Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(42)

Pinkies appeared. Threats bounced around the room. Her dad kept yelling.

The noise level shook the room.

Miranda met Tabitha’s gaze and she mouthed the words “I’m sorry.”

Tabitha mouthed back, “No, I’m sorry.”

The door slammed open with a loud whack. The nurse stood in the doorway. Sweet silence fell in the tiny room. “This is a hospital. It’s

almost nine at night. We have sick people trying to rest!”

The guard assigned to her door, cowering behind the nurse, looked terrified.

Her father looked embarrassed.

Her mom looked angry.

Mary Esther’s expression held a mix of both.

“Can I leave now?” the nurse asked.

Everyone nodded. Even she and Tabitha. Not that they’d been a part of the chaos. Nope. It was just the adults showing their asses.

As soon as the door closed, Miranda’s mom pulled her into her arms. “I’ve been worried sick.”

Tabitha’s mom did the same with her. Miranda’s father stood there in the middle of the two hug-locked groups as if afraid to move in either

direction for fear it would cause another outburst.

Sad thing was, he was probably right.

*

Perry stood back, listening to Lily Chambers go over her story for what felt like the fifth time. Burnett would occasionally stop her to ask

questions. Sometimes it was the same question he’d asked before, but worded differently hoping to jiggle something loose in the girl’s

memory.

“Okay, one more time,” Burnett said. “What all can you remember about the guys.”

“I told you already,” Lily whined. “I barely saw them when they ran past the office door. They all had gloves and masks. Other than Chuckie,

I don’t know what color hair, eyes, or skin.”

“Close your eyes this time, and try to see them.”

She did as Burnett requested and again Perry noticed something, a slight tilt of her head. It was as if she was trying to remember something

but couldn’t grasp it.

“Chuckie was the tall one. The other two were smaller. One of them was thin and the other not so thin.”

“Who seemed to be in charge?” Burnett asked.

“Chuckie. He spouted out the orders.”

“Anything else, Lily?” Burnett asked.

“No.” She opened her eyes, but Perry saw something in her brown gaze. Not a lie, just uncertainty, as if she still couldn’t recall

something.

Perry racked his mind for anything Burnett hadn’t asked.

“Okay,” Burnett said.

Lily went to stand.

“Did they say anything?” Perry moved to the table. “The other guys, did they ever speak?”

The girl’s eyes widened. “That’s it. I knew there was something. One of the guys answered Chuckie and he had an accent.”

“An accent?” Burnett cut Perry a good-job glance. “What kind of accent.”

“Not Spanish.” She looked at Shawn. “Like the guy who came in with you earlier.”

“French?” Shawn asked.

“Yes, that’s it.”

Burnett raked a hand through his hair as if trying to put a mental puzzle together. “And you got the scent of a vampire?”

“Yeah. But it couldn’t have been that guy. Because this guy was definitely part shape-shifter, because they shifted.”

Burnett scratched his five o’clock shadow. “You know for certain no one got out through a back door?”

“Yeah,” Lily said.

“Anthony’s all vampire,” Shawn said.

“I know,” Burnett said. “But his uncle is married to a shape-shifter.” Burnett paused again. “Didn’t Anthony go with you to the hospital?

”

“Yes,” Shawn answered.

“Did he stay there the whole time?” Burnett asked.

“I … He walked off with Kylie and Della to get coffee. They came back without him. I didn’t see him again for at least an hour.”

“And the restaurant where you guys were meeting for lunch is right next to the jewelry store, right?” Burnett asked.

Shawn nodded.

Lily fidgeted as if ready to leave, Perry stood listening, trying to follow. “You think Anthony was involved in what happened at the drug

house and this thing with Jax?”

Burnett’s brow wrinkled as if trying to put a puzzle together that didn’t fit. “Well, we know Anthony was at the drug house. We know his

cousins are French, and they’re vampire and shape-shifter. If he picked the restaurant…”

Burnett pulled out his phone and dialed. After a second, he said, “Miranda. Who picked the restaurant that you guys were going to eat at for

lunch?” He paused. “I’ll explain later. Thanks.” He hung up. “Anthony picked it. He supposedly had gone there the day before with his

cousin.”

“So you think his cousin was casing the store?” Perry tried to piece it together.

Shawn spoke next, “You just told me that you believed Anthony when he said he didn’t have anything to do with the drug house.”

“I’ve been wrong before.” Burnett frowned and blew out a mouthful of frustrated air. “Nothing makes sense.”