ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (57 page)

He could hear snatches of conversation from Becky and the officer as they stood just below the porch in the pale morning light.  What cop comes for questioning at daybreak?  A smart one trying to catch a bad guy. 

Becky was putting on a good show, complete with tears.  Who knew, maybe the broad really did miss her daughter.  Nah.  Doubtful. 

Teddy backed away from the screen door as the policeman came towards it.  He knocked once before opening it. 

“Mr. Roberts?”

“Yeah?”  Teddy said, he hoped weakly, and turned stiffly towards the officer.  He hated the neck brace, but in order to keep up his bogus disability claim, he needed it. 

“I’m Officer Talbot.  I’d like to ask you some questions about Autumn Coates.”  He didn’t smile or offer his hand, which irritated Teddy.  His small dark eyes watched Teddy’s every move.  Someone at that damned lodge called this in, and now the pig was sniffing him!

“What can I do for you?”

Officer Talbot flipped to a clean piece of paper in his notepad.  “When was the last time you saw Autumn Coates?”

“Friday morning.”

“Were you guys arguing?”

“No more than normal.”  Teddy’s eyes slid to Becky as she eased her way through the screen door.  She was pale and her eyes flitted from one thing to another. 

“So, you have a history of arguing?”

Teddy didn’t have patience for baiting.  “No more than any other couple.” 

“Why would you and Mrs. Coates go get her car on Sunday, but not report her missing?”

Becky made a nervous clicking sound in her throat.  “Like I said, we thought she was…”

The officer kept his eyes on Teddy, but addressed Becky sharply.  “I asked Mr. Roberts.”

Teddy shrugged, hoping he looked penitent.  “I’m sorry we didn’t.  Becky and I just figured she was out.  We thought maybe she met a fella or something.”

His eyes narrowed.  “And you were fine with that?”

“No…but look at me.  I’m half a man right now.  I can’t always…give her what she needs.”  He tried to squeeze a tear from at least one eye.  Becky stared at him incredulously. 

“Some of her co-workers have seen bruises on her in the past.  Would you know anything about that?”

“She’s clumsy, I can tell you that for sure.” 

Officer Talbot flipped the notebook shut and stuck it in his front shirt pocket.  He looked at Teddy, then back at Becky with a flat expression.  Teddy didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t read him. 

“Call as soon as you hear form her.  If we have any information, we’ll be in touch.” 

“Thank you.”  Becky responded weakly. 

Officer Talbot left the house, and meandered around the dusty front yard.  The grass only grew in patches until it reached the back of the property.  He glanced at two rusty, flat tired cars, with weeds growing around them.  An old, open well was to the left of the cars and he shone his flashlight down it. 

“What’s he doing?”  Teddy hissed.

“He’s looking around the yard.”

Teddy’s face became red.  “He needs a damn warrant for that shit!”

“No, not really.  He needs a warrant for the house.” 

Becky watched Officer Talbot glance back at the house, a deep frown etched in his tan face.  She exhaled a slow sigh of relief when he got in the cruiser.  When she turned back to Teddy, her face was ashen.

“He thinks we did something to her.”  The strain in her voice came out thin and wheezy.  She walked to the table and shook a cigarette out, lighting it with shaky hands. 

Teddy ripped the neck brace off.  “I don’t know why you’re so nervous!  We don’t know where she is!”  He stood and stretched, before taking the leg brace off too. 

Becky chewed on her thumb; the cigarette dangerously close to her eye.  “It looks bad we didn’t report her missing.”

“Yeah.”  Teddy conceded.  “But that doesn’t change the fact that we honestly don’t know where she is.” 

“When is our delivery coming?”

“Later tonight, I hope.”  He grinned at her.  “Once we move it, we’ll be set for a long time.  We’ll have enough cash to ditch this hell hole in the mountain and go somewhere nice.” 

“The beach?”

Teddy fantasized for a moment about thin beautiful women in bikinis, with full breasts swelling past the tiny fabric over each pert nipple.  He licked his lips and winked at her.  “Sure.  Why not?”

