Best Friends (New Species #15)(40)

“I hate to say it, but I’d make assumptions too about one of their men carrying off a woman and taking her home, if I didn’t know how compassionate they are. My first thought when I arrived at the diner to learn they’d whisked you off was that you must have been hurt, and they have damn good doctors. But some idiots out there might take advantage of your knowledge of Reservation. You’d be an easy way for those idiots to get at the NSO. Either way, you need to go stay with them. It’s just common sense, young lady.”

Mel nodded, hearing every word Sherriff Cooper said. She didn’t disagree. Whoever had broken into her place probably did so because of the shooting, or because she’d spent time with Snow. “My place wasn’t the only one broken into, Sheriff. He went after Mary, too. She said her parents were only going to be home for two days this time. You know how they love traveling. Then she’ll be alone. That jerk will just have to wait for the right opportunity to grab her. That guy seemed really determined to get me. I should know; I was there. He didn’t run when I started screaming. He kept coming after me no matter how much I fought. He even followed me out to my car, and it was still daylight. Anyone could have seen him. I’ve seen crazy animals act like that before. They’re single-minded, and they don’t stop until you make them.”

“We can take your friend Mary to Reservation.”

She shook her head at Brass. “Thank you kindly for offering, but you don’t know Mary. There’s no way she’d go there. You’d have to lock her up and sedate her to keep her safe. She’s terrified of New Species.”

Deputy Dud suddenly laughed. He’d returned to the main part of the station. “And squirrels. I’ve had to go to her apartment twice because they got into the attic of her apartment building. You’d have thought they had rabies or something with the way she carried on about how they were going to tear through the ceiling to come after her for blood. Animal control didn’t respond fast enough, so she called the station almost sobbing. I felt bad for her and went over, sat with her until someone showed up.”

“Exactly.” Mel nodded, hating to agree with anything her ex said. “Mary is terrified of animals. No offense to any of you.” She glanced at the New Species. “We need to bait and trap this bad guy like the vermin he is while Mary’s parents are still home, and she’s safe with them.”

The men around her all appeared shocked at that suggestion. No one spoke.

Mel didn’t back down. “You know I’m right. We all want him caught. The fastest way is using me being bait. He’ll come after me, if I’m right. Then Mary will be safe for sure. I’m not willing to risk her being hurt while I’m sitting safe at Reservation.”

“No way in hell,” Snow snarled.

She gave Snow a pleading look. “Mary is my best friend. I can’t go with you knowing it makes her a target, since he can’t get to me. He already broke into her place once.” Then she looked at the sheriff. “How long does it take for you to send off blood samples and get results if they match someone? What are the odds that the lab will even find a match unless this guy already has a criminal record? I watch television shows about crime. Weeks to months, right? And we’d be lucky to find a match?”

Sheriff Cooper gave a nod, his expression grim.

Mel turned to Snow. “I want this bad guy caught. I’m not willing to risk him going after Mary again when she’s alone. She’s my best friend.” Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t let anything happen to her. I’d feel responsible. I could never live with that.”

“We aren’t certain that the male will go after her a second time. You were the one he tried to grab.”

She straightened and squared her shoulders. “He broke into her place, though. I’m doing this, Snow. With you or without you. I already have a plan.”

Snow didn’t look happy.

“What is it?”

She turned to Brass, relieved he was willing to at least listen. “I go home with Snow tonight, but tomorrow, once my apartment is cleared, I move back in there. Mary’s parents will stick around a few more days to protect her since they know her place was broken into, and I was attacked. I’ll take some time off at the diner, so I don’t put other people in danger if the guy is crazy enough to come at me in public. I’ll clean up my place, keep the curtains open…basically make sure I’m seen there. Alone.”

Snow growled.

“But I won’t be,” she quickly added, holding his gaze. “I know my place is small but you and a few guys could still hide in there. If he’s going to come after me, you’ll be there to grab him.”

Snow opened his mouth but Brass cut him off.

“It’s not the best plan, but it’s acceptable. We all want this male caught.”

Sherriff Cooper took a seat, his chair squeaking from his weight. “I’m onboard. Just tell me what need for us to assist you.”

Mel managed to not grin, especially after seeing how miserable and upset Snow appeared. She was getting her way…but he wasn’t happy about it.





Chapter Ten



Snow kept Mel in his lap on the return trip to Reservation. He sulked a bit about her plan but didn’t complain. The idea of Mel putting herself in danger to help catch the male who’d attacked her felt wrong to him. It was his duty to protect her. She was safe in his arms, and he didn’t want that to change.