“Bruno would have been ripped to shreds,” Nick said, his voice flat. “What was he thinking? Challenging that vampire to a duel? Pierce should have stopped him. Part of me thinks he wanted Bruno to get himself killed. Then he’d take control of the pack.” Nick scoffed. “Not that he’d be in power long.”
No one said anything, and Nick leaned his forehead against the glass. He stared out into the night and when we passed under a light, I caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window and noted the series of bunched lines between his brows.
Evangeline swung her car into the lot outside Nick’s office. His sedan was the only one left, parked under a streetlight. He thanked us again and got out of the car, closing the door softly behind him. We waited until he pulled out of the lot before going up the hill to the manor.
Adam let out a low whine, and I scratched his head before he trudged up the stairs. Evangeline gave me a quick embrace and then followed behind him, heading to her own bedroom on the second floor. For a moment, I considered going up too and seeing if Narissa was in her room but then decided against it.
Boots greeted me in the hall with a head butt to my shin as I contemplated my next move. I glanced down at the large tawny cat and he yowled. Apparently, first order of business was feeding the cat. I scooped him up and took him to the kitchen. As he ate, I massaged my neck and shoulders, trying to banish the knots that were already settling in.
When he finished, I rinsed his dish and carried him to my bedroom. He listened intently as I told him about my night, though he spent most of the time cleaning the dinner leftovers from his long whiskers. I changed into my pajamas and made the bed. Boots jumped down and landed with a soft plop at the foot of it where I kept a fuzzy fleece blanket just for him in the winter time.
Spoiled cat.
I crossed the hall to scrub the day off my face and brush my teeth. The events kept circling through my mind, no matter how hard I tried to push them away. I was tired, but my nerves were still cinched and wasn’t quite able to relax just yet.
My phone rang, the ringtone ear-piercing in the silent house. I scrambled back into my room and dove to grab the phone from the pocket of the jeans I’d shucked off minutes before.
“Hello, Agent Bramble,” I said, trying not to sound breathless.
“Evening, Holly. Are there any updates on the case?”
I could picture her sitting in her home office, a cup of tea to her right, as she poured over the stacks of paperwork the day had produced. Though, how closely it matched up with reality, I couldn’t be sure. I’d never been to her home and didn’t even know if she had a home office. Still, it felt like a safe bet.
“You could say that,” I replied, climbing under the covers. A few pillows were stacked on my side and I used them as a backrest. “I would have called sooner, but I just got back home.”
“What’s going on?”
“A couple of hours ago, I got a call from Nick. He needed help. Bruno, the pack alpha, confronted Frederick Bracken tonight and challenged him a duel. He thought Frederick was responsible for Breanne’s murder and wanted to get his own justice.”
Agent Bramble groaned. “Of all the idiotic things to do.”
“I know.”
“Well, is everyone all right?”
“Yeah. Shaken up, but all in one piece. For now, it seems to be squashed.”
“What made him suspect Bracken?”
I sighed. “That’s the interesting part. Apparently our friend was the one who gave him the hot tip.”
“You mean Narissa?” Her voice lifted but she didn’t sound nearly scandalized enough.
“Uh-huh. Bruno told me he was given his name by a woman matching Narissa’s description.”
“That’s it?” Agent Bramble asked. “He got a name and proceeded to round up the pack and go out on a suicide mission?”
“Apparently.”
“Makes me wonder how he finagled his way to the top of the pack,” Agent Bramble said, completely serious. “Being a pack leader takes strategy and brains. It’s not simply a matter of who has the most muscle to flex.”
“I’ll ask Nick about it tomorrow,” I said. “He was pretty upset, so I didn’t think tonight was the best time.”
“Oh, that’s right, he has a little thing for Ms. Leonard.” She paused and I could almost hear the gears turning in her sharp mind. “I’ll do some digging on my side, of course, but find out what he knows about the recent moves in the pack hierarchy. The SPA is notified of changes in leadership of all register packs, but we don’t get a full picture of the squabbles and moves within the structure prior to the changing of hands.”
