Welcome to the Neighborhood

by Abshire, Mary

  James’s lips twitched. “I understand your concern, but we’re not here to discuss your pending investigation. We can’t give you any information about it.”

  Alexi glanced at Larry. Although he kept his gaze lowered, she opened her mind to his and listened to his thoughts. He was thinking of his wife and daughter. They were at a playground and his young child sat on a swing while he pushed her. Alexi tried to slip deeper into his head, hoping to discover why they wanted to question her if they weren’t interested in her burglary report. All she could find was the same image, same thought of him at the playground. She bit her lip in frustration. Obviously, he knew how to conceal his thoughts. Any human could if they knew how to focus long enough. She wasn’t surprised law enforcement trained their detectives how to do it.

  “Why are you here?” Greg asked.

  James’s chest expanded as he took in a deep breath. “There have been a couple of murders. Both victims had a very low blood supply and markings on their throats suggest a vampire killed them.”

  Alexi felt weak as if life had drained out of her. She’d just moved to Westport. How could anyone suspect her of being a murderer? She’d sipped from a few people who worked at the hotel, but that was it. On top of that, she hadn’t killed a human since she was with her maker, and that was by accident.

  “Hold on here. Why would you think Ms. Cartwright is the murderer, other than the fact she’s a vampire?”

  “Westport hasn’t received any reports of murders with bites or slashes to the throat in years,” James said.

  “At least a decade,” Larry added.

  “Then two nights ago, a local resident finds a body with very minimal blood and two large punctures in the neck. A second victim with the same marks and condition was found yesterday morning as well. Considering Ms. Cartwright recently moved into the town, we have an obligation to the citizens in the community to question her.”

  “I didn’t–”

  “Don’t finish that,” Greg said, placing his hand on her arm.

  The nausea she’d felt earlier returned in full swing. What an odd coincidence some vampire had chosen a couple days ago to go on a bloodlust spree. If she found out who the idiot was before the detectives, she’d beat the person senseless. Killing humans for food died centuries ago. Didn’t the fool know that?

  “I should mention the report from the officers investigating the robbery noted Ms. Cartwright looked weak and frail.”

  “My client is not a murderer. I can assure you of that.”

  “Then she won’t mind answering a few questions,” James said, then looked at her. “Right?”

  Knees weak, Alexi headed for the recliner in the corner. How could this have happened to her? What were the odds? Regret flowed through her as she sat. If she’d stayed in Chicago, everything would’ve been fine.

  She wrapped her arms around her ribs and held herself tight as she debated what to do. Answer questions, which could harm or help her, or remain silent? Surely, if she told the truth, they would check her statement and learn she couldn’t be the murderer. If she didn’t give them some information, they’d either think she was hiding something or would judge her as the guilty party. She had nothing to hide, except the contents in her safe. And she was unequivocally innocent of murder.

  “I was staying at hotel outside of Westport.”

  Greg jerked his head toward her. “You don’t have to answer any questions. In fact, it’s better that you don’t.”

  “What is the name of the hotel?” Larry asked.

  Greg shook his head. As he clenched his jaw, she noticed a slight tick over his temple.

  “The West End,” she said.

  Larry swung his arm and snapped his fingers near James. “That’s the one off the interstate that opened up last year, right?”

  James looked at Alexi as if he wanted her to answer.

  “It’s off the interstate,” she said.

  “When did you check in?” James asked.

  “I honestly don’t know. It was early in the morning.”

  James threaded his fingers together and held his hands in his lap. “Had you fed before you checked into the hotel?”

  Both men watched her closely. She looked up at Greg. He mouthed, “Don’t.”

  “No,” she answered, and Greg closed his eyes for a brief moment. She wanted to prove she had nothing to hide. So what, she hadn’t fed before she checked into her room. It only showed she was hungry. If she’d fed, wouldn’t that incriminate her? Unless she checked in early and had time to go out and hunt. Damn, she wished she’d looked at the time when she arrived at the hotel.

  “How long did you stay at the hotel before going out?” James asked.

  “I never went out after I checked in.”

  “You were weak and hadn’t fed before you checked in. And you stayed inside for…”

  Greg moved toward her with one of his palms facing her. “I strongly encourage you not to answer.”

  “They can check the records.”

  “Then let them, and don’t say anything more until they have charges to press. Their job is to investigate. You’ve given them plenty.”

  Worry reflected in his eyes and frustration came through clearly in his tone. While his tense body stood close, Alexi heard his infused heart. Maybe he was right. Give them time to investigate so she and Greg could focus on getting her safe back.

  “You can find your answer in the hotel records. I’m sure they have video recordings too.”

  The two detectives exchanged glances.

  “Have you fed from humans recently, Ms. Cartwright?” James asked.

  “I decline to answer under the advice of my attorney.”

  Greg gave her a reassuring nod, but it did little to comfort her.

  “I guess we can go,” Larry said, then stood.

  James followed his partner’s lead, then stepped around the coffee table. “Is there any more information you can provide us, Ms. Cartwright?”

