The Dead Girls Dance Page 0,18

closer. Red flag. If you make that sound again, we are in trouble. Or I am, anyway.

But Claire felt that blush creeping in again, and had no idea what it was going to be like to put this into words. What about you? You know She made a vague gesture that could have been anything. Or nothing. Or anything.

Dont worry about me. I needed this. He was still breathing deeply, but he did look better. Steadier. More likeShane, instead of that lost and hurt little boy terrified of his nightmares. So? Did we have fun?

Fun, she agreed faintly. So much fun she felt like a fizzed-up soda, ready to burst. Um, I need to

Yeah, me, too. But Shane made no move to go. Claire swallowed hard and took the course of the better part of valor, up the stairs to her room. She shut the door and locked it, threw herself on her brand-new mattressshe hadnt even put sheets on it yet, and they were a little light on blankets after using most of them to fight the fireand bounced. The room smelled like a wet smoky dog, but she didnt care.

Not at all.

Fun.

Oh yes.

Chapter Eight

Around noon, Claire heard the doorbell, and ran downstairs. Shane was lying on the couch, sound asleep. Still no sign of Eve, and she didnt expect to have any Michael sightings, given the daylight hours. She raced down the hall to the door, which was braced with a wooden chair as a temporary lock, and hesitated.

Michael? You there? A chilly breeze swept across her, ruffling her hair. Wow. He was strong today. Can I open the door? One for yes, two for no.

Apparently, yes. She pulled the chair away and peered outside. There were two men standing on the porch, both tall; one was lean and hard-looking, with black hair; the other one was a little pale (but not vamp pale) and heavyset, and where he wasnt balding, his very short hair looked brown.

They both displayed badges. Police.

Youre Claire, right? the lean one said, and extended his hand. Joe Hess. This is my partner, Travis Lowe. How you doing?

Um She fumbled for the handshake. Fine, I guess. Lowe also shook her hand. Is somethingI mean, did you find? Because she both hoped that Shanes dad was in a holding cell, and was afraid of what that would mean for Shane. She rocked nervously back and forth on her heels, her eyes darting from one of them to the other.

Joe Hess smiled. Unlike most smiles shed seen since coming to Morganville, this one seemeduncomplicated. Clean, sort of. Not happy, because that would have been weird, but comforting. Its okay, he said. No, we havent found them, but youve got nothing to be afraid of. May we come inside?

She heard shuffling footsteps behind her. Shane had woken up, and was standing in the hallway, barefoot and rumpled, with a fierce bed-head that got worse as he yawned and ran fingers through his hair, standing part of it on end.

How sick was it that she found that sexy?

Claire collected herself and pointed at the cops on the doorstep. Shanes eyes focused fast.

Officers, he said, and came toward the door. Anything you need?

I was just asking if we can come in and talk, Detective Hess said. Hed stopped smiling, but he still looked kind. Informally.

A chill moved softly over Claires skin. A single wave of chill. Yes. Michael was okay with it.

Sure, Claire said, and stepped back to swing the door wider. The cops stepped over the threshold, Hess first, then Lowe, and Shane shot Claire a look she couldnt quite figure out and led the men back to the living room.

Lowe studied the place more than the two of them; he seemed to really appreciate it. Nice, he murmured, which was the first thing hed said. Great use of wood in here. Real organic.

She couldnt really say thank you, because, hey, she didnt build it. She didnt even own it. But on Michaels behalf she said, We think so, too, sir. Claire settled nervously back on the sofa, perched on the edge. Shane remained standing, and Hess and Lowe moved around, not exactly searching, but cataloging everything. Hess stayed focused on the two of them, and after a moment, he bent his knees and sat down in the chair that Michael had occupied last night. Déjà vu, Claire thought. Hess seemed to shiver a little, and he looked up, maybe trying to locate the source of