Dalton gently shook Autumn awake.  When her hazel eyes opened blearily, he smiled down at her. 

“Hey.”

“Hi.  What time is it?”

“Almost seven.  I made you pancakes.”  He patted her arm.  “Come on.  I’m going to drop you off at Winnie’s before I leave.” 

Autumn smiled lightly as he left the room.  The fact that he had made her pancakes touched her.  She dressed quickly and ran a hand through her curly hair.  On impulse she went in the bathroom and applied mascara. 

“Where’s Mika?”  She asked as she slid into one of the kitchen chairs. 

“Brian took her out for breakfast.  He’s having her drop him off at Mr. Taylor’s.”  He sighed as he poured syrup over her pancakes before setting them in front of her.  “I think they wanted to give us some alone time.” 

“Oh.”  Autumn said with a blush.  “I guess they have the wrong idea about us.”  Mika’s words from the previous morning ran through her head. 

Dalton leaned against the kitchen counter, his strange eyes fixated on her.  “Maybe.” 

Autumn smiled down at the pancakes.  “You put some of the blueberries in them?” 

Dalton nodded.  “I thought you might like it.”

She cut into the stack of three with the edge of her fork and brought the first bite to her lips.  “Wow, these are really good.  Ihop doesn’t have anything on you!”

Dalton watched her eat for a moment, pleased she was enjoying them.  He hoped she didn’t ask about the recipe.  It had hurt his pride bad enough to have to call Winnie to even get a recipe.  He fixed his own plate and joined her.  They ate in the comfortable silence they had so easily developed. 

Autumn got up and poured more coffee for them.  When she sat down she reached for the sugar the same time Dalton did, their hands grazing.  She lifted her eyes to meet his.  Tension was building from the simple touch.  Dalton clasped her hand, rubbing her skin softly with his thumb.  He was about to speak, when the sound of Chuck’s truck broke the spell as it lumbered into the yard.  Dalton let go of her hand, leaving a cold spot behind where he had just rubbed.  

Dalton crammed another mouthful of pancake in his mouth.  “We have to load the trucks.” 

Autumn stood and cleared their plates.  “I’ll just rinse these while you do that.” 

He hesitated a moment as she placed the dishes in the sink, then took her hand and pulled her to him.  She looked up at him with a mixture of sadness and hope. 

“Why do you do stuff like this?”

He searched her face.  “I don’t know.  I can’t help it.”  He kissed her lightly on the lips, tasting left over syrup.  He stepped away and left the house. 

Good, keep not helping it.  Autumn thought ruefully as she rinsed the dishes.

Trina drummed her fingers on the table as Officer Talbot spoke to her again.  His voice droned on about the law, and no real evidence of a crime, and Autumn Coates is of age; blah blah blah.

She leaned towards him.  “Stephen, you know as well as I do that this smells to high heaven!” 

He nodded.  “I agree they stink to high heaven, but…there isn’t evidence, right now, that they did anything to her!”  He looked at her sympathetically.  “You know I’ll do everything I can.” 

“I know.  I can’t believe they didn’t mention a family emergency to you!  I mean, I knew they were lying when they said it on Sunday, but why didn’t they keep the lie going with you?” 

He adjusted his utility belt, nodding as Chris came through the door.  Chris’s eyes lit up and he grabbed Stephen in a bear hug. 

“Officer Talbot!  Coming back to the pack?”

Stephen laughed.  “No, I’m here on business.” 

Chris’s face sobered, and he placed a hand on Trina’s shoulder.  “Oh yeah, Autumn Coates.  Still no word?” 

Stephen shook his head.  He looked down at Trina, noting how troubled her blue eyes were.  “I’m going to do everything I can.” 

She nodded, wrapping her arms around herself as Chris walked him to the door.  She watched him leave, his cruiser driving smoothly away. 

“I don’t know why you still call us a pack.  It was only the three of us to begin with.” 

