Chapter Two
The swirl of blue lights lit up the exterior of Maisey’s house. The two uniformed cops had finished their search, and just as Maisey had predicted, they hadn’t turned up much. They’d been helpful enough. Even promised to patrol more in the area.
One guy had even said he’d try to get a crime scene tech out the next day…
But neither fellow had seemed to think the crime would be solved. They’d asked for the serial number of her laptop. Told her that they’d check the local pawn shops. Then they’d gotten a call to another scene.
That call had led to the currently flashing lights as they prepared to rush away.
A twig snapped behind Odin. He didn’t move.
“Is everything all right?” A male voice called as Maisey’s neighbor closed in. “I saw the police lights, and I was afraid something had happened to Maisey!”
Slowly, Odin turned his head to look at the man. Tall, leanly muscled. Dressed in khaki pants and a white, dress shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Clean-cut. Sounding appropriately concerned. Looking it, too, as the blue lights darted over his face.
“She’s fine,” Odin assured him. “Just had a break-in.”
“A break-in?” The man took a lurching step toward Maisey’s house. “I should go check on her!”
Odin moved into his path. “Yeah…no.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
The guy jerked to a halt. “Who are you?”
I’m her PI. “Maisey’s special friend.”
“What?”
“I’ll be helping her out tonight.” A pause. “Don’t think I caught your name.” His gaze scanned over the neighbor. A thorough scan from the guy’s head to his slightly dirty dress shoes.
The neighbor craned to peer around Odin. “Didn’t catch yours, either.”
“Odin.” A pause. “Did you catch it?” He pushed a hint of steel into his voice. A hint of…stop looking at her and deal with me, asshole.
The man’s head turned back to him. “I did.” Flat. “And I’m Clay. Clay Prescott.”
“Were you home tonight, Clay?”
“Why?” Suspicious. Guarded.
Odin shrugged. “Because I thought you might have seen the jerk who broke into Maisey’s home.”
Clay glanced back over his shoulder, toward his place. “I wasn’t home.”
“Huh. Too bad. If you’d been here, you might have been able to spot the intruder.”
Clay’s attention shifted back to him. “I didn’t see anything. I just got back a few minutes ago. I didn’t—Maisey!”
Now he did lunge around Odin and rush toward Maisey. Clay sure seemed eager to get close to her. As he approached, Odin saw Maisey stiffen.
Clay lifted his hands, as if he’d touch her—hell, no, don’t you dare—but he froze awkwardly before actually making contact. “Uh, are you ok?”
Maisey’s gaze flew toward Odin. Then back to Clay. “Fine.”
She sounded anything but fine.
“Your friend…” Clay jerked his thumb toward Odin. “He said you had a break-in.”
“Yes.” Soft.
Odin sidled away from them, but he kept his eyes on Maisey. It only took him a moment to push through the bushes, to get next to the car parked in Clay’s drive, and to touch the hood…
Ice cold.
No way the guy had just gotten home. That made lie number one for Clay Prescott.
“What was taken?” Clay demanded to know.
Well, well. Clay was certainly the curious-slash-nosey neighbor.
The police cruiser pulled away. The lights were still flashing as the cops raced to the next scene.
Odin sidled back toward Maisey.
“My laptop,” he heard her say. “A few other things.” A nice, vague reply, Odin thought. Better than her saying, “My murder board.” A sigh escaped Maisey’s lips as she added, “But the laptop was the most important thing.”
Clay curled his hand around her shoulder. Gave her a seemingly reassuring squeeze.
Odin’s eyes narrowed. You need to stop that shit. A growl rumbled in his throat.
Clay’s gaze immediately jumped to him.
“Don’t,” Odin told him flatly.
“Don’t…what?”
“Don’t touch what isn’t yours.”
Clay’s eyes seemed to bulge. “Excuse me?”
“No.” Odin closed in. He lifted Clay’s hand off a visibly uncomfortable Maisey. “She doesn’t want you touching her. So you don’t.”
Maisey crept closer to Odin.
Clay’s gaze drifted between them. “Special friend,” he muttered.
Odin inclined his head. “Very special. The kind of friend who gets seriously pissed when anything or anyone upsets Maisey.” And he was staring straight at someone who upset her very, very much. It was time for Clay to exit the scene. But first, “Where did you say you were tonight?”
“I didn’t.” Clay’s attention shifted back to Maisey.
The man sure seemed to enjoy staring at her.
Too much.
Maisey’s arm brushed against Odin. She was almost standing on top of his feet. She’d also gotten very quiet. When she’d come to his office, she’d been a bundle of energy and words. She’d told him that she talked a lot when she was nervous.
Apparently, when she was scared, she went dead silent. Odin made a mental note to never forget that about her.
Actually, he made a mental note to remember everything about her.
“Where were you?” Odin asked as he sized up Maisey’s suspect.
“Why the hell do you want to know?” Clay’s focus was still on Maisey.
He needed to stop that shit.
“Because you’re her only neighbor,” Odin replied.
Maisey caught his arm. Put it around her shoulders.
Odin stiffened. But if she wanted him holding her…
He pulled her closer.
Clay’s stare finally rose to lock with his. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough light for Odin to clearly make out the guy’s expression.
But I’m betting he’s pissed.
“You’re her only neighbor,” Odin repeated smoothly. “So I thought you might have seen something useful. Coming or going from your destination, that is.”
“I was out walking along the beach. Watching the sunset then taking in the stars. Like I said, I only just returned home. Didn’t see anything useful.” A long exhale. “I’m sorry this happened, Maisey. I keep meaning to get one of those security doorbell cameras. If I’d had one, at least I could have seen the people driving by on the street.”
“Maisey will have one of those cameras installed first thing tomorrow,” Odin assured him. “In fact, her whole house will be equipped with cameras. She’s getting a long overdue security upgrade.” His voice lowered. “This will not happen again.”
“I’m getting an upgrade?” Maisey asked as her head turned toward him.
“Yes.” He felt her stare, but his focus was on his target. “Thanks for being neighborly,” he said to Clay. “But I’ve got Maisey from here on out.”