“I’ll see what he knows. He only joined the pack a few months ago, so I’m not sure how much he will be privy to.”
“He’s an investigator, isn’t that right?” Agent Bramble asked. “That’s what his paperwork states.”
“He is.”
“Well, then he needs to put those skills to work.”
“Does this mean I can tell him what we know? About Narissa?” I asked, hopeful.
Agent Bramble hesitated, but then gave a grunt. “All right. You can bring him in the loop. Be sure to give him my number, the one to my office and this one as well. If either of you know anything, I expect a call from each of you. Understood?”
“Yes, of course!”
“And, Holly, I expect him to follow the same rules of secrecy that you’ve been sworn to.”
“Understood.”
“Speak with him tomorrow, as early as possible. I’ll send Tyson in to speak with Frederick Bracken.”
“I don’t know what he’ll tell Tyson that I haven’t already told you,” I replied, feeling a little slighted, as if my information wasn’t official enough.
“He’ll need to investigate and see where the breadcrumbs are that lead from Bracken to Narissa. Unless she drew his name from a hat, there’s a reason why she would send a vengeful werewolf after him.”
“I know,” I said, a little tersely.
“Holly?” Agent Bramble said, her voice softer. “You’re doing well. Tyson’s been an investigator for nearly two decades. You’re playing your part in this investigation, and it’s vital and we all appreciate it, but you’re not an official agent and don’t have the experience that he does. So try not to think of it as me playing one of you against the other. Think of it as a partnership.”
My cheeks warmed. Her tone was kind, though firm, and somehow made me feel as if I’d been scolded. “I will,” I hurried to say. “I’m happy to help.”
“Good. Now, get some rest. It sounds as if you had quite the night.”
“I will. Thank you, Agent Bramble.”
“Goodnight, Holly.”
“Night.”
I tossed the phone aside and flopped back on the bed. Thoughts and doubts swirled through my mind as I stared blankly at the ceiling. After a minute, Boots came over and rammed his head into my shoulder. Probably checking to make sure I was still alive.
I smiled and placed a hand on his back. “It’s fine, Bootsie. At least, it will be.”
Tyson Blair showed up on the manor’s front porch the following morning at seven o’clock. Still dressed in my flannel pajamas, my auburn hair halfway falling out of the loose braid I’d done the night before, I peeled the door open a little further and squinted against the morning light. “Agent Blair? What are you doing here? Did something happen with the case?”
“I was under the impression Agent Bramble told you to expect me this morning.” He frowned and it deepened as he considered my wardrobe. “Apparently, that’s not quite the case.”
Understatement.
“Um, no, she didn’t, but come on in. I’ll put on some coffee.” I shuffled back another step.
“Thank you.” He came inside and stomped his boots on the fibrous mat. “Should I take them off?”
“No need,” I told him. “Come on, this way to the kitchen.”
To my surprise—and bleary-eyed delight—th
e coffee pot was already brimming with a rich Colombian blend. Evangeline turned when the kitchen door opened and smiled at me. “Morning, Holly. How did you—” She stopped short when the towering agent entered behind me. Her momentary look of surprise shifted into a familiar smile. “I didn’t know we had company,” she purred, reaching up to fuss with her thick—and not at all coming undone—braid. Evangeline’s raven hair was always glossy and styled too perfection. She was like a Barbie doll in that regard. Well, that and the wardrobe.
“I’m Evangeline Loren,” she said, stepping forward with her hand extended.
Tyson looked equally as delighted to make her acquaintance and took her hand firmly. “Tyson Blair. I’m with the SPA.”
Her smile faltered for a moment, even as she kept ahold of his hand. “Oh? Is this about all that unpleasantness last night?” she asked, looking at me.
“He needs to get an official statement,” I said, guessing at the reason for his early morning drop-in.
“That’s right,” he agreed, releasing Evangeline’s hand.
