Page 20 of A Dash of Wolf

“I had water,” Princess Muffin Top called from the cell. “I want that on the record.”

Adeline glared at the cat. “Get out of that cell. You’re being ridiculous.”

Princess Muffin Top turned her back on everyone and began licking her front paw.

Chief Wolfe leaned back in his chair. “Did you leave your house at any point after you got home?”

“No. I was home all night.”

“What time did you get up this morning?”

“I was at the bakery by five. Same as every morning.”

He wrote something down on the notepad in front of him. His handwriting was small and precise. She watched him write and tried not to think about how strong and masculine his forearms looked when he pressed the pen to the paper.

“That’s all I need for now,” he said.

The front door banged open, and Princess Muffin Top immediately launched into another song. “I’m in the jailhouse now!”

Grandmother Lavinia Beaumont swept into the station in a cream-colored pantsuit. Once again, her silver bob was immaculate, her gray eyes were glacial, and her heels clicked sharply on the hardwood floor. Adeline had to admit this was a record for her grandmother—visiting the police station twice in three days. Usually her grandmother never came down to get her…it was always Emory.

Her grandmother stopped in front of Chief Wolfe and looked down at him. “Chief Wolfe.”

“Ma’am.”

“My granddaughter would never stoop to something so low as vandalizing construction equipment,” Grandmother Lavinia snapped. “If you’d done your homework, you would know she has only ever been arrested for protesting. Peacefully. She chains herself to things and makes speeches. She does not sneak around in the dark destroying property.” Her eyes narrowed. “Did the council make a mistake hiring someone who can’t see the difference?”

The silence that followed was so awkward, Adeline wanted to crawl under the table. She glanced at Cassie Casswell, who was watching the exchange with wide eyes. And Dixon was suddenly fascinated by something on his desk.

Chief Wolfe held Grandmother Lavinia’s gaze without flinching. “This was just routine questioning.” He paused. “And I’m fully aware of what offenses Adeline has been arrested for in the past.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “It is my job to know these things after all.”

Adeline jumped to her feet. “Are Princess Muffin Top and I free to go?”

“Yes,” he said.

She motioned toward the cell with her hand. “Come on, Princess Muffin Top. We’re leaving.”

The cat took her sweet time stretching and yawning before she hopped down from the cot. On her way past Chief Wolfe’s desk, she paused and looked up at him. “You know, for a wolf, you’re not half bad. But you need to work on your interrogation skills. I wasn’t even nervous.”

Adeline caught Cassie’s eye on the way out, and her childhood friend gave her a small nod.

They stepped outside into the morning sun, and Grandmother Lavinia was on her before the door even closed.

“This is precisely the behavior I’ve been warning you about, Adeline. Your image, your responsibility to this family⁠—”

“It’s almost lunch,” Adeline said, cutting her off. “I need to get back to the bakery. We’ll chat later, Grandmother Lavinia.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She and Princess Muffin Top hurried down Tide Street, the cat trotting beside her with her tail and head held high.

The bakery was warm and smelled like sugar when she pushed through the front door. Emory was behind her counter, laughing at something Vivien Hollingsworth was saying.

The customers all spotted Adeline and immediately started in.

“What happened?”

“Did he arrest you?”

“Are you okay?”