I Kissed a Dog (27 page)

Chapter
34
21

I swallowed the urge to cry as my eyes adjusted to the near nonexistent lighting in
Joshua Smart’s room. The fact that his living space was well-furnished and immaculate
couldn’t conceal its cell-like atmosphere.

But it wasn’t the surroundings that prompted my tears, it was the boy.

Imagining him as a laughing, energetic, baseball player was no longer possible. He
resembled a ghost, trapped in a human shell, unable to escape his anguish. His eyes
were glazed and unseeing, yet, at the same time, seemed glued to an empty chair below
the room’s sole window, a window protected by bars.

Uneasy, I found myself staring at the chair wondering if he was envisioning someone
or
something
seated there. My fear level amplified, pushing me closer to my own personal fright
limit.

Alcuin had advised that I leave the door open. I struggled with his suggestion, but
decided to compromise. I pushed the heavy door into the halfway position, allowing
us privacy while leaving a quick escape route.

The boy was lost in a trance, or another dimension that I was unlikely to access in
the short time we had together. If the last news reports were accurate, not even the
best specialists had been able to communicate with the Smart boy.

Maybe I should have stayed in Plum Beach with Zane. At least there I’d felt semi-safe.

No. No. No. I would not allow Zane to invade my thoughts. Just thinking about him
made my heart tighten. I never knew a broken heart could hurt so much.

Get a grip, Chloe! Pay attention to that boy. He needs you. Zane can take care of
himself.
My mental motivation did the trick, and I refocused my attention on the task at hand.

I took a seat in the chair.

During my quick appraisal of Joshua’s room, he’d not once looked away from his beloved
chair. It was if he’d been waiting centuries for a very specific guest to arrive.

He’d have to settle for me.

“Hi. I’m Chloe.” I searched his face for a visual response
—
a twitch, blink, or movement of any kind
—
nothing. “I’m sorry about your dad, and I know you saw something that night, something
scary. You tried to tell the police about it and they didn’t believe you, did they?”
I paused, hoping for a miracle and some sign that I was correct about him knowing
more than he’d first let on.

He blinked once, twice — the third time his eyes stayed opened.

They locked on me.

All I could do was stare back. I hadn’t expected him to respond, yet, here he was,
clear-eyed and waiting for me to continue.

“Joshua, can you understand me?” The question slipped out before I realized how demeaning
it might sound. The kid was traumatized not an idiot. “Sorry. I’m just so glad you’re
okay.”

He scooted to the edge of his bed and grinned, a boy-smile that warmed my heart. I
let my mask of concern drop and replaced it with my brightest smile. “It’s great to
see you smile.”

Curious, he looked at me. “Chloe?”

I kept smiling, not sure where to start now that I had his undivided attention.

“You’re the first person to talk to me like you believe me. I’m not crazy like my
mom thinks I am. She won’t even visit.” His gaze dropped to his lap where he twisted
his hands.

“I’m sorry to hear that, and I’m sorry to rush you, but I don’t have much time. Can
you tell me what you saw that night?” I doubted he needed me to verify which night
I was referring to.

He looked up. “Sure. I’ll never forget it. I got home after my game. When I walked
in the door, I smelled something awful. Like wet dog, urine, and a pot full of pennies.”

Blood and mutant body odor; smells I’d prefer to avoid in the future.

“Did you see a woman?” I pressed, growing more anxious about the time.

“I found my dad …” he gulped. “I guess I was in shock, because after finding him,
I started to think I was in a nightmare. I thought I was dreaming.

The sliding door off dad’s bedroom was knocked out, into the backyard. When I looked,
this is the weird part — I saw what looked like a wolfman from the old horror movies,
and the back of a woman disappearing into the trees. She had pretty red hair. I don’t
know why I noticed that. My dad’s all torn up and I’m admiring some lady’s hair.”
He hung his head again.

I wasn’t sure what to say, but I couldn’t just let him shoulder all that shame. “You
know shock does mess with a person’s mind. Believe me, I know. The red hair was the
one pretty thing in the picture. It’s not surprising you noticed it.”

