Page 111 of Pleasure & Prey: Vol. 2

Only for the words to die on my lips at the sight of Detective Trudeau on my doorstep. My confidence falters, and I hold on to Doom as I look at him, feeling suddenly much more away than I had before.

“Miss Campbell.” He tips his hat at me like he’s going for charming or honest. To me, it just seems arrogant and overplayed. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“You did,” I yawn, leaning on the doorframe with my cat over my shoulders. “Can I help you, officer?”

“Detective.”

“My bad.” Tilting my head against the frame, I meet his eyes. “So can I help you with something?” I’m not afraid of him, precisely. But he’s definitely not my favorite person in the world, and not my first choice for surprising me at my front door.

He’s close to my last, honestly.

“I was hoping I could come in and talk to you. There was a report of a bit of an incident at Manic Manor a few nights ago…” His eyes drift to the bandages on my hands. “And I was hoping you could give me a few more details on it.”

I have no idea how he knows about that. Or why it’s taken him this long to show up, if he’s actually concerned. It doesn’t feel…right. “Umm…” I look down at the ground, trying to get my thoughts in order and come up with a plan for how to steer the conversation. “It was a pretty minor thing, actually⁠—”

“I think you should let the detective in. He’s really going above and beyond in his job, you know?” Cass’s smooth voice is the only warning I get before he wraps an arm around my waist, standing half-behind me in the doorframe.

Trudeau’s face jerks in surprise, nostrils flaring and eyes widening by millimeters. But he pushes the expression away, choosing to study Cassian carefully before speaking. “Mr. Byers, right? We’ve never had the pleasure of meeting in person. I have to admit, this is the last place I would think to find you. Forgive my surprise.” He certainly doesn’t sound apologetic, and his lips press together in a thin line as he looks Cass over.

“Hayden Fields is just full of surprises, as I’m sure you’re realizing,” Cass replies with a low chuckle. “And you’re more than welcome to come in. I, for one, would love to know the details of what happened at the haunted house the other night. I’ve only heard about it secondhand.”

“Right.” Trudeau shifts, glancing back at his car, and it hits me that he’s uncomfortable with Cass here. “I thought you’d moved away, Mr. Byers,” he says finally, turning back to look at us but not making a move to come into my house.

“I did. I’m just here visiting. Hayden Fields has a lot of Halloween nostalgia, you know?” God, he’s enjoying this. I can almost feel his amusement from the small, almost nervous movements the detective makes, and the way he’s clearly floundering to figure out where he wants to go next.

He certainly doesn’t want to come in here.

“I see.” The detective’s voice is cold, and he’s barely looking at me anymore. Instead, all of his focus is on Cass. “Well, I can see it’s a bad time. And I overestimated my schedule this morning.” He glances at his watch, as if to convince us the lie is true. “But I’ll be back by, all right? Maybe I’ll catch you at work, Miss Campbell.”

That sounds like a threat.

“Anytime,” I murmur as he turns and takes a step off the porch. “Wait.” I don’t expect him to, but he does. “Who reported the incident at Manic Manor?” I’m not sure if he’ll tell me, but it’s worth asking. I hadn’t thought anyone was around to have seen.

“A Miss…”—he pulls out his phone and opens it, checking his notes quickly—“Reagan Darcelle. She didn’t have many details. Just said there was some kind of incident and you might be in a bit of trouble.” I can hear the dry judgment in his tone, and I know he thinks I’m in a different kind of trouble than what he’d come here to investigate.

And, well, he’s not exactly wrong.

“Oh, yeah,” I reply lamely. “She’s one of my good friends. Sorry that she overreacted and got you involved.”

The detective shakes his head, glancing back at us one last time. “No need to apologize, Miss Campbell,” he assures me flatly. “I’ve found the trip to be very informative.” With that he marches back to his car, not hesitating before slamming the drivers’ side door and driving away so fast I’m surprised I don’t hear the dramatic squealing of tires.

“That was bold of you,” I murmur, still leaning on the doorframe and looking around the part of the neighborhood I can see. “Do you really think it was a good idea to let him know you’re here?”

Cass drags me back into the house, closing the door and locking it absently. “I think he would’ve tried to bully you if I hadn’t. He pushes you around when he talks to you, and it unnerves you enough that he can get away with it.” Carefully, Cass pulls Doom off my shoulders, kissing his forehead. That’s another thing I hadn’t expected of him, or my cats.

I’m pretty sure Gloom is in love with him, and she’s never liked anyone other than me. Doom is a little less surprising, but still abnormal, considering the way he flips over in Cass’s arms to let the man hold him like a baby.

“Well, I appreciate your championing of me, Sir Byers,” I reply, leaning back against the door. “Do you want anything to eat? I might as well stay up and shower instead of getting up fifteen minutes before my shift starts.”

Two hours later when I’m in my car and ready to leave, I finally take the time to look at my phone, having forgotten about the texts I’d been sent and too busy after Trudeau had left to even think about glancing at them.

But I should’ve known they’re from Reagan. Four texts sit unopened, and I scan through them, registering the clear worry in her words.

Are you okay?

It’s been a few days

I know something happened at the haunted house. I’m worried.