Page 53 of The Tracker's Revenge

“Right? It’s just what I’ve been asking myself all along.” I grinned nervously.

He shook his head, not buying my act at all. “Okay, I think I’ll go get my partner, and we’re going to have to go over this one more time. Interviewing those witnesses can wait. This isfarmore interesting.” Tom stood and watched me from over a flaring nose, looking like an angry father who was carefully crafting a mean speech for his unruly daughter.

Shit.

He was onto me, and at this rate, he was going to expose all my lies and throw me in a cell.

Chapter 18

By the time we wereleaving the police station, my stomach was rumbling like a derailing train. I was so ravenous that the image of a triple-stacked burger combo with a thick, chocolate shake and curly fries kept interrupting my thoughts. Best of all, I knew just the place to get my fix. I pressed a hand to my stomach and winced at its embarrassing commentary.

As we stepped outside of the station, Em gave my roaring stomach a look. I grinned apologetically, wincing a bit. I also had a hunger headache, but at least it was better than starvingina jail cell.

Tom and his partner, Frank Archer, had drilled us mercilessly. I stuck to my original story and managed not to contradict myself. At least I thought so. The lies kept multiplying, and I felt dirty for it. Tom didn’t deserve it.

Before letting us go, he pulled me aside and gave me one of his assessing, questioning stares as if trying to draw the truth out of me by sheer will.

“What?! Why do you keep acting like this?” I’d said, fighting to keep eye contact.

“Because I know you, Toni. You’re hiding something to protect your friends, I think. You’re lying to me more and more every time I see you.”

Gah!That made me feel shitty about that. I had to figure out a way to fix things. I was tempted to tell him everything, but I didn’t know how to get out of the thick ball of yarn I’d been weaving. Besides, the Pack Rule had sworn me to secrecy. I couldn’t begin to tell him anything without running into details I would have to hide anyway.

“Well, I’m not,” I said and actually managed to keep a tight poker face.

“Fine, have it your way, but please, be careful. What you’re toying with is extremely dangerous, and I would be remiss not to warn you. Your father asked me to look out for you, and I’m never gonna stop.”

“I know, Tom, and I love you for it. Just... just find whoever murdered Damien. Find Stephen and lock him behind bars. That’s all I ask.”

“I’m working on it, kiddo. I have every cop in the area combing the city, asking questions. If he’s still in St. Louis, we’ll catch him.”

Now, finally free, I turned my attention to Em and asked, “Happy now?”

She nodded. “I honestly thought that you and your friends... I dunno...” She shrugged. “But you told him everything, and I believe that he’ll really look into it.”

“He will,” I assured her. “Tom’s a man of his word. His promise is like gold.”