His eyes met mine and he gave me the sweetest smile. It was obvious our conversation
was doing wonders for his mental health, far more than the psychiatrists and their
medications had accomplished. He just needed someone to listen to his story and believe
it.

Like Joshua, I understood how hard it was not to blurt out the truth to anyone willing
to listen. I was also aware that if I decided to open up about my own supernatural
situation, I’d be in a room just like Joshua’s in some comparable adult facility.

Society didn’t take kindly to people who spouted off about vampires, werewolves,
and witches. On the other hand, vampires, werewolves, and witches didn’t appreciate
blabbering humans spilling their secrets. Talk about feeling nuts with no one to tell.

“Why won’t my mom see me? She acted so weird after dad’s murder. Not sad, just strange.
Like she knew I was telling the truth but didn’t want to hear it.”

I felt like kicking his mom’s ass. I’d already added finding out what her problem
was to my list of things to accomplish. This kid didn’t belong here, nor did he deserve
to be left alone like this.

Not used to playing the mother role, I forced myself to get up and walk the few short
steps to Joshua’s bed. I surrounded his small frame with my arms. He stiffened at
first, and then collapsed against me. He did what I’d expect any kid in his position
to do: he cried.

For one brief moment, I considered taking him with me, but wasn’t sure that would
be the safest option. If his mom was somehow involved, maybe he was better off here.

“Joshua, I want to bring you with me, but it might be best for you stay here, just
for awhile. I promise I’ll get you out. Start talking with people; just don’t talk
about the monster. We know it’s real, but they don’t. Eventually, they’ll see your
improvement and release you.”

I didn’t know how much to say about my other worry, but I had to warn him. “If your
mom asks again about what you saw, tell her it must have been a bad dream. I’m not
sure you can trust her. I’m so sorry.”

I waited for more tears, surprised when he squared his shoulders. His expression turned
stern, and his lips tightened into a thin line. “I already wondered about that. I’ll
be careful. Don’t worry.” He patted my leg like a parent consoling a child. “Oh! I
almost forgot. The night after my dad died, a funny looking guy in a weird cloak-thingy
came into my room. He gave me something, a note. I couldn’t read it.”

I raised my eyebrows. The kid was intelligent, so he not being able to read didn’t
add up. Then it hit me.
And who’s the slow one?
It’s in a foreign language, like the coins.

I tried to contain my excitement, afraid to get my hopes up. “Do you have it here?”

He was already facing a dresser in the corner. “They let me bring a couple of books
and my journal. I have all kinds of notes and doodles inside. When they searched my
things, they must have thought the paper was just another drawing I’d shoved in my
book.” He flipped through the worn notebook. “Here!” He handed me the paper. “I hope
this helps.”

“I’m sure it will. I better go. Remember, be careful. I’ll find a way to get you out
of here. Now write down these names in your journal: Zane, Logan, A-l-c-u-i-n …” I
spelled out. “Misty, Mack, and Michael. Only leave with one of them if I don’t come.
No. One. Else.”

He nodded, his face flushed. I knew right then that he’d be okay.

“Chloe!” Alcuin hissed. “Now!”

I stuffed the paper in my back pocket and gave Joshua a quick hug, at the same time
an alarm’s siren pierced the calm. A stampede of footsteps pounded in the distance,
coming fast.

Without a backward glance, I rushed into the hallway, pulling the door shut. Alcuin
flashed to my side and grabbed my wrist. We fazed before I could protest.

“You sure know how to push the limits, Doll.”

“Don’t call me, doll!” I quipped, relieved to find myself standing in my hotel room.

Alcuin paced to the window, pulling the curtain aside. “That was way too close. You
could have been caught, killed even.”

“Killed? At a state hospital for children?” For once I thought my vampire protector
was overreacting.

Dropping the curtain, he spun to face me. “You may not have noticed, but that was
a pretty isolated location, and there were men with guns, big guns, not just handguns
like Hall Monitor Randy was using. Some of those kids are criminally insane. I got
a look inside their minds. I’m a bloodsucking vampire, and even I didn’t like what
I saw.”