“We were going to have some coffee and go over everything,” I told her before glancing over my shoulder. “Should we have her join us?”
“Um, perhaps in a few minutes. Uh, if you wouldn’t mind, Miss Loren? It is Miss isn’t it?”
“It most certainly is, Agent.” She smiled and then dropped a meaningful glance at Tyson’s left hand. Her smile widened.
He noticed her glance and then cleared his throat. “Thank you—”
“Evangeline,” she said.
He inclined his head. “Thank you, Evangeline.”
Smiling, I shook my head and went to fill up a pair of coffee mugs.
A few minutes later, Evangeline cleared out, leaving Tyson and me at the dining table, each nursing a jumbo coffee mug.
“When I spoke with Agent Bramble last night,” I said, taking a sip of the brew, “she told me to check in with Nick Rivers as soon as possible today. She didn’t mention that you’d be dropping by to ask questions. I’m happy to answer all of them, but I do need to see Nick as soon as I can to make sure he’s okay.”
“I understand. To be fair, I don’t think Agent Bramble expected me to make this visit my first stop, but I wanted to get the full account from you before going to visit Frederick Bracken. I find it’s best to know exactly what I’m walking into, especially when dealing with vampires.”
I smiled. “Probably a very good policy.”
He reached into the inner pocket of his coat and retrieved a small notepad and pen. He placed the pad on the table and unclipped the ballpoint pen from its front cover. “So, tell me, how did this all start last night?”
I caught him up on the events of the night before in between sips of coffee. He asked smart, pointed questions, and when I finished my retelling, he considered his list of notes, nodded, and closed the pad. He considered me as he took the final swig from his own mug. “I feel I should tell you that I read your file,” he said. “After I returned to the office yesterday afternoon, I pulled information on everyone involved and went ahead and pulled yours as well.”
I braced myself. I’d never seen my official SPA file before, but I imagined it would be full of all sorts of interesting—if not infamous—tidbits.
“Oh?” I replied, striking a casual tone as I fidgeted with my mug.
Tyson smiled. “It sounds as though you’ve led quite the interesting life, Ms. Boldt.”
“Interesting? Well, that’s one way of putting it. Granted, not one SPA agents tend to use,” I said with a dry laugh. “Is this the part where you tell me you’re keeping two eyes on me?”
“I don’t see a need for that,” Tyson replied with a shrug. “Agent Bramble told me you’ve been doing some work with the agency and that you’ve got her full vote of confidence. Agatha isn’t easy to please, so when she speaks highly of someone, such as yourself, I listen. I hope to count you as an ally in the rest of this investigation. Wherever it leads.”
I squinted at him. “A little ominous, but yes, you can count on me.”
“Good.” He pocketed the notebook. “I think I’ll tag alone with you and speak with Mr. Rivers. He’s the next one on my list of interviewees as he has a first-person account of what happened within the pack last night.”
I frowned, not realizing I’d have an official sidekick for the rest of the day. I had no idea what I’d walk into when I found Nick and would have preferred to speak with him alone, at least at first. However, from the look on Tyson’s face, he wasn’t asking for permission.
“He’s probably at Siren’s Song,” I said. “The local coffee house.”
I took the agent’s mug and put it with my own in the kitchen sink. “Didn’t you want to speak to Evangeline? Adam, my boyfriend, was also there last night.”
Tyson nodded. “If Evangeline is available, I can speak with her while you get ready.”
Something told me that conversation would devolve into more shameless flirting and end with a dinner reservation.
Regardless, I left the kitchen and went to find Evangeline. She was in her room, dabbing perfume on her wrists and throat when I found her. My chat with Agent Blair couldn’t have lasted more than ten minutes, but somehow in that short window of time, she’d managed to change into a sweater dress, leggings, and suede booties with a full face of make-up and had removed the braid from her hair, letting her waist-length locks flow down her back in soft waves. Judging by the state of her bedroom, she must have been doing her best Tasmanian Devil impersonation.
