Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(55)

green. Shadow Falls’ security system was probably the best out there.

Burnett glanced at her. “You know until we figure this out, you can’t be leaving alone.”

“You really think someone is after me?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I’ll err on the side of caution if you don’t mind.”

She heard frustration in his tone. They walked through the gate.

“Thanks for everything,” Miranda said, following him. “I’m sorry all this happened.”

“You didn’t cause any of this.” His honest empathy rang into the darkness.

His sentiment sent a shot of emotion to her chest. “I really don’t think Tabitha did, either.”

While they had waited for the release papers, Burnett had her go over everything Tabitha had said. He also told her that they had tried to

track her sister’s and Anthony’s phones, but they had both been turned off.

Miranda knew that made Tabitha look guilty, but Miranda refused to believe it. She knew her sister inside and out.

“I don’t think Tabitha is a bad person,” he said. “I’m just not clear how she plays into all this.”

“She thinks she’s in love with Anthony, and maybe she’s blinded to some things, but I can’t see her involved with robbing a jewelry store.

She’d never hurt Agent Farrell, and even Anthony’s not like that.”

“I know,” Burnett said. “Nothing makes sense. It’s chewing on my sanity right now.”

They neared the path that lead to her cabin and she reached for her backpack.

Burnett pulled it back. “I’ll walk you there.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Humor me,” he said.

She fell in step beside him. The trees lining the path seemed to close in and sway in the still air. A bird called out in the night, and

Miranda’s thoughts went to Perry, to the almost kiss, to the way his hand had felt slipping out of hers. To one of the saddest good-byes she’

d ever experienced.

“Do you know what’s going on with Perry?” she asked, her words seemed to hang in the muggy night. A mosquito buzzed close to her ear.

Burnett’s jaw clenched, then unclenched. “What has he told you?”

They continued walking. The sound of their footsteps on the moist graveled path played like music in the humidity. “He said his parents are up

to something that’s ‘not right’ and that he’s got to figure it out before he can hand it over to you.”

“He told me the same thing.” But the vampire’s tight tone had Miranda’s apprehension growing.

“It’s hurting him. I can feel it, see it in his eyes. I hear it in his voice.”

Burnett inhaled. “I know. I tried talking him out of it.”

“Is he in danger?” She put the question out there, just as another bird called out.

Slow air came from Burnett’s lungs. “He swears he can handle it.”

“And you’re a vampire. Was he lying?” An achy sensation filled her chest.

“No. He thinks he can handle it.” The doubt slipping and sliding on his words echoed in Miranda’s chest.

“What do you think?”

Burnett hesitated. “I’ve tried to find out information on his parents before, but they aren’t registered and have stayed off the FRU radar,

which could mean they aren’t hardened criminals. Petty stuff seldom gets reported to the FRU. Or they’re smart hardened criminals. Because

Perry’s not telling me much, I can’t say if he’s bullshitting himself about handling this.”

She took a few more steps. The sound of insects singing in the distance filled the air. “Something changed with whatever is going on with him,

” she said.

“What do you mean?” Burnett slowed his steps.

“Earlier today Perry told me he was leaving and would try to see me every few weeks. Then this afternoon, he said he wouldn’t be gone long.

Like he’d be back in less than a week.”

Burnett seemed to consider her words. “Maybe he’s just … worried about you.”

“Maybe,” she said, but didn’t buy it. “Couldn’t you just send someone to watch over him?”

Burnett looked off into the trees.

“He’d be really pissed if I did.”

“That’s never stopped you with anyone else,” she said.

Burnett didn’t answer. Miranda found the tiniest bit of hope that it meant Burnett had sent someone.

Her first instinct was to push him to confirm it, but pushing Burnett never worked out. Not for Miranda. Della seemed good at it though.

They got to the turn in the path where she could spot her cabin through a line of trees. The golden rays of light flowing from the windows

seemed to call her name. Were Kylie and Della still awake? Or had they just left the light on for her?

For all she knew both Della and Kylie might be hanging with their boyfriends. They did that quite often.

She increased her pace, needing, wanting a little girlfriend time, but then Burnett cleared his throat. She looked back.

He handed her the backpack. “You care, don’t you?”