Free Cougar's Eve by Kelly Ann Long

Bud to step in and play favorites, but my fuse was getting shorter by the minute. “I heard one man refer to his partner as Hank.”
    He acquiesced. “Yes, right, right.” The detective again bounced up and down on his heels but never took his eyes off me.
    In my nicest, most polite voice, I asked, “Detective, it’s seven in the morning and I’ve been up for more than half the night. I’m exhausted; do you mind if we call it a day?”
    He stared at me for a moment then nodded once. “All right, Ms. Dubois. Here’s my card.” He handed the small paper rectangle to me. “If you think of anything else, my cell, work and home phone numbers are listed on there.”
    “Thank you. I appreciate all of your work,” I answered in a bit of a monotone voice.
    With professional courtesy, he tipped his hat slightly to Bud then started toward the door. He put his hand on the storm door then turned around to ask one more question. “Ms. Dubois, who was staying in your guest room today?”
    I blinked slowly, surprised at the question. “I, um…no one. I had a guest a few days ago, but I was the only one here today.”
    “Hmm, that’s odd.” He rubbed his chin. “Your window was wide open.” He waited a moment, letting the statement sink in. “Were you aware of that?”
    My throat went dry, and I swallowed before speaking. “No, I wasn’t.”
    His disbelief was evident as his cold eyes stared at me. “Might want to make sure you get the screen back on, too…so your cat doesn’t get out.”
    “Right,” I answered absentmindedly. “Thanks.” Oh God, oh God, oh God!
    What else had the detective discovered that he hadn’t bothered to share? How the hell would I keep Vale’s name out of this? There was no freaking way I’d tell the police about being stood up, tell them about Vale showing up at my door in bloody clothes with gaping wounds then tell them he’d just disappeared and I had no idea where he’d gone, let alone how the hell he’d been able to leave on his own two feet. What a mess!
    Detective Stone said goodbye once more then headed out the door for good this time.
    I turned to Bud. “I’m going to take a long, hot shower, if you don’t mind.” I stood as the front door opened and blew the scent of blood up my nose again, nearly making me dry heave.
    Bud steadied me. “How about I walk you to the bathroom door, just to be sure you’re all right?”
    I smiled at his thoughtfulness. “Sure. Will you wait out here for me until I’m done and get dressed?”
    “You bet. I’ll call a cleaning service to…you know…” He gestured to my living room floor.
    I hadn’t even thought about that, and I really couldn’t see myself cleaning it up. “Thanks, Bud. I really appreciate it.”
    I turned to go into my bedroom to take a shower in the private bath.
    Most of the time, I don’t like hot showers, but this morning, I was so cold I cranked the water as hot as I could stand it. I felt numb, and the hot water helped me revive somewhat. My thoughts bounced around in my mind like ping-pong balls. I sank onto my behind and sat in the tub as the water rained onto my body.
    My brain was in a fog, but the scent of hot broth drew my mind out of its funk. It was only after I’d eaten all of the soup that I realized I was no longer in the bathroom.
    Confused, I looked around. “How did I get here?”
    Bud furrowed his brows. “You don’t remember?”
    “No.”
    “It’s not important now.” He extended his hand for me to give him the empty soup mug. “I’ll take that.”
    “Thanks,” I said, still puzzled about how I’d gotten from the shower to my bed.
    “Be right back.”
    I lay back on my favorite pillow and adjusted the covers, realizing I was stark naked. Putting two and two together, I quickly figured out how I’d made it from the bathroom into my current position. Snuggling down into the covers, I made certain there were no gaps where I’d accidently flash some skin to Bud. Returning