Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(50)



never let him go.

“Nothing makes sense,” Burnett continued. “If Anthony is in on it, does that mean Tabitha is? But no,” he surmised aloud. “Why would she

risk being in an explosion?”

“Maybe Anthony has Tabitha fooled?” Perry offered.

“That would mean he has a lot of people fooled,” Shawn said. “I could be wrong, but I still don’t think Anthony is a killer. He’s more of

a hugger.” The warlock paused. “Maybe he was trying to make some cash selling drugs. No, I don’t even believe that, either.”

“Me, neither,” Burnett spit out. “Shit! Damn! Shit! I can’t fit one friggin’ piece of this puzzle together.”

He started pacing laps around the hospital room. Thankfully the room didn’t have a bed in it and allowed him space. Even then, both Perry and

Shawn backed up.

After making five tight circles, he stopped and faced Shawn. “Check in with the office and Fallen PD to see if they’ve got anything on the

BOLO. Then go back to the drugstore and see if anyone in the area spotted something. When Lily’s out of surgery I’ll have someone talk to her

again.”

“Do you think she’s hiding something?” Shawn asked.

“Do you?” Burnett asked.

Shawn seemed to consider it. “I don’t think so.”

“Thinking doesn’t prove anything!” Burnett frowned. “Go. But don’t stay out too late. I need you in early tomorrow.”

Shawn left.

Burnett grabbed his phone and dialed. “Perry said you got a trace where you found Farrell?” Pause. “Good. Is he still doing okay?” Pause.

“Are you sure? Shit! Come back to the hospital and comb the area and see if you can get another scent and follow it. And call Della and tell

her to meet me at the hospital.”

Burnett hung up and focused on Perry. “Get this. A 911 call was made from a cell phone, saying someone was hurt on the sixth floor. They had a

French accent.”

“So Anthony isn’t all bad,” Perry said.

Burnett just groaned. “Is there any chance you could stay here and help out?”

Perry didn’t answer.

“Not even for Miranda?” Burnett asked.

Perry emotionally flinched. Burnett would have to put it like that, wouldn’t he? “I have to go. Hopefully, I can return quickly.” With

something that will help blow this case open.

Burnett continued to stare. “Why do I get the feeling there’s some shit going on that you aren’t telling me?”

He couldn’t lie, so he went with the truth—a truth that wouldn’t open up the can of worms. “I have to do this. Please understand.”

“Even when you don’t?” Burnett asked. “You told me you didn’t understand.”

“Yeah, even then.” Perry looked down.

Burnett rested his hand on Perry’s shoulder. “I know all about wanting answers about your parents. I just don’t want those answers to hurt

you more than you’ve already been hurt.”

Perry shuffled his feet and thoughts before looking back up. “Aren’t you the one who told me that sometimes doing the right thing can hurt,

but it’s still right?”

“You are never supposed to use my own words against me.” He sounded only half serious.

Perry smiled. “Then stop dropping your wisdom bombs.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful?”

“I promise,” Perry said.

“Call me after this meeting tomorrow. And no more robberies! Got it?” Burnett squeezed his shoulder tighter. A vampire’s hug.

“Got it,” Perry said, hoping he wouldn’t have to break that promise. They walked out. “I’m going to go say good-bye to Miranda.”

“Do it quick. I’m taking her back to the camp. It’s a hell of a lot safer than here.”

Perry’s gut tightened. “Don’t let anything—”

“I won’t,” Burnett said.

Perry glanced down the hall and saw Miranda’s mom giving Agent Jankowski a come-to-Jesus talk about God only knew what. “Will her parents let

you take her back?”

“Her dad will listen to reason. Her mom is going to be a problem. She always is.”

Burnett looked at Perry. “You and Miranda … back?”

“Not completely, but … she’s agreed to talk with me.” Perry couldn’t keep from smiling. Then the smile faded a notch. “I’m not sure she

’s forgiven me. I did her pretty shitty.”

“Yeah, you did.” Burnett paused. “And Shawn. He knows that she’s agreed to … talk to you?”

“He’ll figure it out,” Perry said.

“I don’t want trouble.”

“Is that why you kept him on the Lily Chambers case?” Perry asked. “There were sparks flying in there. The romantic kind.”

“That played no part in my decision.” But damn if the vampire’s left brow didn’t twitch. So the big bad vampire did have a little

matchmaker in him.

Not that Perry minded. He wasn’t too proud to accept any help he could get.

C.C. Hunter's Books