by Terry Spear
Josh offered, “I’ll get it for you. Where is it?”
“The white fluffy one, hanging near the closet door inside the closet.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Josh was certainly accommodating with her, now that he wasn’t grilling her about the stolen reindeer calf.
He soon returned with her robe and helped her into it. The brothers were smiling at her as she resettled on the recliner.
“What?” she asked.
“You look like a sheep among wolves,” Maverick said.
“I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said.
“You sure are. Did you want something warm to drink? Hot cocoa?” Josh asked.
“That would be great. Beers are in the fridge if you guys would like them.” She knew the questioning would begin. Not from Maverick but from his detective brother. She didn’t mind since he was trying to learn what these guys were after, but she was just so tired. She explained the story she and Maverick had made up about her being in her underwear in the attic. “Adam thought the story worked.”
“Sounds good to me. ” Josh made her a hot cocoa while Maverick brought out a couple of beers.
When the cocoa was ready, he handed it to her, and he and Maverick sat down on the sofa and waited to hear her story.
“Did you bite either of the men?” Josh asked her.
“No, I didn’t bite either of the men. Before I shifted, I realized it could be a problem if I turned one of them. Or both. I couldn’t defend myself against them as a helpless human. I thought I might be able to scare them off if they saw a big, ferocious-looking ‘dog’ in the attic, but I was trying to remain hidden behind the antique trunks at first. They were going to shoot off the locks on the trunks, but then my cell phone lit up. One man came around the trunk, and I knew I had to react or get shot.”
“I don’t blame you. The antique trunks. What’s in them?” Josh asked.
“I have no idea. I inherited everything—the store, house, all the furnishings intact. I’ve been having so much repair work done and trying to get the shop open that I haven’t started looking at the stuff in the attic. I went up to see if there was anything more I could sell in the shop.”
“We need to open those trunks and find out what’s in them,” Maverick said.
She hadn’t expected him to propose that, but she was glad the brothers wanted to help. Then again, if it could help their police investigation, that was tantamount.
“If something important or valuable is in them, why did these men come just now to steal from the shop? Why not do it before I took over the property? They could have stolen from the shop at any time after my great-aunt died, while the shop wasn’t open, and no one would have been the wiser.”
“Maybe what they’re looking for is something you purchased more recently,” Josh said.
“Not me. I’ve just been trying to unload stuff.” Brooke rubbed her forehead. “Like my parents, my great-aunt would buy from estate sales from time to time. Sometimes, they just bought mystery boxes of stuff. Sometimes, there were real finds, and they made back what they’d paid for the boxes with just one item and the rest was pure profit. They always broke even, but they usually made money. They never knew exactly what was in the boxes, just a general inventory.
“Other than that, they would sometimes buy from garage sales. People sell off stuff they’ve inherited and don’t think it’s worth anything. Often it isn’t worth anything except to a person collecting that kind of item. They also bought new replicas of antiques. Some want the old-time look or memorabilia but at a cheaper price. They don’t really care about having true antiques, but I can’t imagine anyone breaking into the shop for any of those.”
“What about lists your great-aunt made of the merchandise she had in the shop?” Josh asked.
“I haven’t located any yet. I can’t imagine she didn’t keep track of her purchases for tax purposes. In the will, she said she left me a list of treasures, but I haven’t located it yet either.”
“A list of treasures?” Josh’s brow rose.
“Yeah.”
“You’re sure you didn’t bite anyone?” Josh asked.
She knew why Josh was concerned about that. “I have no blood staining my teeth and no blood on my lips. I don’t smell like I have anyone else’s blood on me. I didn’t bite anyone. I jumped on the one man, knocking him down. The other guy looked horrified and started firing as soon as his friend was clear. I dodged behind the trunk. I sneaked around to the other side, worried that with all the bullets he was discharging, I was going to get hit for sure. It hadn’t registered that I’d been already hit—twice.”
“The adrenaline will keep you from feeling the pain initially,” Josh said.
“Right. I finally managed to hide behind a stack of boxes and wooden crates, hoping the men wouldn’t come around them to shoot me. They were all shook up, and I think that’s the reason they didn’t come looking for me.”
“They probably thought you were a guard dog,” Josh said.
“Why do you keep asking me if I bit the men?” She wondered if Josh thought she was afraid to tell him the truth!
“I smelled blood and saw drops of it trailing all the way down the sidewalks.”
“Oh good.” She hoped one or both men had shot themselves! “But you didn’t smell the man’s blood in the shop.” She suspected Josh must not have because none of the rest of them had smelled anyone else’s blood but hers.
“No, not there. Just on the sidewalks and the streets when they crossed them. Maybe one of them cut himself on the glass from the window when they broke it or while climbing out,” Josh said. “The glass fell outside the window. The bloody shards of glass would be down below in the shrubs in front of the shop. We wouldn’t have smelled the blood in the shop.”
