Part 22 (2/2)
”Will you pick her up?”
He hesitates and for a minute, I'm afraid he's going to refuse. ”Yes,” he says finally. ”I'll be here.”
Jamie closes the door quietly behind her. When I look at David, he's staring again at Gloria, his face clouded with anger. He sees it now. All of it.
Gloria feels the s.h.i.+ft, too. She looks up. ”I didn't kill O'Sullivan,” she says quietly. ”You have to believe that.”
David shakes his head slowly and pushes up from the chair. ”I don't have to believe anything,” he says.
He has a hand on the door. ”Anna, I'll take you to your car. I'll wait for you outside.”
Gloria watches him go. ”He must know I couldn't have killed anyone. You believe me, don't you, Anna?” She's crying, making no attempt to wipe away the tears.
”I do. I think, deep down, David does, too. But Gloria, I don't think it matters to him anymore.”
I let a heartbeat go by.
”You and Jason. You two have been in contact since the beginning. You wanted us to meet. What would you have done if I hadn't been able to track him down?”
Gloria is still looking at the door. Her voice is soft, wistful. ”I knew you'd find him. I've watched you and David in the office.
Tracking people down. It's what you do, isn't it?”
”And if I hadn't?”
She shrugs. ”He would have called you.”
Of course he would have. I can't believe I fell into Gloria's trap.
I feel like a fool. I watch Gloria, still staring at the door, still waiting for David, her David, to rush back in and make everything all right.
I let myself out.
Not happening, Gloria.
DAVID IS WAITING FOR ME AT THE END OF THE HALL, slumped on a bench, his head in his hands.
I was an idiot to think he could get over his obsession with Gloria this fast.
He doesn't notice my approach and when I place a hand on his shoulder, he jumps.
I sit down beside him. ”You can go back to your cabin. I shouldn't have brought you here. I'm sorry I did.”
He swivels on the bench to look at me. ”What? An apology? You must really feel guilty. Good. When this is over, you'll owe me.
Big time.”
He crosses his arms and leans back. ”No. I'm glad you brought me back. I needed to see Gloria the way you evidently have since the beginning. She's so selfish she'll draw anyone into her web if she thinks it will benefit her-even a fourteen-year-old kid. G.o.d, what was she thinking?”
I shrug. ”She was desperate and scared. Honestly, I don't believe she killed O'Sullivan.”
”You sound as if you're going to keep digging. Are you?”
”I guess I am. She's paying me two hundred an hour plus expenses. May as well earn a few bucks I don't have to split with my partner.”
He smiles and stands up. ”Let's get you back to your car. I have a date, and I want to go home and shower first.”
”A date? So soon? Is this a rebound thing?”
”Don't know yet. It's our first date.”
We're walking toward the entrance. A tremor of uneasiness slithers along my spine. ”Who is this mystery woman? Have I met her?”
”In fact, you introduced us. This afternoon.”
I stop, grab his arm. ”Tamara? You're going on a date with Tamara?”
He looks down at my hand on his arm, then up at my face. ”What's the matter with you? You look sick. Is there a reason I shouldn't go out with her?”
A reason? Jesus. I could give him ten, the first and foremost being his new friend Tamara happens to be a f.u.c.king werewolf.
CHAPTER 49.
THOUGHTS SPIN AROUND MY HEAD. WHAT CAN I say to convince David that a date with Tamara is not just a bad idea, it might be a fatal one?
I panic when I realize I'm not coming up with anything that makes sense. The panic grows when we step outside and the first thing I see is a huge moon rising over the city like a silver balloon.
The second night of the full moon.
What is Tamara planning for tonight? I remember how she looked at David. I remember how few men were with the pack at Culebra's. Frey's book said werewolves have the right to take and turn a mate. Does the rule apply to female weres as well? Is that how she sees David?
We're at the Hummer. I don't know how we got here and I don't realize David is standing in front of me holding out his hand for his keys until he clears his throat.
”What is it with you?” he says, taking the keys I hand him. ”You're pale as a ghost.”
He uses the remote to unlock the doors and opens the pa.s.senger side for me before crossing to take his place in the driver's seat.
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