"Probably not," Beth agreed, unlocking the car.
We got in, and just as Beth started the engine, my phone rang. It was Daniel. I could hear the irritation in his voice straight away. "You won't believe this. I had to speak with that vampire detective again. The one who tried flirting with you."
"Yikes. Sorry about that," I tried not to laugh.
"Anyway," he continued, still sounding a bit growly and possessive, "they confirmed they're werewolf attacks. No doubt about it now."
"Great," I said sarcastically.
"Why are they keeping it so quiet?" I asked as Beth navigated the car onto the road.
"Because the three people who were attacked are wealthy and influential," Daniel replied. "All three of them are loaded and have connections everywhere. It's like pulling teeth trying to get anything out of anyone."
We already knew about the three wealthy people, thanks to the manager at the apartment complex, but my guess was thatDaniel knew something more than what she had told us. Maybe something that could help us figure out our next step.
"Typical," Beth muttered, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. "Rich folks thinking they can sweep it under the rug."
"Unfortunately, it's not just about the money," he said. "They're part of that committee, you know, the one that takes care of Mystic Hollow's old buildings and stuff, the Historic Preservation Committee."
"Right," I said, because we knew that too. "But why does that make it harder?"
"Because." Daniel sighed. "They're popular around town. No one wants to believe they’d ever turn into... well, werewolves. And they sure as hell don't want others to know either."
"Popular or not, they're still werewolves now," I pointed out, although my heart ached a little even as I said it. "That doesn't just go away because you've got a nice house and a few friends in high places."
"Tell me about it," he said. "But for now, that's all I've got. I'll keep digging, though."
"Thanks, Daniel," I said. "Keep us posted… and be careful"
"Will do." There was a brief silence before he added, "Stay safe, you two."
"Always," I responded, ending the call.
Beth glanced at me. "So, what now?"
"We find out everything we can about the committee members. It can’t just be a coincidence that the three people on the committee all got attacked," I declared.
"Guess it's time to do what we do best," Beth said with a determined nod, accelerating down the street toward our next lead.
Since she was driving, Beth handed me her phone. "Would you pull up Trudy Durgin, please? Ask her if we can talk to Nam."
"Think she'll agree?" I typed up the message and hit send.
"I don’t see why not. They want answers as much as we do." She stuffed the phone back into her bag and glanced at me. "Are you ready to get to the bottom of this?"
"Definitely."
TEN
Emma
The elevator dinged, the doors sliding open to a cacophony that hit me like a physical wave. Nurses scuttled across the hall, their shoes squeaking against the linoleum in urgent rhythm. Monitors beeping erratically, and amidst it all, an angry man’s booming voice sliced through the din.
"Get off of me! Do you know who I am? I’m Jamur Freaking Hede! Do you hear me? Jamur Freaking Hede!" The man's shout made me flinch as Beth and I stepped onto the floor. Security guards, arms rigid and faces set, grappled with him, trying to usher him away from the nursing station.
"Hey! What's going on here?" Beth wedged herself between a guard and the struggling man without hesitation, her stature small but her presence undeniable.
His face was red with fury, veins bulging at his temples. "They're thieves, all of them!" he spat out. "They won’t steal my lands from me! The committee's been plotting behind our backs?—"
