Pride of the Lion

Chapter Nine

Araminta glanced in the rearview mirror but Leander was already gone, vanished in the blink of an eye. For a big guy he could really move. She’d question if he were real but for the minor rips in the passenger seat from his sharp claws and the tingling of her lips where he’d kissed her before he’d climbed out of the car.

He’d been furious at her suggestion that she go on without him. His golden eyes had burned with an inner fire and the roar that had filled her car had made the fine hairs on her entire body stand on end. But she’d never truly been afraid, not for herself. She’d instinctively understood his anger was not directed at her but at the situation.

Her house was just up the road, an older bungalow surrounded by mature trees and a fenced yard. Several of her neighbors stood on their front porches watching the excitement. Two police cars sat in front of the house, one in the driveway and the other by the curb. She pulled in behind the one in her driveway and climbed out of her car.

Immediately, the officer on her front porch turned toward her. “Ms. Davidson?”

“Yes.” She grabbed her purse and hurried up the walkway, hand extended. “What happened?”

“I’m Officer Adams.”

She started to go around him, but he blocked her path. He was tall and good-looking with a serious expression. She frowned, but he shook his head. “Let’s take a moment and talk before you go inside.”

Her stomach jumped and breakfast soured. Was the damage inside that bad? Araminta clutched her purse strap in a death grip, took a deep breath and nodded. She could do this. The faster she dealt with the authorities, the faster they would leave. “All right.”

“Where have you been?”

“I was at a writer’s conference in Fargo.”

“You stayed in the city rather than coming home?” He took out a small black notebook and made a note.

“Yes.” Her gaze went to her open front door and back to the officer. “I don’t like to drive at night, and since I was a guest author the room was paid for by the convention organizers. I knew I’d be at some events until late.” And she was rambling so she shut her mouth.

The officer nodded. “Makes sense. Who knew you were going to be away this weekend?”

That question made her stop and think. The list was longer than she’d thought. “My next-door neighbor, the conference organizers and most of the people attending.” When he raised an eyebrow in question, she elaborated. “I was one of the featured authors so there was a lot of advance publicity.”

The officer’s blue eyes darkened as he continued to jot notes. “So the hotel staff probably knew too?”

Her knees felt wobbly but she stiffened them and squared her shoulders. “I imagine so. My agent knew too.”

He sighed and stuffed his notebook into his shirt pocket. “That’s a lot of people.”

Her heart sank. “So you’re saying we’ll probably never know who broke in.” Leander seemed to think it was related to the whole war with Hades, but it might be nothing more than a simple robbery. And World War II was a slight disagreement between countries. She was lying to herself. This was all about the mess she’d found herself in the center of. She knew it as sure as she was standing here.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Davidson. But that’s the way it goes sometimes. We’ve dusted the locks for prints, but I wouldn’t hold out much hope.”

“Can I go inside now?” She nibbled on her bottom lip, wondering where Leander was and hoping he was safe.

“Absolutely.” He stood back and allowed her to walk in front of him. When they reached the door, he held it open for her.

The first thing she saw was the mess. Cushions, books, DVDs and knickknacks were tossed everywhere. A plant had been upended in the corner and dirt was strewn across the carpet.

Another officer turned in her direction when she entered. “Ms. Davidson?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Officer Kent.”

Officer Adams took over and spoke to the other officer. “She gave me a list of everyone who would have known she was away this weekend.”

“Good. We’re just about finished here.” He turned to Araminta. “Could you take a look around and see if you notice anything missing.” He frowned and motioned toward the television in the corner of the living room. “None of your electronics seem to be missing, except for your computer. I didn’t see a desktop or a laptop anywhere.”

“I have my laptop in the car. I took it with me to the convention in case I got inspired to write.” And she was so thankful she had. Losing her work would be worse than losing anything else she owned.

She started down the hallway and whirled suddenly. Both officers immediately went on alert. Officer Kent’s hand dropped down to touch his sidearm. “Where’s Percy?”

“Who?” Officer Adams asked.

“The cat.” Officer Kent’s hand fell away from his weapon as he reminded his partner about her pet. He offered her a reassuring smile. “Your neighbor took him over to her place. She said you could leave him with her until we left. I don’t think your cat likes people.”

