the fun part.
Forcing a smile, he walked back to the truck. The driver cranked down the window.
“Give me a few minutes first,” Koenraad said. “I just want to get my dogs inside the house, then I’ll show you the trapped shark and we can figure out a humane way to get him… get it into the truck.”
The driver nodded;he didn’t care. He was being paid quite a bit extra to handle this. Koenraad had set it up with the aquarium’s owner, but no one except Spencer knew what he was really up to, that the trapped shark he needed removed wasn’t just a shark.
Koenraad was halfway to the massive front door when he smelled her. Victoria. It was faint, very faint, but this time he knew he wasn’t imagining it.
Time stoppedas the realization sank in: despite all his precautions, Victoria had found him, and she’d somehow gotten past his security system.
No doubt she’d been pissed that he wasn’t returning her calls. When he’d promised to search with her for Brady, he’d intended to show up. But then Monroe needed him, and he hadn’t bothered to give Victoria a reason for canceling. He didn’t want her knowing aboutMonroe.
He inhaled deeply. Her scent wasn’t strong. With any luck, she’d quickly gotten tired of waiting and had gone away.
But experience told him she wouldn’t give up so easily. She was an investigator for the Council, for her uncle, really. If she’d tracked him here, she’d snoop.
The moment he stepped across the threshold, he smelled the awful truth. Victoria had gotten inside.
Head slightlylowered, he ran down the long hallway that cut through the mansion. For a moment he lost her scent, but then he caught it again, stronger than ever.
He slammed out of the main back door, his head turning left and right as he swept his gaze rhythmically and methodically over the private beach. She’d been out here, too. There was no doubt about that.
Was she still here? It didn’t seem like it,but with the wind scattering scents, it was difficult to know for sure. Tracking was so much easier in the water.
He carefully scrutinized the landscape again, but he was alone. Victoria wasn’t the type to hide.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it as he surveyed the beach, trying to see it through fresh eyes, trying to imagine what she knew.
She’d certainly noticed the bloodin the pool. There was no doubt about that. He could smell it, which meant she’d smelled it, too, and she would have investigated.
His jaw clenched so tightly that the curses welling in his throat came out in a long growl.
Several long strides, and he was standing over the fouled water. Ghostly memories of that night swam through his mind, and he thought of Monroe. As wrong as things had gone,he’d been lucky.
He unlocked the pool cover and let the motor drag it over the surface. Much better. It wouldn’t fool a shape shifter’s nose, but the men in the truck wouldn’t look at it twice.
His phone buzzed again, and he yanked it out of his pocket. It took an act of will not to crush it in his fist. Two missed calls from Victoria. And a text.
He tapped the icon. You’ve been a naughty,naughty boy. We need to talk about what you’ve been hiding behind your house. Today. Or else.
Hiding behind his house? He swung his gaze toward the inlet where Brady had lived for the last six months. Everything went still… It felt like a thick glass dome had slammed over him like he was a mere insect, and the rest of the world was shut outside. Sounds, scents… even the breeze retreated. He blinkedto clear his vision, but it didn’t do a thing for the fuzziness clouding his mind.
The phone slid from his fingers and landed in the sand. He sprinted for the inlet.
She’d been here. Those were her footprints baked into the sand.
With a roar, he flung himself into the water, shifting shark, landing with a mighty splash. The remnants of his clothing ripped away as he arced below the surface.
The
Forcing a smile, he walked back to the truck. The driver cranked down the window.
“Give me a few minutes first,” Koenraad said. “I just want to get my dogs inside the house, then I’ll show you the trapped shark and we can figure out a humane way to get him… get it into the truck.”
The driver nodded;he didn’t care. He was being paid quite a bit extra to handle this. Koenraad had set it up with the aquarium’s owner, but no one except Spencer knew what he was really up to, that the trapped shark he needed removed wasn’t just a shark.
Koenraad was halfway to the massive front door when he smelled her. Victoria. It was faint, very faint, but this time he knew he wasn’t imagining it.
Time stoppedas the realization sank in: despite all his precautions, Victoria had found him, and she’d somehow gotten past his security system.
No doubt she’d been pissed that he wasn’t returning her calls. When he’d promised to search with her for Brady, he’d intended to show up. But then Monroe needed him, and he hadn’t bothered to give Victoria a reason for canceling. He didn’t want her knowing aboutMonroe.
He inhaled deeply. Her scent wasn’t strong. With any luck, she’d quickly gotten tired of waiting and had gone away.
But experience told him she wouldn’t give up so easily. She was an investigator for the Council, for her uncle, really. If she’d tracked him here, she’d snoop.
The moment he stepped across the threshold, he smelled the awful truth. Victoria had gotten inside.
Head slightlylowered, he ran down the long hallway that cut through the mansion. For a moment he lost her scent, but then he caught it again, stronger than ever.
He slammed out of the main back door, his head turning left and right as he swept his gaze rhythmically and methodically over the private beach. She’d been out here, too. There was no doubt about that.
Was she still here? It didn’t seem like it,but with the wind scattering scents, it was difficult to know for sure. Tracking was so much easier in the water.
He carefully scrutinized the landscape again, but he was alone. Victoria wasn’t the type to hide.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it as he surveyed the beach, trying to see it through fresh eyes, trying to imagine what she knew.
She’d certainly noticed the bloodin the pool. There was no doubt about that. He could smell it, which meant she’d smelled it, too, and she would have investigated.
His jaw clenched so tightly that the curses welling in his throat came out in a long growl.
Several long strides, and he was standing over the fouled water. Ghostly memories of that night swam through his mind, and he thought of Monroe. As wrong as things had gone,he’d been lucky.
He unlocked the pool cover and let the motor drag it over the surface. Much better. It wouldn’t fool a shape shifter’s nose, but the men in the truck wouldn’t look at it twice.
His phone buzzed again, and he yanked it out of his pocket. It took an act of will not to crush it in his fist. Two missed calls from Victoria. And a text.
He tapped the icon. You’ve been a naughty,naughty boy. We need to talk about what you’ve been hiding behind your house. Today. Or else.
Hiding behind his house? He swung his gaze toward the inlet where Brady had lived for the last six months. Everything went still… It felt like a thick glass dome had slammed over him like he was a mere insect, and the rest of the world was shut outside. Sounds, scents… even the breeze retreated. He blinkedto clear his vision, but it didn’t do a thing for the fuzziness clouding his mind.
The phone slid from his fingers and landed in the sand. He sprinted for the inlet.
She’d been here. Those were her footprints baked into the sand.
With a roar, he flung himself into the water, shifting shark, landing with a mighty splash. The remnants of his clothing ripped away as he arced below the surface.
The
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