“Agent Blair would like to speak with you,” I told her.
“I’ll just bet,” she replied with a grin. “Why didn’t you tell me he was coming? Well, first, you should have told me how gorgeous he is. Then the part about his pending drop-by.”
“I honestly didn’t know. Now he wants to go with me and talk to Nick.”
Evangeline’s smile faded a few megawatts. “I hope Nick’s okay.”
“Me too. Listen, can you keep Tyson busy for a few minutes? I think I’ll call Nick and give him a quick head’s up.”
Evangeline leaned forward, studying herself in the mirror. Satisfied, she straightened and smiled at me again. “I’ll give you as much time as you need.”
“He’s in the kitchen,” I said, resisting the urge to tell her all the reasons why it might not be a good idea to get tangled up with an SPA agent.
“On the case!” she said, giving ma salute before scurrying down the stairs.
I went to my room and quickly changed into jeans and a sweater. My hair was unsalvageable, so I tossed it up into a messy bun on the top of my head. I dialed Nick’s number but he didn’t pick up. I left a quick message and then fired off a quick text message. Still nothing.
Frowning, I stuffed my feet into a pair of sneakers and hurried to catch up with Evangeline and Agent Blair before they were knee-deep in wedding plans.
Reluctantly, the two parted, and I escorted Tyson through town to Siren’s Song. Nick usually made the coffee house his first stop of the morning before opening his office for the day.
Sure enough, he was seated at a table for two on the far end of the dining room. I raised a hand to wave but quickly dropped it back to my side when he stood to pull out the chair for a woman in a hooded coat. She sat and dropped the hood, revealing a sheet of silver hair.
Chapter 15
“What are we waiting for?” Tyson asked when I hesitated in the doorway of the coffee house.
I hadn’t thought to ask Agent Bramble if she’d had a chance to fill him in on the side-investigation I was working on and wasn’t sure how to explain Narissa’s link to the case without it. “It looks like he’s with someone,” I said, gesturing toward the table where Nick and Narissa sat, lost in conversation.
What was he doing? Had someone force-wiped his memories from the night before? Did he somehow not remember that the woman across from him was somehow involved in Breanne’s murder?
“Remember when I told you that s
omeone tipped off the pack about Frederick’s involvement?” I asked Tyson, keeping my voice low.
He nodded. “Sure.”
I jutted my chin at the back of Narissa’s head. “That’s her.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yup.”
“And that’s Nick?” he asked.
My heart flip-flopped. “Yeah. They’re kind of … seeing each other.”
“I see.” An impassable mask slipped over Tyson’s face as he considered the pair. I wanted to ask what he was thinking, but couldn’t bring myself to ask. There was something intimidating about him, which was weird, considering how much sass I usually had toward SPA agents. For some reason, it didn’t quite work against him.
For all I knew, he was busy thinking about where to take Evangeline on their first date.
“Do we go talk to them?” I finally asked.
“Let’s order first. I want to observe them a little longer. Try to keep a low profile.”
I frowned. “You do realize this coffee shop is about five-hundred square feet, right? No matter what table we pick, they’re going to see us. I’m not sure it’s possible for someone like you to go incognito in a place like this.”
Tyson shot me a dark look.
I held my hands up. “Beechwood Harbor is a small town, and this time of year, the tourists have all gone and it’s just back to us regulars. A six-foot-whatever dude dressed in a three-piece suit is bound to stand out.”
Tyson softened as he considered the other patrons. “I see your point.”
“Come on,” I said. “If they see us, they see us. We’ll say we’re friends from Academy. Nick will buy it.”
“All right.”
We got in line behind two couples. Leslie and Wendy, two of Cassie’s part-timers were working the counter. I didn’t usually work with them, and I was almost relieved Cassie wasn’t working because she’d no doubt have a dozen questions about my companion. There wouldn’t be a way to answer her without lying, and I hated misleading her. She was my best friend, but also a human, which made things infinitely more complicated when things like this were going on.
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