I couldn’t sit around and do nothing, waiting for whatever information Cole dug up.
As suspected, Magnolia didn’t have any information. But back in the parking lot I did find a shattered smart phone and one dirty invitation; Melinda and Mathew’s. There was no doubt in my mind the phone belonged to Claire, and that this was where Crane had taken her.
Chapter 11
Claire
T he cage stood empty as I paced in front of it, frustrated. I’d managed to get out, but hadn’t been able to open the heavy wooden door. Not for a lack of trying, though. Deep scratches scored the wood where I’d tried and failed to pry it open.
It must’ve been barred from the other side. And the only window was a tiny one high on the wall. Even if I shifted back to human form, there was no hope of me using it as an escape. Instead I waited. And planned.
When Vince finally came back for me, he was a dead bear. One swipe of my paw, and I’d lay him out flat. All I needed was an opening.
Still in bear form, I rested against the cement wall, listening. All I heard was the faint rumble of a television, and occasionally, light footsteps, but no voices and no conversation.
It didn’t appear anyone was around except Crane. That was good. Now all I needed was for him to open the door.
I curled up and waited.
Finally, after what felt like hours, heavy footsteps, followed by a loud thump, roused me from my doze. I lifted my head and then tensed as the door creaked open.
“Claire?” Vince said, peering into the room.
I let out a low snarl and prowled out from behind the door. Then I froze. Jesus. He was holding a doubled barrel shotgun.
“Easy there, girl,” Vince said, aiming right at me. “There’s no need to get cranky. All I want to do is talk to you.”
I took one step forward, testing him and was gratified when all he did was step back. He was not prepared to shoot me. That much was clear.
“Listen. You know I don’t care about what happened in the past. We were young and stupid, but I do know you loved me. And all I want to do is get back to that. It can’t be that hard, can it? Now that you have Doucet out of your system.”
I wanted to laugh. Was he insane? I hated this man. And I highly doubted I’d ever actually loved him. Not at seventeen years of age. Back then it was more likely I’d been in love with being in love. As far as his claims about Cyrus, he was delusional. Nothing had changed. Whatever bullshit elixir or poison he’d given me hadn’t done anything but make me sick and piss me off.
He lowered the gun and tentatively put his hand out, intending to pet me.
Oh, hell no. He would not touch me ever again. I took a step back and growled.
“Sorry,” he said, holding his hands up. “Too soon. I know this looks bad, me kidnapping you. But it was for your own good. Don’t you see that?”
He really was insane. Who rationalized holding someone captive?
A lunatic was the only reasonable answer.
My patience was running thin and with each word he uttered, the urge to take a swipe at him only heightened.
“Do you want me to shift? We can run together again. I know how much you like that.” The tone of his voice was hopeful.
I lifted my head and tilted it to the side, only interested in the part about running. If I could get out of the room, I’d be free. He never could keep up with me.
“Ahh, you like that idea.” He smiled at me. “But first you have to give me another chance. I can make it up to you, Claire Bear.”
At the words Claire Bear, something snapped inside me. It was a name I hated and what he’d always called me when he was being the most manipulative. Without warning, I reared up and swatted the gun out of his hand.
He let out a startled cry and retreated back behind the door, trying and failing to close it on me.
I barreled right through, snapping it off its hinges as I went after him.
“Claire, stop! You don’t want to do this,” he called over his shoulder. “Think of what the
As suspected, Magnolia didn’t have any information. But back in the parking lot I did find a shattered smart phone and one dirty invitation; Melinda and Mathew’s. There was no doubt in my mind the phone belonged to Claire, and that this was where Crane had taken her.
Chapter 11
Claire
T he cage stood empty as I paced in front of it, frustrated. I’d managed to get out, but hadn’t been able to open the heavy wooden door. Not for a lack of trying, though. Deep scratches scored the wood where I’d tried and failed to pry it open.
It must’ve been barred from the other side. And the only window was a tiny one high on the wall. Even if I shifted back to human form, there was no hope of me using it as an escape. Instead I waited. And planned.
When Vince finally came back for me, he was a dead bear. One swipe of my paw, and I’d lay him out flat. All I needed was an opening.
Still in bear form, I rested against the cement wall, listening. All I heard was the faint rumble of a television, and occasionally, light footsteps, but no voices and no conversation.
It didn’t appear anyone was around except Crane. That was good. Now all I needed was for him to open the door.
I curled up and waited.
Finally, after what felt like hours, heavy footsteps, followed by a loud thump, roused me from my doze. I lifted my head and then tensed as the door creaked open.
“Claire?” Vince said, peering into the room.
I let out a low snarl and prowled out from behind the door. Then I froze. Jesus. He was holding a doubled barrel shotgun.
“Easy there, girl,” Vince said, aiming right at me. “There’s no need to get cranky. All I want to do is talk to you.”
I took one step forward, testing him and was gratified when all he did was step back. He was not prepared to shoot me. That much was clear.
“Listen. You know I don’t care about what happened in the past. We were young and stupid, but I do know you loved me. And all I want to do is get back to that. It can’t be that hard, can it? Now that you have Doucet out of your system.”
I wanted to laugh. Was he insane? I hated this man. And I highly doubted I’d ever actually loved him. Not at seventeen years of age. Back then it was more likely I’d been in love with being in love. As far as his claims about Cyrus, he was delusional. Nothing had changed. Whatever bullshit elixir or poison he’d given me hadn’t done anything but make me sick and piss me off.
He lowered the gun and tentatively put his hand out, intending to pet me.
Oh, hell no. He would not touch me ever again. I took a step back and growled.
“Sorry,” he said, holding his hands up. “Too soon. I know this looks bad, me kidnapping you. But it was for your own good. Don’t you see that?”
He really was insane. Who rationalized holding someone captive?
A lunatic was the only reasonable answer.
My patience was running thin and with each word he uttered, the urge to take a swipe at him only heightened.
“Do you want me to shift? We can run together again. I know how much you like that.” The tone of his voice was hopeful.
I lifted my head and tilted it to the side, only interested in the part about running. If I could get out of the room, I’d be free. He never could keep up with me.
“Ahh, you like that idea.” He smiled at me. “But first you have to give me another chance. I can make it up to you, Claire Bear.”
At the words Claire Bear, something snapped inside me. It was a name I hated and what he’d always called me when he was being the most manipulative. Without warning, I reared up and swatted the gun out of his hand.
He let out a startled cry and retreated back behind the door, trying and failing to close it on me.
I barreled right through, snapping it off its hinges as I went after him.
“Claire, stop! You don’t want to do this,” he called over his shoulder. “Think of what the
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