Page 35 of Hard Shift

“Thanks, boys,” she called over her shoulder and grinned like a kid that had stolen the last cookie. She turned around before pushing through the revolving door. “You can tell them I’ll be back.” She grinned even bigger as she walked out to her car and glanced up at both windows. The guy in the dark suit had a phone pressed to his ear, looking down at her, but Patrick was nowhere to be seen.

She’d just slid into her car when the passenger door flew open, and Evan moved into the seat. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

“Screw you.”

He shook his head and pointed out the windshield. “Drive. You’re being watched.”

She turned the ignition over as she scanned her surroundings. “If you’re talking about the guys upstairs, I already know.”

“No, I’m referring to a couple of angry wolves.”

Elizabeth gripped the wheel tighter as she turned out onto the main street, her gaze going from the rearview mirror to the road and back again. “Stanton?”

“Not him personally, but I think they might be a few of his pack members.” He glanced over at her. “Nothing you can’t handle. It just seems you’re a bit preoccupied lately.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, doing my damn job.” She glanced back at him and raised her brow. “Which, by the way, I won’t cease doing because you insist. You should just go ahead and tell me where the girls are. It will save us both a lot of time.”

“Can’t do that.”

“I should run your ass in and let you sit in a cell. That should change your mind.”

He chuckled. “I’d be out within the hour.” He turned to her. “You don’t get it, do you? The Jordanians are the reason there is even a Shifters Division in place. We’re like the founding fathers. Think of your dad in terms of being like the President. He’s the top dog, and referred to as the King of our kind, not necessarily over a continent or some mystical place, but all of our kind, and our existence.”

“And I’m the defiant daughter who doesn’t follow the rules. Get over yourself. I’m going to find those girls.” She pulled the car over and leaned across him to open his door. “And when I do, I’m coming after everyone who could have stepped in to prevent it and didn’t.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying.” Evan shook his head and slid out of the car. He rested his arm on the door and leaned back in.

“How would I? You’ve done nothing but keep secrets from me and let me live in a world where I don’t belong. Well, guess what. I’m changing all of that, starting with this case.”

“Everything that I’m doing…is for you.”

“Save it.”

“Fine.” His lips twitched. “You want answers. I’ll give you a glimpse of what we’re about. Whatyou’reabout. Meet me tonight at the corner of Cervantes and Fifth.” He went to shut the door but paused and leaned back in. “And leave the bear where he belongs.”

“As if,” she mumbled as the door slammed into place. She watched as Evan jogged toward the tree line. The big sword he’d had strapped to his back yesterday had been replaced by twin katanas with intricate designs. The deadly blades matched the power Evan exuded. He was sexy in a lethal way. The bad-boy type mothers everywhere warned their daughters about. He was the worst. Thoughts of him distracted her from her job, and not in a good way, more of an “I’m ready to strangle you” kind of way.

She put the car into drive again and headed back into the Glades, toward the trailer park. Her mind was trying to put all of the puzzle pieces into place, yet stalling out before she could draw any conclusions. Ten minutes later, she parked in front of a rusted, beat-up trailer in the back of the park against the tree line. The screen door was hanging from the hinges. Old tires and bricks were scattered in the tiny yard. She checked her gun and shoved it back into place before she stepped out of the car. She stood in place and swiveled around on the spot. She felt more eyes on her, yet this wasn’t the same feeling she’d had at the lab. She sniffed the air. The unique smells of wolves, cats, and bear were thick in the air as if the property had housed them for years. She glanced at the surrounding trailers calculating who might live where.

Turning, she headed for the door, pulled her badge from her waist, and knocked.

Curses drifted to her ears and grew louder with each step that came closer. An older woman yanked the door open, a cigarette dangling from between her lips. The scent of mildew and mold hit Elizabeth in the face, making her want to hold her breath.

“What do you want?” the woman demanded.

“Are you Matilda Franklin?”

“Who wants to know?” She popped her hip to the side and rested her fisted hand at her waist.

“I’m a detective with SID, and I have some questions about your daughter.”

“Jenny? What has she done?” Matilda took the cigarette and flicked the ashes out the door. “I hope you don’t expect me to go bail that ungrateful bitch out of jail.”

“No, nothing like that. When was the last time you spoke with her?”

Matilda took a drag of the cigarette, and the red embers burned with her pull. “When she was sixteen.” The woman turned to walk into the trailer, leaving Elizabeth to follow her. “We had a fight after her first shift. She said she hated us and wished she’d never been born and ran off. We haven’t heard from her since.”

Elizabeth pulled the door closed as best she could and walked into the dank, dark living room. Dirt covered the windows on the outside, preventing needed sunlight from entering. The couch was torn in a couple of places, the recliner not in any better condition. Ashtrays overflowing with old cigarette butts sat on the tables, and empty vodka bottles sat on the counter.

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