Better Off Undead - Cynthia Eden Page 0,50

a wooden stake strapped to her ankle. “Yes, well, I adore you, but I don’t particularly care what you like about this part.” He’d brought her back to town, but been oddly quiet and reserved during the drive to the cemetery. Back to the scene of the crime. “I have a job to do, and I’m getting back to it.” Her gaze sharpened as she looked at him. “I’m not a cop because I like playing things safe. I’m a cop because I want to keep everyone else safe.”

He stood beside her, his arms crossed over his chest. “Did you forget you nearly died last night?”

“Hard to forget that bit.”

He glowered even more. It was probably not the time to tell him that she found his glowers sexy. Her body was practically humming. It was so weird. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this good. “I also didn’t forget,” Jane continued, “that I shot the bastard who attacked me. So if I shot him, he bled. And you—with that absolutely wonderful nose of yours—will help me track him.”

“Jane…”

“Come on.” She led the way into the cemetery. Dr. Bob had the victim’s body on his table, and she’d be heading to the ME’s office later for an update on Travis. Just to make sure there weren’t any new twists waiting for her. But for the moment, she wanted to try some blood tracking.

The scent of blood hit Jane just after she’d taken a few steps inside the cemetery. Strong. Coppery. A little…woodsy? Her nostrils flared as she inhaled the scent. Then Jane turned to the right. “I was over this way when he attacked.”

Aidan caught her elbow. “Jane, do you smell the blood?”

“Yes.” Her breath hitched. “He must have bled out a whole lot more than I realized.” And the crime scene techs must have been damn slouchy at their jobs. They should have cleaned the area far better.

She followed the scent, her steps quickening.

Then…

Jane stopped. There were no giant trails of blood on the ground. Well, not except for the stain that was from where she’d been. Someone had tried to clean that up. Jane pointed. “I remember falling here. You—you were crouching above me.” She threw a quick glance his way.

His face hardened. “Yes.”

She lifted her hand, as if aiming a gun. “He was right over there.” Where the slightly woodsy scent was coming from. Jane took a few lurching steps forward and then she saw the blood drops. Just drops. As if the killer had been running away and the blood had flown back in his wake.

How do I smell this? The blood drops have already dried and they’re so small.

What in the hell was happening? “Aidan?”

But he’d just brushed past her. “It was good of the bastard to leave us a trail.”

“Aidan, what’s happening to me?”

His shoulders tensed. “I think he jumped over the wall to get out of here, same as I did.” He came back to her, scooped her into his arms and said, “Hold on tight.”

He was keeping something from her. “Aidan. Stop.”

He tensed.

“How did I heal? Why can I smell his blood?” Why do I feel so good?

Aidan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I told you…that I gave you my blood.”

Jane nodded. “You did that before.” When Garrison had been a trigger happy dumbass and shot her. Not that she held a grudge. Well, not anymore. She and Garrison had worked past that unfortunate first encounter.

“There seem to be a few…side effects this time.”

Side effects? That sounded so not good. “How long will they last?”

His arms tightened around her. “I have no fucking clue.” Then he was running toward the wall. She held onto him as tightly as she could and then—

They were over the wall. He touched down without even having his knees buckle. Carefully, he put her onto her feet then swept his gaze around the area.

A little late to see if anyone saw that move.

But…no one was there.

Aidan threaded his fingers with hers. “Come on.” And he was moving fast, but not so fast that she couldn’t keep up. They hurried across the street and he crouched next to a boarded-up building.

The scent of blood was strong again. And sunlight glinted off the silver bullet on the ground. A blood-stained bullet.

“He dug them out,” Jane said. There were two more bullets nearby. “He’s strong, Aidan.”

Aidan had turned to stare down the street. His expression thoughtful, he said, “Yes, yes, he fucking is.”

Her nostrils twitched. “Where did he go after he