“No one now,” Hazel said. “I’m still cleaning upstairs. Norma puked up an entire pizza. I sent her home yesterday, but it’s hard on my knees to climb up there.” She grabbed hold of Delphine’s arm. “You’d do me a kindness if you’d help me clean it up. I got a bucket and mop in the closet. I just got too tired, you know?”
The detective shifted uncomfortably on the cot. Probably preparing to fight if Delphine came upstairs.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered. “Delphine’s got an uber-sensitive nose. She won’t come within a hundred miles of vomit if she can help it.” It probably helped that neither of them smelled fresh. She’d cleaned up after putting Kennedy in the closet, but Delphine’s nose was really sharp.
Sure enough, the woman turned her perfectly sloped nose toward the stairs and immediately looked away. “No thanks,” she huffed. “Look, just call her, will you? Her brother’s worried about her.”
Not true. The only brother who ever worried about her was dead under suspicious circumstances. That was two years ago, and soon afterward, Frankie had learned to make herself scarce.
“You want Frankie, you go get her.” Hazel gestured down the street. “It’s just a couple blocks away.”
“Call her.”
Hazel folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not the one who needs to talk to her.” That, plus, Frankie’s phone was downstairs. Leaving it there had been a major mistake.
Delphine sniffed again. “Why does everyone have to be so difficult?” She pulled out her cell phone and stabbed at it with a blood red nail. Eventually, she put it to her ear. “She’s at the Galster Street property. Apartment 6E. Go get her.”
Frankie winced. Noelle would not thank her if Delphine’s goons woke the twins. Meanwhile, Delphine gestured to the front door. “Come on, Hazel. Get in the car. I’ll drive you.”
“I’m staying right here.”
Frankie felt her hackles rise at Hazel’s tone of voice. She’d lost the quavering old lady act and had shifted into bring-it mode. She was obviously tired of the supercilious bitch and was ready to kick ass. And not being stupid, Delphine recognized the change in attitude.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Delphine said. “Raoul wants to talk to you.” She made an attempt at charming with a pretty smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “Look, this really is for your own safety. We consider you one of us, so we protect you. But we can’t patrol blocks and blocks of territory. It’s too dangerous for both you and our men. Much better for everyone if you come with me, okay?”
“I don’t know…” Hazel blew out a breath as if she were considering it.
Frankie wasn’t fooled, but Delphine was. She was just rolling her eyes when Hazel shoved her hard. The door was open, so Delphine went stumbling backward in her designer sandals. Not bad enough to fall, but enough to get her past the threshold and onto the concrete steps. Then Hazel grabbed hold of the door and slammed it shut.
Or she tried to. Hazel was fast, but apparently, Delphine was faster. She blocked the door with one hand. She didn’t have the strength to send Hazel flying, but the door sure as hell didn’t slam shut. Frankie tensed, raising up onto her feet. She could be down there in a shot, but Hazel bellowed straight into Delphine’s face.
“Stay back!”
The message appeared to be for Delphine, but Frankie knew it was meant for her. Hazel didn’t want her running to the rescue. And given that the older woman was a master in Aikido, not to mention a few other martial arts, Hazel probably had it under control. Still, her muscles twitched with the need to confront Delphine. Detective Kennedy, too, apparently, because he was already on his feet.
“Stop,” she hissed right in his face, the words as much for herself as him. “She can handle herself.”
His eyes blazed into hers, but she completely blocked his path. If he wanted to go downstairs, it would have to be through her. And then they heard a thump on the stairs, hard enough to rattle the floor where they stood.
As one, they turned to see what was going on, and Frankie couldn’t resist an inner grin. Delphine lay sprawled on her side on the stairs. Her blouse was untucked, and her eyes were wide with surprise. Hell, even her makeup was visibly smudged.
Frankie could guess what had happened. Hazel had abruptly released the door. Given the pressure Delphine was putting on it, she must have flown forward, tripped over Hazel’s perfectly placed foot, and landed on the stairs.
“I said, no,” Hazel said calmly. Then she adjusted her position so she was framed in the open doorway. Frankie knew what was going to happen next. In a fit of pique, Delphine was going to surge forward to grab Hazel by the throat. Hazel would duck at the last second, and Delphine would be out on her ass. Door slam, bolts thrown, then Hazel would threaten to call the cops. It wasn’t much of a threat since the cops were overloaded, but no way would Delphine go to more drastic methods to take Hazel. She’d stomp away to fix her makeup in the car.
No problem.
Frankie even relaxed, anticipating the show.
She saw Delphine’s body tense while Hazel’s grew calm and centered. And then—
Oh shit.
Delphine shifted. Where one second there had been a prissy bitch sprawled on the stairs, now there was a golden-brown wolf in a loose blouse and leggings flying at Hazel’s throat.
Hazel dodged, mostly because she’d been prepared, but she hadn’t expected Delphine’s speed or that she’d use claws, not hands. Hazel’s jump landed her hard against the door, but there was no time to react. Delphine had already pivoted. Wolves were a hundred times faster on their feet than humans. She sprang at Hazel before anyone else could move.
If Delphine had wanted to go for Hazel’s throat, Frankie’s best friend would now be dead. Apparently, she wanted Hazel alive, so she clamped down hard on Hazel’s upper arm. Hazel howled and beat down on Delphine’s head with her fist, but it had no effect. And all the while, Hazel kept screaming.
