting an answer.

Reese straightened in her seat. “I don’t have a twin. Not even a sister. I’m an only child, and my mom and aunt are the only living relatives I have left.”

Carter nodded; his lips tight as he tapped the information into his phone. “Do either of them resemble you?”

Reese barked a weak laugh. “There's some vague resemblance, of course. We're related. But they're older and both have lighter hair. I got my deep brown from my father.” The room fell silent before Reese spoke again. “Whoever did this could be wearing a disguise. I’ve heard of glamour, someone using magic or tricks to look like another. I suggest you look into something like that.”

Detective Carter rubbed his temples and shot me a glance. “Glamour, huh? I've got to admit, I’m not used to dealing with monsters, magical folks, or anything like that. My cases don’t involve those who can impersonate innocent people this well. I deal with humans, with very human motives.”

Reese opened her mouth, but I placed a hand on her arm, a signal to let him talk through this. We had to let him come to the correct conclusions in his own way. He clearly wanted to believe her. The evidence against her was flimsy now. But the man was stuck.

Finally, he sighed again, sounding almost sorry. “Alright. We’ll get Wolfram's footage authenticated and look into possible magical leads. But you need to understand the evidence is still strong, even if . . . odd.”

Reese's posture loosened, and she shot me a relieved look.

The detective's words softened. “I’m going to ask you to remain in town, Reese. If we have more questions later, I need you to be available.”

“I want to solve this too,” Reese said, quiet but firm. “Anything to put an end to this nightmare.”

Carter gave a gruff nod before standing, signaling the conversation was over. “You can go now. Again, don’t leave town. I’ll be in touch.”

“Let me see her,” someone shouted out in the hall. “Let me see her. Reese. Reese!”

She turned to me. “Aunt Beverly?”

“Where is my niece?” her aunt thundered.

“Company,” Detective Carter said, frowning at the door.

It burst open and Beverly tumbled into the room, her gaze latching onto Reese. “There you are.”

“Aunt Beverly?” Reese stood; her eyes wide. “What are you doing here?”

Beverly snarled at the detective. “I will not let you hold my niece as if she’s a common criminal. You,” her finger gouged the detective’s chest, “will release her this instant.”

“I was just about to do so,” the detective said with a sigh.

“Excellent.” She rounded the table to tug Reese into her arms. “Are you alright? He didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“I’m only doing my job,” Carter said with a sigh. “I was about to escort her to the front door.”

“Good.” Beverly’s arm went around Reese and with a pert nod to me, she led Reese out into the hall. I followed them with Brandon not far behind. “I hope you didn’t tell him anything.”

“Brandon’s my lawyer, and he and Wolf watched out for me,” Reese said weakly, gaping at her aunt. “You’re here. You’re being nice to me.”

“Of course I am,” Beverly snapped. “You’re my niece. We . . . may have had our issues in the past, but we’re blood. We stick up for each other, especially at a time like this.”

A smile teased across Reese’s mouth, and she shot me a stunned look before turning back to her aunt. “You’re right. We’re family. We stick up for each other.”

We left the building and after giving Reese another hug and telling her she’d stop by the house soon, Beverly got into her car and left.

“That was so strange,” Reese said, watching the vehicle pull out onto the road and speed away. “And wonderful.”

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