  “Not at this time.” Part of her wanted to be straightforward and share everything, but Greg wanted her to stay mum. She had no reason to doubt him, and every reason to believe he’d given her good advice.

  Larry headed for the door with James in tow. Alexi walked next to Greg a few steps behind the men. The werewolf stopped abruptly and looked at Alexi. “Can I ask…did you move here by yourself?”

  She found no reason not to answer such an easy question. “Yes, I came here alone.”

  “Where did you move from?”

  Sneaky werewolf wouldn’t stop.

  “Chicago.”

  Greg stepped toward the men and extended his arm toward the door. “I think you’ve asked my client enough questions tonight.”

  Larry and James continued toward the exit. As Larry opened the door and left, James stopped in the entryway. “I don’t know if you are aware of this, but a sample of blood was taken from the carpet. According to the burglary report, Ms. Cartwright hit her head and the blood is hers. If her DNA matches with the blood we find from the victims–”

  “I’ll expect to hear about a warrant for her arrest,” Greg said.

  James stared coldly at him. “Yes.”

  “Good evening, Detective,” Greg said as he reached for the door behind the werewolf.

  James stepped outside and came to a halt again. “Your neighbor, Mr. Sullivan, claims his dog was last seen around Ms. Cartwright’s house. He’s very interested in retrieving his pet.”

  “We’ll keep an eye open for it,” Greg said.

  “Take care,” James said with a wave of his hand.

  Shortly after Greg shut the door, she buried her face into her hands. The world around her seemed to be spinning out of control. One minute she was happy, moving into her new home where she’d thought she’d fit in. Then, some damn werewolves rob her. A man, her neighbor no less, came to help her with pure intentions and she has the best night she’s had in decades. No, make that close to two centuries. Her world had started to look
better until detectives questioned her about two murders. What could go wrong next?

  A warm hand touched her shoulder. “Hey.”

  Alexi looked up to find Greg smiling, but he couldn’t hide his concern.

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said.

  She lowered her arms. “I don’t kill people. I made a mistake once when I was under my maker’s control, but that was it. I’m not a murderer.”

  “I know. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

  “This couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

  He chuckled lightheartedly. “Yeah, I would agree with that.”

  Shaking her head, she said, “I never would’ve thought this could happen to me. In all my years, I’ve never run into this much trouble.”

  “Lucky for you, I can help, and I will. I know the laws extensively.”

  His strong words sounded convincing. She had every reason to believe he would help her. But for what price? Yes, he seemed to have a pure heart and honorable intentions, but she truly didn’t know him well enough. After his comment in the car about financial tips, she couldn’t be certain he wasn’t a one hundred percent moral man. Only time would reveal the truth.

  “I think you should go home,” she said.

  He breathed in deeply. “You’re concerned. That’s understandable.”

  “I need time to think, and I have work to do.”

  Greg took a step back and stared at her as if he were pondering what to say next.

  “Thanks for the date. It was fun.” She reached for the door and opened it.

  After a deep sigh, he moved toward her and gave her a kiss. For several seconds, he kept his strong lips pressed to hers. His warm touch comforted her, and sparked a need within her. But she wouldn’t allow it to rise. She placed her hand over his heart and gently nudged him.

  “If you want to talk, call me or come over,” Greg said. “Or I can come over.”

  She nodded, then he quietly left.

  Greg stepped down from her porch and stopped before he reached the end of the pathway. “I’ll call you tomorrow after I get an update from the police.”

  “That will be fine. Thank you.”

  As he walked away, she closed the door and locked it.

  Alexi stretched her neck to loosen it as she headed for the kitchen. Her night out had been spectacular, but now she needed to get back to business. Without a doubt, the forensics team had left a mess behind and she wanted her house clean before sunrise, which meant she had work to do.

  Two steps into the room, she stopped. She stared at her patio door and couldn’t believe what she saw. The glass didn’t have a hole. She moved closer and took note of the bar at the bottom and across the center. Did Greg replace her patio door while she was gone?

  She studied the glass and floor. Both were spotless. Not a single fingerprint or track remained. If he had cleaned her house, she wondered if he had the carpet treated too to remove the stain.

  A sudden rush propelled her toward the basement door. She swung the door open, then skipped down the stairs. As she had suspected, the stain was gone. She stopped on the last step and surveyed the area of the carpet where the blood had been. The room smelled of shampoo and boxes. She really needed to finish unpacking. Pushing that thought aside for later, she smiled in awe of Greg. He’d replaced her patio door and had her carpet cleaned. He’d said he had a surprise for her, and perhaps this was it. The man amazed her with his loving heart and soul. Okay, and body too.

  But was there more to him? Perhaps there was something hidden she had yet to discover. In the little time she’d known him, she simply couldn’t be sure. Time would tell, and she had plenty of time to discover the truth. Deep in her unbeating heart, she hoped he was the real deal.

  Still smiling, she headed for her bathroom. Happiness filled her once again and motivated her to work. She’d clean up in the shower, then spend time unpacking. Although she’d bumped into trouble twice in Westport, she’d also bumped into a wonderful man. Her problems would improve. She was certain of it. Tomorrow would be a better day, and she couldn’t wait to see it.

