He did a double take. “Nikki. What are you doing here?”
“Came to visit Bea.”
He pivoted toward me. “How’s the head?”
“All better.”
Bea was licking what I imagined was blood from her hairless muzzle.
“Did she just drink the solution?”
“Yes.”
“How long will it take to work?”
“When they ingested Lori’s blood, it took them five to ten minutes to slide into skin. It’s been nine.” Worry wrought his features. “Mind if I take a look at your scab while we wait?”
I turned to give him better access, never taking my eyes off Bea, even though she wouldn’t meet my stare. “Satisfied with your needlework?”
He chuckled softly. “I am. You should be okay to run on Friday, but I’d like to take a look at it one more time before—”
“Shouldbe?” I whipped my head around to face him.
“Don’t want the wound opening back up.”
I sucked in my bottom lip. “I didn’t know there was a possibility Icouldn’tgo.”
“Like I said, youshouldbe fine.”
My teeth sank into my lip. I was so looking forward to it that not going would be a blow.
“No shifting until then, all right?”
I nodded.
A gentle whine made us both turn back toward Bea. She stood on all fours, her skin now hairless, her fingers thin and no longer topped with claws, her mouth pink and smooth over rows of white rectangular teeth.
My pulse leaped in excitement. “It worked.”
Doc set a timer on his watch. “Let’s see how long it lasts.”
I stood up at the same time as the woman who would’ve been my sister-in-law. Who might still be, if we found her a permanent solution.
I smiled at her. “Hey, Bea.”
“Nikki.” Her soft voice whispered through her cage as she walked toward the door and wrapped her fingers around the bars.
“Can I go inside?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Nikki.” Apple jolted her pointy chin toward Bea. “We don’t know how long any of them will be in skin.”
“Please.”
“Up to Liam.”
He turned away from the coroner, who was mid-change. After a protracted look between Bea and me, he nodded to Apple, and my heart fired in anticipation. She dug out a clunky key from the pocket of her orange windbreaker and inserted it into the lock.
As soon as it clanked open, Bea pushed open the door and stepped back to allow me in. I squeezed through, careful not to graze the silver. Once I stood in front of her, her body began to tremble, and tears slid down her hollowed cheeks. “Oh, Nikki. What have I done?”
