My eyes widened. I knew Lola was a wolf shifter, but I had no idea she was so high ranking in the family structure. And I had no idea she came from the High Moon Pack. They were the most well-known and strongest pack around. You didn’t fuck with them and survive. Why had Lola run? Had someone from her pack found her and taken her out? She told me she was hiding from them, that she was never going back.
“I didn’t kill my roommate. I don’t know who did, but it wasn’t me.”
“Enforcer Cain,” a younger enforcer with long blonde hair and violet eyes walked up to the female I was talking to.
“She’s dead and it looks like she was tortured before they finished her off.” He swallowed and took a breath. “They used silver pins all over her arms and legs.”
“What?” Tears slipped down my cheeks and my pulse raced. “Why would someone do that to her?”
“Whydidyou do that to her?” Cain, the female enforcer, glared at me.
“Will you get off? I’m half wolf. Why the hell would I stab silver into my friend? I know how bad silver hurts and I wouldn’t be able to touch it with bare hands. Do your damn job. I’m not the killer here.” I inch closer to her, my anger winning out over common sense.
“Back down or I will take you down.” Her tone is cool and calm. She’s not even slightly rattled by my aggression.
If it weren’t for the fact that she was accusing me of murder, she and I might get along.
“She didn’t do it,” another voice joined the party. A voice I recognized.
My whole body tensed and I took a step away from Cain. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Considering I’m the only one in this room who thinks you didn’t kill your roommate, maybe you should try being nicer to me,” he said.
I glared at the enforcer I’d met earlier this evening. The creature who prevented me from giving an alibi. “You going to tell them the truth about where I was tonight?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “But I do believe you didn’t kill your friend.”
“You asshole.” My anger moved from Cain to the newcomer. If I hadn’t reached for that money, if I had just left right away, I’d have my alibi. I wouldn’t be in this mess.
“According to Hunter Guild rules, if a Hunter is accused of murder, they have forty-eight hours to prove their innocence,” he said, keeping his eyes on Cain.
I glared at him. He could end this. He could tell them what happened and where I was. I opened my mouth to try to say that I was with him, but even those words wouldn’t form. Whatever he did to me, the magic was strong.Fucking asshole.
“That’s an ancient rule meant to be used if they have crossfire or an accident or an enemy finds them,” she says. “This is an open close case. See for yourself.” Cain gestures around the room, then gestures to me.
“You owe me new pants,” I managed.
He ignored me. “I don’t think she would have destroyed her own apartment or been so obvious about leaving the body.”
“She was trying to make it look like an invader,” Cain said.
“Bullshit,” I said. “If I wanted someone dead, I’ve got much less messy ways to do it. And I would get rid of the body.”
“That’s not helping you,” he said.
I pressed my lips closed.Yeah, probably not.
“It’s the law,” my new enemy who was somehow trying to get me two lousy days said.
“Fine, but she’s your responsibility. I want her attached to you until her forty-eight are up. Then, you personally deliver her to the Hall of Justice.” Cain whistled.
The other enforcers all gathered in a little circle around her. “Get as much evidence as you can and get the princess out of here. If we don’t get her body back to her pack before sunrise we’re going to have a war on our hands.”
“You already have a war on your hands,” I said.
Cain’s forehead creased.
“Whoever really killed her started it. Lucky you, I’m going to find that fucker and end it,” I said.
Cain smiled. “Well, good luck with that.”