  And it just so happened it was the night of the full moon.

  17

  Greg sat in his office, in downtown Indianapolis, and stared at his computer monitor. Seventeen emails from staff filled his inbox and he didn’t have the drive to answer any of them. The smell of onions and vinegar lingered in the air from his half-eaten Italian sandwich lying on his desk. Outside his semi-closed door, the chatter of employees distracted him. Christi, his paralegal, jabbered to a coworker how Greg had sent seven deadbeat dads to jail this morning. Maybe he had been a little harsh, but all of them clearly failed to obey their court orders.

  He lifted his sandwich and took a bite. Chewing, he glanced at the time on his screen. It was after one o’clock and he had yet to hear from the police about Alexi’s burglary investigation. Greg had left a message before he’d left for court in the morning. The secretary had promised someone would call him back. If he didn’t hear from them by four thirty, he was going to demand to speak to a supervisor. How difficult could it be for one of them to return his call?

  Anger steadily rising, he crumpled a napkin on his desk, then tossed it to the side. He reached into his pocket and withdrew his wallet. His patience was running thin after last night. He wanted to help Alexi retrieve her safe and clear her name sooner rather than later. How much more drama did his new neighbor have to go through? She needed peace. She needed a chance to settle into her new home. She needed an enormous amount of love.

  Everything had gone well last night until the drive home. They’d laughed some. They’d talked and shared. They’d danced. He’d even managed to give her an orgasm with his clothes on. Not bad for a first date. Then somehow he ruined the date by discussing her job. That one was still a mystery he needed to work on solving.

  Determination to help the woman he longed for thrived like a weed that would never go away regardless of the amount of poison dumped on it. He’d find a way to get Alexi to open up to him again, and he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

  Holding his wallet, he opened the cash side and spotted the police officer’s card in front. He removed it and stared at the number for Tom Williams. Tom was the tall cop without the mustache and whom Greg had spoken to the day before. The officer seemed to think they would have the results from the fingerprints they took. Greg doubted the lab could find them so fast, but he held on to hope. Even if they hadn’t received the identification matching the fingerprints, Greg needed a status on the case. Each day that passed increased the chance of the thieves cracking open the safe. Alexi needed the contents back and he wasn’t about to sit around waiting for the police to make sure she got them.

  A knock on the door drew his attention toward it.

  “Are you busy?” Corey widened the opening and stepped into Greg’s office. “Smells like lunch.” He shut the door behind him.

  Greg set his wallet and Tom’s card on the desk. “What’s going on?”

  “I came to see if you wanted to run out for lunch, but it looks like you’ve already got something.”

  “Yeah, I have court all day. The morning session ran late, so I picked up the sandwich on my way back to the office.”

  “How did your date go last night? I must have been sleeping hard because I didn’t even hear you come home. Then I missed you this morning.”

  “Yeah, I decided to come in early to go through the cases before court.”

  “So…” Corey grinned. “How did it go?”

  “It went well, very well in fact. But when we came home there were two Nightwatch detectives in front of her house.” Greg held back telling Corey about the conversation in the car and at the zoo, and the orgasmic time at the club. Little details his roommate didn’t need to know.

  “Detectives?” Corey’s brows came together. “What did they want?”

  “For starters, one of Mr. Sullivan’s dogs is missing and was last see
n around Alexi’s house.”

  “Nightwatch detectives come out for missing dogs?” Corey chuckled. “That’s new.”

  “I don’t think they showed up at her house because of that. I think Mr. Sullivan was looking for his dog when they arrived and they questioned what he was doing.”

  “Okay. So why were they at her house?”

  “Apparently there has been two murders recently. Both victims had little blood left in their bodies and marks on the necks indicate the murderer was a vampire.”

  “Oh shit!” Corey jerked forward in his chair. “Do they think it’s her?”

  “She’s a suspect since she moved here recently and there haven’t been any murders like this before.”

  “Man, I’m sorry. Do you think–”

  “No, there’s no way.”

  “But you don’t really know her.”

  “I know her enough to say with certainty she didn’t kill anyone. She’s not like that. She’s very smart and she has a sense of humor and love for music hiding underneath her businesslike facade. Deep down, she has passion. I’ve seen it, and felt it.”

  “Oh really?” One of Corey’s brows rose as he grinned widely. “Felt it, huh?”

  Greg ignored him. “Since when do vampires kill anyway?”

  “Hell if I know. I never heard of one killing, but the movies and books always made them out to be some horrific creature.”

  Damn movies and books never described supernatural creatures right. Thus, another reason humans frowned upon them.

  “Yeah, well, she didn’t do it, but they suspect her since she is new to the area and also a vampire.”

  “Was she upset?”

  “I think so. Someone has stolen her property, and now the cops look at her like she’s a criminal. All within a few days time.”

  “Wow, if I were in her shoes, I would probably consider moving back.”

  Greg stared at his roommate and swallowed hard as touch of dismay ran through him. Good God, would Alexi think the same thing? He couldn’t blame her if she did. The events were enough to make anyone question if they’d made the right decision to move.