“If one of them cut himself badly from the glass, maybe he’ll have to be seen in an urgent-care facility, but nobody would know he was involved in a crime.” Brooke would have nightmares about them shooting her. Even now, she could envision the guy who’d been in her shop earlier, his blue eyes catching her gaze. He’d seemed out of place there, but not dangerous. He hadn’t smelled of fear, as if he was worried about being caught. “We need to gather the evidence then.”
“Adam would make sure they did. He’ll alert hospitals in the area to be on the lookout for someone who cut himself badly on a broken glass window,” Josh said, “if that’s what the injury was from.”
“They tried to open the window, but it was jammed.”
“I wondered about that,” Josh said.
“It was an old window and probably hasn’t been opened in a millennium. The frame had been painted over several times too. They were panicking, and finally one of them took a brass lamp and smashed the window, and it broke.”
“A brass lamp. Too bad the one who grabbed it didn’t leave fingerprints.” Josh said.
“They were wearing gloves.”
“Right. I’d seen them wearing them outside the shop, so I guess they didn’t remove them when they were looking for whatever the item was.” Josh took another drink of his beer. “They sound like they know somewhat what they’re doing, but they should have been listening for the sirens.”
“I’m sure the wolf had their full attention.” She finished her cocoa. “I need to make some calls. Someone has to board up the attic window until I can replace it—George, I guess—and I have to clean up the shop once the police are done with it. I need to lock it and set the security alarm too.”
“I’ll get with Adam and board up the window tonight,” Maverick said. “I suspect my brother, being the police detective first called to the scene, wants to stay here and serve and protect.”
“If that’s all right with you,” Josh said to Brooke.
“Thanks, Josh. And thanks, Maverick, for taking care of the window. Tell Adam
thanks too.”
“I will. What’s the security code? We’ll set the alarm after we lock up. And we’ll need the keys,” Maverick said.
“They’re on the kitchen counter.” She gave him the security code.
“Got it.” Maverick headed out the back door, and Josh locked up.
The adrenaline rush had completely whooshed out of every cell in Brooke’s body, and she was suddenly very tired. She left the recliner and headed into the kitchen. Josh joined her in a heartbeat.
“Is there something I can get for you?”
“Some more hot cocoa? It really appeals.”
“Sure. Did you eat dinner?”
“Uh, I was going to fix something after I refilled the shelves in the shop and checked out the attic. But I never got to it.” Her eyes filled with annoying tears, and Josh quickly put the container of cocoa down and led her to the barstool.
“Hey, I know what you’re going through. The adrenaline rush has probably dissipated, and you’re upset about the mess in your shop when you’d worked so hard to get it ready for tomorrow. The fear of being shot to death, the worry the men will return, and the shock of being shot all take a toll. Even if the wounds were nothing major, it’s still a trauma to your system. Are you going to be okay?” He handed her a tissue from a box on the bar.
She wiped away the tears. “Yeah. It was a good sales day, and then tonight was a total nightmare.”
He made more cocoa for her and brought over the mug. “What can I fix you for dinner? Or do you want me to call for takeout?”
“Takeout. I don’t want to have to deal with a messy kitchen too. And I think the stove might be going out.”
“I’ll fix dinner.”
She didn’t want Josh to have to make a meal for them. She pointed to a bunch of takeout menus sitting in a pile on the other end of the counter. “Just pick something for me. I can’t think straight. I keep trying to figure out what the intruders were after. Oh, and they said if they couldn’t find it there, they were going to search my house while I was at the shop.”
“Hell.” He brought over the stack of menus. “Pizza? Chinese? Sandwiches?”
She closed her eyes and touched one of the menus. She opened her eyes. She’d pointed at the sandwich shop and knew just what she wanted without having to go through the menu. “Grilled ham-and-cheese sandwich, pickles, fries, and a hot fudge sundae.”
He chuckled. “I thought you couldn’t decide what to have and you were cold.”
“That’s my favorite from the restaurant. You can make me a mug of hot chocolate again after I eat the sundae. Chocolate takes the edge off.”
“Works for me.” Josh placed the order for her and ordered a hot fudge sundae for himself. “About tonight—”
“I’ll be all right. The men said they’d come here when I wasn’t here.”
“I wouldn’t rely on that. My brother runs the reindeer ranch, so he’s needed back there tomorrow. I’m off work for the next two days, so I’ll stay close, help you get the shop back in order, and we can inventory those trunks in the morning. We can also start checking the boxes of stuff you think might contain something of value.”
“Before the shop opens at ten.”
“Correct.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “Okay. I know I wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight, both from worry about getting the shop ready to open all over again and from concern those men will try to return there or come here. So thanks. I appreciate it.”
“You are sure you don’t have any idea what could be so important to those thieves?”
She let out her breath in exasperation. “Look, I have no idea what they were looking for. If suddenly something pops into my head that I think might be important, I’ll let you know. Seriously.”
“A simple no would have sufficed.”
“I seriously doubt it.”
He smiled.
Thirty minutes later, the front doorbell rang, and he went to check it. “Hot fudge sundae delivery, and all the rest.” He paid the guy at the door, then closed and locked it.
