Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian 9)

I nodded toward the growing light points. "What are the odds of another car being on this particular road at this time of night? The road only goes to the whaling station ruins, and it's not exactly a good time to be viewing them, is it?"

"They had a CB radio in one of the other trucks - I heard them talking on it - but there's no way help would get here this soon."

"Unless someone was already nearby. How far does the pack's land boundary extend?"

"I have no idea."

We drove on, watching those twin specks of light grow brighter and brighter. Tension crawled through my limbs, and I was gripping the steering wheel so hard my hands were beginning to cramp. I flexed my fingers and forced myself to relax.

The lights flicked down to low beam as the car drew nearer. I pulled over to the edge of the road, allowing the other car plenty of room. He repeated the action and we passed each other quickly and without incident. I had a brief glimpse of a white face, dark hair, and sharp, arrogant nose and knew, without a doubt, who it was.

"Shit," Evin said. "That was Mike West."

"There was another murder in town tonight," I said, voice grim. "I wonder why he's here and not helping Harris."

"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."