That was an understatement if she’d ever heard one. Percy didn’t like anyone but her, and Araminta believed that was only because she was the one who fed him. He tolerated Mary Jo for the same reason. Her neighbor snuck him treats from time to time.

Relief hit Araminta hard and she placed her hand over her racing heart. Her first question should have been about her beloved pet. If something had happened to him she’d never have forgiven herself. “Thank you.” She turned away, using the wall as support as she made her way toward her bedroom.

She stopped in the doorway and leaned against the jamb for support. Dresser drawers had been upended and the bed stripped. The sheets and blankets were tossed onto the floor.

“Looks as though they were searching for something specific.” Officer Adams had come up behind her. He motioned to the top of the dresser. “Check your jewelry box. We need to know if anything is missing.”

“This makes no sense,” she muttered as she went to her jewelry box and opened it. Her grandmother’s pearl necklace and matching earrings were still there. Other than a gold chain she’d gotten for her eighteenth birthday, everything else was costume jewelry. “It’s all there.”

She took a step back and sank down on the bare mattress. “I don’t understand. I don’t have expensive things or a lot of money. I own the house, but that’s about it.”

The officer hovered beside her. “Do you have any idea what they might have been looking for? Anything that might have value.”

She dropped her purse beside her and buried her face in her hands. She felt violated in the worst way. This home had always been her sanctuary, her hope. Now it was tainted with fear. She scrubbed her hands over her cheeks and took a deep breath. “The only thing that has value is my work. And I can’t see anyone else wanting it.”

“You said you’re a writer?” Officer Adams checked his notes.

She nodded and felt her cheeks warming. “Romance author. I write paranormal romance.” She stood and tried to appear professional. “The thing is, I just turned in the galleys for my latest book and have barely started working on the third book. I have about twenty pages and my notes. But that wouldn’t be of value to anyone but me.”

He made a few notations in his notebook before putting it away again. “Okay, if there’s nothing else you can add we’re finished here.”

“You’re leaving?” She wanted them to go, needed them to go so Leander could join her, but for the first time in her life she was afraid to be alone in her own home. Unacceptable. She stiffened her backbone. “Do you need me to sign a statement or something?”

He reached into his pocket and drew out a card. “We’ll file a report. I’ll contact you later today or tomorrow. If you think of anything you can add to what you’ve already told me, please call.”

She took his card and slid it into the back pocket of her jeans. “Thank you.”

He started to leave but hesitated. “Do you have anyone you can call? I don’t expect them to return,” he hurried to assure her. “This was probably the work of kids out for a lark, probably searching for drugs and alcohol.”

“I don’t have either.”

He nodded. “They probably didn’t take the television, because, well…”

“It’s okay to say it. It’s old and basically worthless.” She still had one of the old heavy clunkers. She’d been planning on buying a flat screen this summer if her royalty check was big enough.

He smiled. “Yeah. It wouldn’t have been worth the money to drag it out of here. They probably got frustrated when they couldn’t find anything and wrecked the place instead.”

She nodded, even though she knew that likely wasn’t the scenario. “I’m sure you’re right.” But if it this did involve Hades somehow, what did he want? What was he searching for?

She followed Officer Adams to the front door. His partner was already by their police cruiser. Two other officers strode down the road toward the car parked at the curb.

“They’ve been talking to your neighbors to see if anyone noticed anything unusual,” he told her in reply to her unasked question.

She nodded. Great, now all her neighbors would be watching her house more closely for the next day. Exactly what she didn’t need.

“There was no sign of forced entry, but these locks are old. You should probably get a locksmith out and install some newer ones. You’ll probably sleep better.” Officer Adams motioned toward their car. “I’m going to have to get you to move your car so we can leave.”

“Oh, of course.” With her mind spinning, she’d forgotten she was blocking their vehicle. She patted her pockets, her mind blank.

Officer Adams seemed to recognize her difficulty. “Are they in your purse?”

“Of course,” she repeated and hurried down the hallway. Her purse was still sitting on the bed where she’d left it. She dug for her keys but couldn’t find them. Upending her purse, she dumped the contents on the bare mattress. Everything was there but her keys.

