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Three officers stood outside, two men, one woman. She spoke first, “Elsa Brandt? We’d like to talk to you, and,” she stared at Lycaon, “Lycaon? About the death of your friend, Lisa Goldman. We’ve been investigating similar murders. Your friend Mattie told us where to find you. Will you cooperate, help us find the suspect?”
She glanced down and pulled a piece of paper from her jacket. “Given the severity of this incident, we possess a warrant, but your compliance will be duly recorded.”
Suddenly unable to swallow as my mouth dried up, I croaked out, “Am I a suspect? Because that would be outrageous, and I was with friends when Lisa’s body was discovered.” I hitched a breath as my heart pummelled fast. The police! Had Mattie really got them involved? One thing was for sure, they were human. I could smell it. And if I could, so could Lycaon.
The woman was tall, her white-blonde hair pulled tightly back under her hat. She watched me with narrow eyes. If I hadn’t known they were mortal, I would’ve sworn the male officers were shifters. Their stab-proof vests hugged their torsos, arms almost bulging out of their shirt sleeves. They hid their eyes behind dark glasses. One of them had short dark hair, almost a crew cut. His lips twitched as he forced a smile.
His voice was softer than his demeanour. “May we come in? Officer Hill, will you hand over the warrant?”
His companion, a younger cop holding his notebook, said, “We know this is all very upsetting. That’s why we’re here. Lycaon, we don’t have a last name.”
Lycaon pulled himself up. “You won’t. There’s no need to come in. We’re not involved. Perhaps you should look closer to Mattie’s home. She seems to know more about this than we do.”
Officer Hill smiled. It almost made me step back, obviously not something she did often.
“We’ve been to Mattie’s already. That’s why we’re here.” Her eyes flashed to me. “You knew Lisa?”
I stood aside. “Come in.”
Lycaon huffed, but what was the point? I took the piece of paper; it looked genuine, and some police worked with the supernatural community. And Mattie, it seemed, had grassed us up for something she and her cloaked clan were responsible for.
“I’m going to get washed and dressed. I’ll be five minutes. Lycaon, why not make the officers a cup of tea or coffee?”
The young male officer smiled. “That’s very kind, didn’t expect that.”
“If you’re looking to catch the killer, you can count on me to help. I didn’t know Lisa that well, but no one deserves that. I just hope you’re capable, that’s all.”
This all seemed insane. I knew it was Adara who killed Lisa. Lycaon knew it was Adara. I suspected Adara had sent these cops via Mattie.
“We are used to working with supernaturals, Miss Brandt. I’ll come up with you.”
I stopped myself from glaring at the female officer. What did she think I’d do, grab my broomstick and fly away? Instead, I just shrugged as she followed me upstairs. Lycaon slumped down on the sofa arm, his eyes narrowed as the two officers plied him with questions.
“So, Miss Brandt, how long did you know Lisa?”
“About six months, Mattie knew her longer.”
“And yet you risked your life going to Savernake Woods, alone, dragging your friends to rescue Lisa?”
That bit. I turned around, facing her. “I thought she could be in trouble. Mattie said she’d go, but I didn’t want to wait. If it was your friend who was missing, what, you’d wait to find them, help them?”
Her lips tightened together before her stony eyed gaze glared at me. “Yes,Iwould wait. I certainly wouldn’t go without back up. Tell me what happened, everything, even the smallest detail.”
“I need to use the bathroom.”
She gave a sharp nod and glanced past me at my bedroom whilst I went to wash. I’d be damned if I was going anywhere without brushing my teeth.
Feeling more alive, I dug out some fresh clothes from the airing closet, wondering what Officer Hill was rummaging through in my bedroom. But whatever. Anything private was tucked away, locked up from prying eyes. A clatter from downstairs had me moving quicker.
As I opened the door, she sat patiently on my bed doing a good job of not looking like someone who’d almost been caught snooping around.
I grabbed up my boots, pushing them on. “What was that noise?” I glanced past her. “Lycaon?”
Her voice was deadpan. “They’re outside talking.” Pointing, she asked, “Your window, what happened?”
As she did that, a trickle of fear ran down my back, and before I realised it, she was up and had plunged a needle into my arm.
I swore, suddenly dizzy as hell, my eyes flickering, then my body sank, legs like jelly as I crashed into her.
