weren’t sold on my special skills. I recognized the FBI agent from the news. He glanced our way without any official acknowledgment.
My arm hairs stood at full attention when his eyes met mine. He gave me what my mom referred to as the major heebie jeebies. I decided right then I didn’t like or trust Agent Green. Zane wasn’t the only one with good instincts.
“You ready?” Before I realized what he was doing, Zane rested his hand on my arm. The electricity remained, but this time it felt less intense, yet no less pleasurable. His touch provided a calm and confident feeling I was grateful for.
You are a good woman echoed through my tumultuous thoughts. As much as I’d like to believe otherwise, Zane was the reassuring presence I was desperate for right now.
Remembering why I was here, I nodded at Officer Tate. “Take me to talk with the animals.” I hoped I sounded halfway pleasant — anything to slice through the gloom that hung over the crime scene. My earlier morning cheer had been replaced by a grim sense of duty.
Exiting Will’s house, a woman approached. “You must be Chloe Carpenter. I’m Detective Davis. You are?” She looked at Zane with open approval.
“Dr. Marshall. I’m the new wildlife vet down at the park.” He extended his hand.
She disregarded it and jotted something in her flip pad; the evidence of her approval gone like it’d never existed, replaced with suspicion. “I may want to talk with you later, Dr. Marshall.”
I attempted to swallow my surprise. So, not all women were automatically under his spell. Even more unexpected, though, was my intense desire to protect him from her probing eyes. As if aware of my intentions, she gave a curt nod and strode away.
Inside the house, everything appeared undisturbed. A man was dusting for prints and other law enforcement personnel were removing plastic bags of evidence.
I couldn’t begin to imagine how I’d feel right now had we been lovers. Once again, my commitment to maintaining my virginity had saved me from additional heartache.
“Here’s Junior. The cat took off.” Another officer led a young pit bull into the room.
I confirmed the puppy’s leash was secure. I’d never forgotten or forgiven the pit bull that had escaped with my favorite shoe.
“Hey, little guy.” I had to admit he was adorable. His stubbed-tail wiggled and he yipped, excited by the attention. “You sure are cute.” He squirmed and pranced around us more like a pony than a pit. I realized I’d have to hold him and get him settled down if I was going to retrieve any information other than: Pet me! Pet me! I like you! Pet me!
After some reassuring whispers and gentle strokes, Junior calmed; his round puppy-eyes melting into mine. For a brief scary second, I couldn’t see or hear anything. Then the memories roared into my mind like a tornado. Woman. Sex. She smelled like a dog. The pictures were beyond my wildest and most horrifying nightmares.
A redheaded woman was clinging to Will like a rider on a bucking bronco, her head thrown back in ecstasy. Following their vigorous coupling, everything blurred. She changed into something I couldn’t explain. Either that or she’d let a wolf the size of a grizzly into the bedroom.
All I knew for certain was that Will hadn’t been stabbed.
He’d been ripped to shreds.
“Oh. My. God.” I couldn’t begin to barricade the pain exploding from my mouth in waves of wailing.
Zane lifted me to my feet, pulling me against his hard chest, cradling me. He let me sob; winding his fingers through my curls, while I released every painful memory I’d unwittingly clung to until now. Feeling safe in his arms, I dared to wonder what might happen next.
How would I explain what the dog had so vividly communicated? Who would believe me?
***
Chapter 6
The rest of the day passed in a blur.
The park stayed open. With the tourist season in jeopardy, it would have been unwise for Luke to shut down. Business soared. People were fascinated by death and destruction. And our little serial killer, who I now believed was female, was attracting plenty of attention.
With hesitation, I’d revealed every detail of my grisly vision with Detective Davis and Agent Green. Both, to my amazement, appeared to believe me, at least they hadn’t locked me in a rubber room. Agent Green had demanded additional details about the woman, for some reason hung up on the color and style of her hair.