think we’re missing the point,” I said. “If Deerling is crazy enough to kill ten werewolves in as many years, he’s crazy enough to kill a woman and frame a werewolf for doing it. I don’t think Hank was the one who killed that woman.”
Wilder frowned. “Even seeing what we saw at the church?”
“If you’re willing to think it was him, fine. I know what we saw was messed up, but we didn’t see him kill her. And as much of a dick as your brother can be, I don’t think he’s ever murdered anyone in cold blood before.” I wasn’t sure if it was true or not, but it sounded good in front of the humans. And if Hank had killed anyone, I imagined it more as a heat-of-the-moment bar brawl sort of thing. Not cold-blooded homicide.
“It’s not enough for us to take Hank and get out of here. We need to get this guy. He can’t be left to hurt anyone else.” I was shaking my head as if there might be any disagreement. Really, I think we all agreed if Deerling was responsible for killing someone, he needed to be brought to justice.
Even if he hadn’t killed her, he was still to blame for her death.
But the more I thought about it, the more certain I became that Hank hadn’t been the one to do her in. The signs of an animal attack were there, but he hadn’t had enough time to do that sort of damage. Only a minute or two had passed from the time Wilder and I saw Hank lunge at her until she had disappeared.
Nothing about this sat right.
“What do you suggest?” Cash’s tone was grumpy. Given how little most of us had slept over the last couple days, it wasn’t too surprising we were starting to get annoyed with each other.
“For starters, we should bring in the real cops.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Wilder countered.
“You wouldn’t.” Cash wasn’t looking at Wilder, but the way he spoke made me think he’d been doing some digging on the younger Shaw brother. My curiosity was piqued, but now was so not the time for this.
“Outside cops are less likely to be under Deerling’s influence.” I picked up a napkin left from the previous day’s lunch. I needed something to do with my hands. “They won’t have the same prejudices and preconceived ideas. I think they’ll be more willing to believe Tim’s a killer. Especially if we can show them that creepy-ass compound of his.”
“You mean the compound we were trespassing on? It’s all private property. They won’t be able to search anything without a warrant, and they’ll need a good reason to get one.” Wilder glanced at Cash. I suspected he was hoping for a voice of reason to back him up.
“Isn’t my testimony about being kidnapped and almost killed enough?” My voice hitched up. What kind of stupid world was this where I couldn’t get a man arrested for trying to murder me? Some justice system.
“It doesn’t look great that you were already arrested for trespassing on his land,” Cash agreed. “He could probably play the harassment card successfully, even with outside cops. There’s no evidence Deerling was responsible for grabbing you. You said yourself you didn’t see him when you were there.”
I crumpled the napkin in my palm. I wanted something that would make a more dramatic show of how I felt. A pop can to crunch up or a glass to break under the pressure. Squishing a napkin didn’t have the same effect.
Wilder lifted his hand like he might touch me, thought better of it and scratched his chin. “There’s another problem with calling in outside police.”
“Jurisdiction?” Matt said.
“Well, that and something Genie and I did before leaving New Orleans.”
“You were in New Orleans?” Cash’s attention was all for me. “After you left?”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t think to maybe come home? Or talk to me?”
I shook my head again. “We were only there for an hour. I knew someone who could help us find Hank, and that’s how we learned about this place.”
This goddamn stupid town, like a Southern version of a Bruce Springsteen song. If Bruce Springsteen sang about hell instead of dying New Jersey burgs. I would be glad to put it in my rearview mirror. I swore to myself if we all got out of here alive, I would never complain about St. Francisville as long as I lived.
Home was a heavenly concept to me. Whether that