Stop that, I whispered, gently pushing him away and feeling myself flush.
Grinning, he retreated. With a self-assured nod to the rest of the men, he stuck his hands into his pockets and sauntered out.
Lord help me, I thought, pulling my hand down from my neck. I had the feeling hed just used me to restore his confidence. Sure, he was afraid of the dead, but I was his girlfriend, and apparently proving it in front of three other guys had reaffirmed his masculinity. Whatever.
My face was still warm when Glenn cleared his throat. What? I muttered as I entered before him. Hes my boyfriend.
Mmmm-hmm, he murmured back, shaking the Bite-Me-Betty doll to make the key jingle. The living vamp intern checking tags left at Glenns look. It was just us and whatever newly dead vamps were cooling their heels until dark.
David was cracking his knuckles when Glenn stopped beside a drawer, eyeing the Were. You think you know these women? he said, and I bristled. There had been more than a hint of distrust, his need to have someone to blame for their deaths, coming to the fore.
Yes, I interjected before David could open his mouth. He has a couple of girlfriends he cant reach, and since he was holding something for me that the right person would kill to get, we thought it better to check it out so we could sleep at night.
David seemed relieved at my explanation, but Glenn wasnt happy. Rachel, he said as his short fingers worked the key, but he didnt open the drawer. They are Weres. Technically this isnt a FIB matter. If someone calls foul, I could be in a lot of trouble.
I could sense Davids rising fear and anticipation, and I wondered if that was why Kisten had left. Though not directed at him, it would have pushed his buttons. Just open the drawer, I said, starting to get mad. You really think I should bring Denon into this? Hed have David in the tower and under a spotlight. And besides, I said, praying I was wrong, if Im right, then this is an F.I.B. matter.
Glenns brown eyes narrowed, and with Davids brow pinched, the FIB detective opened the drawer. I glanced down at the harsh sound of the bag opening, seeing the pretty woman in a new light, imagining her fear and the pain of turning into a wolf and not having a clue. God, she must have thought shed been dying.
Thats Elaine, David breathed, and I took his arm as his balance wobbled. Glenn tripped into detective mode, his gaze bright and his stance stiffer, more threatening. I told him to be quiet with my eyes. His questions could wait. We had two more Pandora boxes to open.
God, Im sorry, David, I said softly, wishing Glenn would shut the drawer.
As if hearing my unspoken request, he slowly slid Elaine away.
Davids face was pale, and I had to remind myself that though he could take care of himself and was no slouch when it came to confidence, these were women he had known intimately. Show me the next one, he said, the thickening scent of musk in the closed air.