They were still in the car. She’d been in such a hurry she’d left them there.

Officer Adams had joined his partner in their vehicle and they were both waiting on her. The other police car had already left. Most of her neighbors had drifted inside. She hurried to her car and breathed a sigh of relief to see her keys still in the ignition. She started the car and backed out of the driveway. The police car pulled out and headed down the street.

Araminta pulled her car back in, turned it off and this time removed the keys. Her front door was wide open and she hurried inside, slamming the door behind her. She clicked the locks on and scurried to the back door to make sure it was locked.

Not that it really mattered. Obviously the locks hadn’t been much of a challenge for whoever had broken in. They were old locks from the fifties and she’d never changed them because there simply wasn’t that much crime here. She lived in a good neighborhood in a good town.

Leaning against the door, she took a deep breath. She was shaking and her stomach was queasy. Officer Adams was right. She needed new locks, better locks in order to feel more secure, maybe even an attack dog or an Uzi. She swallowed the lump in her throat and wondered if she’d ever feel safe here again.

The refrigerator cut in and the humming sound broke the silence and made her jump. She usually loved being by herself, enjoyed her own company and her books, but now the quiet felt oppressive, almost frightening. She pushed away from the door and went to her office. She’d only caught a glimpse of it earlier. Like the rest of the place, the floor was filled with papers and stuff from the top of her desk. Paperclips, rubber bands and pens were everywhere.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back. There was no time to cry. She had to get Percy back from Mary Jo. With that mission in mind, she headed back to the front door and locked it behind her before hurrying down the pathway and up the sidewalk to the small house next door. They were practically identical in layout, both older two-bedroom bungalows built in the fifties.

The door opened before she reached it and Mary Jo stood there, concern etched on her face. Her name suited her as she had brunette hair, blue eyes and a smattering of freckles. She looked like the girl-next-door, and Araminta had known Mary Jo most of her life. They’d played together as children and, while Araminta had moved away for a short while, Mary Jo had stayed home to nurse her ailing mother. When her mother had passed on, Mary Jo had stayed in the house she’d grown up in. She worked full time at the local grocery store in their bakery department and decorated cakes on the side.

“Is anything missing?” Mary Jo practically dragged her into the house. “I couldn’t tell for sure, not in all that mess.”

“I don’t think so. The police think it was probably kids looking for booze and drugs, and when they didn’t find anything they wrecked the place.” That was as good a story as any and, if she hadn’t met Leander and stumbled into the whole curse mess, she’d probably believe it.

“Well, that’s a relief. You want some coffee?” Mary Jo went to the counter and poured a cup for herself. “I made coffee cake too.”

Araminta shook her head. “No, thanks. I need to get home and start clearing away that mess.”

“I’ll come help you.”

“No.” When her friend simply stared at her, Araminta tried to smile, knowing she’d been more than a little abrupt. “I mean, I think I need to go through this mess myself.” And she had no idea when Leander was going to show up.

“Okay.” Mary Jo looked a little hurt, but there wasn’t anything Araminta could do about that. She didn’t want to drag her friend into the middle of this war she found herself embroiled in. Then her friend’s expression changed. “You said we when you called. Did you bring a man home with you?”

Araminta knew she looked guilty. She was no good at lying, not to Mary Jo who’d known her for so long.

“Well then, that’s okay. As long as you call me later with more details.” Mary Jo came over to her and bumped hips. “You go, girl.”

“It’s not like that,” she blurted out.

“Well, if it’s not, it should be. You deserve to have some fun.”

Araminta didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her life was spiraling more out of control with every passing second. “Where’s Percy?”

Mary Jo snorted. “He’s currently sunning himself on my bed and showing his indifference to the world.” Her friend was the only other person who appreciated Percy’s unique personality.

Araminta hurried down the hallway and everything inside her settled when she saw the big black cat sprawled out over Mary Jo’s heirloom quilt, looking every inch like the conqueror of the world. She went to him and he turned his head away, letting her know he was displeased with her for leaving him home alone.

