"Why does she have to stay away once the sun's set? You got a few vampires in your caravan?"

"I haven't seen a vampire in years," he said wistfully, then laughed at my expression. "We have shows at night. I don't think it would be safe to have people with guns traipsing around the lake. "

That made sense. Or at least more sense than his harboring vampires. "Grace will track the thing down tomorrow. I'm sure of it. "

Cartwright grunted, obviously unconvinced.

"Maybe you should wait here," I said. "Grace will want to talk to you. "

"I'm sure she will. " He straightened his shoulders, as if preparing for a battle. "But she knows where I live, work, and play. She can find me. "

"She won't be happy. "

"Right now, I'm not happy. " He suddenly touched my cheek. Strangely, I didn't flinch, nor was I possessed by the sudden urge to back away; instead I leaned into him, needing his warmth and comfort. "I swear no one will ever hurt you while I'm here. "

Before I could make any comment, he disappeared into the night.

I stared after him, wondering where he was going, if he really thought he'd find Josh, who'd no doubt arrived in a BMW and was driving it hard all the way back to Atlanta. Knowing him, he'd have the authorities here by tomorrow with an arrest warrant for Malachi Cartwright.

"Damn," I muttered. If they arrested the Gypsy leader, would the rest of the Gypsies continue to perform? If they didn't, our festival was ruined.

And I couldn't believe I was worrying about that at a time like this, but someone had to. I guess it was my job.

A howl burst from the trees, drifting toward the bright silver moon. I stood on the porch and waited for another, but none came.

A few minutes later, my doorbell rang and I went inside, closing and locking the glass door behind me.

Grace stood on the doorstep attired in her uniform, though her blouse was buttoned crooked and her shoes weren't tied. Her hair wasn't braided, either, and it hung past the base of her spine, making her appear younger than I knew her to be. Maybe she had been asleep.

"I've been dying to arrest this guy. " She shouldered her way inside. "Where is he?"

"Gone. "

"Don't bullshit me, Claire; it's late. "

"I wish I was bullshitting. We thought he was unconscious, turned our backs, and poof. Malachi went to look for him. "

Her eyebrows shot up. "Malachi, is it?"

Oops.

"Seems silly, not to mention ungrateful, to keep using his last name after what he did for me. "

"I suppose. " Grace reached for her shoulder mike. "I'll get an APB out on Logan. "

"No. Don't. "

"Claire. " Her voice held a warning note. "You are going to prosecute this dickhead. We can definitely get him for assault after this. "

"I am. I promise. But could we skip the all points bulletin? I really don't think Lake Bluff, or me for that matter, needs the attention we'd get if this hits the wires. Can we keep it quiet, at least until the festival is over?"

Grace contemplated me for several seconds. "All right. I'll call the Atlanta PD in the morning. They can pick him up on the Q. T. "

"Thanks. Is everything set for tomorrow?" Grace stared at me blankly. "The wolf hunt?" I reminded her.

"Oh yeah. I got hold of everyone after you left. " She glanced at her watch, winced. "We're meeting at Lunar Lake at four a. m. "

"I heard something howling right before you got here. "

Tags: Lori Handeland Nightcreature Paranormal
Source: readsnovelonline.net