“Shell casings?”
“Kent is bringing all we could find.”
Skinner took the pen, examining the gun. “Get a search going. Look in every nook and cranny for Bethany Byrd. She may be driving a stolen blue Honda Civic.”
“Yes, sir.”
The officers left. Skinner continued to stare at me. “And when we find Ms. Byrd,” he said, “what condition will we find her in?”
I frowned. “What do you mean? I didn’t kill her.”
“Somehow I think you did more than scare her, Lindsey. I think you did something to her that would ensure she’d never bother you again.”
I shrugged. “If a bop on the nose did that, I should have punched her a long time ago.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brody
Skinner and his crew finally packed up and left. My head ached with such a savage ferocity I craved to find oblivion until the pain went away. Maybe to sleep for a week or three. I lay on the sofa, holding Lindsey’s hand as she sat on the coffee table, with her head bowed.
“Okay, so what did you do?”
Lindsey shrugged. “I overdid it, I think. I traumatized her. Maybe I didn’t need to go so far.”
“Nightmares for a lifetime are a small price to pay for keeping that life.”
“Is it? Maybe killing her was more merciful.”
“Nope. As Skinner once said, we don’t need deaths on our hands. Bethany deserved every fright you gave her. She’d have killed you, remember? There was no mercy in her. None.”
“But where does revenge end, Brody? All I had to do was show her what I was, right? That’s frightening enough, isn’t it? I had to throw in every possible terror and probably messed her up for life.”
“And make her fully realize what we are. Fire breathing dragons.”
She covered her face with her hands. “I hate myself. I hated lying to Skinner.”
“I know. You had no choice. And I don’t hate you. I love you.”
“I’m a monster.”
“You’re a dragon with a conscience.”
“That’s even worse.”
I snorted laughter and stopped when my pain flared. “Look. You’re a wonderful human and a terrific dragon. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. So you scared the bejesus out of Bethany. You also guaranteed she’ll never bother you again.”
“What if she talks?” Lindsey asked. “What if she claims a dragon grabbed her and flew so high she couldn’t see the ground?”
“No one will listen,” I replied. “Stop worrying. Let it go. What’s done can’t be undone.”
She nodded behind her hair, still miserable.
“C’mere. Lie down with me.”
I lay on my side to make room for her as Lindsey stretched out on the couch beside me. Dawn wasn’t very far away. Nor could I see myself going to work.My job is toast. Sammy will get promoted and good for him.“We should try to sleep.”
“I don’t think I can.”
