“Fine,” she finally said. “Right after Delphine leaves, okay? But you have to listen to the full story.”
He nodded, though it might have been because he was too weak to keep his head upright. The doorbell rang again, and she heard Hazel respond like the old woman she definitely was not.
“I’m coming! Geez, my knees don’t work so well anymore, you know?”
That was total bullshit. Hazel’s knees worked fine, even though she’d just celebrated her sixtieth birthday. She was giving Frankie time to hide the detective. Plus, she probably enjoyed making Delphine wait. Frankie liked it, too, since she knew Delphine was a two-faced, backstabbing bitch.
The doorbell rang a third time and Hazel started undoing the locks. Every click sounded loud to Frankie’s enhanced hearing while she maneuvered herself to see everything that went on downstairs. Hazel had set up a large mirror in the hallway, angled just right so someone in the bedroom could watch while still hidden behind carefully placed furniture. She saw clearly when Hazel opened the door to confront Delphine. The woman’s expression was vaguely bored as she stood there dripping with costume jewelry and wearing skintight leggings and a loose blouse that accentuated her curves. It had one more advantage, too. Clothing that stretched or ripped told everyone she could go wolf anytime. Sure, the witch had shifted only once during her teens, but that put her well ahead of Frankie who—until recently—hadn’t done anything more than stand there and look stupid.
“Yes?” Hazel asked, her voice weaker than usual.
“You’re Hazel Smith, right?” Delphine asked. Then she continued without waiting for an answer. “You’re supposed to come to the community center. And where’s Frankie? She needs to hightail it there, too.”
Frankie’s body tensed. Her compulsion to be seen was pushing her to boldly confront Delphine and tell the bitch what she thought. But that was stupid, especially if Hazel could handle things herself. Still, the need was like a physical itch under her skin.
“We’re supposed to stay inside,” Hazel said. “There’s a quarantine on. Don’t you listen to the news?”
Delphine pursed her perfect lips. “Of course, I listen to the news.”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “Not unlessThe Real Housewivescounts.”
“That’s why you’re supposed to come to the center. So we can protect you.”
“I can protect myself,” Hazel said, as she tried to close the door.
Delphine was faster than that. She caught the closing door with the flat of her hand and held it open. The woman may have shifted only once, but she had a shifter’s strength. Hazel wasn’t going to win that fight.
“You’re a valued part of our community,” Delphine said, her voice so bored, she sounded like she was reading off a cue card.
“I’m sure I am,” Hazel snorted. “Thanks, but—”
“You’re coming, Hazel. No argument.” Her expression didn’t change, but her tone was chilling. “Now go get Frankie. I’ve wasted enough time on that girl’s silliness.” She made it sound like she was waiting on a petulant child.
Frankie muttered under her breath, “We’re the same fucking age, bitch.”
The detective chuckled, his voice equally low. “You kiss your mama with that mouth?”
She shot him a glare, but he just raised that sexy eyebrow. Damn Hazel for making her watchStar Trekreruns. That expression totally worked for her. Meanwhile, Hazel was standing her ground.
“Frankie left to make the rounds of the Galster apartment building. Most folks there are pretty sick. She’s helping out.”
“Bullshit. She’s here. I can smell her.”
Hazel nodded. “She was here, then she left. Check with Noelle, apartment 6E. Those twins are tag-teaming the vomit.”
Delphine’s response was to sniff in disdain as she stomped inside the house. Hazel could have stopped her, but she was playing weakling right now. She always said to pick your fights carefully. Apparently, she wasn’t ready for a showdown with Delphine.
“Why does it smell like a sewer in here?” Delphine asked.
“Probably because Frankie’s been helping out with the sick kids.”
Detective Kennedy’s voice rumbled in her ear. “Or crawling through the sewer.”
His voice sent shivers down her spine. Something about the note of humor in his gravelly voice was really sexy. In an annoying kind of way. “Andhelping out with the kids,” she said in a low whisper. Last thing she wanted was for Delphine’s shifter ears to hear her. But it was hard enough to stay hidden upstairs, she couldn’t keep silent when Kennedy pushed her. “Do you know how many times I’ve been thrown up on lately?”
He wavered where he sat on the cot. Damn, he was really in a bad way. There was perspiration on his upper lip, and she reached out to steady him. Meanwhile, Delphine was sniffing her way deeper into the house.
“Who else is here with you?”
