High Stakes by Helen Harper Page A

stairs. Foxworthy is standing over Connor, demanding to know where I am. Sensibly, Matt has vanished; even though Foxworthy is human, Matt would still be forced to do whatever was asked of him – including telling the good officer my whereabouts. I can do that myself.
    I clear my throat, causing Foxworthy to spin round in mid-sentence. When he catches sight of me, he marches up, grabbing my t-shirt and throwing me against the wall. It doesn’t hurt but I’m still pissed off.
    ‘What the hell? What’s wrong with you?’
    ‘Like you don’t know,’ he snarls.
    I scan his face. Fatigue is etched into every line and wrinkle of his weathered skin, but his eyes are alight with fury.
    I’m more puzzled than anything. ‘No,’ I say softly, ‘I don’t.’
    ‘Pleading ignorance isn’t going to help. I should have stuck to my gut. You can’t trust a bloodguzzler, no matter what pretty things they say.’
    ‘Inspector, I still don’t know what’s wrong.’
    ‘Here.’ He thrusts a newspaper in my face. ‘Evidence of your fucking handiwork.’
    I focus on the headline. It’s today’s early edition. When the words sink in, my stomach drops and I close my eyes.
    ‘You just couldn’t keep your big trap shut, could you? You had to go blabbing.’
    ‘It wasn’t me.’ I open my eyes and stare at the big man.
    ‘Yeah? Who else knew this?’ He waves the paper. ‘“Park Rape Vic Is Hooker”. It even states that their source is someone from one of the Families.’
    If Foxworthy had a gun, he’d probably shoot me. He’s blindingly angry. I don’t blame him. ‘I’m telling you, it wasn’t me,’ I insist.
    ‘Nobody else outside the investigating team knew she was a prostitute. And I can damn well tell you the leak didn’t come from us.’ His face moves down to mine, until it’s so close that I can feel his breath on my skin. ‘I told you we’d release the info that the bloodguzzlers weren’t involved. The press conference is scheduled for ten. You couldn’t even wait a few fucking hours?’
    My whole body is tense but I make myself stay where I am. I don’t want Foxworthy to be my enemy; we need a friend in the police. I meet his angry stare. ‘Even if it was a vampire who leaked, it says the source is the Families. I’m not part of a Family. You know that. It couldn’t have been me.’
    ‘Do you think that makes a difference? If you didn’t speak to the paper, then you spoke to someone from the Families who did. You’re all the same.’ He throws the newspaper in my face. ‘Corinne Matheson has just gone from being a helpless rape victim to someone who can’t be trusted and who was probably asking for it. Six hours ago there were a hundred officers working this case. Ninety per cent have been pulled off the case because public opinion rules everything we do. And public opinion will be that she’s not worth it any more.’ He lowers his tone but he’s no less angry. ‘She’s a human being, a person who deserves justice. But now the entire investigation has been derailed and it’s your fault. The guy who did this? He’s not the type to do it once and then forget about it. He’s going to try again. Next time he’ll probably get lucky and kill whoever he abducts. Congratulations. You’ve just signed some poor girl’s death warrant.’ He gives me one last, disgusted look then stalks out.
    Connor has backed away to the wall, his skin pale and his freckles standing out in sharp relief. ‘Bo, you didn’t do that, did you? Talk to the newspapers?’
    I shake my head. ‘No. I know who fucking did though.’
    His eyes are wide. ‘Who?’
    ‘It’s probably better for you if you don’t know. Go home, Connor. Get some rest.’
    He watches me for a second or two then nods. ‘Okay. Will you be alright?’
    For a moment, I’m so caught up in the maelstrom of my own thoughts that I don’t respond.
    ‘Bo?’ he prompts.
    I give him a smile. It’s so forced that it’s almost painful.