Read Online Changeling Moon by Dani Harper - Free Book Online Page A

Pete’s sake,” she muttered. She wasn’t scared, just annoyed. The old coot obviously recognized her—one of the drawbacks to working for the media—and even if she managed to put some distance between them and get off his radar now, it was likely he’d show up in her office sometime in the future. There’s one or two in every community. . . .
    â€œWhere the hell’s the Neighborhood Patrol when I need them?” Although she’d almost be embarrassed to call for help. The man was far too drunk to catch her, and even if he did, she imagined she would have little trouble defending herself. He already looked like he’d been on the losing end of a fight. Meanwhile, the slow-motion chase would no doubt make great YouTube material— the gimpy victim fleeing the staggering boozehound . Or perhaps a zombie footrace , a little humor for a low-budget horror movie.
    Finally making it to her Bronco, she risked a look back. The drunk was still following her, but was better than half a block away now. She pulled the door open and grabbed her phone off the seat just as he launched into a fresh tirade, his gravelly voice echoing down the deserted street.
    â€œThat damn vet thinks he can tell me what to do ,” he confided loudly to his reflection in the dark store windows. “Macleod thinks he’s so goddamn perfect, but he’s just like me. Just like me.” He suddenly fell to his knees, his hands over his face, groaning and sobbing loudly. “It wasn’t s’posed to work like that. It wasn’t s’posed to be like that. It should have been you, ya fucking bastard! Damn you, Connor Macleod!”
    Zoey had the cell phone to her ear, but froze at the mention of the vet’s name.
    The drunk staggered to his feet, his rage returned. He shook both fists at the empty street. “You hear me, Macleod? But you’re not so smart. You wait, Macleod. I called him, told him. Hear me? I told him fucking everything and he knows what you are!” His tirade was suddenly redirected as a patrol car swung lazily around the corner as if on cue and stopped in front of him. “It’s about time you showed up!” he hollered.
    â€œLooks like you got an early start tonight, Bernie.” A young officer got out and opened the back door for him, stood patiently as the old man staggered over, still complaining loudly. “How’s that face feeling today? Maybe we could get Doc Miller to come by the station and check it out for you.”
    The man stiffened and straightened. Zoey gasped as he swung a hand around and pointed directly at her. “That newspaper bitch wouldn’t listen to me. I got something to show her, and she wouldn’t listen. You ought to do your damn job and arrest her !” He clambered clumsily into the back of the patrol car, continuing his rants.
    The officer closed the door with obvious relief and walked over to Zoey.“Are you all right? Has he been bothering you?”
    â€œI’m fine. He just yelled at me.” Up close, this guy looked even younger than the one who had questioned her about the animal attack.
    â€œHe does a lot of that. He’ll be doing it all night too, I imagine. You can press charges, you know. You don’t have to put up with harassment.”
    She laughed. “I’m in the newspaper business. Getting yelled at is sometimes part of the job. No harm done. But can you tell me who he is?”
    â€œAre you going to write about this? Because technically, I’m not supposed to give out that information.”
    â€œWhat kind of story would it make? Editor shouted at by drunk. Yeah, that’ll sell a lot of papers. I just like to know the names of the people who are upset with me. Helps me to avoid them.”
    The young officer grinned. “Bernard Gervais. He’s in a fantasy world most of the time, so I wouldn’t worry about anything he says.” He touched his hat