“Hey, Percy.” She scratched him behind his ragged ear and he deigned to swivel his head and peer at her with his piecing green eyes. “Time to go home.” He didn’t stir and she knew she’d have to carry him if she was going to get him to move.

She scooped him up, loving the heavy weight of him, the comfort of his warm body against hers. She was chilled to the bone.

Mary Jo was waiting by the front door for her. “You sure you don’t need any help?”

“I’m sure. And thanks for everything.”

Her friend shook her head. “You’d do the same for me. Call me,” she ordered.

“Tomorrow,” Araminta promised. This would be over by then one way or the other. If she was still alive, she’d call Mary Jo.

She could sense her friend watching her, so she forced herself to take her time as she walked down the driveway, around the white picket fence and up to her own front door. Araminta only hoped that Mary Jo’s curiosity didn’t get the best of her. The last thing she needed was her friend coming over and running into one of Hades’ demons. That would be a little difficult to explain.

She fumbled with the keys and unlocked the door. Percy was a dead weight in her arms and she knew it would take at least a week of his favorite cat food, the expensive kind, before he forgave her for leaving him behind. He had to have been frightened when whoever it was had broken into the house.

She shoved the door open and stepped inside.

“Where the hell have you been?”

She jumped about a mile in the air and inadvertently crushed the cat. Percy hissed his displeasure and vaulted from her arms to land agilely on the floor and scurry away. Rough hands grabbed her and pulled her against a rock-hard chest. Immediately the familiar scent of a hot afternoon in the desert filled her nostrils. It was earthy and elemental and all Leander. She threw her arms around Leander and held on to him, needing the support, both physically and emotionally.

Leander was almost out of his mind with worry. Araminta hadn’t been here when he’d arrived. When he’d seen the police vehicles leave the street, he’d made his way through the backyards of all the houses on the street, avoiding several small dogs until he’d finally reached Araminta’s home. He’d knocked, but she hadn’t answered. Terrified for her safety, he’d forced the back door open and rushed through the house calling her name. Before he could launch into a full-blown panic—an up until now unknown emotion—he’d heard the front door open.

He closed his arms around her, his panic receding with each second he held her. She was safe. Hades hadn’t gotten to her in the time they’d been apart.

Her face was buried against his chest and he thought he heard her sniff. Worry assailed him. Was she crying? She’d already dealt with so much, and this fight had barely started. He tried to ease her away so he could look at her, but she clung even tighter.

He rubbed his hand up and down her spine, soothing her as best he could. He brushed his lips over the top of her head and rocked her gently in his arms. His fellow warriors would bust a gut laughing if they could only see him now. Him, the king of the beasts, tamed by a small human female.

A nasty hiss sounded from his left and he glanced at the back of the sofa. A huge black cat with a ragged ear sat there glaring at him. “This must be Percy.”

Araminta nodded, gave another suspicious sniff and stepped away. He studied her critically. In spite of everything, she was holding it together admirably. He immediately missed having her in his arms, but he knew they had to get down to business. There would be time for pleasure if they survived. No, when they survived. He would accept no other outcome.

Her eyes were moist, but she blinked hard several times and offered him a faint smile. “I had to go over to Mary Jo’s place next door to get Percy. He’s not exactly happy with me at the moment.”

Leander walked over the sofa and squatted down beside it. He held out his hand to the cat and waited.

“Percy doesn’t really like people.” Araminta hovered behind him and he could sense her uncertainty.

“I’m not a normal person,” he reminded her. He gave a loud purr and the cat canted his head to one side, studying him. Leander made the sound again and Percy stood and leapt down to the bottom cushion of the sofa. Seconds later, the cat began to purr and butted his head against Leander’s outstretched hand.

Araminta gasped. “He likes you. He rarely comes to people at all. Usually, he’ll turn his back and give the cold-shoulder treatment.”

Leander scratched the cat behind the ears and slowly stood. “He recognizes a fellow cat when he sees him.”

Araminta looked startled, then her lips tilted upward. It was astonishing to see the change that came over her entire face. Her gray eyes brightened and her skin took on a rosy glow. She opened her mouth and laughed. The sound rushed over his skin like velvet, stimulating every nerve ending and stirring his blood.

He reached out, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.