Page 28 of Taken By Raider Kings
She wondered if shewascrazy.It would certainly explain a lot.
“Detective Andreeson, JPD.I spoke to Miss Wilson this afternoon, about her friend Lucy Cavanaugh.”
“She’s really broken up, sir.”How was it possible for a werewolf who kidnapped her and dragged her hundreds of miles away, not to mention broke into her house, to sound socalm?
“I know.But I had a couple questions.You see, witnesses describe someone matching Miss Wilson’s description entering the Paintbox with Miss Cavanaugh.You wouldn’t happen to?—”
“That would be what, Friday night?”Zach still sounded calm, and he paused thoughtfully.The detective must have nodded, because the kdnapping werewolf continued.“It couldn’t have been Sophie, she was with me.We were at home.”
“Here, in this apartment?”The detective sounded mildly surprised.“Miss Wilson didn’t mention you this afternoon, Mr….?”
“Gabe.Gabe Sellers.”
A faint, hopeless sound escaped Sophie’s throat.My God, is he even lying about hisname?There was the sound of cloth moving as men shifted their weight, sizing each other up, and her eyes flew open.
Zach filled the doorway, towering over the pudgy little detective.She couldn’t evenseethe man out in the hall.And that weird grayness didn’t go away.It looked just like the cloudy haze on the conference table earlier that day, swirling hypnotically.
She wondered if she was going into shock.
“Mr.Sellers.”A floorboard creaked sharply under the detective’s feet.“She didn’t mention you.Can I come in?”
“Well, her ex-husband’s kind of looking for reasons to make her life miserable.I guess she doesn’t want me to be one of them.”Zach propped an elbow on the doorjamb, lazily blocking any faint hint of welcome or ingress.“And Sophie’s crying her eyes out about Lucy.I don’t think now’s a good time.”
“So, you’re involved with Mrs.Harris?”
“It’s Ms.Wilson.”Zach’s tone turned chill as the piercing, slashing sleet outside.“And I’m not sure it’s any of your business,sir.Sophie was with me all weekend.Does that answer your question?”
“Where did you two spend the weekend, Mr.Sowers?”The detective’s tone matched Zach’s now, and Sophie let out another small hopeless, hitching sound.Her nose was full.Two scorch-hot drops of water trickled down her cheeks.Say something, you idiot.Yell.Scream.You wanted to call the police, there’s one standing right there in the door!Do something!
But if she did something, the inevitable questions would start—questions she didn’t have good answers for.Or even believable, rational answers.Where exactly were you Friday night?If you were with Lucy, why didn’t you report anything?Why did you lie?You say this guy kidnapped you?Why?Who is this guy, anyway?
Zach remained leaning against the doorjamb, still blocking any view of the hall.The grayness resolved into streaks of fluttering transparency, easing around him.“It’sSellers; I thought you guys were good with names.As for where we spent the weekend, that’s private.If you know what I mean.Now, if you don’t have any other prying personal questions, I’ve got a crying girlfriend I need to feed and calm down.Have a nice night, Anderson.”
“It’sAndreeson,Mr.Sellers.I’d like to speak to Miss Wilson, please.”
“I don’t think she’s in any condition to talk to someone who can’t even get her name straight.”Zach half turned his head, tucking his chin slightly.“Sophie?”he called, as if she was in the bathroom.“Some cop’s here.You want to talk to him?”
Oh, Jesus.Dear God.She forced her her arms work, pushed herself out of the chair.Its cushion gave a protesting groan.The grey things wouldn’t go away no matter how many times she blinked.
She teetered, on old-woman legs, to the hall.Andreeson was making notations on his steno pad again.Zach’s body language didn’t change.Her knees almost gave out as she tried to figure out a way past him.If she could reach the hall she could run away frombothmen, and everything else, as well.
Just keep running.Only she didn’t have anywhere to go.The last time she’d bolted, she’d had a plan—a desperate one, but a plan nonetheless, and a friend to help carry it out.
Oh, Lucy.Her eyes brimmed, blurred.
Zach put out a hand as soon as she was within reaching distance, slid it over her shoulders, and pulled her into his side just precisely as a protective boyfriend might.“This the guy who told you about Lucy?”He tucked his chin again to look down at her, and Sophie didn’t flinch only through sheer willpower.
He was very warm, a flood of heat closing around her.And that musk smell, which was beginning to be curiously comforting.The grey things pressed closer, floating as if the air was water.
She didn’t trust her voice; she nodded.A horrible idea bolted through her head—she’dseenwhat Zach could do, the way his shape changed into something lean and wickedly clawed, covered in dark pelt.
What if the tubby little brown-eyed detective, still in the rumpled, mildewy tan mackintosh, his tie a little askew, made Zach angry?
Her knees nearly gave out.Which pitched her directly into Zach’s side, and his arm tightened.Her heart crawled into her throat; fresh hot tears slid down her cheeks.What had she or Lucy done to deserve this?They’d only wanted to go out and have some fun, for God’s sake.
“I’m sorry to disturb you.”Andreeson did look sorry, his muddy eyes sad as they had been earlier.“You were with your fella here all weekend?”
Well, technically that’s true.And he’s a werewolf.And pigs will fly.She managed another nod, and Zach’s arm tightened again.Maybe he even meant it to be comforting, but the pressure felt like a warning.
