Читать книгу On the Scent: A laugh out loud pet detective rom com! - Angela Campbell - Страница 11

Hannah sank into the chair across from Zach and tried not to stare at the purple bruise beside his right eye. Butterfly bandages kept a gash closed above his eyebrow, reminding her of a boxer who’d fought one too many rounds. Guilt caused her face to warm.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll live,” he said, leaning forward. “I was worried about you.”

“You were?” His words induced an irrational, tiny shimmer of pleasure through her chest. Ridiculous. Of course he was worried about her. She was paying him to worry about her. She glanced at the man standing, arms crossed, beside Zach. Geez, Brian certainly could look intimidating. “You shouldn’t have. Brian looked after us—along with E.J.”

She’d been under someone’s supervision since the ambulance had taken Zach away yesterday. She supposed she’d pay for that now that she’d officially hired them all to protect her and the boys. Don’t panic at the cost. Remember. You can afford it now.

She released a slow breath of air at the surreal thought.

Zach glanced up at Brian, and a tense look passed between them before he spoke again. “We would have preferred for you to stay at the hotel a little longer. It’s bound to be safer there until we can determine who broke in here.” His blue gaze met hers again. “Did you see anyone before the police arrived? Maybe they tried to run out the back door after they knocked me out.”

She shook her head. “When I found you, the person was gone. The window was open, so I assumed they left that way.”

“You’re certain nothing was taken?”

“Positive. Brian helped me do an inventory.”

A glimpse of white and black movement alerted her to the fact Abbott had decided to join the conversation. Costello was already lying at Zach’s feet, glancing back and forth as if the dog was following the conversation, too.

Zach’s eyebrows drew together and he glanced down at the approaching cat with a strange expression. “Uh, so you didn’t—” He shifted in his seat. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

She had to do a mental backtrack. “Only that nothing was missing.”

“Right.” He looked down at the cat again and shook his head. “Sorry.”

Brian stepped over to the window, pressed the curtain aside and glanced out. “The alarm was disabled again. We’re dealing with someone who knows what he’s doing.” He moved back to Zach’s side. “I believe it’s the same person who broke in the first time. Now the question we need to answer is why are they so persistent? What do they want?”

Zach gestured toward Abbott, who was busy licking his paw. “The person was trying to get the cat when I interrupted. I know there was also someone else in the room.” His finger brushed the injured side of his face. “We’re dealing with at least two suspects.”

“We have to assume they’re dangerous, and they’ll try again,” Brian said. “Hannah, I really wish you would take our advice and let us put you somewhere safe.”

Zach suddenly shot to his feet. “Did you hear that?”

She blinked and shrugged. “Yes, I heard what he said.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but my life has been disrupted enough lately. I don’t want to be relocated. This is my home now, and I—”

“Not that.” Zach held out his hand and glanced around. “Did you hear someone say ‘I want tuna for dinner’?”

A slow smile curved her lips. Was he pulling her leg or what? “I didn’t hear anyone say that.” She looked at the cat who’d decided to sprawl out on the rug and swish his tail. “But tuna is always Abbott’s food of choice.”

If Zach wanted her to think he was communicating with her animals, he really needed to come up with something more impressive. Sure, he’d spooked her the other night by knowing she had a Charlie Chaplin movie marathon planned. Only Abbott and Costello would have known how often she watched the silent film star’s movies. She tried to meet Zach’s gaze to determine if he was conning her or not, but his face was white and he kept looking around the room.

Brian reached over and put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, and Zach jumped at the contact. “Zach, you okay, man? I told you it was too soon for you to jump back into work.”

Hannah moved to her feet. “Are you dizzy? Nauseated?”

He backed away from her, which caused him to fall back onto the sofa. Costello jumped up and began humping Zach’s left leg. He tried to jiggle the dog away, his eyes wide as he uttered a guttural, “Ahhhhh. No. No. You are not the boss of me. Stop saying that, dammit.”

The dog sat back on its haunches and panted happily in response.

Hannah stood speechless, shifting her attention between the man and the animal. Even Brian seemed at a loss for words, until he cleared his throat and said, “I’m sorry, Hannah. He took quite a hit, and he’s obviously not well enough to be here. I’m gonna take him home, and then I’ll be back.” He reached down to help his friend to his feet.

Zach ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m sorry. I must be worse off than I thought.” His throat moved against a hard swallow before he met her gaze again. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Brian or E.J. will stand guard until then, alright?”

She nodded and watched as Brian guided him out the door. The shorter of the two men turned and told her, “I’ll be back in about half an hour after I drop Zach off at my place. Lock the door. Call me if you need me.”

