Page 52 of Investigation of a Quest

“I’ve been out in this storm all day,” she said. “No point in bothering you now.”

“You sure? I can come… I’d just have to pick you up now. That’s why I called. I have a meeting with international associates, so I’ll be locked in my office half the night. You’re welcome to come over, but I won’t be coming to bed with you.”

“That’s fine,” Bel said. “I’ll stay at my place tonight. Cerberus is there, so it doesn’t make sense to drive home, grab him, and then brave this downpour for the millionth time.”

“So why were you going to call me? I can try to help before my meeting.”

“It’s just a simple question,” she said, leaning against the wall to watch the rain flood the parking lot. “If I wanted a lion, could you get me one?”

“You want to bring a carnivorous predator around Cerberus?” Eamon asked, and she could practically see his jaw fall open at her insanity.

“No, a dead one. Like to taxidermy.”

“Since when are you into big stuffed cats? That doesn’t seem like your décor style—oh, for your case,” he laughed as the realization clicked. “Thank God, I was worried you really wanted me to add a taxidermy lion to your library.”

“I mean, a little stuffed one for the window seat would be cute, but that’s it. I don’t want any life-size animals stalking me in my own house—don’t start,” Bel silenced Eamon before he made his favorite comment about how often she referred to the Reale Estate as home. “But you can’t exactly go to a taxidermist and order an exotic cat. That’s something you’d probably have to smuggle into the country, so could you?”

“Detective, I could fly to Africa, take down a lion with my bare hands, and then bring it back on a private plane without customs realizing I’d left the States,” Eamon said, and she could hear his smirk. “But if I weren’t a dhampir and had to go the more traditional smuggling route, yes, I could still get you one. Do you want me to check with my contacts and see if any illegal cats have entered the country? Or get you information on who might be responsible for such a transaction?”

“Both,” Bel said. “Anything you can find will help. We have no other leads, and I don’t need to tell you how serious this is.”

“No, you don’t. I have to go, but I’ll look into that. It’ll be late when I’m done, so I’ll call you in the morning, okay?”

“Sounds good. I love you.”

“I love you more, Detective.”

“Have a good meeting.” She kissed him through the phone, and then, burying her cell in the bottom of her purse where it wouldn’t get rain damage, she raced through what felt like Noah’s flood to her SUV. Maybe she should move in with Eamon and have him build an indoor garden for nights like this because she was dreading having to let Cerberus outside. The winds might pick him up and carry him until he wasn’t in Bajka anymore.

Bel turned her key in the ignition; her beloved dog the only reason she was contemplating driving in this weather. If he didn’t need her, she’d be half tempted to sleep in the back seat of her car. Probably a stupid thing to do with someone ripping organs from human bodies, though, so she pulled out of her parking space, only to slam on her brakes when lights flashed across the car’s hood. Why did Eamon have to work? A torrential downpour was no match for his sight, while she’d almost gotten into an accident three feet into her drive.

Her phone ringing pierced through her anxiety, and she answered the call with the Bluetooth.

“Is that you I almost hit?” Olivia’s southern accent asked through the speaker.

“Unfortunately,” she said.

“This weather makes me never want to leave the house,” Olivia said. “I’m surprised Eamon didn’t pick you up.”

“He’s on an international call,” Bel said. “And I’m a big girl.”

“Well, if I were still dating Ewan, I would’ve called him to come get me.”

“You still could. He’d come.”

“That doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to use him.”

“He’d probably like it.”

“It would lead him on,” Olivia said. “I’ve forgiven him enough to be friendly, but I don’t know if I can let him back in.”

“Maybe you should still call him,” Bel said. “Maybe stick by him for the next few days.”

“The four who trespassed on the ruins are dead. I’m not a threat anymore.”

“Still,” Bel said, the single word holding enormous weight. “I can’t lose you.”

“Then watch where you’re driving,” Olivia teased. “You almost hit me.”