Page 14 of Welcome to Fae Cafe
“Who…?” The word got stuck in her throat as her stare dropped to take in the rest of him.
He wore a police uniform. Rain drenched his clothes and hair, running down his face in streams. His lashes were glued together in sections from the water.
“I…” Her throat swelled; tears warmed her eyes. “If you’re here to arrest me, at least let me call my grandma.” His hands were cold, and she shivered as his fingers tightened on her hips.
“You should know why I’m here, Human.” The guy’s voice was low, hoarse, and dark. But it wasn’t his striking tone that brought Kate’s racing mind to a halt.
Human?
Her stomach dropped as that word burrowed holes into the memory she’d already torn apart since morning.
A predatory, turquoise-eyed monster looked at Kate. This guy before her was the same as the golden-eyed guy from the coffee shop.
Kate’s gaze flickered toward the café door that felt too far away. “What do you want?” She could hardly hear her own quiet voice.
“Kate Kole,” the guy said in an icy tone. “I want you to die.”
“W… what?” she rasped. “What did you just say?”
His penetrating stare narrowed like he was waiting for something. He didn’t blink, even when beads of rainwater rolled into his open eyes. After a few seconds, his lips thinned in an impatient way.
Kate’s hands balled into fists. “What’s the matter with you?” she whispered.
The guy’s face changed. The death-look dissolved into surprise. He looked her over, his gaze snagging on her throat. That’s where it stayed as he reached behind him for something that drove an uneasy feeling into Kate’s chest.
She swung her fist toward his face. He dodged her punch, and her knuckles struck his shoulder. It barely moved him. She shoved his arm out of her way and ran toward the café door, but the guy grabbed a fistful of her sweater and yanked her backward into his chest. His arm wrapped around her waist, sealing her against his damp police uniform, and he said into in her ear, “I’ll learn yourrealname, Kate Kole, and I’ll give you the painful death you deserve. If you tell any other humans about me, that human officer outside will die beside you.”
He released her, and Kate staggered forward as the bell of the café door sounded.
In marched Lily with her soaked shirt unbuttoned at her throat.
“I totally forgot my—” Lily skidded to a halt. “Officer Riley,” she said in surprise, glancing to the guy in the police uniform. “What are you doing here?” She stood a little taller and idly brushed her fingers over her messy collar.
“Following up on the murder confession.” The guy’s response came out clean and cool, nothing like the icy tone he’d just used to threaten Kate.
Kate blinked at Lily as the guy brushed by them both. An earthy, floral scent passed with him. He opened the door to leave but glanced back at Kate one last time, his turquoise eyes making extra vows his next comment didn’t:
“I’ll see you again soon,” he promised.
He stepped out into the rain, pulling on a police hat, and he let the door slam shut behind him.
Kate stared at the empty doorway. Prickles were left all over her skin.
“Unreal,” Lily said as she sighed and rolled her eyes. “I literallyjusttold Westbow I would take this case. But it seems like he already sent out the new guy.”
“How do you know that officer?” Kate asked from a dry throat. Her back was still wet from his uniform.
“Officer Riley? He’s a transfer from Ottawa. He just started today. He actually showed up super late, if you can believe that. On his first day.”
A chill ran up Kate’s damp spine as she thought of the real Officer Riley lying in a ditch somewhere.
“If you tell any other humans about me, that human officer outside will die beside you.”
Kate turned toward the counter so Lily couldn’t see her face. On an ordinary day, Kate wouldn’t believe such a bizarre threat. But there was nothing ordinary about today.
“Hey, you okay?” Lily’s voice travelled across the café as she grabbed her vest off the counter. “Don’t worry about the investigation, Kate. I’ll take care of it. Officer Riley won’t be coming back here with any more questions.”
Kate reached for her coat and book bag, trying to suppress the tremor in her movements. “I’ll go see that therapist,” she said. She bit her lips hard enough to leave a mark. “Be careful on your walk back to the station, Lil. You have your gun, right?”
