Page 39 of Wolf's Whistle
“I don’t want to lose you, my wolf.”
Denis and Charles came back upstairs. “By the time we got out there, he was gone, Alpha.”
Julien hugged Richard and kissed his hair. “Isabel,” Julien shouted down the stairs, “get Richard something strong to drink. Charles, get The Alpha on the phone for me, and Denis, you call Murphy and tell him if he knows what’s good for him his ass will be at my door in fifteen minutes.”
The elevator pinged and Isabel hurried into the room with a thick afghan and a hot toddy. Charles handed the phone to Julien who put it on speaker.
“Alpha, that dirty cop just emptied his gun trying to shoot my Richard. He was outside my home! I had Denis call Murphy. I don’t know if he’s still out there.” Julien’s voice shook.
“I’ll call the others and Henri. We’re on our way.” Armand shouted before he got off the phone, “Rene, call Booker, I want him aware of everything that transpires.” The phone clicked, and Armand was gone.
“We have to get dressed, mon ange. Armand and the others are coming here. Charles, close the curtains and the shutters. Call in all of the Enforcers and set up a perimeter around the house. I want to know how this happened. We knew he was coming and should have been more prepared.”
Richard went into the bathroom and dressed quickly, staying well away from the windows.
Charles and Denis came back upstairs. “Alpha, we couldn’t find him. He had too much time to get away.” Charles cringed.
“You’ll have to do better than that. I want to know where Stawski is staying and with whom. I want to know when he takes a piss in the morning. He shot at the Alpha Mate. I will not tolerate this. The eight of you were supposed to protect him. You didn’t do your job,” Julien roared.
Richard came out of the bathroom and stood in front of his wolf with his hands on his hips. “Stop yelling at them. The guy could have been on a rooftop, and they were told to watch the street. That bullet came from a high-powered rifle. He probably had a scope. You have no idea if he was close to the house or on top of a building a block away. Give them a break.”
Richard glared at Julien. His wolf’s gaze lowered to the floor. “I suppose you’re right. But I can’t let anything happen to you. You’re my life. They have to be more vigilant and if that means I have to bring in more Enforcers from Washington and Oregon, I will.”
The doorbell rang, and Marcel came up. “Detective Murphy is downstairs waiting for you along with a CSI team. He says they need to find the bullet and that we have to leave the area while their team is gathering evidence.”
“Send him up.”
Julien’s eyes dimmed with worry.
Richard had never seen anyone that strong, look so vulnerable. “I’ll call Julio and Etienne and see if we can stay there with our household until the detective and his team finish.” He addressed Murphy, “How long will you be?”
Julien interrupted, “Armand is on his way. Can’t we stay in the formal dining room?”
Murphy shook his head. “I need you to give us a couple of hours to examine the evidence and for crime scene clean-up to board up the window. We won’t be able to prosecute without evidence. Will that be acceptable, Alpha Bellaire?”
Julien gave Murphy a withering stare. “It has to be acceptable, does it not? However, I haven’t forgotten that it was you who brought that scum to my home in the first place. If you had used your brain and directed him to Kellerman, he would have no idea where Richard lived.”
Murphy turned purple. “He had a subpoena. I had no idea it was illegally obtained and unenforceable in New York.”
“Maybe you should have made inquiries. I’m going to have words with The Alpha over this lack of discretion on your part. You put Richard in danger and there is no law against my damaging you,” Julien replied with some force.
“Come with me.” Richard rubbed soothing circles on his back. “Let the detective do his job. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come home.”
Murphy’s face showed pure relief.
“Murphy, I will still have words with Armand about this.” Julien and Richard walked out of their suite, across the gallery, toward the office.
“Easy, Julien. I’m fine. Let’s go call Etienne. We can have drinks, something to eat, conversation, and come home when Detective Murphy is done.” Richard followed Julien into his office as he called Etienne and Armand.
A half hour later, Richard and Julien arrived at Etienne and Julio’s home. Armand came in just after they did.
“As Henri is our Director of Security, I asked him to come with us,” Armand told Julien and Etienne as Rémy, Ian, and Henri followed him in the door.
“This is totally unacceptable. Murphy brought this man to your home instead of directing him to Edward? I’m going to have Murphy’s balls. The Mates are to be protected. Murphy should know that the gods would never pick a murderer for a Mate.” Rémy, whose temper was always uncertain, growled. “I’m calling him to get his ass over here and explain himself.”
“Doesn’t Detective Murphy—” Richard started.
“Detective Sergeant Murphy,” Ian said with a straight face.
