Page 5 of The Elementalist
“No, you didn’t.”
“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“My apology?”
“That was months ago...”
“Being called a slut with a stick up her ass doesn’t just go away.”
I sighed. Why did she care so much about an apology? I didn’t know, but I needed her help, and her being mad at me did no good. “Fine, I’m sorry for being an ass.”
“Say it like you mean it.”
“Have you always been this controlling?”
“I have. You were just too smitten to notice.”
I chuckled at that. “Fine. I’m sorry like I meant it.”
“You’re not supposed to say that last part. You’re supposed to... emote it.”
“Lordy. Can we get back to the case?”
“Sure, but can you quit looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I ask.
“Like you’re still in love with me.”
I snorted, and so did she. We got along fine, even swimmingly. But dating... not so much. We were both sort of pig-headed. Okay, maybe more than ‘sort of.’ Trouble was, I’d really fallen for her, and I was too prideful to let it show. That’s why the breakup had stung.
“How did you know I was here about the killings?” I asked, shaking off the sadness that threatened to overwhelm me... yet again.
Justine shrugged. “The younger sister was in here yesterday, raising hell, not happy with our findings. Wasn’t hard to deduce she decided to look elsewhere for help. And last time I checked, you’re the only privatedickworking in town.”
“The only and best.” I noted the emphasis ondick... sigh.
“Sad but true. But I’m afraid Crystal’s only throwing away her money. We confirmed a big cat was responsible for the attack. Even had a forensic odontologist and a carnivore biologist confirm the wounds were consistent with claw and bite marks from a large feline. Not to mention, we found fur and blood from the animal all over the scene. Oh, lastly, the husband had the animal’s blood under his nails.”
“He put up a fight.”
“Tried to.”
“Was the cat found?”
“No. We looked.”
“I’m sure you did. Five whole minutes? Since when is the Shadow Pines Sheriff Department big game trackers?”
She laughed. “Such an ass. We teamed up with the local park rangers. No sign of the cat, but they are still on the lookout.”
“Should the town be on lockdown? You know, with a big cat on the loose?”
“Refer to my prior comment,” she said. “The part about being an ass.”
“It’s a serious question. Once those suckers get a taste for man, all bets are off.”