For once I was glad I couldn’t read human minds.

I didn’t want the responsibility of deciding what to do with criminals, children or
not. Animals and a few supernatural minds were plenty for me. What bothered me was
Alcuin. My never-show-emotion vampire was reaching a breakdown level. He seemed worried
about my wellbeing.

“You care about a human,” I teased, shocked by this latest development.

He looked appalled. “What human might that be?”

“I think you know.”

Rather than bothering to respond, he launched into a detailed explanation of how the
additional security force had uncovered the breach he’d managed to create. With no
intention of returning in the near future, I wasn’t too alarmed. When it came time
to free Joshua, I’d worry about the details. Until then, I had way too much on my
mind — like the latest message from my new best friend — the ugly man — David.

I pulled the folded paper from my pocket and handed to Alcuin. He spent a good hour
examining the letter, with no results and fewer comments. We decided it would be best
for him to take it back to Plum Beach and have Rita and the others examine it. From
what we could tell, it was the same ancient language engraved on the coins.

It was close to midnight when Alcuin made his usual dramatic exit, leaving me alone
in the hotel room. As promised, he again pledged to keep my whereabouts private. For
a brief moment, I’d considered returning with him, but was unsure how to handle the
situation with Zane.

I felt angry, hurt, confused, and a ton of other unproductive and unpleasant emotions.
I’d wanted time to think about accepting the mating mark, and I planned to take that
time.

I was no longer sure that Zane would still want me as his mate or wife.

Luke had given me the week’s remaining days off. For the first time ever, I had nowhere
I needed to be in the morning. The guys could handle things back home without me.
My riff with Zane would serve as a distraction for everyone involved. Staying away
for another day would give him time to cool off and focus on the latest evidence.

As far as I knew, there were no new animals on my need-to-interview list at the park,
and I wanted to see my parents. I hated the way we’d left things. Going home without
a personal visit would be just plain rude. The person I wanted to be rude to was Zane,
and Jazmine,
and
Rhonda.

So I had a few bones to pick.

What twenty-four year old female didn’t have conflicts?

***

Chapter 35

Several hours of fitful sleep were all I could handle.

Disturbing thoughts of Joshua Smart, Zane, and the Plum Beach murder mystery battered
my mind like an aerial bombing attack. I’d even had an erotically charged dream about
Valamir. Sleeping was out of the question given I couldn’t seem to find the off-switch
for my mind.

It was 4:02 AM on Tuesday. I wondered if Zane was still asleep. Ignoring the urge
to check his mental status, I made a pot of gourmet hotel coffee, and flipped open
my laptop. I’d already mapped out my day. For starters, I’d spend a few early morning
hours researching ancient languages to see if I recognized anything, and then, a long
hot shower prior to checking out.

Before giving the paper to Alcuin last night, I’d taken a few minutes to appraise
the document. I’d even traced some of the symbols. Even a research novice was capable
of conducting a simple online search. Maybe I’d get lucky. It was about time one of
us did.

Following my shower, I intended to indulge in a hot breakfast before heading to Troutdale
and my parents. Mom had used her new texting talents to inform me they’d returned
home ahead of schedule, no doubt thanks to Alcuin’s assistance. I was torn between
calling head of my arrival, and surprising them. For now, I was leaning toward the
big surprise.

Bob worked the first shift. He’d always been an early riser and a hardcore workaholic,
much to my mother’s ongoing consternation. With him gone, I’d have some time alone
with her. We needed to talk candidly. Something neither of us excelled at.

I sat on the bed’s edge debating whether or not I should prop some pillows against
the headboard and get to work, or set up my laptop at the elegant desk in the corner.
Unable to motivate myself into action, I rearranged my schedule and moved my shower
up to the number one spot.

With the hot water pounding on my aching shoulders, I relaxed. The shampoo’s flowery
blend provided a soothing aroma therapy session. I ran my hands down my squeaking
hair, feeling like the first
Breck Girl
in action. I’d done a research project on her commercial history in my high school
drama class, not something I made a regular practice of reminiscing about. I was also
contemplating the possibility of switching the water flow and filling the tub. A bath
sounded even more tantalizing.

