Page 56 of D for Dead

‘Why are you here, and in her house?’

Heidi quickly explained Boaz falling in the surf, running into Troy. Amy stayed silent, her gaze focused straight ahead, annoyed.

‘How did this happen?’ Jake directed the question at Amy, his tone softer, resisting the urge to stroke her bloody cheek. It looked like it had been cleaned up some, but the wound was still raw.

For the first time, she turned to meet his eyes. Her own were flecked with green, cooling the amber, and she looked a little embarrassed.

‘Nadine took objection to me being in her home.’

‘So she scratched you?’ Jake swallowed down the anger he could feel rising. ‘Where is she now?’

‘Officer Boaz arrested her. They’re inside. She’s been going nuts. Huckleberry bit her.’

Amy reached down, hugged an arm around the collie.

Jake muttered a curse, stepped into the house without knocking. He found Boaz with Troy and Nadine in the kitchen. Nadine was sitting at the table, eyes tearful and make-up running down her face. She had a bloody dish towel wrapped around her right hand and her left wrist was cuffed to the table leg.

Boaz and Troy were talking heatedly, but both hushed as he entered the room. Jake immediately clocked the Hawaiian shirt and checked shorts Boaz had on.

‘What the fuck are you wearing, man?’

Boaz coloured.

‘Mr Cunningham here lent me some clothes while mine dried.’ He pointed to the wet pile on the table in front of Nadine.

‘Detective Sullivan, may I get you a drink: juice, coffee, water?’ Troy offered; suddenly all manners.

‘No,’ Jake said sharply. ‘What I want is someone to explain what the hell happened here.’

‘The damn dog bit me,’ Nadine snapped, speaking for the first time. She waved her bloody hand at Jake, red lips scowling. ‘I want him put down and I want this cuff off me now.’

‘And did he bite you before or after you attacked Miss Gallaty?’

‘It was all a misunderstanding,’ Troy said, stepping in smoothly.

‘A misunderstanding?’ Jake repeated. This guy was starting to tick him off.

‘Yes, it was my fault. I should never have invited Officer Boaz and Amy back here without Nadine knowing.’ Troy looked sympathetically at his girlfriend. ‘She’s had a migraine all day and had been sleeping. When she woke up and found Amy in the house, well, she’s still a little upset with Amy, and she didn’t react well.’

‘She scratched her face. I think “not reacting well” is something of an understatement.’

Troy at least had the good grace to look embarrassed by his comment.

‘The dog was protecting Amy, we understand that, but to arrest Nadine is ridiculous. Obviously if you agree to let her go we won’t be reporting it or taking it further.’

‘What?’ Nadine looked furious. ‘He’s a dangerous animal. I may need stitches.’

‘Shut up, Nadine.’

For a moment the façade slipped and Jake saw the cold anger beneath Troy’s mask. There was something he didn’t like about this guy and he wanted to check him out further.

‘As I said, we won’t take action against the dog if Amy doesn’t press charges against Nadine.’

‘That’s for her to decide,’ Jake said coolly.

There was no way this pair would get away with doing anything to Huckleberry.

He turned to Boaz. ‘Dare I ask where you were while all this was playing out?’