Page 63 of Guarded By a Monster

“First, because we want you to go over your statement with an F.B.I. agent to ensure it’s as ironclad as it can be. And second, because I wanted you to see how serious we are about bringing Vale to justice. We are prepared to put the entire might of our combined agencies behind you, Ms. Massey.”

“I’ve already said I’ll testify.”

Laurent sighed. “Yes, and I appreciate that, but with a criminal as high profile as Vale, more often than not, witnesses recant or disappear. I’d like your assurances you won’t back out. I’d also like to put you in police custody to guard against the second outcome.”

“I’m not going to recant or withdraw my statement, Mr. Laurent, and as for disappearing… I guarantee you, I’m well protected. There is zero chance someone will get to me.”

He put his hands on his ample hips and stared at the floor before pinning me with his eyes. “You’re refusing police protection?”

“Yes, and I will continue to do so.”

He nodded, but he wasn’t happy. “In that case, I want to know where you are at all times.”

“I’m afraid you can’t.”

He whipped around, and I backed up a step—bumping into Luna.

“That’s non-negotiable, Ms. Massey. I want to know you’re safe, and I can’t do that if I don’t know where you are.”

I straightened my spine. “Mr. Laurent, unless you plan to kidnap or arrest me, I will not be sharing my location. You can know where I am when I am standing in front of you—and that’s it.”

He looked at someone over my shoulder before relenting, then pointed me toward the agent who would go over my statement with me, and stormed off like a toddler. A large, balding toddler with hairy arms. The visual made me chuckle, which got me a weird look from Luna. “Ask me in the car,” I whispered.

It took an hour and a half for the agent to be satisfied with my recounting of events and the answers to his questions. I was tired, cranky, and my cooter was sore. All I wanted was to get home and pour half a bag of Epsom salts into the tub and soak until the water was cold.

But the day wasn’t done with me yet.

thirty-four

Jade is fine.The refrain was on repeat in my head until it was replaced with:Jade is fine, but the last time she was out of your sight, she was attacked and injured.

I stood up with enough force to send my chair into the wall behind me. All conversation stopped and everyone looked at me.

“Sorry, I need to move.”

The rooms on the bottom floor of Roul’s house flowed one into the next and formed a circle around a central staircase to the upstairs. It was an excellent pacing track.

“What does your bond tell you?” Drym called as I passed through the living room.

I focused on the dancing lights as I made a lap. “That she’s fine,” I answered as I passed him.

I saw Kendal shake her head before entering the kitchen.

“If it were me…,” she said.

Drym grunted. “I’d be going crazy too.”

“Exactly. Leave him be, Drym.”

On my fourth lap, Nanna blocked my path. When I moved to go around her, she moved with me.

“That’s enough. You’re making me dizzy. Just call her, for fuck’s sake.”

My jaw dropped open. Using the phone had never entered my mind. I scattered the group of cell phones on the kitchen counter, digging to find mine.

Quin shouted, “Hey!” at my rough treatment of the electronics, but they were all in near indestructible cases—a necessity for us, since we didn’t want to replace them every time we made a phone call.

I mashed the phone button and then Jade’s name. It rang once and then went straight to voice mail. Her cheerful tone told me to leave a message, and she’d call me right back. After the beep, I took too long thinking of what to say, and a robotic voice asked me if I was happy with the message.

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