AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 12 | MORE DIGGING
EVELYN’S POV
Iwalked out of Alexei's home into the crisp morning air, the revelation from last night lingering in my thoughts like a chaotic hum. The idea of supernatural beings was still wild for me to grasp fully.
No wonder everything around here possessed so much weird energy that I couldn’t explain. If my neck weren't still a bit sore from that man pressing me against the wall, I would have thought that this was all a dark dream.
“Are you okay?” Mayor Alexei asked, and I nodded. He had been all over me since yesterday. If anything, I owed him my life. I still had no idea how he knew I was on my way home, or how he had prevented my murder with such perfect timing. I refused to imagine being shipped back to New York in a body bag.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you,” I replied softly, and he nodded.
Approaching the car, Sheriff Callum's gaze bore into me, a mix of concern and suspicion evident in his eyes.
"How are you holding up, Agent?" Sheriff Callum asked cautiously as if stepping on delicate ground. The Mayor must have told him about my attack, and now I knew why he hadn’t offered the transparency during my investigation that I had grown accustomed to on other cases. It was because he felt I would be outing some of his men.
"I'm fine, Sheriff," I replied, offering a faint smile. "I'm shaken but ready to continue the investigation."
He nodded, but the wariness lingered in his gaze. It made sense; the events of last night had changed the dynamics of our working relationship. I was now a target and a significant player in this dark game of life. I had no idea what could happen the next minute, but I was getting familiar with the playing field.
The Sheriff got back into the patrol car and started speeding off, leaving me and the Mayor still standing. As I settled into the car beside Alexei, the subtle tension in the air became more noticeable. Neither of us said anything, but I sensed he was nervous around me, knowing he had just laid himself bare with his confession. Even I was feeling wary around him, not in a suspicious kind of way, but it did scare the hell out of me.
The engine roared to life, and we navigated the quiet streets of Harmony Grove. My gaze shifted between the familiar buildings; my thoughts scattered everywhere. For the first time, I was confused. I didn’t know where to go from here.
"Agent, I know last night was... unexpected," Alexei began, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "But there's something we need to discuss."
“Just call me Evelyn. I think we are past the formality stage,” I chipped in, and he nodded.
I nodded back, open to whatever conversation lay ahead. The revelation had opened the door to a world I had been oblivious to, and understanding the intricacies of coexistence was now crucial. I had to work with them willingly if we wanted to catch this killer.
"Evelyn, we appreciate your willingness to work with us, especially given the circumstances," Alexei continued, his words measured. I had a feeling he was about to deliver even more crazy news.
"However, it's crucial that you maintain the façade of ignorance about our true nature. The safety of our community relies on the delicate balance between humans and supernaturals. Most vampires see you as harmless since you have no idea of their existence. If they catch a whiff of you being aware, however, it may turn into a witch hunt."
I absorbed his words, acknowledging the delicate dance that now defined our interactions. The truth had woven into something very complex, and I understood the necessity of playing my part, even if it meant concealing the newfound awareness that pulsed beneath my surface.
"I understand," I replied, my voice steady. "I'll keep up the act. Your secret is safe with me."
“Thank you,” he replied, and no other words were exchanged throughout the ride.
As we approached the police station, the Sheriff's lingering gaze welcomed us. He had driven straight down here, and I flashed him a smile. It was time to approach this investigation with new eyes, especially now that I knew they weren’t stonewalling me due to guilt.
“Evelyn, your things have been retrieved from the hotel. You won’t be returning there. We will arrange a safer accommodation for you before the end of the day,” he said, and I nodded. I had already made up my mind about not going back there,especially since the killer knew where I was staying. Alexei might have killed the man from last night, but I had a feeling that he wasn’t working alone.
It was a gut feeling and my guts were rarely wrong, now I had to find more evidence to prove that the killer wasn’t acting alone and who Alexei killed yesterday was not the person we were looking for.
Oh my word, what am I saying here! Alexei killed my attacker, but I would have been dead if he hadn’t found me. Good grief what have I gotten myself into? And the killer, that couldn’t have been him considering he has been taking down vampires and Alexie IS one! Was this man working for the killer? Are there more than one? Or was it against me personally from some other case. I certainly have made enemies in the past.
“You can stay in my guest room until the investigation is done and you are ready to go back home.” Alexei chipped in, knocking me away from my dreadful thoughts and I smiled at him gratefully. I would prefer to stay with him rather than somewhere else. I knew he would keep me safe.
“Thank you so much, Alexei. I would prefer that,” I replied to him, and the Sheriff nodded too.
“Now that we think the killer knows we are onto them, I think it’s time to work together and attack this investigation with renewed vigor. There’s a lot of missing facts, and we need to find them,” the Sheriff said, and I nodded. I couldn’t agree more.
I walked into the board room filled with unfamiliar faces, but they all had one thing in common: a willingness to work with me. I pulled a new board to the center of the room. I knew better now, at least. For a moment, I looked around and wondered how many men were vampires, too. I shudder inside but shove that aside for now. Right now, it was time to get to business and crack this case once and for all.
I discarded the report that had labeled Alexei as my primary suspect, a decision born out of the acceptance that he was far more than he appeared to be. Now aware of the supernatural intricacies woven into the fabric of Harmony Grove, it was time to start over.Relaxing a bit now. Whew.
As we delved into the files, a collaborative effort unfolded. The officers, once wary, began to share insights and observations more freely. The barriers that had initially separated us began to crumble, replaced by a collective determination to unravel the mysteries that had cast a shadow over the town.