A few minutes later, feeling grateful for the hotel’s super-sized hot water tank,
I sunk into liquid warmth, letting the water envelop every last inch of me; just my
face remained exposed.

As a child, my always-anxious mother had made sure to check in on me every five minutes
during bath time, afraid I’d fall asleep and drown. Her fear about drowning was valid,
but not in the context she’d envisioned. I doubted her paranoia had extended all the
way to my fifteenth birthday, and my near-deadly dip in that stranger’s freezing pool.

Even in the heat, I shivered at the memory. Pushing the thoughts of that horrible
day aside was simple enough, but they were replaced by searing visions of Zane. Why
couldn’t I stop thinking about him? Sure he was my husband, but ….

The time we’d made love I was in a drunken stupor. Although the few romantic moments
we’d since shared were well worth remembering, and repeating.

A loud thump startled me. I pulled myself out of water. What in the world? So far,
the hotel had proven to be pretty much soundproof.

Feeling vulnerable, I was anxious to dress.

I rose hastily and stepped from the tub, further chilled by the rivulets of water
cascading from my thick curls, leaving icy trails all the way to my feet. Normally,
to avoid this unpleasant sensation, I wrapped my hair in a towel right away. But for
some reason, all I wanted to do was to cover up. I cocooned myself inside an oversized
towel and tiptoed to the bathroom door.

I peered into the suite.
You’re being ridiculous! Get a grip!
I scolded myself. Every bump wasn’t the boogie man.

This time it was the boogie girl.

The infamous redhead was stretched across on my bed, and two, very large, suit-clad-men,
mutants, I suspected, in their human forms, stood impassively by the door.

I hugged my towel tighter and fought the familiar fainting feeling. I refused to tumble
over, knowing I’d land in a powerless and naked heap on the floor, without Zane to
soften the fall.

Twisting into a sitting position, my tied-for-first-place, worst-enemy-ever, broke
the silence. “Well, well, Chloe. We meet at last,” she said sounding like a typical
movie villain.

Terrified, I took a step back.

A rapidly forming plan featured me hiding in the bathroom. Problem, I had no idea
what I’d do next. I considered melting her mind like I’d done to the mutants at the
cabin, but without her, I’d lose my greatest link to the Plum Beach murders.

I wasn’t even sure my powers would work on a purebred. So far I’d only been able to
override mutant minds. What if I tried and failed?

I’d be the one dead on the floor.

Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I took another tentative step.

“Don’t bother. We’ll just break the door down, and I can’t guarantee you won’t get,”
she paused for effect, “hurt.”

Her warning worked. I wasn’t moving an inch in any direction.

“That’s a good girl. And to show you that I’m not a complete bitch, I’m going to have
my men face the door so you can get dressed. Just ignore me. Us girls have all the
same parts anyway.” She raised her brow daring me to refuse.

The men complied without further prompting, giving me a close up view of their football-player-shoulders.
Any last minute fantasy of somehow getting past the two of them was doused like a
flame underwater. They’d tackle me or toss me aside. Neither option tempted.

The woman scowled. “Any reason you’re not moving?”

That was all it took. I sprang into action.

Ignoring her smug expression, I tried to dress as discreetly as my towel allowed;
all the while wondering what of use I could rescue from my belongings without her
noticing. My purse was on the floor by the bed. There was no way she’d let me bring
that a long.

What kidnapper allowed their captive to pack? — Apparently mine.

“Pack up and leave your cardkey on the desk. Everyone will just assume you checked
out and took off on your own.

She’d made a good point.

Two people knew my whereabouts — Luke and Alcuin. Only
one
person, if I wanted to get technical. And one vampire. I’d slammed the door on my
supernatural support system.

For the first time, I found myself hoping one of my sneaky sidekicks would betray
my confidence and tell Zane and the others what I was up to. But I’d have to presume
otherwise and act accordingly. I could no longer see myself as a victim of circumstances,
especially since I’d insisted to Zane, on more than one occasion, I wasn’t some disaster-prone
damsel in distress.

