Page 30 of Bears Behaving Badly
“You’re flirting with my brand-new husband,” Annette said before Nadia could elaborate. “You should be apologizing tome.”
“Her jealousy,” David confided, “will tear us apart.”
Nadia, meanwhile, had approached and held out a hand for Michelle to shake. “Lovely to meet you, Michelle, I’m Nadia. We spoke on the phone. These are my colleagues, Inspector Auberon and Annette Garsea. Who are not married, by the way.” To the busted non-newlyweds: “Whatare you two doing? You had an attack of the vapors when I teased you about dating—”
“No,” David deadpanned.
“—and now this?”
“No one believes in the power of our love.” Annette sighed.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Michelle managed, looking not a little overwhelmed.
“It always is, dear. May I have the key?”
“Yes, but…no.”
Nadia arched perfectly plucked brows. “Beg pardon?”
Michelle started talking faster. “I mean I had it. I still have it, is what I’m saying. But the building’s owner called just a few minutes ago and said I wasn’t to show that particular unit. He was sosoinsistent. I know you’re here on official business—I mean, I think you are, the married thing is confusing—”
“Not too confusing to keep you from flirting with my fake husband,” Annette sniffed.
“—but I’m not authorized to hand over the key now.”
Nadia shrugged. “Very well. I’m sure they’ve posted an officer at the late Lund’s door. They can let us in when we get up there. Fourth floor, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but…shouldn’t I come with you?”
“Not necessary. We covered this on the phone, Michelle. But we’ll certainly sing out if we need you. Come along, faux newlyweds.”
The three of them said nothing until the elevator doors hissed shut.
“Wow, Nadia, you saved us. Which is something I never thought I’d say.”
“We hardly needed saving,” Annette pointed out. “Okay, Iwasconsidering scratching Michelle’s eyes out. Or whatever a touchy post-wedding stressed bride would do. Who flirts with a groom when the bride is within earshot?”
“It’s not nice to play with the Stables,” Nadia chided.
“Fun, though.” David grinned. “Sometimes.”
Nadia often smoothed the way between their agency and outsiders with, among other things, attitude backed with lots of official-looking paperwork. It didn’t hurt that the average American was a sucker for an upper-class British accent. And since she always looked like she was on her way to a White House briefing and was so brittle and confident, few challenged her. On the rare occasions when a Stable or, worse, a cop decided to be recalcitrant…well, there were ways around that, too.
Lund’s case was especially problematic: a Shifter, possibly murdered by another Shifter, in an apartment building that was mostly Stable. In addition to doing their own investigation, they had to placate an entirely separate government agency—Hennepin County Child Protection Services—that had no idea the IPA existed.
This entailed various employees from both agencies working, at best, parallel to one another, which was one of the reasons caseworkers were given more leeway than their Stable counterparts. Sometimes there simply wasn’t time to cross everyt.
“I know we’ve discussed this before…”
“Oh, hell.”
“…but when will you attend to this?” Nadia had reached out, spooky quick, and tugged on a strand of Annette’s thick hair. “You’re too young to be going gray. Your mop is thick and healthy, and the primary color—sable, I believe—”
“Why are you talking like a Clairol spokeswoman? It’s brown, by the way.”
“—is nice, but the gray distracts from all that.”
“My hair has been this color—colors—for twenty-five years.” She smacked Nadia’s hand as the woman went in for another yank. “Stop it.”
