Page 11 of Trees Take the Long View

"What's the matter?" said Dean.

"No thanks," said the sheriff to the waitress. "I'm looking for—" His eyes alighted on us, and he fell silent, and strode towards us.

My eyes narrowed further. He was not going to interrupt the perfect meal with my maybe-mate! No, sir!

I got up, throwing down my napkin, ready to square off if need be.

"Alec," said Dean, truly shocked. He was on his feet now, too, and put a hand on my arm. "It's fine. I'll handle it."

Well, he was right. The man was probably here to talk to him, not me. But still. Not okay. I really had no use for law enforcement anymore.

The sheriff's gaze darted between us, lingered for a moment on the way we were standing, close together, Dean's hand on my arm. Then his gaze settled on Dean. "You're with the Cops and Wolves people, aren't you?" he said. His hand was resting near his belt. Was he thinking about pulling a gun? But he wasn't armed. Maybe he just reached for his gun automatically to comfort himself. Like a small child, grabbing his crotch to reassure himself everything was still there. His source of power...

I must've been shooting him pretty hostile looks, but he ignored them.

I didn't know his name; hadn't bothered to learn it. But I was aware of who in town was law enforcement, and I stayed away from them. Till they came into diners, interrupting meals and demanding to talk with the man I wanted as my mate.

"Shifters and Partners, yes," said Dean, somewhat warily.

"I need your help," said the sheriff, and swallowed hard. Then he glanced at me as well. His gaze looked almost deferential. "And your partner's."

"Whoa," said Dean, holding up both hands. "I think there's been some confusion."

"I'd say so," I added, scowling. "I don't work with the cops."

"I'm not a law enforcement official. We're not actually partners." He waved a hand back and forth in the space between me and him. There wasn't much of it; his fingers accidentally tapped my chest.

I liked standing close to him; I wasn't going to be the one to move.

"Well, uh, whatever sort of partners you are." The sheriff's gaze got skittish, wanting to settle anywhere but us. "Point being, there's a child missing. And the department could sure use some help finding her as quickly as possible. I'd take help from the devil himself for this case—and it sure would be useful if the expert and the wolf shifter in town could help, instead."

#

After sharing a few details, the cop left us to our dessert, nodding to Dean, and looking at me once before quickly averting his eyes. He might not know why I hated cops, but he was nervous around me. Probably thought all shifters were secretly killers or something. Whatever. I didn't want anything to do with him no matter what asinine thing he believed.

And stay out!I thought at his retreating back, glaring. My mouth tasted sour, and I felt shaky and a little sick.

A missing kid. Fuck.

That was the sort of thing I thought I'd be doing when I signed on to the program: working with cops to save the day, protecting small children and finding people in danger. Things that let me be a hero, even if a mild, "just doing my job, ma'am" sort of hero. Like being a firefighter: you saved people.

And now I'd have a chance...if I could bring myself to work with 'em again.

Dean looked at me, sidelong. "What did you think? About helping out, I mean?" He traced a finger on the ancient tabletop, looking down at it instead of me when I didn't answer immediately. "If you'd rather not, I can call someone, I'm sure."

He sounded so quiet and sad. I hated to hear that.

I sighed. Loudly. "No. I'll help. I just—" I made a disgusted sound. "I didn't want to work with the cops ever again."

"But a kid."

"Yeah. A kid. I'll help if you'll stick by me. You're not a cop."

That made him smile. "Oh, is that the only reason? Not an excuse to spend more time together, anything like that?"

"Of course not." I was offended. "We'd have found that no matter what."

This made him laugh. "Go on. Finish your dessert and let's go pitch in. Maybe it'll be a quick search, over by tomorrow."