Page 12 of Immortal by Morning (Argeneau #37)

Peters was leaning against his car over by the excavation site when Abril and Lilith stepped outside. Spotting her, he smiled

and waved. She smiled and waved back, but then headed in the opposite direction, walking Lilith to the grass that stretched

out to the right of the driveway. As expected, the Lab was ready for this outing and relieved herself pretty quickly. When

Lilith then tried heading toward the other side of the house, Abril let her. But only until they’d reached Officer Peters.

Reining her in then, Abril held her in check as she turned to ask him, “All by yourself now?”

“Yeah. Detectives Roberts and Delacort are out questioning the neighbors. They’ll be back though,” he told her.

Abril just nodded, trying not to look like she cared. She peered toward the people working in the excavation. Officer Peters’s

car was much closer to it than it had been. But then she’d heard Roberts telling him earlier to move his car forward and sit

in it to keep warm while he watched the site and waited for the forensics team. He’d moved it quite close. Standing at the

front of the vehicle as they were, she could see right down into the large hole and the activity taking place. There were

only two people now, kneeling around the first body that Lilith had dug up. It had only been a skull then; now the bones that

made up the neck, the clavicles, the first couple of ribs, and the upper arms were on display. She could also see that what

looked like the bones of the lower half of a foot had been uncovered next to the neck bones and above the left clavicle. Probably

not the skull guy’s foot, she thought with a frown and asked, “How late will they be working today?”

“I’m not sure,” Peters admitted, and then grinned and added, “I’m just a lowly patrolman, no one tells me anything.”

Abril smiled in return, but then glanced back to the skeleton and the workers in white overalls, booties, and gloves. “Well,

they’ll have to stop when the sun goes down. They won’t be able to see what they’re doing then.”

“Yes,” Peters agreed, and then added, “Unless they have work lights coming to light up the area.”

“Work lights?” she asked with alarm, thinking that would be like a neon sign to the neighbors, rousing their curiosity and probably bringing them around en masse.

“But I don’t think they do,” he said quickly on noting her expression. “I think they only requested a tent. At least, that’s

all I heard Bill ask for when he called in.”

“What do they need with a tent?” Abril asked at once. “They aren’t sleeping here, are they?”

“They aren’t, but I might be,” Peters said dryly.

Abril raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

“Someone has to guard the site overnight to be sure it isn’t messed with,” he pointed out. “That might be me, at least until

my shift ends. Or they might send somebody else out. I don’t know yet.”

Abril glanced back to the area in question. She didn’t think they’d have to worry about human invaders messing with the site.

Certainly, she wouldn’t be going near it. However, there were a lot of dogs in the neighborhood, as well as coyotes and other

animals in the woods behind the houses that might be interested in the bones. She supposed guarding it wasn’t a bad idea.

“But the tent isn’t for you or whoever guards the site, is it? I mean you can hardly guard it if you’re lounging around in

a tent.”

“No. The tent is to protect the site in case it rains again.”

“Oh.” She hadn’t thought of that. “Sensible I guess.”

Lilith was tugging pretty hard on the leash, eager to join the people working in the hole, digging up the treasure she’d discovered.

Holding her back was starting to be a strain on her muscles, so she finally said, “I suppose I should take her inside, before

she breaks loose and starts digging up more bodies or something.”

“Yeah, Bill wouldn’t like that. Digging is his job.”

Abril chuckled at what was obviously a joke and gave him a little wave as she dragged Lilith away to take her inside.

She fed Lilith first, and then started her own supper. Sadly, it took much longer to make her meal than it had to heat up

the homemade dog food Gina insisted on for her “baby.” Lilith was done eating long before Abril was finished cooking fries

and Bob’s famous chili. Sadly, Lilith was ready to go outside again just as Abril deemed her meal ready and pulled out a plate

to serve herself.

“Now?” She groaned, eyeing her unhappily. When Lilith whimpered, ran to the sliding door, and gave her the big sad eyes, Abril

gave in with a sigh. “Fine. But I’m hungry. So, there will be no messing around. No sniffing half the yard before deciding

on the perfect spot to poop. You will take care of business and come right back in. Understood?”

