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The Sheriff's jaw tightened as he hung up the call, his gaze meeting mine. "We've got a lead. Janet might be at the old warehouse."
My instincts flared, a gnawing worry settling in my gut. "Sheriff, we need to be cautious. This could be a trap. Let me gather more information, and run some checks."
He waved off my concern, his eyes clouded with paternal desperation. "We don't have time, Evelyn. Every second counts. We're heading to the warehousenow."
I tried to reason with him, "Sheriff, please. I have a bad feeling about this. Let me call Alexei, and get some backup. We can't afford to walk into a potential trap."
But he was resolute, his mind fixed on the possibility of finding Janet. "I can't risk waiting. My daughter might be there. I'll take every precaution, but we're going."
Frustration surged within me as I watched him rally his men. My calls for caution fell on deaf ears, and the Sheriff, full of desperation and paternal love, led his team toward possible looming danger.
Unable to sway their decision, I dialed Alexei's number, anxiety knotting in my chest. "Alexei, it's Evelyn. The Sheriff and his men are heading to the old warehouse. I tried to warn them it might be a trap, but they wouldn't listen. You need to get there, fast."
Alexei's voice, laced with concern, crackled through the phone. "I'm on my way. Stay close, Evelyn. We'll handle this together."
The minutes crawled by as I awaited Alexei's arrival. I paced the station, my mind racing with a cocktail of worry and frustration. The Sheriff's decision gnawed at me. I knew the danger they might be walking into, but my warnings had fallen on deaf ears.
Finally, the sound of screeching tires signalled Alexei's arrival. He rushed into the station, his eyes locking onto mine. "What's going on? Where's the Sheriff now?"
"They've already left for the old warehouse," I blurted out, urgency coating my words. "I tried to warn them it might be a trap, but they didn't listen. We need to get there, Alexei."
“No, we don’t. Let Sheriff Callum handle it. If he needs backup, he will reach out. Trust him on this,” Alexei replied instead and I felt betrayed, why did he come if he wasn’t going to listen to me and help?
CHAPTER 23 | GET ME, BROTHER
ALEXEI’S POV
Evelyn and I sat at a cluttered desk, the dim light casting long shadows across the worn-out surface. The Sheriff had led a team to the old warehouse, chasing a lead on his missing daughter, Janet. I trusted Callum with my life. I knew he would show up prepared. He was a vampire too and he had probably left with a whole team of vampires.
"Evelyn, the Sheriff knows what he's doing. He's been in this game for a long time. If he's walking into a potential trap, he's prepared for it," I said, my voice steady despite my underlying worry. She was worried too. I could see the doubt swirling in her eyes and I wanted to remind her thatshe didn’t have to worry about Callum. He was a big boy.
She glanced up from the files scattered before her, her eyes filled with a mix of anxiety and frustration. This was the first time I saw something close to that with Evelyn. She was mad, and I could feel the anger radiating from her where I was standing. I would act the same way, too.
"I know, Alexei. It's just that it's unsafe and foolish for him to move like that. We are dealing with a professional here, and Sheriff Callum isn’t letting me do my job.” she sighed, and I wanted to tell her I understood her, but she didn’t look like she would be interested in hearing that from me.
“Why did they request assistance from the FBI if they had everything under wraps, and why hadn’t they made any headway before my arrival?"
"He's got skilled men with him. They're not amateurs. They have been working with him for centuries. And besides, you've been doing everything you can to find Janet. You figured out that the CCTV was altered. You're leading this investigation with expertise and dedication," I interrupted, attempting to convince her.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back in her chair, her fingers rubbing her temples. "I feel useless, Alexei. I've been watching this CCTV footage repeatedly, and it feels like I'm going in circles. I should be out there, doing something more. Not only did he alter the first one, but the second one was altered too. He set a trap, and now the Sheriff has walked into it because he won’t listen to me."
I sensed the weight of the investigation bearing down on her. Leaning forward, I placed a hand on hers, offering what comfort I could. "Evelyn, I know you are worried about this going sideways and what itcould mean for Janet, but trust me, Sheriff Callum can handle himself."
I squeezed her hand gently, my voice softening. "You're not alone, Evelyn. We're in this together. You're strong, and you're handling more than anyone should have to,"
“I will trust you on that, and heavens bear me witness that he did this of his own accord if it goes sideways,” she hissed, and I nodded.
I understand the sheriff wanting to work alone, but excluding the same person who helped the investigation baffled me. I know he acted like that because of his daughter, but protocols are protocols.
The ringing of the phone cut through the tense atmosphere of the police station. Evelyn rushed to pick up the phone, and it was Sheriff Callum.
“I just wanted to check in with you. Don’t worry, Evelyn, Janet is fine now. We got there in time, but we missed the killer. We were able to bring her home safely. Thank you for all your help.” He hung up before Evelyn could say another word, and she blinked back, almost like she couldn’t believe what just happened.
She dialled back the Sheriff with fingers pinching the telephone in anger, but it went straight to voice mail.
“Can you believe what he just did? He fucking hung up on me without even letting me speak!” She shouted in anger, and everyone recoiled instantly. This was the first time I had seen Evelyn lose her cool, making the whole place feel even smaller from the tension.
“He probably has something to deal with, and he wanted to check in so you don’t get worried for no reason. I’m sure he has a valid reason for doing that. He will explain when he comes in tomorrow,” I replied. It was getting tiring making excuses for Sheriff Callum, but I wouldn’t be telling Evelyn that.
