Page 32 of Scout’s Honor

He winced as if the separating of their bodies felt like pain.

Bonhi stood up. She went to the window and peeked out. “They’re still here.”

“Yep,” Dallas said.

Bonhi stood still, looking like she didn’t quite know what to do, and then she pointed up her stairs. “I’m going to ah—take a shower.”

Dallas nodded. He didn’t say anything, not sure if she wanted him out or not. She didn’t seem to. She went up the stairs slowly. Dallas waited a moment, until he heard the shower turn on, then went outside, leaving the front door unlocked and ajar.

Dakota saw him coming and burst out of the driver’s side, her dark hair messy. “Can I use the bathroom?” she asked.

Dallas looked at the house, considering, then nodded. “Yeah.”

Dakota rushed inside and Dallas showed her where the bathroom was, then stood there and waited until she was done, and then they went back outside.

Aven leaned against the car, his eyes on Dallas, his expression knowing.

Dallas clasped hands with him. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course. Dario called and told us where to find you.”

Dallas nodded. “Good man. I needed the backup.”

Dakota reached the car and leaned next to Aven.

Aven raised his chin at the house, his expression excited. “He also said you think she’s a switch?”

“Yeah, but Jameson doesn’t see her glow.”

“What? Who is she?”

“Jameson’s lawyer, Bonhi Candor.”

Aven thought for a second, then shook his head. “I saw her at the courthouse. She didn’t glow.”

“She did to me.”

Dakota looked back and forth between them, saying nothing. Switches couldn’t see each other glow most of the time.

Dallas swallowed his pride again and poked his sister. “Dakota, I have to ask you something and I’d like a serious answer.”

She nodded. “Shoot.”

“At the caves, did those women look strange to you?”

“Strange how?”

Dallas looked at the forest behind the houses as he said one embarrassing word, “Blurry.”

Dakota shook her head, huffing a laugh. “No, not blurry.”

Aven crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance, looking at Dallas in that sharp way he had.

“They looked blurry to me,” Dallas said, “But after a bit, the blur disappeared and they looked normal. I thought maybe something was going on with my eyes.” He leaned forward, fixing his stare on Aven. “But the guy who abducted Bonhi last night—he was blurry until I knocked him unconscious.”

Aven nodded slightly. Dakota looked like she wasn’t following the thread.

“Maybe it’s vampires,” Dallas said. He tried to laugh and it came out sounding hollow. “Shit, I don’t know, but it’s something. I’ve seen it twice now and I don’t think I’m crazy.”