Abril wasn’t surprised when Lilith didn’t respond. Still, she muttered under her breath about how she’d got stuck watching

the dog when she didn’t have a dog herself as she set down her plate. Abril then turned the flames off under the chili, checked

the fries in the oven, turned that off as well, and went to grab Lilith’s leash.

A new vehicle had joined the others in the driveway when Abril stepped outside. It was a white van with the police logo on

the side. She was eyeing it with interest when Officer Peters and another man appeared from the other side of the van, carrying

items toward the excavation area. Abril was curious, but Lilith was tugging at her leash, forcing her back to what they were

out there for.

Turning her attention to the Labrador, she followed her around the corner of the house.

It was a spot Lilith always ended up going to whenever she needed to do number two.

Abril supposed she felt more protected here.

The main house was on one side, Abril in front, and the pool room jutted out from the back of the house behind Lilith.

It left only one direction unprotected, and Lilith always faced that direction so she was covered on all sides.

“Yeah, I suppose I’d feel better pooping here too, girl,” Abril murmured as Lilith began walking in a small circle with her

nose to the ground.

“I would think you would prefer one of the indoor washrooms.”

Abril jerked her head around to see Roberts and Delacort approaching. It was Detective Roberts who had made the teasing comment.

Detective Delacort was actually scowling at him for it and when he said something to him under his breath, she was quite sure

it was, “Do not embarrass her.” At least, that’s what it sounded like to her, and she thought it was sweet that he would be

protective of her like that.

Roberts was less impressed. He rolled his eyes at his friend for his trouble.

Grinning at the interaction, Abril asked, “Done grilling the neighbors?”

“How did you know where we were?” Roberts asked, but it was Delacort who answered his question.

“No doubt Peters told her.”

“Yes, he did,” she admitted. “Find out anything new or interesting?”

The two men glanced at each other.

“You did!” Abril guessed with excitement.

“Well, you have to tell me. I mean I’m the one presently living here with a bunch of dead people in the garden.

” When they both hesitated, still looking at each other in question, she added bribery to the mix.

“I’ll give you some of Bob’s world-famous chili and chips if you tell me. ”

“Chili and chips?” Delacort asked with what might have been interest.

“Mm-hmm.” She nodded solemnly and assured him, “It’s Bob’s recipe and really good.”

“Bob?” Delacort asked, a small frown pulling at his mouth.

“He was the cook in a restaurant he and his wife, Barb, owned and ran. I worked there for a while. His chili was kind of famous

in the area for how good it was.”

“Ah,” Delacort relaxed and smiled faintly.

“Oh, go on,” Roberts said lightly. “Take her inside and tell her what we learned over chili and chips while I see if the men

need help with the tent.”

“The tent is here?” Abril asked, but then thought that must have been what she’d seen Officer Peters and the new man carrying

from the van.

“They were just starting to set it up when we pulled in,” Delacort told her. “But we saw you outside with Lilith and decided

we should first talk to you about our staying to guard the site.”

“Now that we have, I should get over there and see what I can do to help.” Roberts nodded at her, then turned to walk away.

Abril stared after him with amazement. His idea of talking about their staying to guard was apparently just mentioning it. Shaking her head, she watched as he disappeared around the corner of the house, and then smiled shyly at Delacort before turning to focus on Lilith.

It was ridiculous. She wasn’t the shy sort as a rule, and certainly hadn’t felt shy around him earlier. But now that they’d

kissed it was different. Every time she looked at him, she felt a blush heating her cheeks. Mind you, that wasn’t the only

place she got warm when she looked at him. In fact, the heat that raced through her body when she was near him might very

well be causing her blushes. It was rather embarrassing reacting to a near stranger like a bitch in heat. At least it was

for Abril. Unfortunately, she didn’t see an end to her response to him in the near future. Which meant she’d better get used

to it, she supposed.

Lilith was quick about her business tonight. It was a great relief to Abril since she couldn’t think of a thing to say to

Delacort. He appeared to have the same problem so that they simply stood there in an uncomfortable silence until Lilith finished.