Hell's Bell (Lizzie Grace 2)
I hesitated, torn between not wanting to upset her or to give her false hope. Mike placed a hand on her arm and said, “That’s not what Lizzie meant, but it’s nevertheless a possibility we have to be prepared for.”
“She’s not dead.” The older woman crossed her arms, her stance defiant. “I’d know if she was.”
“Has she been in any trouble of late?” I asked. “Had any arguments with anyone other than Garrett’s parents? It’s possible she’s hiding from whatever—whoever—killed her friends.”
And if that were the case, the next question had to be—if she wasn’t the reason for the soul eater’s presence here, who was?
If the part of my soul that had prophetic dreams had an answer to any of the current crop of questions, she certainly wasn’t saying so. But then, she did tend to prefer the midnight hours to hit me with her dire portents.
“No.” A somewhat wry smile touched Meika’s lips. “And while threatening his parents wasn’t the wisest move she’d ever made, it was done in the heat of the moment.”
I didn’t say anything to that, because there was really nothing I could say. So I simply nodded and glanced at Mike. “Do you want to be there tomorrow? I can ring for a temp to cover your shift.”
He hesitated, and then shook his head. “With the rangers there, there’d be no point.”
“Cool.” I returned my gaze to his sister. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
She nodded. I gathered my purse from the living room and then left. Mike followed me out. “Thanks for trying. I appreciate it.”
“No probs, Mike.” I threw my purse onto the passenger seat and then glanced at him. “Just make sure your sister isn’t expecting miracles. Larissa might not have worn any of her jewelry often enough to leave a resonance, and if that’s the case, I won’t find her.”
“She knows, but you can’t blame her for holding out hope.”
No, I guess I couldn’t. I waved goodbye, then got into the car and reversed out of the driveway. I’d just turned back onto the Midland Highway when my phone rang. The number that flashed up on the console screen told me it was Aiden, and a silly smile touched my lips.
I pressed the answer button and said, “What’s up, Ranger?”
“I’m due a dinner break, and I’m feeling like some company. Care to join me for something to eat?”
“Sure,” I replied. “But be aware the gossips will consider it a date and you’ll lose your twenty quid.”
“Not if you come to the station and we order in.”
“A cop shop is not the most romantic location for a first date, but it’s certainly better than nothing. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“Meaning you’re not at the café?”
“No, I’m just coming back from Guildford.”
“Why on earth are you there?”
“Meika asked me to find her daughter.”
“And did you?”
He didn’t seem surprised that she was missing, but I guess that was natural given she was their number one suspect and they would have been looking for her. “Not tonight, but I’m trying again tomorrow. Thought you might like to come along.”
“You thought right.” He paused. “What do you want to eat?”
“Surprise me.”
He chuckled softly. “That could be an unwise decision on your part, given I’m a werewolf and we do have a taste for steak that’s more than a little on the blue side.”
“Then order mine well-done, and all will be good.”
“Done deal.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “See you soon.”
He’d no sooner hung up when energy stirred across my skin. Not dark energy, but wild.