I strode past Tony’s old room without pausing. Wilhelmina Murray’s room was only five doors away and I made a beeline for it. It was almost three o’clock in the morning; I could easily use Kennard’s keycard to sneak in unannounced.
Anna wasn’t a suspect, though; not yet. I weighed up my options before reminding myself that I was on the right side of the law, then I raised my fist and knocked.
‘Who is it?’ called a nervous female voice with such speed that I knew she’d not been sleeping. ‘Who’s there?’
I exhaled and chose my words carefully. ‘My name is Emma Bellamy. I work with Tony Brown. Detective Constable Tony Brown. I’m with the police.’ I steeled myself. ‘Anna, I just want to talk to you.’
‘You’ve got the wrong room.’ She sounded even more anxious now. ‘My name isn’t Anna.’
‘I’m not a threat. I promise.’
‘Go away!’
‘I only want to talk.’
‘I said, go AWAY!’
I couldn’t do that. I tensed then pressed the keycard against the lock. A second later, I burst through the door – but unfortunately Anna was ready for me.
There was a blur of movement. I caught a glimpse of smooth skin exploding into dark red fur before she was on me. Her jaws snapped open and grabbed hold of my arm. She sank in her teeth, and I cried out as hot pain flashed through me. I lashed out, not to hurt her but to free myself. I heard a brief whine, but she still wouldn’t let go.
‘Anna…’ Involuntary tears sprang to my eyes. Fuck, that hurt. I tried to shake her off. It was only then, with sudden clarity, that I realised I already had the power to do what I needed to. I gritted my teeth. ‘Anna, you will let go.’
Lukas had asked me if I’d felt a thrum when I’d used Gregory’s name. I hadn’t – but then I’d not been panicking. Neither had I been aware of what I was doing. This time the power flooded me, trembling through my body like an electric shock.
Anna’s sharp wolf teeth immediately released me, my blood staining their white enamel.
‘Back up,’ I growled. When she didn’t react, I repeated, ‘Anna, back up.’
Every hackle along her spine was raised and she snarled at me, but her tail had already dropped between her legs. I was dominant – and she knew it.
I snagged a towel from the bathroom and wrapped it around my injured arm, hoping it would stem the blood even if it didn’t do anything for the pain.
I pointed at the bed. ‘I am going to sit down,’ I said. ‘Don’t move, Anna.’
I sidled past her four-legged body and perched on the edge of the bed. I was still wary of her, but it was imperative that I got her on side as quickly as I could. I had no idea how long my hold over her would last.
‘As I already told you,’ I said, ‘my name is Emma Bellamy. I’m a trainee detective. I was sent to Supe Squad on Monday to work with Tony, but he was murdered just along the corridor from here. I’ve been tracking down his killer ever since, and everything I’ve found suggests that you and your sister are involved. I need to get to the bottom of what’s going on.’ I tightened my makeshift bandage; blood was already seeping through the towel. ‘I think you’re in danger, Anna. I think we’re both in danger.’
She stared at me with baleful yellow eyes. When she opened her mouth, I tensed and prepared for another attack. Instead her muzzle twisted, her fur yielding to smooth skin and human features. Even her eyes changed colour, darkening from pale yellow to cornflower blue.
She wrapped her arms around her body. ‘What did he call you?’
I blinked. ‘Pardon?’
‘What did Tony call you?’
‘Uh, D’Artagnan. He called me D’Artagnan.’
Anna’s face crumpled. Then she sank to the floor and started to cry. ‘Thank … God…’
***
Anna dressed in a fresh set of clothes then sat down opposite to me, her hands turning over and over in her lap. The beaming young woman with sparkles in her eyes had completely gone; this Anna was a pale shadow, wracked with fear, guilt and more besides.
‘He told me about you,’ she said. ‘I think he was worried that you’d interfere and get in the way, but he seemed to like you.’
‘I liked Tony too,’ I said quietly. ‘I only knew him for a day, but he seemed like a good guy.’
