Book 1 - Page 29 (1/2)

“I’m investigating the disappearance of a red wolf from the zoo.”

“You think I’d keep a red wolf in my house? Ha! Aren’t they dangerous?”

“Were you at papagalli’s Dance club tonight, Miss Wilder?”

Devlyn rubbed Bella’s arm and whispered into her ear, “Breathe, Bella.”

“I don’t go to dance clubs,” chrissie told Thompson, her voice firm but still saccharine sweet. “What makes you think I was there?” “can I come in?”

Bella stepped back. Devlyn leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It’s okay, Bella.”

Chrissie said to Thompson, “You haven’t established your ident.i.ty as a cop yet. I don’t let just any man into my house, despite the fact that you’re a pretty hot number.”

Silence. Then Thompson said, “Messages were sent from an email address that belongs to a Bella Wilder, at this residence. If you didn’t send those messages, who did?”

“Just exactly who are you?”

“Thompson. I have connections with the Oregon Zoo, and, as I said, I’m investigating the disappearance of a red wolf.”

“Got a first name?”

“Look, the wolf may be in danger. I think you and your friends have some notion that Rosa’s safer in the wild than in the zoo, but, as I explained to your friend, releasing a red wolf into the wild can have dire consequences for the animal.”

Chrissie’s voice elevated. “Listen, I don’t like zoos. Let the animals live in their natural habitats. That’s what I say.”

Bella shook her head and then took a step forward, in rescue mode. Devlyn gathered her in his arms, keeping her still.

Thompson cleared his throat when Chrissie didn’t incriminate herself anymore. “That’s just what I figured. So where are your cohorts?”

“What were they supposed to look like? Do you have their names?”

“All right, I’ll humor you. The girl’s a pet.i.te redhead with amber-colored eyes. No name though. We found her in the zoo, freezing to death — “

“Naked?” Chrissie asked, the tone of her voice raised in disbelief.

That would take some explaining.

Thompson’s voice showed marked enthusiasm. “Yeah, that’s the one. She’s only considered a witness at this point, though.”

“And... and she disappeared from the hospital, right? I mean, even though cops were watching her, some guy stole her away right out from under their noses.” Chrissie sounded intrigued.

“Yep. Now you remember.”

“The news was all over the papers. Sure, I remember. With a story like that, who wouldn’t have?”

“The guy’s tall, about six-foot — “

“Ah,” Chrissie said, as if she were putting two and two together and coming up with Bella’s old acquaintance.

“Six-foot-one,” Devlyn said under his breath.

Bella pinched his arm. “Shhhh.”

“Dark brown hair and eyes. Muscular. He tried to free the wolf from the zoo on pretenses he was transferring her to another zoo. Then he arrives at the hospital, frees his partner, and vanishes.”

“Wow.” There was another lengthy pause. “But why would she have been naked at the zoo, of all things?”

“Little lady wasn’t talking. She ran off before we could extract the truth from her.”

“But what has this to do with the dance club?”

“You signed off as Rosa, but the email said you were a red wolf seeking a fun-loving red wolf male. Rosa was the name I gave to the wolf that was stolen from the zoo.”

“Ah, well, I had about sixty people here at a party earlier. Someone must have played some kind of a prank.”

“Is that so?” Thompson asked.

“Yep.”

“I want a guest list.”

Bella’s whole body tensed. Devlyn ma.s.saged her shoulders.

“You’re not a cop,” Chrissie reminded the zoo man.

“You’re right, I’m not. But I can ask my friend, the chief of police, to issue a search warrant and — “

Bella stiffened her back again.

“Well, maybe, Thompson, we could work up that list over dinner. You’re not married, are you?”

Again a pregnant pause followed.

Thompson cleared his throat. “No, well, divorced, but — “

“Well, me, too. See we have a lot in common. You like animals and I do also. Maybe you can tell me more about this red wolf of yours. I’ll grab my coat, and we can go to that new Chinese restaurant on Main Street. Got paper and a pen? I’ll make that list for you.”

Another prolonged silence. Then Thompson gave a nervous little cough. “All right.”

He sounded like he’d gotten bamboozled into the dinner date, but maybe he’d find out what he wanted from Chrissie when he wined and dined her. At least that’s what Devlyn would have tried.

Footsteps headed in their direction. Bella backed away from the door, but Devlyn prepared to tackle Thompson if he tried to enter the room. But it was Chrissie. She pushed the door open wider and grinned.