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“There’s been a mistake,” I say to O’Toole. “I was hired to play a part in a murder?—”
“O’Toole! Landis!” A harried looking officer rushes toward us. “Is this the woman you picked up in Brentwood? The break and enter?” He’s wearing a suit and tie with his badge on a chain around his neck and a name tag pronouncing him Captain Dunphy.
“Yeah, this is her, Captain.” There’s pride in officer O’Toole’s tone and I roll my eyes. Good job apprehending a woman in an evening dress and a single heel who was in no way fleeing the scene when officers arrived.
O’Toole’s smile fades as Captain Dunphy glares at us.
“Take her into my office and make sure she’s comfortable. You idiots picked up a royal from Wolf-Haven. The place is in an uproar and the King’s emissary is on his way.”
“What?” O’Toole looks shocked.
“What?” I echo, equally shocked. Was I attacked by a prince or something? Okay, that’s kind of cool.
A roar interrupts us, so loud it shakes everything, including walls. “Where is she?” A loud crash followed up by something shattering has everyone flinching.
“Do you think he’s looking for… me?” I ask faintly.
“Take her to my office.” Captain Dunphy turns on his heel and rushes away.
Officer Landis, who was smart enough to remain silent through the exchange, stares at me. “Who are you?”
“An actor?” I say it like a question.
She shakes her head and they lead me into an office where Landis points at a chair. “Sit.” They leave, closing the door behind them.
Choosing not to sit, I wander the office, stopping in front of a picture of Captain Dunphy that dominates the back wall of the room. In it he’s shaking hands with the mayor, Lavinia Rose. Other than the picture, there are no personal touches to the office. There’s a desk, chair, filing cabinet, garbage can, a flag, and a coat tree with a Captain’s hat perched on it. No pictures of a wife and kids. Not even a plant.
Now that the shock of my evening has worn off, a bone deep exhaustion starts to take over, leaving a chill in its wake. I rub my hands up and down my arms to ward it off.
Peeking out of the blinds that cover the glass in the door, my gaze goes to the two men beelining toward the office. One is Captain Dunphy and the other is a small-ish, wiry man. He’s wearing an ugly brown suit too big for him and has large round glasses perched on the end of his sharply curved nose.
The captain ushers the man into the office while I step back. “Excuse me,” I say to Dunphy, “but is there something I need to sign to get out of here? I understand I haven’t been arrested, which means I should be free to go.” I try to sound tough, but standing up to authority isn’t one of my strongest traits.
“Sit down,” Dunphy says, striding around his desk without looking at me.
“Alrighty.” I lower myself into the chair, side-eying the owlish man as he opens a briefcase on the captain’s desk.
He hands a sheaf of papers to Captain Dunphy. “On top is the birth certificate and residency declaration for Keenan Wolven-North of Wolf-Haven.”
I perk up. So my mystery man is called Keenan.
He continues, “This is his first cross-species infraction, and it was instigated by the mating call. Article four, section 29, subsection B of the Human-Shifter accords, which you will find highlighted there,” he points at one of the papers, “states clearly that any wolf shifter driven to commit a crime lesser than murder or maiming while answering the mating call shall not be held liable.” He turns to me with a wink. “Thorny Gray-Owl at your service, ma’am. Emissary for King Lock Wolven-North of Wolf-Haven. So pleased to finally meet you.”
I automatically take the hand he offers and give it a weak shake. “Uh, my pleasure?” Everything’s coming out like a question, which I decide is what happens when a person is forced to contemplate a rapidly shifting reality. “I think you must be mistaking me for someone else.”
His eyes twinkle with kindness as he looks me over. “I don’t think so, and he….” Thorny jerks his head at the wall, which gives an opportune rattle as the wolf shifter in lockup throws something big enough to shake the entire building, “Well, he certainly thinks you’re the correct woman.” Thorny turns back to Captain Dunphy, his gaze hardening. “You will drop all charges against Keenan Wolven-North and his mate…” He glances at me. “Sorry dear, your name?”
“Uh, it’s Vanessa Bedalia.”
“A lovely name.” Then to Dunphy, “And you will also release Ms. Bedalia.”
“Ms. Bedalia is not under arrest.” There’s steel in the captain’s voice as he narrows his eyes at Thorny. “She’s free to leave. Your client, however, I still have questions about.”
“He’s not my client,” Thorny says sharply. “Listen closer, human. I am emissary to the King, speaking on behalf of the royal family.”
“I don’t care!” Dunphy snarls. “You aren’t going to waltz into my station and tell me to release a man who caused thousands of dollars in damages?—”
“If you’d be so kind as to look through the paperwork I handed you, you’ll find a cheque in the amount of $50,000 for the homeowner. It should be more than fair compensation.”
