Free Dark Moon Magic by Jerri Drennen Page B

hers.
    Silence fell around them, and Regina forced down the lump in her throat. All she could distinguish was the tick-tocking of the clock on the wall in front of her and her pounding heart.
    Tiah shoved her from behind. “I wanted to talk to you about Garrett’s surveillance.” Regina recovered from her muteness. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
    “Yes, I do.” The look he gave her matched his to-the-point tone. He was worried someone would try something stupid.
    “But …”
    He raised his hands. “Trust that I know what I’m doing.”
    She sighed. Trace would do what he thought best no matter what she said. She might as well resign herself to having a shadow.
    “Have you learned anything about Keith’s killer, yet?” Regina prayed this nightmare would be over soon.
    “I can’t discuss that, but I am glad you came in. I need to talk to you in private. It’s about the case.” Trace pointed toward his office.
    Regina studied his face. Nothing in his expression gave anything away. Did he intend to arrest her for murdering Keith?
    She turned to Tiah and smiled weakly, then trailed after Trace.
    He closed the door behind them and gestured to a chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat, Regina.”
    “What if I want to stand?”
    “I think it’s best you sit down.” He gave her another look that suggested she’d better listen. This wasn’t good.
    She eased into the chair. Trace did the same across from her.
    “What’s going on?”
    He opened the top drawer of his desk, pulled out a small baggie, and held it out to her.
    She took hold of the top edge and peered through to the content inside, her breath catching in her chest. It was an amethyst stone, a symbol of a higher mind, wisdom, and understanding. She carried them in her shop. “Where’d you find this?” Like she didn’t know the answer to that question. He’d found it at Keith’s.
    “It was at the murder scene.”
    The break-in at her place came rushing back. Regina hadn’t thought to take inventory of her stones. After all, why would anyone choose to steal one ?
    To set me up .
    “I didn’t kill Keith, Trace. You have to believe me.”
    “I do, but you and I both know someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make it appear as if you did.”
    “Why? Because I’m new to Groves?”
    He shook his head. “I don’t know. Can you think of any other reason?”
    Regina squirmed under his appraisal. She wasn’t going to tell him about her Wiccan beliefs. He’d look at her as if she were some evil entity.
    “Not that I can think of.” She hated to lie, but right now she had no choice.
    “All right, then. That’s all for now.”
    Regina rose. “I guess I’ll expect Garrett around dark.”
    He shook his head again. “I’ll be there tonight. Garrett is going to get some much needed rest.”
    Great . Trace would be the one parked outside her place. Alone and lonely. In need of some company to keep him awake.
    Curses . Now she’d never get any sleep.
     
    * * *
     
    Trace pulled into the alley and parked the cruiser. Tonight was going to be a long night, outside Regina’s place, the woman on his mind the whole time.
    Funny how she’d looked downright unhappy to learn he’d be taking the shift. Did she think he’d try something like he had at the hall? He’d learned his lesson that night. Never assume anything.
    He flipped the top of the disposable coffee cup he’d gotten at Caulders’ and took a sip just as a figure walked by the picture window in Regina’s apartment. Was it her or her friend? The blonde was certainly pretty enough but not stunning like Regina. She had him transfixed, beguiled, and bewitched, and he hated it. No woman had ever made him feel this way—not even his ex-wife. All he could think about were the kisses they’d shared, the feel of her soft breasts under his palms. Even now they burned at the memory.
    He shook his head and shifted, his body humming to life.
    Christ. Calm down and get your act