by Diane Darcy
Yikes! Poor kid.
Her new boyfriend was kind of scary.
Chapter 8
They were soon driving down the road again, and William shot a glance at Lena. “Sometimes tis easier tae be harsh with someone so young. Straighten them up, so tae speak, so they doonae get caught up in things beyond their control. Saves time and perhaps keeps them out of danger.”
She turned to stare at him, her beautiful green eyes seeming to take his measure. Then she chuckled. “Don’t worry about me, I was just taking notes. It might come in handy as my niece gets older.”
He smiled. “I enjoyed meeting yer family today.”
“You say that as if I had invited you over to meet them. We both know you showed up unexpectedly and forced the introductions.”
“Ouch. That’s a bit harsh, don’t ye think?”
“Is it?” She said sweetly. “I’ve found that sometimes it’s just easier to be harsh with someone so pushy. Straighten them up, so to speak.”
He chuckled as she threw his own words back at him. He couldn’t fault her for her observations. He was too impatient, and she was right to put him in his place. Every minute he was with her, he liked her more and more.
Of course, that didn’t surprise him, as she was meant to be his, but he enjoyed it all the same.
His phone rang, and he pressed a button on the steering wheel. “Murray here.”
“William! It’s Vince Ramsey, with the Las Vegas Times.”
“Do ye want tae tell me how ye got this phone number?”
Vince chuckled. “Hey, man, don’t blow a gasket. The call was transferred from The Hemlock.”
“That’s good news, anyhow. What do ye want?”
“You know, you shouldn’t treat me so poorly. People in my profession can come in handy. If we were friends, perhaps I could throw some information your way upon occasion.”
“And, I suppose I could do the same for ye?”
“You know exactly how this works! You rub my back, I rub yours.”
“Thanks, Vince, but I’ll pass.”
“Are you ready to do a story on all the werewolves and vampires living at The Hemlock?”
“Are ye still on about that? Pass.”
“I hear you’ve got a missing girl named Addison Stansberry.”
“And who told ye that, might I ask?”
“Oh, you know, a little bird.”
“And are ye calling me tae share information or tae ask for it?”
“I might know something.”
“Doubtful.”
“I’m just saying, if you want to meet me later, and if you have anything for me in return, I might be able to help you out.”
“If ye know something, and ye’re keeping it from me, I’ll bury ye.”
Vince chuckled, completely unintimidated. “Is that a no?”
“Talk with Quinn or Caleb.”
“Nope. It has to be you.”
William hesitated and glanced at the clock. He wasn’t willing to give up time with Lena for Vince, especially since Vince was unlikely to have anything worthwhile to say. “I’m busy at the moment. Meet me in the lobby of The Hemlock at six o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
William disconnected the call.
“An old friend of yours?” Lena asked.
“More like an ongoing nuisance.”
She fiddled with the radio until she found a tune she liked, and he took note of her tastes. She liked electronic music. He could live with that.
When they arrived at The Luxor, William used valet parking, and they jumped out and were able to walk straight into the lobby. “I could get used to this.”
“What? Being with me all the time? I’m glad to hear ye say such,” he said with a smile.
She snorted. “To valet parking.”
He winked at her. “Just stick with me, baby.”
“And what? You’ll make all my dreams come true?”
“It sounds corny when ye say it like that, but aye, pretty much.”
They walked through the casino, to the escalators on one side and went up, into a long hallway lined with expensive shops.
“It smells good up here.”
William wrinkled his nose. “Tis The Soap Shop down the hallway, homemade masks and such, if ye like that sort of thing.”
“I am a girl. So yes, I like that sort of thing.”
“Then I suppose I could learn tae tolerate it.”
“Don’t put yourself out. I’ve only known you a couple of days.”
“A lot can happen in a couple of days.”
“You don’t exactly look like a dreamer, but I’m sensing a bit of optimism coming from you.”
He laughed and made a beeline for a kiosk selling cell phones and accessories. They stopped in front of a good-looking young man, dressed in slacks and a silk shirt, who resembled Noah Duffy, only he wasn’t quite as good-looking.
“Logan Duffy?” William asked.
The young man looked startled. “Yes?”
“I’m here tae ask ye about a young girl ye met last night. Addison Stansberry. She’s missing, and I understand ye might’ve been the last one tae see her.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Wait, what? No!” His hands flew out as if in surrender. “Not even! She was hanging out with us last night, just for a short time. I put her into a taxi at about 10:30. That was it.”
“Where did ye find a taxi at 10:30 at night in a subdivision?”
“Where do you think? I called one!”
“How long did it take tae get there?”
“Seriously?” Logan shoved his hands in his pockets. “I don’t know. We stood there for about ten minutes, and then it arrived, and she got inside and they drove away.”
“Hmm.” William let his disbelief show. “Do ye have the name of the taxi company? A taxicab number perhaps?”