Closing the door behind them, Hannah sighed and looked at the two animals at her feet, demanding attention. “Did you guys say something to that man?”

All she got in response was a soft meow and heavy panting.

He was losing his friggin’ mind. That was all there was to it.

Zach splashed his face with water from the bathroom sink and then blinked at himself in the mirror. He’d taken a painkiller and spent the past several hours out cold.

He knew he had a concussion, but seriously? He was nuts to even consider that the weird feelings and voices he’d heard at Hannah’s had belonged to the cat and dog.

He needed to get his head back in the game and get over there. It wouldn’t do him or anyone else any good if he started psyching himself out now.

The mouth-watering aroma of bacon teased his nostrils, and he found Brian’s wife at the stove cooking. A stab of guilt speared his chest when he saw the dark circles under her eyes when she looked up at him. Jenny hadn’t been home from the hospital a day, and here she was, taking care of him and a new baby while her husband was working a case Zach should have been handling.

He hurried to take the spatula from her grip. “What do you think you’re doing, young lady?” He guided her over to a chair and urged her to sit. “You shouldn’t be up and cooking yet.”

Jenny yawned. “What else would I be doing? I’ve got to eat.”

“Resting,” he pointed out, and waved the spatula toward her bedroom. “You could have woken me and I would have gotten you breakfast.”

“I’m not an invalid, Zach.” She rested her elbow on the table and lowered her chin to her hand. “But I am damn tired. How about you? How’s the head?” She eyed his arm. “Oh, Zach, you didn’t hurt your arm, did you?”

He flexed his hand for her benefit. There was usually a dull pain in that arm, but no, he hadn’t injured it yesterday.

“All good.” He flipped the bacon onto a plate and tended to a pan of scrambled eggs. “As soon as I get some food into you, I’ll go get your husband so he can take care of you. Don’t worry. He’ll be home for the next week at least.”

“We can’t afford for him to miss work, Zach.”

He pointed the spatula at her. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got it covered. He’s got paid leave for as long as he needs it.”

“You sure?” Jenny’s hazel gaze softened with hope. She knew how dire the agency’s finances had been, and like Brian, had probably lost her own fair amount of sleep over the dilemma. But neither of their parents were in the picture to help, financially or otherwise. They were also too damn proud to ask for help from their friends. Zach would have to rally the troops into action. A little help with meals. Some babysitting duties. Clothes and toy donations. Whatever it took.

“Positive.” He arranged a plate full of food in front of her before moving to the fridge to get her some orange juice. “How is my baby niece doing anyway?”

A happy grin tugged the edges of Jenny’s mouth. “She’s amazing. I still can’t believe she’s here.”

“Of course she’s amazing.” He snagged a couple of pieces of bacon and thrust them into his mouth. “Can I go peek in at her?”

“Sure.” She waved her fork at him. “Please don’t wake her up. I was hoping to get a nap in after breakfast.”

Baby Jessica was sound asleep when Zach looked into the crib he’d helped Brian assemble a month or so ago. He took a deep breath and released it, glad things felt normal again.

He had no idea what the hell had happened to him at Hannah’s place last night. Maybe he was finally losing it. He could’ve sworn there’d been other people in the room with them, jabbering random things about food and going for a walk and the best windows with a view.

He’d had the crazy idea the cat had been talking to him.

Absurd.

The baby in the crib released a slight coo, and Zach reached in to tug the collar of her onesie up higher. Baby Jessica’s eyes slowly opened and met his, but the kid didn’t make a sound. She stared up at him with her big, blueish-gray eyes, so much like her father’s. Her mouth made an O shape.

He hadn’t been around a baby since his little brother Dylan, a helluva long time ago. Dylan. Did his brother have any kids yet? A bitter laugh escaped his control. Wouldn’t that be something, if he were already an uncle, a real one, and didn’t even know it.

“Hey, kiddo. Go back to sleep. Uncle Zach didn’t mean to wake you up,” he whispered.

A weird feeling gripped his gut.

It was quickly followed by the sensation of intense hunger, so strong it sent a bolt of pain through his belly.

The sound of Jessica’s cry shattered the silence. She flung her tiny, clenched fists to the side and then quickly brought them back to her middle again. Jenny appeared in the doorway and scooped the infant up. “Uh oh. Somebody’s hungry.” Turning around to face him, she added, “Some privacy, please?”

He shut the door behind him, and not even a minute later, the hunger chewing at his insides began to dissipate.

Nah, it couldn’t be.

He shook his head. No friggin’ way.

A chuckle shook his chest. He’d better watch himself. He was starting to buy his own con.