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Spencer nodded. “Oh, but it will. See, once a dragon has found his mate, he’ll get heartsick from not being together even before the mating. Without you, he’ll be dead in a matter of weeks. I’m surprised he didn’t mentionit.”
My shoulders drooped. Of course Mishal wouldn’t tell me this. I was in an impossible situation. “And now I know,” Imumbled.
“Know what?” he snapped as he opened the car door forme.
Slowly, I sank down onto the seat. “How the women end up in the car.” I sadly looked up at him while he slammed the door in myface.
25
Mishal
“Stay here.Keep the car running. I’ll be back,” I barked at Stephen as I hopped out of the car in front of the policestation.
“Yes, sir,” he mumbledweakly.
I sighed. I’d had the man in knots ever since we left the cottage. Consumed with fear, I’d barely spoken. All my energy had gone into not snapping, not shifting, not spewing fire. Mostly, I felt drained…and scared. “I’ll get Peri and we’ll take it from there,” I explained as I leaned into the car. The last thing I needed was to alienate my one ally in thetown.
He nodded sadly. “I get it, Mr. Draco. Go on. I’ll be here.” Then he turned his head forward and I knew he meant for me toleave.
Walking into the station, I stopped at the desk. There were several men in suits talking quietly among themselves and a few uniformed officers. They didn’t even notice me until I cleared my throat. The moment they stared at me, I blurted out, “I’m looking for PeriWinkler.”
The uniformed officer shook his head. “She left a little bit ago with herlawyer.”
I raked my hands through my hair. “Why didn’t she call me?” I groaned and closed my eyes while I tried to figure out what to do next. Normally, I planned and had backup plans for my plans, but now with my mate on the line, I could barely thinkstraight.
A hand pressed on my shoulder and I whipped around in fight mode to greet whoever had dared touch me. The man in the suit took a step back, but he didn’t seem at all surprised. “I’m Detective Jeffries. I spoke with Ms. Winklerearlier.”
My nostrils flared as I inhaled. “Yes?”
“Come talk to me.” He motioned over his shoulder for me to followhim.
“I need to find her. She could be in danger,” I explained. My hands fisted by my side as I stood my ground, refusing to get farther from the door and therefor farther fromPeri.
Slowly, the detective turned and faced me. His shoulders heaved as he returned to the desk. “I brought her in. I questioned her. Everything…pointed toher.”
I leaned on the desk and frowned. “And then Spencer Morse showed up,right?”
He nodded. “Yes. And I gotta tell you, that changedeverything.”
I rubbed my forehead, hoping he’d continue to explain, but he seemed reluctant to share additional information. In my line of work, I was used to prying. “Howso?”
“Well…she’s smart. I had the impression the minute she saw him, she started putting two and two together and getting four, you know?” His brow furrowed. “The lawyer ignored her, but she persisted. She basically called him out, accused him of killing Mr. Draco and I believe she hinted at twelveothers?”
I eyed him carefully. “I’m Mishal Draco, with DracoSecurity.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Sorry for your loss. I’m guessing the victim was arelative?”
“Distant cousin. We weren’t close, but he had Peri contact me regarding the deaths. I was investigating and hoping to protect them this weekend, but I arrived in time to see the party breaking up. He was dead and Peri was being chased into the woods.” I sighed as I finished relaying the information. “I can appreciate you’re just doing your job, but now it looks like she’s with the killer who probably wants her dead. She knows too much. His greed is my only hope.” I slapped the wooden desk. “I don’t suppose you know what he wasdriving?”
I wandered toward the door, pulling my phone out of my pocket while waiting for a response. There was a slim chance Peri might be able to answer if I called. I had to try. So, I dialed and hit the speakerfunction.
Jeffries glanced at the phone. “Calling her. I made sure she had her phone when sheleft.”
The phone rang and finally went to voicemail. I closed my eyes as I struggled to remain calm. Then I called again and silently vowed I’d keep calling until someone answered. A uniformed officer walked in holding up a ringing phone and my heartsank.
“Someone lost this in the parking lot,” heannounced.
I hit the button to end my call and reached for the phone. “Where’d you find this?” I croaked. My throat seemed to be tightening. I could barely breathe. My gut was on fire in a most uncomfortable way. In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if at any moment, a hole burned straight through me. What the hell was happening? I leaned heavily on thecounter.
