Page 60 of The Dragon's Captured Heart
“What the hell happened? Did someone break in?”
“No,” he said, voice raised so I would hear him. “Why do you think that?”
“Oh, you know. Normally, when I break into places, I leave them pristine, and so I figured that, given how clean it is out here, someone with my taste in conducting criminal offenses must have visited us.”
The noises stopped, and a second later, Cal was in the doorway, leaning on the frame. His eyes took in the mess of the common area.
“All right. You may have a point,” he said, smiling.
I smiled back and made my way over to him, going in for a hug. He squeezed back, even kissing the top of my head.
As I leaned against his chest, still feeling relieved that he was okay, my eyes took in the state of his bedroom.
“Were you going through my stuff?” I asked, pulling away from him and stepping into the room.
There was women’s clothing everywhere, including bras. But a split second after the words left my lips, I knew they weren’t mine.
Callum didn’t respond.
Slowly, I turned back around to face him.
“What is going on here?” I asked, meeting his eyes and not letting go.
“I went to the archives today,” he began.
“That’s not answering my question.”
“It will,” he said, voice hardening. “If you let me finish.”
Clenching my jaw against the rebuke, I indicated he should continue.
“The receptionist again denied that they were giving me the runaround, that I was in line and they would get to me ‘when they got to me.’ That wasn’t good enough. So, I forced my way in and found the reports myself. In less than five minutes.”
“You did?” I asked, shocked.
“What do you think happened next?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head, still distracted by the clothes behind me. “You solved the mystery?”
“No.” His eyes widened, filling with fury. “The receptionist attacked me and, in the process,burnedthe reports, turning them to ash. On purpose. Then he ran off.”
“What?” I yelped. “He attacked you? Why?”
“Because something is going on. Someone is covering up events around Noa’s death, and I need to find out what it is.”
“I understand all that,” I said. “I do. It makes sense. Walk me through why a bunch of her clothing and things are now spread all over your apartment.”
“I’m out of ideas,” he said, frustrated. “There has to be a clue, Maddie. Somethinghasto be a clue as to what the hell happened.”
“Again. Your logic makes sense. But, Callum.Why are her clothes here?”
He frowned. “Because I’m going through them. Why are you so upset over that?”
“Are you serious? Can you not figure it out?” I was yelling now, but I couldn’t help it. How could one man be so obtuse!
“I’m trying to figure it out!” he said, growling in frustration. “Did you not just hear me say that’s what I’m trying to do?”
“That’s not what I’m talking about! Callum, she diedtwo years ago!Why do you still have all of her clothes? Her bras? Was this all just in your closet?”
