well as he’d thought. But he was bound to be spending time with her around town, so better to get it out of the way now. “I’m thinking of asking her out, so keep your eyeballs to yourself.”
“You got it, Chief.” Though he tried, the deputy couldn’t hide his smirk. “So if you two hook up, can you get her to forget my late fees?”
“Return the movies on time. Problem solved.” Jay found the file he wanted and snatched it up.
Lou eyed the folder. “You’re not taking work home, are you? Sort of defeats the purpose of a vacation.”
“Nah, it’s something personal.”
“If you say so.” He rose and held up his cup. “I’m getting more coffee. You want some?”
“No, I’ve got to run. Thanks, though.” The bell above the door jingled as Jay pushed through it. The morning sun stung his eyes, and he dropped his sunglasses from the top of his head down onto the bridge of his nose as he made his way to his truck.
He slid behind the wheel and took a bracing breath before flipping open the manila folder. Inside lay a patchwork picture of anger, violence and resentment.
The first reports were spotty, neighbors phoning in disturbance calls when Albus and Kathy Green’s arguments devolved into screaming matches. Eventually, the complaints coalesced into a steady stream of reports—most made by Eden’s mother against her brother-in-law.
The file also told Jay when Kathy Green had left her family. Her departure marked the beginning of a clear pattern of neglect for Zack. Fights at school, a shoplifting complaint from the local grocer where the boy had been stealing food. Notes regarding an investigation by Child Protective Services.
What could they have found? Even a viciously beaten young werewolf would heal in less than eight hours. No bruises, no marks, nothing to hint at the pain.
Jay had seen a different sort of pain in Eden’s eyes—the helpless kind that came from knowing.
His cell phone rang. He answered it absently, his eyes still fixed on a transcript from a 911 call. “Ancheta.”
Eden’s voice spilled out in a terrified whisper. “Jay? I need help.”
He straightened and tossed the file aside. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t breathe. I can’t—” A raspy noise followed by a groan. “I was in a budget meeting and I lost my temper. Just lost it, and I feel like I’m being torn up from the inside.”
His hand trembled, and it took him two tries to shove the key into the ignition. “You’re at the library?”
“Yes. In my office. I had to use my cell phone and earpiece to call you. I broke my office phone when I picked it up.”
“Don’t move, and don’t open your door. I’ll come up the back exit and get you, okay?”
“Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Jay.”
He pulled out onto the street. “Don’t thank me. Just breathe, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
She let out a choked little laugh. “My coworkers have to think I was drinking at lunch. I acted crazy.”
“Stress.” Jay slowed at a red light, and was just about to roll through it when it turned green again. “They’ll chalk it up to you working too hard.”
“Maybe.” Eden’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Or they’ll find out Zack’s back in town and blame it on him.”
“I won’t let them do that. Anyone who has a problem with your family can come to me.”
He had to listen to a few of her short, pained breaths before she spoke again. “Is there something wrong with me? Should I be able to handle this?”
“There’s nothing wrong with you.” But she would need to hear more. “Some people handle the transformation like it’s nothing, and other folks never get a handle on it. You’re doing good, Eden.”
“I’m not doing enough. Lorelei… She hurts, Jay. She hurts so much, and I’m not helping. I think that’s why I can’t breathe. I’m so angry.”
Jay cursed silently. There was precious little he could do for Eden from behind the wheel of his speeding truck. “It’ll be better once the full moon is past.”
“Okay. Okay, I can make it that long.” Something clattered in the background. “I can even—”
“Eden?” His phone beeped as it dropped the call, and he threw it on the seat with a vicious curse. “Fuck.”
He should have kept her with him. He should have warned her that maybe she should stay out at the farm, take some time off. Anything to keep her from hiding in her office, cowering like a hurt animal.