Page 54 of Broken Moon

Lucy scooted up to the back ofthe seat. “It’s Lucy,” she told him. “I feel like we’ve been through some shit,and I’d like you to call me Lucy.”

I’d need to tell her as soon aspossible that Detective Moreno was married and she should calm down.

“I’ve narrowed it down to agirl who was taken six months ago,” he said. “She’s the only redhead whosepicture showed a gap between her front teeth.”

“Who is she?” I was socomfortable in the warm darkness of the car that I dreaded for the ride to cometo an end. It reminded me of the parts of my childhood where I felt safe and secure.Riding in the back seat while my dad drove and my mother talked quietly, andall was right with my world.

“Her name is Marcy Davenport.She turned fifteen six weeks ago. Her parents have never stopped looking forher or believing that she’s alive. They live on High Street.” He looked at me.“That’s close to your house.”

I turned to look at Lucy. “Doyou think that’s why you dreamed of her after you moved into my place? Becauseyou’re sleeping close to where she lived?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Have you dreamed of her sincethat first dream?”

“Every time I go to sleep. Isee the same thing—just like I did with you. She’s screaming, she’s in a…a boxof some sort, and someone is coming. Someone who terrifies her.”

“Poor kid,” I murmured.

“Why her, though?” thedetective asked. “What makes you dream of one victim and not all of them?”

She sat back in her seat,subdued. “Sometimes I think it’s because the person is dying, that things havegone from bad to urgent. I don’t know the reasons, though. I don’t know why Idream at all when the dreams don’t show me anything that will help me savethem.”

“You may be seeing clues you’renot aware of,” Rick said, ever the detective. He parked in front of my houseand turned the car off. “I want to take you to the hospital, but you’llrefuse.”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine. I needfood and rest, and in that order.” I wasn’t about to tell him that on a scaleof one to ten, my pain level was about a hundred. I was a little worried, actually.There was something going on inside me, something different, and because I knewthe ways of the supernatural world, I was beginning to worry that a parasitefrom the exsoloup had crawled inside me and taken up residence.

“I’ve got the food partcovered,” Lucy said.

“And I am enormously gratefulfor that,” I told her.

The detective opened my door,then reached in to release my seatbelt. “You’ve got no shoes and it’s freezingout here. I’ll carry you in.”

The detective carrying me wasnot the same as the alpha carrying me. I wasn’t sure why. It just wasn’t. “No,”I said, not meeting his stare. I made up a quick lie. “My feet are burning. Ineed to touch the cool ground.”

He frowned but didn’t argue.Honestly, he seemed as uncomfortable touching me as I was being touched by him.Maybe neither of us knew the reason for that.

He took my arm and helped meout of the car, and I couldn’t help but groan. I cut it off quickly for fearhe’d shove me back into the car and force me to go to a hospital. My entirebody lit up with red-hot pain every time I moved.

“Kaitlyn,” he said, as hehelped me across my little yard and to my front door, “we need to talk aboutJared Walker.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.He’s not breaking the law, he didn’t hurt me, and—”

“He’s not human, is he?” heinterrupted.

Lucy hurried by us, her armsfull of my belongings. She stuck her key in the lock and shoved open the door,then squealed as Ash jumped up to boisterously welcome her home.

“Let it go, Detective,” I said,breathing a sigh of relief as I stepped into the warmth of my home. My poortoes were frozen. I turned to face Rick, hoping he’d get the hint and stoptalking about the alpha. “Would you like to come in?”

He studied me, his face grim,his eyes narrow, and I knew he wouldn’t let the alpha go. Not forever. Finally,though, he gave me a stiff nod. “Get some rest.”

“Detective,” I called, beforehe’d taken more than three steps.

He stopped but didn’t turn toface me. “Yes?”

“Thank you,” I said. “Thank youfor…for everything.”

“Anytime, Ms. Silver,” he said,and strode to his car, got inside, and left.