Kyle snorted, then broke into a full-out laugh despite himself.
Meredith raised her head, seeming to notice Laina in the bed and Kyle by her side for the first time.
“My sister,” Silas said.“She was stabbed today.We think it was Alex.That was the emergency.I’m sorry I left you.”
Lips parting, Meredith shoved against his collarbones and staggered backward, glancing between him and Kyle.“Manahan said you were here for your sister.I had no idea.”
“Who is this person?”Kyle asked Silas.
“Meredith.”She held out her hand in Kyle’s direction.“I’m Silas’s new partner.”
“She’s not really my partner,” Silas said.“Well, technically she is, but temporarily… and not really.”
Kyle raised his eyebrows.“I’m Silas’s brother-in-law, Kyle.”
Meredith paused a moment as if she were processing the family dynamic, then said, “I’m sorry.”
With a grim smile, Kyle turned back to Silas.“You were saying something about a stakeout?”
“I’m going to stake out Dr.Copper’s office.He said his partner specialized in werewolves, and there was a small bedroom off the office.It looked like someone was sleeping there.”Silas took a deep breath.
“I’ll tell you one thing, Dr.Copper has some secrets,” Meredith said.
Silas peered at her expectantly.“Yeah?”
“Look how he signed my take-home instructions.”She pulled a folded paper from her back pocket and handed it to him.
“Dr.Herald?”Silas squinted at the signature.
“There was only one desk, one examination table, one set of equipment, and one nameplate I could find anywhere.Copper Herald.One name.”Meredith rested her hands on her hips.“I think Dr.Copper started my exam and Dr.Herald finished it.”
“So…”
“He’s both men, a Jekyll and Hyde, and you know what else?After my exam, I barged through that door behind his desk, and you were right.”She gave Silas a knowing grin.“I’m not sure it’s Alex, but someone is living there.Someone with a pair of muddy boots.”
ChapterFive
Meredith watched Silas closely as he processed her revelation about Copper Herald and knew the instant he agreed with her assessment of the doctor, because those insanely intense eyes of his sharpened under the dark slashes of his brows and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
“Uh, thanks.I’ll check it out tonight.”He folded the evidence she’d handed him and tucked it into his pocket.
“We’ll check it out tonight.”She offered a sweet smile and leaned a shoulder against the wall.
“I’m going to head down to the cafeteria for a coffee and to call Gerty,” Kyle said.“Either of you want anything?”
“No, thank you,” Meredith said without taking her eyes off Silas.
“She’s not staying,” Silas added.Kyle had already left the room.
With a wry grin, she crossed to the seat beside him, lowering herself gingerly into it.Part of her did it with the sole purpose of vexing the bastard.Another part, maybe a bigger part if she was being honest, did it because she genuinely liked the asshole.He was an asshole, no doubt about it, but there was something about his confidence that did funny things to her insides.When Silas commanded her to do something, her inner beast wanted to do it… at first.But denying him the satisfaction was far more fun.It didn’t hurt that he was pleasant to look at.Standing up to him and trying to manipulate him to her will was becoming her favorite new addiction.
Beside her, he sighed heavily.“This is family business.There’s no reason for you to stay.”
Game on.“I’m supporting my new partner.”
“No support needed.I’m good.Holding up fairly well actually.”He crossed an ankle over his opposite knee, trying to look casual.
“Must be because I’m here.”
