Page 45 of Cursed Touch
“How bad is it?” she asked as Carter pulled her to his side after their handshake.
“I’ve seen a lot worse,” he said and shrugged. “Your insurance should cover anything broken or stolen.”
She sighed, not looking forward to the process ahead. A car’s engine neared, and Carter turned them as a cop stepped out of an SUV. A thin man with dark hair and brown eyes approached them.
“Morning,” he stated, taking in the three of them before his gaze landed on Joel. “I’m Officer Turnel. What seems to be the problem?”
Vanessa did not like the way the cop studied him. She slipped from Carter’s embrace and moved to Joel’s side, laying her head on his arm. “I asked Joel to meet us here, and he arrived first,” she told the officer before turning her eyes up toward Joel. “Why don’t you tell the nice officer everything you just told us?”
Carter’s expression changed from hard and confused to amused as he took a moment to study his polished shoes.
Another car approached, and she wondered where everyone would park at the rate they were going. Instead of turning and finding Peter, they found another police car.
“Good morning, officer,” Carter called.
The man took them in, his gaze going over them with a fine-tooth comb. “Morning,” he muttered as he moved to Officer Turnel’s side.
The officers looked from of them to the next as Joel recounted what he’d found. The cops nodded a few times before asking, “Who all has been in there?”
“We arrived only a few minutes before you,” Carter said.
“I’m the only one who’s stepped foot inside, but I didn’t go past the counter, which is about three quarters the way in from the front door. In and out through the back door.”
The second cop nodded. “Stay right here while we look things over.”
Vanessa waited until they disappeared inside, then moved back to Carter’s arms. The tension around him eased as he embraced her and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
“What was that all about?” he asked, nodding toward Joel.
She looked toward the door and lowered her voice. “I didn’t like the way he was looking at Joel, as if he was behind it.”
Joel chuckled. “I can protect myself, but thanks.”
“What the hell is their problem?” she asked, her brows pinching in thought.
“The cops around here aren’t fans of us. It’s like they sense something is different, but they chalk it up to us being on the wrong side of the law.”
“Well that’s not very fair!” Vanessa said.
The men shook their head, and Joel nodded toward Carter’s car. Once they moved away from the open door, he narrowed his eyes. “Carter,” he muttered low. “Something seem off to you too?”
“What’s off to you?” Peter’s voice boomed from their right, and all three of them startled. Peter paused at their reaction for a moment before joining them. “Sorry about your place, pipsqueak.”
“Thanks,” she said, offering him a small smile. “I still don’t know what the damage is.”
“Peter, there are two cops in there, and something is off,” Joel stated in a lowered voice.
Peter looked them all over before his chin raised and his nostrils flared. He shrugged. “Smells human to me.”
“Just wait until they come out,” Carter replied. “Joel’s not off about them. I kind of felt like a suspect and not the victim—”
“Hey!” Vanessa snapped. “My business.”
Carter chuckled and pulled her back to his front. “Yes, sweetheart, it’s your business.”
“I see you two smoothed things over.” Peter smirked before shaking his head with amusement.
“Not if he claims my business as his,” she said and crossed her arms. Her words were harsh, but her tone was teasing.