“No. In fact, it looked more like an Uber than a taxi. Just some dude driving his car.”
Williams gaze sharpened on the boy. “Did ye call the taxi?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
“So why did ye put her in an Uber?”
“I don’t know. The dude showed up. I guess I just assumed it was the taxi.”
“Show me the number ye called. Pull it up on your phone.”
Logan did so and handed it to William who copied it into his phone and texted it to Quinn with instructions to call the taxi company.
“Describe the driver,” Lena said.
The boy took a breath, and then shook his head. “I don’t know, I mean I didn’t really see him. He didn’t get out and open the door or anything. He was just a white guy with a cap on his head. He didn’t say anything, just stared forward and let her get in the car.”
“So ye wouldn’t recognize him again?”
“I didn’t really see his face, just the side of it, kind of. I don’t know, I wasn’t really looking.”
“And why should I believe ye? Mayhap ye took her somewhere and killed her.”
The boy’s face blanched. “Killed her! Are you crazy?”
William kept his expression impassive, and glanced at Lena, who was doing the same.
“I didn’t! I didn’t do anything to her. It happened exactly how I said it happened.”
“She’s missing. So ye’re going tae have tae do a little better than that.”
William had assumed Addison would be easy to find, that she was out having fun, probably with boys, and would return when she was ready.
For the first time worry crept through him. With the full moon tomorrow night, Addison would need to be caged in the dungeon with all the other wolves.
If someone really had taken her, he’d be cleaning up bodies come Monday morning.
Chapter 9
William left Logan his phone number so he could be contacted if anything else came up.
After they walked away, he called security to have the boy followed.
Soon, they were back in the car and Lena didn’t know
what to say, or how to help. “So, the Uber driver. That didn’t sound good.”
“Nae, it didnae.”
“Like the kidnapping kind of not good.”
“Aye. Mayhap so.”
Lena felt a little guilty that she’d been having so much fun while a young girl was legitimately missing.
Maybe, it was just that she was with William, and she had to admit that having a big, gorgeous, take-charge kind of guy around was affecting her on a multitude of levels.
That he’d gone out of his way to take her with him, because he knew she’d have fun with it, and was using it to bribe her, was also flattering.
She liked watching him persuade, intimidate, and get answers. She just wished she could figure out how to find the girl.
Where was that green-glowing premonition when she needed it? And what was it? Her imagination? Her ability to read people extending to other areas, plus her imagination? “How are we going to find the Uber driver?” she asked.
“In a very unpleasant way.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re going tae have tae try and get traffic surveillance from the police. Never a pleasant task at the best of times.”
“Have you called them yet, about the missing girl?”
“Nae, we police our own kind.”
“I would think that with murder, or kidnapping, you would have to call the police.”
“Aye, that is their take on it as well. But of course, our world being what it is, tis just not possible tae do that.”
“Our world?”
“Aye, having the gifts and abilities we have would be much coveted, and feared, do ye no’ think?”
She could’ve tried pushing the comment to the back of her mind to place with the others she hadn’t wanted to look at after the murder investigation ended, but he was forcing her to think about stuff again.
She drew in a breath. “Are you talking about the werewolf thing again? Or do you mean because I’m psychic? Or because we were soulmated?”
He grinned at her. “All of the above.”
She was tempted to correct him again, at least about one thing. She wasn’t a psychic. Just a con artist. Granted, the people who came to her for readings would just go elsewhere if she closed up shop. And as it was her heritage, she figured she was as good or better at it than anyone.
She looked at it as a way to help people with their lives, sort of like a therapist, and she wouldn’t berate herself for it.
At the same time, it bothered her that William believed she had more abilities than she did. That felt deceitful, almost like she was lying to him, and at some point it could blow up in her face.
Go figure. She didn’t mind fooling the general public but where William was concerned, it mattered.
They merged onto the interstate again. “Did I tell you I’m having lunch tomorrow with the witches at The Hemlock?”
He glanced over at her, and then back at the road again. “I thought ye canceled that.”
“I rescheduled.”
“Nae. I doonae like that at all.”
“I wasn’t asking for permission,” Lena said.
William opened his mouth and then bit back whatever he was going to say and pressed his lips firmly together.
Smart man. She wouldn’t be dictated to by anyone, and certainly not him. The man exuded power and authority and she was concerned that if she gave into him on minor issues, the future of their relationship was doomed. He was used to getting his way and she would not be managed.
“Which witches?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. I spoke to Esmerelda. I think she said something about Scarlett being there, and then one other woman, but I don’t remember her name.”
“Ava.” His tone was low, disapproving.
“Oh, that’s right.”
“I know ye doonae want tae hear it, but I feel I need tae issue a warning regardless.”
She waved a hand. “Warn away.”
“Esmerelda is nice enough, which is probably why they had her do the calling. Scarlett’s a handful, but she’s got a good heart all the same. But ye need tae stay away from Ava.”
