Meredith unbuckled her seat belt, gathered her things, and popped the door.“I couldn’t agree more, which is why I’ll be going with you to question the next healer.”
He grumbled something, but she’d already slammed the door and was halfway into the building.
ChapterThree
“Why does having a partner bother you so much?”Laina took a huge bite of her burger, studying him like he was a chess game and she was deciding on her next move.
Silas had asked his younger sister to lunch to catch up but was enjoying the opportunity to vent about Meredith.
“The woman is insufferable,” Silas explained.“She refuses to listen to reason.Refuses to follow orders.Might have cost me my chance at Alex last night?—”
“It sounds like she didn’t cost you anything.The moment you shot, Alex dematerialized.”As she spoke, a glob of sauce dripped from the corner of Laina’s mouth and landed with a splat on the table.
“Hungry, sister?”Silas asked, snorting at the way she practically inhaled the half pound of meat in her hands.He handed her a napkin.“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat like this.”
“It’s weird, isn’t it?I’ve been craving meat constantly these days.Must be the stress of knowing Alex is on the loose again.”She dabbed her lips with the napkin.“Anyway, don’t change the subject.What’s your beef with this woman?It sounds like she’s exactly the type of backup you need.I think her theory about Alex’s changing priorities is correct.He could have killed you last night.”
“Don’t take her side.”
She leaned back in the booth.“There are no sides, Silas.You both want to kill Alex.She’s a detective.You’re a detective.You’re both on the same side.The real problem is you don’t play well with others.You’re so used to being able to order people around you’ve forgotten what it’s like to have to cooperate with someone toward a common goal.”
“Last night was the closest I’ve ever been to bringing him down.”He shook his head.“She’s out of her league with this case.It’s not that I can’t cooperate.It’s that I don’t need any distractions right now.”
“What’s her name again?”
“Meredith Turner.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?”
Silas shrugged.“Her father was pack, but she was raised by her mother.Shifter.Usually a fox.I told her about Alex after I shot at him last night.She knew who he was, that he shot our parents, but not about our recent confrontations with him.”
“Wow, so not only is this woman an experienced detective, she’s familiar with Alex and the pack and wants to help.Seems like the perfect partner.”
Someone had put pepper in the saltshaker.Silas unscrewed the top.It wasn’t mixed together yet.This could be salvaged.He picked up his spoon and started carefully scooping out the black grains.“I like to work alone.You can’t trust anyone these days.Everyone has hidden agendas.She shows up out of nowhere and I’m supposed to trust her with the biggest case of my life, a case that affects my family and my pack?The only person I trust is me.I’m meticulous.I have a stellar memory.My hunches are ninety-eight percent accurate.A partner throws all of that off.Like last night.If I hadn’t wasted time pushing her out of the way, I might’ve sunk a silver bullet between Alex’s eyes.”
Laina leaned back against her seat.“Well, I think it’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve been alone too long.You work all the time.We never see you anymore.And frankly, Silas, everyone needs someone.You’re not an island, even when it comes to detective work.You’ll burn out if you don’t accept help.”
“I’ve been doing this for years.”He scooped more tainted salt onto his plate.
“Look at you!You took it upon yourself to clean pepper out of the saltshaker.”
He spread his hands in disbelief.“It’s rude.”
“You didn’t do it.”
“Yeah, but I noticed.”
“It wasn’t your responsibility.”
“Of course it was.I saw it.Honestly, Laina.What is this all about?”
“It’s about you.You think it’s your responsibility to save everyone and that only you can do it.Ever since Dad died and you became alpha, I’ve watched you slowly lose your smile.”
“I have not lost my smile.”
