Page 5 of Blood Bearon
“Plymouth Falls Police Department!” she shouted, drawing a bead on the voice that had come from her right side without any notice. It most definitely wasnotin the shadows in front of her.
A giant figure detached itself from the tree and stood overtop of her, staring down the barrel of her pistol.
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“Yes, I gather that,” the titan rumbled, his voice deep enough to vibrate her chest. “The gun is a bit of a giveaway. As is the obviously official vehicle you pulled up in.”
“You’ve been watching me?” she snapped, the weapon not wavering even as she lay uncomfortably on her side, her back throbbing from where she’d hit it against the tree.
“You’re on my property,” he said calmly, seemingly uncaring about the weapon pointed directly at his chest. “I think that’s fair, don’t you?”
She kept an eye on him, her eyes darting around, trying to figure out how many others were there. Whowasthis guy? Why didn’t he care that she was law enforcement?
“We’re quite alone, don’t worry,” he said, slowing squatting down on his heels, looking her in the eye. “And I’m not going to hurt you. You can put that silly toy away.”
The twin grips of what she could only surmise were swords sticking over the left shoulder of the massive stranger stopped her. “You say my gun is a toy, and yet you walk around with swords strapped to your back?” she spat sarcastically. “I think you have it a bit backward. Speaking of which, step back. Slowly.”
Thick eyebrows the color of stained wood pulled together dangerously. “Need I remind you, officer, that you are trespassing onmyproperty, without a warrant or reasonable cause.” His voice grew calmer, and somehow more dangerous all at once. “I suggest you cease the intimation of violence, and pull yourself together. I’m not going to harm you.”
“Right. So you were just what…wandering these woods looking for Robin of Loxley?”
The man frowned. “Who?”
Rachel sighed. “Never mind. Just back up, okay? You say you’re no threat, but I have no way of knowing that.”
Spreading his hands peacefully to show they were empty, the muscled mass of maleness rose to his feet and took five equally large steps away from her. He moved with an ease and surety to his step that spoke of an extreme body awareness. She knew, because she’d spent years training to achieve the same fluidity of movement, though she doubted she could move like him. Not even with another decade of practice. Although everything about him told her he was dangerous, she felt oddly at peace around him. Safe, even.
That was a dangerous feeling, and as Rachel got to her feet, she kept her gun trained on him.
“Who are you?”
“I live here. Who are you?” he replied calmly.
“Detective with Plymouth Falls Police Department.”
“Yes, yes, I know that,” the man said while she stared up at him.Wayup. “I know that. Why are you here? Why are you on my property?”
“I’m investigating the fire.”
“Of course. But why are youon my property?” he repeated. “The fire is on the other side, in case you didn’t notice. You have no right to be here.”
“I needed to be sure there was both no fire over here, since it goes right up to the wall, and that nobody was in danger.” She had to keep fighting the urge to put her gun away. Her senses told her this man was anything but a threat to her, and it was growing harder to remain suspicious of him the longer she was in his presence.
“Right. Well, no fire, nobody in danger. You can go now.” Gray eyes darted toward the wall, indicating she should climb back over it.
“I have a few questions first.”
The man laughed. “Sorry, Detective, but it’s time you went. You’re trespassing.”
It irked her, but he was right. A quick peek over the wall should have been enough. Instead she’d not only climbed the wall, but pulled her gun on him.
“Fine,” she growled, backing away from him toward the wall.
He followed her until the edge of the tree line, where he waited, watching. She moved down to where she’d come over, then slowly began to pile snow together, doing her best to keep a watchful eye on him at the same time. It was slow going, and her irritation grew as the landowner watched her while leaning casually against a tree.
“Would you like some help?” he called after ten minutes or so had passed. “I have places to be.”
She snapped something unintelligible and worked harder.
