Dog with a Bone by Hailey Edwards

Author:Hailey Edwards
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Sword & Sorcery, Action & Adventure, paranormal romance, urban fantasy romance, Paranormal, Dark Fantasy, Coming of Age, portal fantasy, dark fantasy romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Hailey Edwards
Published: 2014-10-30T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

After staggering off the plane, I made a beeline for the ladies’ room while Shaw strode to the rental car desk to snag us a new set of wheels. We finished at the same time and met at the exit door.

“Here.” He passed me an ice-cold bottle with a peach on the label. “This was all they had.”

With a hand held in front of my mouth, blocking my breath, I accepted. “Much appreciated.”

The first sip was god-awful. I hated peaches. I know, I know, take away my Southern belle card. At least swishing the water around my mouth got rid of the bile taste clogging the back of my throat.

While I was doing the good old rinse-and-spit routine, Shaw jingled a set of keys in his hand.

What can I say? He was a subtle kind of guy.

“Feel better?” A pack of gum rested on his open palm.

“Yeah.” I took two hits of wintergreen and started feeling human again. Half human anyway.

He tossed the chunky keys then plucked them from the air. “Then let’s get a move on.”

Vibrations in my jeans pocket almost set off another round of dry heaving. “Hmph?”

“Thierry?” Mable’s gentle voice was a balm to my raw nerves. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” I took another swig of vile peach water. “Just an upset stomach.”

“Oh.” She perked. “In that case, take some of the pink stuff, dear. It should do the trick.”

I dredged up half a smile. “I’ll do that.”

Papers rustled in the background on her end. “Give me a minute. There. All right. I have the information you requested.” Her exhale blasted the receiver. “I hope I’m not too late to be useful.”

“You’re fine. It’s not like we could use our—” phones on the airplane, “—never mind.”

She clicked her tongue. “Knowing Shaw, it’s probably best I don’t ask.”

“I— Yeah.” I didn’t want to start lying to her. Shaw was a big boy. He could fess up when the time came.

“As for the information you requested...” she hummed while the familiar click-clacking noise of fingers on a keyboard filled the line, “...the Richardsons were last seen en route to their ranch by a marshal heading into town for lunch. He passed their car, recognized the subjects and called in the sighting. That’s all I have there.”

Considering our lack of contact point, I had to ask, “What happened to him?”

“That call is the last recorded contact we have on file for him.”

A pang echoed through my chest. “What about the others?”

More clicking as her keyboard sang. “It looks like his call was the last documented contact from the ranch.”

I blinked. “Before the second team arrived, you mean.”

“No.” She hesitated. “The second team hasn’t responded in the last forty-five minutes.”

“It’s an hour drive to Odessa from Wink.” I checked my phone. “It’s been two hours.”

“I know.” Her voice lowered until I strained to hear her. “The magistrates have been informed.”

Air hissed from between my teeth. Not good. Not good at all.

Mable recovered faster than I did. “Is Shaw with you?”

“Yes.” I raised my voice so he would hear.

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