If I intended to survive, I needed to get and stay one step ahead of my captors. My
powers could provide that extra edge.

One problem: I’d always found it tricky to do multiple activities while listening
in on an animal’s thoughts. That would have to change. To my benefit, the gift had
been expanding every day, and I believed the growth-trend would continue. Believing
in me and my capabilities was essential. Without faith in my talents, the woman I
despised as much as Jazmine would ensure I died a humiliating and gruesome death.

It was time to push through any self-imposed limits and stay alive. I had to be ready
to climb through any window of opportunity, no matter how brief or unexpected.

To my amazement, the first window opened following my personal pep talk.

“I told you! Back to the girl!” the woman barked, whirling to face her two flunkies,
giving me a blink of time to shove the traced symbols into the pocket of my jeans.

I made a show of shimmying into the stretchy denim, wiggling my hips like I’d seen
Rhonda do more times than I cared to remember. Things had to be bad if I was looking
to archenemy number three for survival skills.

The men, being true dogs, sensed my seductive antics, and whipped their heads around.
I wouldn’t have been surprised to see them panting.

What did surprise me was Ms. Redhead’s brutal response.

She vibrated and turned full werewolf with a roar. She’d taken the form I found most
repulsive and fearsome, sending me back to the bloody fight in the forest, where I’d
seen Zane in the very same shape — on two legs — looking like a half man half beast
monstrosity. Eyes crimson with malicious intent.

Her guards dropped to the floor and rolled on their backs, arms and legs up, resigning
themselves to her ruling rank.

I swallowed the urge to laugh.

As horrifying as the scene was, the image of two grown, massive men, flat on their
backs, submitting to a woman, werewolf or not, would stay with me forever.

Wait! What the …? One orangey pile of something was dangling from the bed.

Her hair! My female captor, in her haste, had changed so fast, she’d torn right out
of her clothing like Misty in Vegas. In this case, Ms. Werewolf had also lost her
hair.

A wig.

Sensing my appraisal, she swung her massive head around to glare at me. Salvia trickled
from the corners of her elongated snout. Although notably smaller than Zane, she was
no less imposing.

Her eyes stretched into narrow slits and her horrible lips curled into a feral grin.
There was no mistaking that like Jazmine, she detested me.

In some strange way, I could understand Jazmine’s feelings, as misplaced as they were.
She wanted something I had; at least I’d
had
Zane. I wasn’t so sure now. What this beast wanted was yet to be determined.

My stomach constricted, and an unexpected jolt of fear punched through my midsection.
What if I’d lost Zane?
Get a grip!
This is no time to ponder bad love gone good … gone bad.

I forced myself to stand taller and stared back, not quite sure what I hoped to accomplish
by my challenging attitude.

She didn’t take well to my unexpected display of bravery.

Asserting her dominance, she growled her threat, running her tongue over the sharpest
teeth I’d seen in such proximity.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the canines to shred my throat.

Unlike Valamir’s blissful bites, I could expect no pleasure from the rabid she wolf,
just excruciating pain. I felt sorry for whoever would get stuck cleaning up my mess,
bloody entrails and all.

She still doesn’t get it.
Stupid,
stupid, human.

Impossible! I was on the verge of a bloody and demoralizing death. It couldn’t be
another open window this soon. Yet here she was broadcasting her thoughts out in the
open for any halfway decent, animal-mind-reader to overhear.

The area around us quivered. I knew then she was shifting back, and allowed myself
one huge sigh of relief. Though later, I’d realize I should have waited to rejoice.

With simple curiosity getting the best of me, my eyes opened, seemingly without my
permission. I had to know, had to see her face minus the flowing amber wig.

My internal warning bells started tolling the minute I registered her striking and
familiar features: The exotic face; the stylish geometrical hairstyle; the commanding
presence.

A teeth-chattering chill wound up from the base of my neck down to my finger tips.

I was looking into the icy eyes of one very pissed off purebred she wolf.

Jazmine.