“Why?”
“Because she’d sell her own mother if it would turn a profit. She’s been caught up in many a sketchy ruse, and as she’s many a year on ye, she’s had plenty of time tae perfect her schemes.”
Because Lena had grown up her whole life labeled a schemer and worse, she felt suddenly protective of the unknown Ava.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’ll reserve judgment on the woman and form my own opinion.”
His shoulders hunched slightly, and he gripped the steering wheel too tight. “Fine, but doonae say I didnae warn ye, when such friendships come tae naught.”
“Are you one of those guys that says I told you so?” Lena found herself grinning. William was in for the fight of his life if he thought he was going to direct her every move.
“Nae, I’m no’.”
She laughed. “You are, aren’t you?”
His jaw clenched, and she decided to change the subject. “When will you be going to the police station?”
“I was thinking now, if that’s all right?”
She had to admit she didn’t want to miss out. Especially as William had told her they were in conflict. She sighed. “Curiosity killed the cat.”
He grinned at her. “That’s my girl.”
She didn’t contradict him, and he immediately seemed in a better mood.
“Twill no’ be pleasant, but we’ll get through this as quickly as possible.”
“All right. I’m in.”
Chapter 10
William and Lena went into the police precinct together, and he bypassed the people in the waiting room and approached the front desk as if familiar with the place. “I’m looking for Sergeant Brodie. Is he here?”
A nod of acknowledgment, and the officer picked up the phone, punched in a number, and said, “Murray from over at The Hemlock is here to talk to you.”
He hung up the phone and pointed to some utilitarian-looking chairs against the wall.
“A man of few words,” Lena whispered as they took their seats.
William smiled, took her hand, and twined their fingers together, holding her hand against his knee. “Ye have no idea.”
“Will we be here long?”
“I wouldn’t think so. Brodie knows if he keeps me waiting, I’ll do the same tae him when he comes tae The Hemlock.”
About five minutes later, a big, bullish-looking man came out, shot William a glare, and then tipped his head. “Follow me, Murray.”
William stood, pulling her with him, and Lena could feel a sense of anticipation as they were buzzed through the half-door. She wasn’t sure if it was her own, or she was sensing it from William, but either way, she couldn’t wait to see what happened. “Is that Sergeant Brodie by any chance?”
“It is.”
They went directly to an office, the man went inside, and promptly sat behind a desk.
William and Lena sat across from him.
“Who’s this?”
“My girlfriend, Lena DeVille.”
Lena’s fingers clenched together, but she didn’t react, unwilling to get into it with William in front of the other man.
“Whatever. What are you doing here Murray? What do you want?”
“We’ve had a girl go missing from The Hemlock, and we’ve tracked her tae an Uber vehicle last night at about 10:30 PM. She hasn’t been seen since, and we’re hoping ye might be willing tae open some of yer traffic cameras for us.”
The sergeant started tapping on his computer. “How old is the girl?”
“She’s eighteen. A very young eighteen.”
Sergeant Brodie sat back again, his chair squeaking. “Why are you wasting my time with this? No doubt the girl has met a guy she’s shacked up with, and she’ll wander home when she’s good and ready. That’s the way these things play out.”
“Are ye go
ing tae help me or no’?”
“I don’t know, Murray, what’s in it for me?”
“Continued participation between our security team and yer police force.”
Sergeant Brodie snorted. “I can’t believe you just said that to me with a straight face. Continued participation? Since when have your lot ever participated when we’ve come to the hotel? It’s like a bloody fortress with you as the voice on the other side of the wall.”
“So ye admit there is actual communication between us?” William shot the words back at the man.
They stared at each other a long moment, and then Brodie finally snorted again. “I’m busy. Come back in three days if she’s still missing, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s the way it’s going tae be?”
“That is the way it’s going to be.”
When William stood, Lena did as well and he escorted her out of the room. When they cleared the doors of the building, William took her hand once more, and headed toward the parking lot. “Twas worth a shot, anyway.”
“What on earth are you going to tell her parents now?”
“What would ye do at this point?”
She was flattered he asked her opinion. “You’ve got to get a hold of that driver somehow. You got the taxi number from Logan, right?”
“Aye, lass. I texted Quinn earlier. He should know something by now. Shall we go back to The Hemlock?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, William, but I’ve really got to go to work. Starting about this time is when I do some of my best business.”
His face fell. “All right, I’ll take ye there. Any chance ye want tae pick this up again tomorrow?”
“Hopefully you’ll have found Addison by then. But if not, then sure, of course I do. ”
His grin was pure satisfaction. “I’ll count on it.”
Chapter 11
After William dropped her off at Fremont Street, Lena headed to the family caravan. The smell of popcorn, hot pavement, and deep-fried Twinkies hung heavy in the heated air. It was almost 5:00 by the time she unlocked the door to the red-painted gypsy wagon.
