Free A Witch's Path by N. E. Conneely

police. I promise, I'll find an officer who will believe you."
    A knock sounded at the door. "Great," I mumbled. "Exactly what I needed, more problems."
    "Who is it?" I called out, not bothering to get up from the table.  
    "Elron."
    "Can I help you?" I asked.
    "The commotion woke me. Are you hurt?"  
    "Do I sound hurt?"
    "No, but given recent events I'd feel better if I could see for myself. Landa would never forgive me if I let something happen to you."
    "Fine. Come on in." Tiffany hadn't locked the door behind her.
    He came in, and immediately flipped on the light, blinding me but having no effect on Tiffany, who was still sobbing. Unlike when he'd come barging in yesterday, he was fully clothed.  
    "Took the time to dress? Hardly in a hurry to check on me."
    "This didn't sound as serious, and none of the alarms sounded."
    I shrugged. My wand was still at hand because I wasn't sure why Adder, if the identity was correct, had left Tiffany behind.  
    "What's going on?" Elron asked.  
    "This is Tiffany. She's a private investigator. Amber, a good friend of ours, was abducted a few hours ago. She thinks Adder did it," I answered.  
    "What would he want with your friend? And why would he do it. His father won't let him get away with kidnaping." Elron said.
    "I don't know why he wants Amber, or how he'll get around his father."
    "Is there anything special about this girl?" he asked.
    "She's a werepeacock, and my friend," I said.  
    "Really? In all my years, I've never heard of a female shifting into a peacock," Elron quipped.  
    "Quit being dense. I can see the smile on your face. She is technically a werepeahen, but you know as well as I do that no one makes the distinction."
    "True." He stared at the woman slumped in the chair. "Did she go to the police?"
    "Yes, but she said they didn't take her seriously."  
    "Don't you have contacts at the station?"
    "Again, yes, but they normally work day shift. I'm planning on calling them in the morning."  
    "What are you planning on doing now?"
    "Tucking her in on the sofa, and trying to figure out who I can call in the middle of the night that will know what's going on with a werewolf pack."
    "I'm afraid I may not be of much help. While I know several nocturnal individuals, none of them would know the latest information about werewolves."
    "Don't worry about it. Could you put her on the sofa? I don't think she's moving under her own power at this point." Tiffany was passed out at the table.
    "Not a problem." With an ease I was happy to admire, Elron scooped up Tiffany. He carried her the few steps to the sofa before carefully placing her on the cushions and covering her with a blanket.  
    I knew the first few hours after an abduction were critical, but it was two-thirty in the morning, and those first few hours had already passed. What I needed now was good information, but most of the police I was on a first name basis with didn't start work until eight in the morning. Off hand, I could only think of one person who'd be up and might know something.  
    "Could you watch her for a few minutes?"
    "Yes, why?"
    "I need to step out for about fifteen minutes and I don't think she should be alone."  
    Elron nodded his agreement, and I sped out before he could change his mind. The first stop on my list was in the basement. Paxton was the resident vampire. He'd arrived back in town two nights ago. Even if he didn't know anything, I wouldn't be disturbing his sleep.  
    I gently rapped on his door, unsure of my welcome. The door flew open under my hand and I took an involuntary step back.  
    Paxton was on the shorter side, only five feet five inches tall, but stocky and dark. He was still, other than his eye running up and down my body and the fluttering of his nostrils as he examined me. "Michelle, what a surprise. I suspect this isn't a social visit."  
    Shaking my head, I answered, "It's not. Sorry for showing up unannounced; I was hoping you would know what's going on with the