“Those would be … effective tactics.” Nick chortled. “If you were insane. And I’m sure there wouldn’t be any consequences if you chose to go that route.”
I sighed. Of course there’d be plenty of repercussions, but the real problem was none of them would really affect me in the long run. Now that I was Pack, I had a secret to guard and Pack would enforce it without thought. If Ray kept digging his nose where it didn’t belong, the Pack would have no problem taking care of him—permanently.
I hated the guy, but I wasn’t ready to sign his death warrant.
“I’ll just have to soldier on without my new muscles,” I said, reconciling myself to my boring fate. “I’ve got the camping bags and the passes. It’s weak, but it should hold and cast enough doubt into my involvement, which is all I’ll need in the end. I’ll just have to find a scorned lover who has a penchant for big dogs.”
Nick smiled wryly at me. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem, Jess. It just so happens we have a lot of big dogs to choose from.”
Now it was my turn to snort. “We can’t frame a werewolf, and none of them would cooperate on their own anyway. They’d just as soon have me thrown behind bars so they didn’t have to deal with me. Not that a jail cell could hold me anymore.” I grinned. That was pretty sweet.
I picked up my phone and dialed Ray. It was better not to put off the inevitable. It went to voicemail, which was a small victory. “Ray, I’m on my way back into town. Should be hitting the city in two hours,” I said. “See you then.”
I had no doubt he would be waiting in my hallway in one and a half.
5
Ray Hart had one shoulder braced against the wall, both his arms loosely folded in front of him like he didn’t give a shit how long he had to wait. To a passerby out on the street, he would’ve appeared to be waiting patiently for his wife to finish up her shopping so they could catch a movie.
Except, of course, he wasn’t married and probably hadn’t seen a movie since Rambo hit the big screen.
I wasn’t fooled.
Ray was just under six feet tall with a full head of steel-colored hair. It was cut close to the scalp in a style that would’ve been military if he’d ever joined up. He had mean muscle, the kind that looked beefy and aggressive. His square jaw matched his thick eyebrows perfectly. He wore plain clothes, a pair of dark khaki pants, and a blue dress shirt, and his hazel eyes bored directly into mine as I walked down the hallway.
I had to hide my grin, since Ray’s easy stance was in direct contrast to the foul odor he was emitting. If the strong scent of leftover curry, the garbage that needed immediate emptying, or the stale smell of uncirculated air wasn’t enough—the smell of Ray could’ve knocked me over on its own.
He reeked like a potent mix of satisfaction laced with heavy aggression, and it blew into my nose like a leaf blower aimed straight at my face. This man was not going to accept any of the bullshit I’d planned to dish out. I had to come up with plan B.
Ray exaggerated a look past me, bending his head forward, like he’d expected me to arrive with someone else. When he saw no one behind me he feigned surprise.
But I was alone on purpose.
Both Nick and I agreed it would be better if he stayed out of this for now. Ray knew Nick and I were partners. He knew where to find him.
I plastered on my best smile and sauntered up to him without dropping my eyes. With the sarcasm he’d be expecting, I dripped, “Hello, Ray.” I adjusted my hold on the backpack and shifted the sleeping bag I carried in my arms. I’d rubbed dirt on my clothes at the last pit stop, to add to the authenticity, but the hair on my legs and the pungent sweat was completely mine alone. No need to up that ante. “It’s so nice to see you again. It’s been a little too long in between stalkings. I’ve missed our happy fun time.”
“Cut the crap, Hannon,” he said. “Looks like you got yourself into some serious trouble this time. Care to explain?” He levered himself away from the wall in one clean movement, his eyes flickering over my ensemble with little interest.
“Ray, you know perfectly well I can’t explain something I haven’t seen yet. I just arrived back in town from the wilderness five seconds ago. From what I’ve heard, someone took advantage of my absence and trashed my apartment.”
Ray crossed his arms. “That’s a convenient way to look at it.”
“Gimme a break, Ray.” I dropped my bags by the door and gave him my best pissy look. “You know damn well in my line of work I make enemies all the time.” I turned toward my door. “Something like this is not exactly out of the ordinary, but I shouldn’t have to explain that to you. You’re the detective.”
Ray grunted his response and shifted his body so he stood directly behind me as I reached for my doorknob.
I paused mid-grab.
Holy crap. I didn’t have a key. I’d totally forgotten about a key.
Oh, for shitssake.
Instead of reaching into my shorts, where I knew I wouldn’t find one, I continued reaching for the knob, praying the door would miraculously be unlocked.
I casually turned the knob.
Nothing.
The knob had in fact turned, but the deadbolt above it was engaged, so it didn’t give an inch. Jeff the super had a set of keys and must have buttoned it up after the cops left. Inside the door, my lock was sticking its thick metal tongue out at me and laughing. I couldn’t shoulder it either. The bolt was top of the line, courtesy of a certain Alpha father, and fashioned from some sort of unbreakable titanium. I could probably rip the door off the hinges without much effort, but that would be a tad too suspicious in front of a detective when I was gunning for complete innocence of any wrongdoing.
I hesitated for a moment, trying to muster a reasonable way out of this.
“Looking for these?” A ring of keys bounced in front of my face like a cat toy.
I glanced back at Ray. His face was inscrutable, but his eyes were focused on me like two beady lasers. Hoping, I’m sure, to note some kind of major reaction on my part. And to add insult to injury, the smell wafting off him now was pure, unmitigated delight.
I was getting good at this sniffing game, the rat bastard.
When I didn’t answer, he said, “These were found in your purse—along with all the other goodies you’d think someone would need on vacation. Like your wallet and your sunglasses.” The cynicism dripped heavily. “Not many women I know who’d leave town without their purse tucked under their arm.”