Free IK3 by t Page A

for
    questioning right now. He was quite overcome.”
    His focus settled on her. “I’m sure the captain will take that into
    consideration. Are you a friend of Smith’s?
    “I’m helping his biographer market a memoir.”
    “I imagine a man like that would have some interesting stories. I did some
    checking the last few days. Doesn’t he have a bunch of medieval weapons?”
    “Yes. Mr. Caldwell—the writer—originally did an article on them.”
    “Seems I read something about him searching for some Celtic relics to add
    to his collection. Do you know anything about that?”
    Chloe felt her face heat. What to say? She hated lying, but Gavin was right.
    The less said right now the better. “I only met Mr. Smith last week.” The
    officer watched her, his eyes narrowing slightly and for the briefest possible
    second, she thought she saw red sparks, but that was impossible. It must
    have been the reflection of the flashing squad car lights.
    Do you have any idea of why two mutilated victims would turn up in front of
    his house within a week’s time?”
    “None.”
    “Ummm. Seems strange that two women who worked for him are missing
    and now these victims are found. Has Smith mentioned receiving any
    unusual messages?”
    Chloe had the strange feeling that he was fishing for something. “I wouldn’t
    know.”
    “Miss Whitney!” Gavin called. “Would you join us over here?”
    She knew he was just trying to get her away from the conversation, but her
    heart fluttered strangely anyway. It would be nice if maybe Gavin was a
    little bit concerned. “Excuse me,” she said.
    The officer glanced toward Gavin and Captain Johnson and snapped his
    notepad shut. “Of course.”
    When she joined them, Captain Johnson was looking past her. “Who was
    that?”
    She blinked at him. “One of your officers.”
    “Did you get his name?”
    “Um…no.”
    “Badge number?”
    “Um…no. Why?” She cringed inwardly at how inept she sounded. She usually
    paid attention to small details.
    The captain shook his head. “I just didn’t recognize him.”
    “Dallas is a big PD,” she said and then glanced at Gavin who was also staring
    past her. Chloe turned, but the young, blond officer was no where to be
    seen. Caldwell had disappeared too, although the skinny reporter was still on
    the street.
    “Did you need me for something?” she asked.
    She thought she saw Gavin’s dark eyes flicker with something that looked
    like lust, but then decided her over-active imagination had taken over her
    poor, befuddled brain. First red sparks and now—desire? She was losing it.
    “Are you going to swoon again, Miss Whitney?” Gavin asked sharply.
    There was nothing lustful in that tone. “I do not swoon.”
    “Of course you don’t,” he replied in a tone that meant he didn’t believe a
    word of what he said.
    “I do not swoon,” she said again and then felt the world spin completely out
    of her control.

    ****
“Oh, dear!” Mr. Smith said as he wrung his hands and looked down at Chloe
    lying on the sofa. “This is too much! That horrible murder out there and now
    Chloe has fainted a second time at my house!”
    “You think she’s pregnant?” Caldwell asked from across the room.
    Gavin had not sensed a second heartbeat. Vampires had preternatural
    perception to fetuses in any mammal, much like the sonar that dolphins
    used. He shook his head. “Doubtful. Those maladies usually happen in the
    morning.”
    “Shall I call a doctor?” Mr. Smith asked.
    If what Gavin suspected was wrong with her, no medical doctor would be
    able to help. “I don’t think it will be necessary. Miss Whitney was probably
    overcome with the crime scene.” In a sense, that was true, but not because
    of her own lack of fortitude. In the short time he’d known her, she had
    displayed a good deal of spunk.
    Chloe had been psychically drained.
    He’d felt it when he caught her outside. Her skin was as cool to the touch as
    a vampire’s who