Page 48 of The Tracker's Revenge
Em scanned us from head to toe as if she could somehow deduce the truth from our postures and clothes. I smoothed my jacket, feeling grateful for our respectable office outfits.
“Then you have to help me convince those stupid cops,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I don’t feel safe in my own house anymore. I can’t allow whoever killed Liliana to get away with it.”
I sat next to Em, angling my body in her direction. “Don’t worry. We agree with you. Right, Rosalina?”
“Most definitely,” my friend said.
“I will go with you to the police station. I know a detective there. His name is Tom Freeman. He’s a good friend of mine, so just let me do the talking. He’s already investigating stuff that has to do with rhabo.”
“Rhabo?” Em frowned. “You mean the drug that they’ve been talking about on the news, the one that kills vampires.”
I nodded.
“So, you’re saying that’s why Liliana was sick.”
“Yes.”
She stared at the floor, her eyes darting from side to side as she let the knowledge sink in. “I should’ve guessed. I’m so stupid.” Her big green eyes blinked and returned to me. “You said you were there to help her. I thought there was no help once a vamp tasted the drug.”
“Um, that’s right,” I lied. “Our intention was to make her feel more comfortable. You see, I knew her father, and he recently... passed away. He asked me to look out for Liliana, but I was too late.”
Tears pricked in the back of my eyes. I glanced away, swallowing hard.
Em laid her hand on top of mine. “I’m sorry.”
I gave her a sad smile and checked the time on my watch. “I have time. We can go to the police station now.” I glanced at Rosalina for her say-so.
She nodded. “Sure, I’ll hold down the fort.” A quick shrug of her shoulders told me what she wasn’t saying out loud.It’s not like there’s much going on here.
We stood and started toward the door. A towering figure appeared on the other side. I stopped and blinked up, watching as the woman’s eyes roved over the sign we’d tacked to the door. It seemed she hadn’t noticed me inside because she lifted a finger to press the button, but before she managed, I grabbed the handle and pulled the door open.
“Hi, welcome to Sunder Mate Tracker Agency. How may we help you?” My voice was chipper and neighborly like Mister Rogers’s. This woman definitely looked like a potential customer—one of those exclusive ones we’d been trying to get.
She was easily over six-foot tall. Maybe even as tall as Jake, who was 6’2”. She wore simple but expensive-looking clothes: black slacks, a high neck white T-shirt that let a dark bra peek through its sheer fabric, and a cool leather jacket that flared at the hips. She wore a pair of boots with flat heels, so her impressive height was all natural. Her shoulder-length hair was blond and super straight. Bangs hung above her deep black eyes, so perfectly straight that I’d bet they’d been cut by a laser. She wore no makeup, except for a little gloss.
She smiled pleasantly and said, “Sorry to drop by without an appointment, but I was nearby and thought, what the hell, I’ll just swing by. I’m an acquaintance of Celina Morelli.”
OMG! OMG! Could it be?
I did my best not to faint from excitement as she seemed to go blurry for a split second. I took a deep breath and cut a giddy look in Rosalina’s direction. Her eyes, which had seemed flat and despondent just a few minutes ago, were now full of light.
Our prayers have been answered. I didn’t even have to call Celina Morelli to beg for help. Maybe the stars were aligning in our benefit, at last.
“Please, come in.” I opened the door wide and stepped out of the way.
The woman entered, passing next to Em and making her look diminutive. The height differential was substantial, at least a foot. In unison, Em stretched her neck and lifted her chin, and the woman hunched over, her shoulders caving inwardly. It was interesting to watch. Neither of them should be embarrassed about their height. Lovely people come in all shapes and sizes, but, either consciously or subconsciously, they both compensated for each other.
Rosalina pointed to the chair in front of her desk. “Please, take a seat. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like some water?”
The woman sat and waved a hand. “Oh, no. I’m fine, thank you.”
Em glowered at me and flicked her gaze in the direction of the door as if sayinglet’s go. But I couldn’t leave—not when we needed to nab this client. I met Rosalina’s eyes as she walked around her desk, ready to tend to our customer.
With a quick motion of my head toward the door, I said, “I need to step outside for a moment, but I’ll be right back.”
Rosalina gave me a pointed look that seemed to saygo but hurry up.
I ushered Em outside, who was back to looking hostile.