“Oh, I should have gotten some money for you,” she said.
“I took care of it. We’re good.” He was bringing the food over to the bar when there was a knock at the back door. “I’ll get it.”
“You’re handy to have around.” Especially since she was feeling so wiped out, and every time she walked, her leg hurt.
“You need someone to help you until you’re feeling better.” Josh saw that it was his brother and opened the door. “You guys get it done?”
“We did,” Maverick said, entering the house. “Adam wanted to know how come the two of us had to replace the window, with George’s help—but you got the girl.”
Brooke was taking a bite of her sandwich. She put her finger up in the air and finished chewing, then said, “He didn’t get the girl.”
“Who’s staying overnight to protect you?” Maverick asked.
“I am,” Josh said without hesitation.
“I rest my case,” Maverick said. He frowned at the meal Brooke was eating. “Don’t tell me you’re having dinner with Brooke too.”
“Dessert with her. I had dinner at the house with you, remember?”
“Where’s mine?”
Josh handed him the menu. “They can bring you something in a jiff.”
“Since you’re staying the night, do you want me to run to the store and pick up a couple things for you?” Maverick asked Josh.
“Sure, thanks. I’ve got my emergency kit with my toiletries and one change of clothes in the car, but I’ll be staying a couple of days.”
“Be right back with my very own dessert. Oh, and Adam said if it’s all right with you, Brooke, he’d stay at the shop tonight until we can get the security cameras installed, just in case someone tries to break in. First, he’s taking me home though.”
“Maverick, that would be great,” Brooke said. “There’s a Napoleon-replica bed in one of the rooms that Adam can sleep on. I’ll grab some sheets for it for when you return.”
“I’ll let him know.” Maverick left the house, then returned before Josh could lock the door. “Keys to your car? I rode with you.”
Josh fished out his keys. “Thanks, Maverick.”
“No problem.” Maverick headed through the courtyard, and Josh locked the door again.
“The house has two guest bedrooms and a foldout couch, so it’s your choice where you want to sleep tonight,” Brooke said to Josh.
“Thanks.” He sat down at the bar and scooped up some of his ice cream. “So about the front door of the shop. Had you locked it before the men entered it while you were in the attic?”
Chapter 11
Josh had to ask Brooke whether the door to her shop had been unlocked or not. It wasn’t just because he was a police detective. He couldn’t quit wondering how the intruders had gotten in. He knew she was perturbed with him for asking her questions about the break-in, but until it was resolved, like the issue with the stolen reindeer, he couldn’t let it go. Particularly if she was in some danger because of it. True, the would-be thieves had been shooting at a wolf and not a human woman, but he had to assume if they wanted something desperately enough, they would have shot her, too, if they’d found her in the attic in her human form. No witnesses left behind.
“I’m certain I flipped the sign from Open to Closed on the door, and I’m sure I locked it out of habit. But I had so many things I wanted to do—clean up the dishes from making the hot cocoa and the wassail, and then restocking my shelves and being concerned that my great-aunt had ordered more boxes of stuff from Colombia—that I can’t be completely positive.”
“The door lock didn’t appear to be tampered with.”
“Great.”
“I intend to help you sort through whatever you need help with,” Josh said again. He h
ad the time off, and what better use of it than to help a wolf in need?
“Thanks.” She sounded weary, and he was ready to put her to bed, but he was waiting for his brother to return with his dessert before he turned in.
Then a knock sounded on the front door, and he went to answer it. He looked through the peephole and saw Maverick standing on the doorstep, sacks in hand.
Josh opened the door for his brother and locked it after him. “Thanks, Brother. What dessert did you get for yourself?”
“Chocolate brownie smothered in ice cream and topped with hot fudge.”
“Did you bring me one too?” Brooke asked.
Maverick looked a little bummed that he hadn’t. “Did you want mine?”
She laughed. “No. I was just teasing. I already had my sundae.”
Someone knocked on the door again, and Josh went to get it. “Our sketch artist is here.”
Brooke looked done in, but she knew the importance of doing this.
“This is Sierra Redding,” Josh said, introducing the ladies. “And, Sierra, this is Brooke Cerise.”
“Oh, oh, a wolf. I’m so glad to meet you,” Sierra said. “Adam should have mentioned it. I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner. Criminals are keeping me busy. Let’s get this done. You look like you could use some rest.”
“Thanks.” Brooke was all smiles, and Josh was glad Sierra had finally arrived and the two she-wolves had met each other.
“I’m looking forward to shopping in your store. I love antiques.” Sierra pulled out her sketch pad.
“Oh, that would be great.”
“Is someone staying with you tonight?” Sierra asked Brooke.
“I am.” Josh hadn’t meant to say that so quickly, as if he was afraid someone else would step in to volunteer. His brother chuckled.
“I’ll have to scratch you off my list of eligible bachelors, I see.” Sierra gave him an evil smile.
Everyone knew Josh wasn’t dating anyone. He handed Brooke another mug of hot cocoa to warm her up after having the sundae. “Would you like one, Sierra?”
