Page 25 of Wynter

Granted, Leith and I spent time together first. And he wasn’t running up until the very end. But he still left. And so did Ghost.

“Do you think there’s something wrong with me?” I ask Dominick. I don’t really expect an answer—the question is more rhetorical—but I get one, anyway.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” My heart sinks.

“I didn’t mean that,” Dominick says quickly, his expression apologetic. “There’s nothing wrong with you. I’m sure he’s just in shock. It’s not everyday you find your mate.”

“And yell ‘fuck’ and race out the door?” I shake my head.

“Who was that, anyway? Could he have been the robber?” Dominick grimaces, realizing what he just said. “Not that I’m implying your mate is a robber, of course. But isn’t it unusual that he just showed up and ran back out again?”

“If he was the robber, he wouldn’t just walk in here in broad daylight,” I tell him. “And anyway. That’s Ghost. He’s a detective.”

I pause.

How long has Ghost been in town? Yesterday was the first time I saw him, but he might have been here for more than one day. Maybe even since the robberies began?

My gut tells me I’m wrong. That Ghost wouldn’t stoop so low. And that he’d have no reason to try to sabotage the Cleanly Den and put me out of work.

Then I remember what he did. How he sabotaged my agency placement test to try to keep me from getting recruited. To try to take my place.

But why sabotage my new career? Could he really hate me that much?

The door opens again, and I spin around, ready to confront him.

I’m greeted by two uniformed officers instead. One is Liam—Amber’s troll cop brother-in-law who she kept shifting into back at the cafe—and the other is his vampire partner, Bert.

Ironically, both men have mates named Violet, though Amber’s sister is the town librarian and the other Violet’s happily retired.

“Officers,” Dominick rushes toward them. “There’s been a robbery! My daughter’s necklace was taken. You need to help me find it.”

“Your daughter’s necklace?” Bert scoffs. “That’s why you dragged us out here at the crack of dawn?”

“Bet the night shift’s starting to look more and more appealing,” Liam tells him before turning to Dominick. “The call we got said someone broke into a safe?”

“They took all the money, too. Two grand or thereabouts. But I don’t care about that. I care about the necklace.” Dominick’s words are like ice. “It’s a priceless heirloom. My dead wife left it for our daughter, Avery.”

“I see.” Liam stares at Dominick for several seconds before glancing at me. “I take it you hired the Cleanly Den last night?”

“Yes. That’s right,” Dominick answers easily. “There was an explosion.”

“Was this before or after the items were stolen?” Liam asks.

“Yes. I mean…” Dominick’s voice is strained.

“It was before,” I answer for him.

“Right. Yes. What Zoe said.” Dominick gives me a grateful smile.

Bert jots it down in a tiny notepad, instead of just using his phone, while Liam continues asking questions. Between the two of us, Dominick and I summarize what happened last night.

I came in and started cleaning, while he locked a few things up in the safe and left for the night. Since the Cleanly Den has an ongoing contract with the brewery, and I’ve been there before, I already knew how to lock up. And I didn’t see anyone else go in or out the whole time I was there.

“Did you notice if the safe was open at any point after Dominick left?”

“Yes,” Dominick says. Then practically shouts, “I locked it. I’m sure of it.”