“I know.”  Chris said softly.  He looked at her profile, hating the furrowed brow and deep frown.  “I didn’t know you and that girl were so close.”

“We weren’t, and that was my fault.  She asked to hang out a few times, but I was always in a rush to get home to you.” 

He turned her to face him, and bent low to peck her nose.  “It’s because I’m irresistible!” 

“Yes.”  She agreed solemnly.  “I knew something was wrong for her at home.  I’d seen her often failed attempts at hiding the bruises.  Why didn’t I try to be a better friend?”  Her eyes pleaded with him.  “I did like her!”

Chris ran a hand over her head.  He hated feeling her in so much pain.  Mating had its advantages, but it had its disadvantages too.  “Tell you what, when they find her, we’ll make an effort together so you can spend time with her.  Hell, she can even come here if she wants, so she can get away from that ass Teddy.”

“Do you know him?” 

“I know of him, and he’s bad business.” 

Trina waited to hear more, but when he didn’t offer more, she allowed it to drop.  At least for then she would allow it to drop. 

“Try it this way.”  Winnie said, and tugged on the cow’s udder swiftly, with one long stroke.  “You’re not pulling it all the way.” 

Autumn tried again, laughing out loud as warm milk shot from the udder into the pail at her feet.  She patted the cow’s brown stomach.  “You’re a good girl!” 

Winnie watched her with a half-smile.  “You’re going to be a regular farm girl by the time I’m done with you.” 

“I hope so.  The bigger help I am, the better chance I have of staying…”  She bit off the end of her sentence, her shoulders rolling in on themselves.

Winnie frowned and tossed her tawny mane in irritation.  “I think you and I need to have a talk.”

Autumn dared a glance up at her.  “About?”

She bent at the waist and placed her hands on her knees, her face level with Autumn’s.  “About the nature of your relationship with Dalton.” 

Autumn twirled the empty glass on the table, ignoring Winnie’s intense eyes.  She thought about asking for more water, but she knew Winnie would see right through the request as a ploy to procrastinate. 

“Why are you only here for a little while?”

“Because I’m human.”  She replied quietly. 

Winnie huffed.  “Look, I was angry you were human too, but I got over it.  It’s obvious Dalton has feelings for you.” 

Autumn lifted her eyes quickly.  Winnie made a hold on gesture with her palm up. 

“Yes, we can all see it.  He’s not playing you, that’s for sure.  What I don’t get is why he brought you here if he has no plans for you.”

Autumn gave her a level stare.  She could hear geese somewhere over the house, calling to one another as they flew south.  She wished she were out there, with her face to the sky, watching their V formation. 

“Daniel Blacksmith.” 

Winnie’s face went still.  She blinked once.  “What?”  She whispered. 

“Daniel Blacksmith is why he couldn’t leave me behind, and I couldn’t go back home.”  Her face hardened.  “I’m never going home.”

“You had a hard time there?” 

“Yes.”

Winnie swallowed and blinked again.  “Tell me about Daniel Blacksmith.” 

“He’s a vampire.  He owns a hotel in Luray.”

“The Bull Mitch.”  Winnie said quietly. 

Autumn tilted her head to the side.  “Yeah.  How did you know that?”

Winnie’s face stayed benign, hinting at nothing.  “I’ve heard of it.  It’s one of the playgrounds for the supernatural. ”

“Playgrounds?”

Winnie sighed and leaned back in her chair.  “They’re places where the supernatural can gather to just cut loose.  You know, be themselves and not have to worry about it.”

“He said humans come there too.  He said he has a five star restaurant in it, or something.” 

“Humans who know what he is.  I guarantee you, unknowing humans that wander there are eaten for dinner.” 

Autumn shuddered. 

Winnie leaned forward.  “How on earth did the two of you end up there?”

Autumn heaved a sigh.  She needed to tell someone.  She launched into the story from the very beginning of Dalton accidentally kidnapping the wrong person and didn’t stop until Dalton told her she had to come with him for her own safety.  By the time she was finished, she really did need another glass of water.