Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Guardian 8)

"Maybe someone told them about Denny's plans. "

"Maybe. " But West would have had to have left Dunedan not long after me to get here this soon. And while I had no doubt that someone had been watching our villa, I very much doubted whether they'd have gone running to either Harris or West the minute I'd disappeared.

So why was West out here?

Was this the reason he hadn't been answering Harris's calls?

Maybe I was being suspicious for no reason; maybe he really did have a good reason for being here. But whoever was behind my kidnapping had to have someone else other than Evin here in Dunedan - and what better backup could there be than one of the town cops?

And it might just explain why Harris had been getting no responses to his queries to the Directorate. West could have easily either not sent them or intercepted them.

I glanced in the rearview mirror, watching his tail-lights, half expecting him to turn around and chase us. But he didn't, and I wasn't entirely sure whether that was a good thing or bad.

One thing was sure, though - I needed to talk to Harris, and as soon as possible.

I glanced at Evin. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"I think they have someone else on the ground here. They seem to know stuff that I haven't mentioned. " He hesitated, and glanced at me sharply. "You don't think it could be West, do you?"

I smiled. "Sometimes you're so like me it's almost like you are my brother. "

"But West is a cop. "

"A cop who is desperate to get out of this town and into some 'real policing,' as he puts it. "

"I don't know - "

"Neither do I," I cut in. "But I sure as hell intend to find out. "

"But how?"

"By talking to the man in charge. "

"Harris? He works with West. He's not going to believe the worst of a workmate. "

"Harris is a good cop. He'll listen, he'll consider the evidence, and he'll make his own decision. "

Evin grunted. And it wasn't a convinced-sounding grunt, either. "There is one thing they did tell me. "

When he didn't go on, I raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "What?"

He hesitated. "It sounds kind of silly, but they told me to make sure you never took the earrings off. "

Something inside me twisted. The earrings. I knew there was something odd about them. "Did they say why?"

"No. " Again he hesitated. "Not exactly. They just said you needed them on so that controlling you was easier. "

Controlling me? Or controlling my wolf and other gifts?

I swerved over to the side of the road and stopped the truck. Dust flew around us as the tires skidded on the uneven shoulder. "Open the glove compartment and see if there's a knife in there. "

He didn't move. "Get the wire off my neck, Hanna. Fair is fair. "

He was right. I motioned him to turn around. He did so, and lifted his hair so I could get to the knot at the back easier. His neck was raw and weeping, and guilt spun through me. I really should have taken it off earlier.

I reached for the wire, but the minute my fingertips touched it, blue sparks erupted. I jerked my hand away and glanced at my fingertips. They were burned.

"What's wrong?" Evin said, voice sharp.