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"That's because we have to wait for the big-city cops to come down and do it. We apparently haven't got the right expertise or knowledge for that sort of stuff. "
Though there was no edge in his voice or expression, his derision rode the air, bitter and sharp. Mike West wanted more than what his job was offering. But then, was that really surprising? Most folks who became cops did so because they wanted to help others, or they wanted to catch criminals and make a difference.
And if the emotions I was sensing in Mike West were anything to go by, being a cop in a small town in the middle of nowhere wasn't achieving either of those two aims.
"So the autopsy results haven't come back yet, either?"
He slanted me a glance. "Like I'm going to tell you that. Harris would have my head. "
"He doesn't have to know. "
Mike snorted. "Harris knows everything. The man has an instinct for it. Makes me wonder why he decided to transfer to a dead-end place like this. "
"Well, he is from the West pack - "
"He had a stellar career as a detective in Sydney, but he suddenly ups and runs back here?" Mike shook his head. "The man is mad. "
"Or he just missed home turf. "
"Yeah, there's a whole lot to miss in this hellhole. "
I squinted up at him. "If you hate it so much, why not transfer?"
"I've applied, trust me. "
"Then why aren't you getting anywhere?"
"Because it's hard to fill positions in shit holes, and they're reluctant to transfer people out of them. "
"So what are you doing about it, besides bitching?"
He laughed. It was a sound as bitter as the emotions that were still swirling around me. "Putting out feelers. Pulling in favors. " He shrugged. "Stuff like that. "
The snarky part of me wondered just how many favors a cop in nowhereville could actually pull in. Not a lot, one would have thought.
We hit the main street and I turned right, heading back to the store to grab the coffee I'd told Evin I was coming out to get. Mike followed.
"You don't have to baby-sit me," I commented. "I won't go back to your precious crime scene. "
Now, going back to the house - that was another matter entirely. And one he hadn't actually warned me away from. Of course, if I got caught breaking into said house, it could land me in a whole lot more trouble.
So shadow and don't get caught, that little voice inside whispered.
Which made about as much sense as pigs flying, but even so, my pulse raced at the thought. Vampires shadowed, and I wasn't a vampire.
Was I?
No, I thought, squinting up at the sun. If I was a vamp, I'd be toast by now. Yet if there was vampire blood in me, it would explain the surprising sensitivity to the sun.
"When you start heading back to the villa, I'll head back to the station," Mike commented. "Until then, consider me a thorn in your side. "
"There's obviously very little to do in this town if you can waste time baby-sitting me. "
"That's what I've been bitching about, remember?" He snorted softly. "The most exciting things to have happened in this town are your appearance and the damn murder. "
I raised my eyebrows as I squinted up at him. "How is my appearance exciting?"
"Well, you got lost, didn't you? Gave us something to do for a day. It's a shame Evin had to find you so quickly. "
