Tempting the Light: Legends and Myths Police Squad (L.A.M.P.S. Book 1) (4 page)

“Impossible. What are they?” Anticipation filled Ottar’s tone.

“One is the Jersey Devil and the other may be a Gnome.”

“I’ll be there in a few days,” the big Aussie said and hung up.

River didn’t need the captain to help him, but with a Gnome
and
the Jersey Devil on the loose his assistance couldn’t hurt. If old man Livingston had seen a Gnome the people in this town were in danger. He searched the map for the area where Mr. Livingston was found. It was less than a half of mile from Pepper’s property.

Abby was in danger.

Chapter 5

Pepper swung the door open and walked into her pet store at around two in the afternoon. “Oh boy.”

Abby placed a can of dog food on the shelf. “What now?”

“It’s all over town that the Jersey Devil and a Gnome attacked Mr. Livingston’s dog.”

Abby’s stomach soured. “I attacked a dog?” How could she do that?

“No, that’s not how I took it. He said that a Gnome attacked his dog and then the Devil swooped down and struck the Gnome. It sounds like you saved the dog.”

Her legs and body stiffened, her hand clasped a can of dog food so tight her fingers turned white. “But you can’t be sure.”

“Of course I’m sure.”

She suddenly worried about Pepper’s dogs. If she couldn’t figure how to lift the curse before the next time she changed, she would leave Pepper’s farm. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she hurt one of Pepper’s animals. “What’s this about a Gnome?”

“Who knows? It’s Mr. Livingston. The old man is goofy.”

Pepper carried a box over by her and laid it on the floor. “I saw the sheriff at the post office today.”

“How did I end up going with him yesterday? Did you know he kept looking at me?” Abby spun the cans so the labels faced outward on the shelves. Her head ached from lack of sleep for the second night in a row. After the search, she and Pepper stayed up for a John Cusack eighties movie marathon. She loved those Savage Steve Holland movies.

“What do you mean looking at you?”

“I don’t know, like he was trying to guess my bra size, or see if I was wearing granny panties, or a G-string, or going commando.” She was kind of flattered even though she had no interest in his broad shoulders and tight rear end. Who was looking though?

Pepper handed her another can. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he asked you out.”

“If he does I’m not going.” The last thing she wanted right now was to date after the ordeal with Burt. It was for the best.

“Come on, maybe that’s just what you need.”

“What I need is to remove the curse.” But she had no idea how.

“How about wishing the curse away?”

“The genie said he didn’t grant wishes.” The jerk should be banned from geniehood.

“Let’s give it a try. What have you got to lose? But you have to truly believe it to work.” The sound of Pepper’s words almost held a scolding, like she would kick Abby’s butt if she didn’t put her whole being into the wish.

She squeezed her eyes closed. “Okay. I wish my curse to be removed.” Nothing happened.
Did it work?

“Did you feel anything?” Pepper cocked her head and stared at her.

“Nope. But I didn’t feel anything when he placed the curse on me either.”

Pepper tapped her lip with her pointer finger as if deep in thought. “How about wishing for something you can see? You should have three wishes, right?”

“I wish my toenails were painted pink.” Abby pulled off her gym shoes and purple penguin socks. Her toenails were still the light shade of lilac that she had painted them a couple days ago. “Rats. It didn’t work.”

“You said he mentioned your grandmother.”

“Yeah, well you know she died a long time ago.” The loud sigh she expelled didn’t release the gigantic knot twisting in her solar plexus or the one growing in the back of her neck.

“So that’s a dead end. How about your mom?”

“She’s in Africa saving orphaned elephants. I haven’t been able to get a hold of her in over a month. No cell towers. I’ve left her about a hundred messages.” She could leave a hundred more, but she doubted her mom could help her with the curse. She never believed Abby’s grandmother.

“Bummer. Back to River.” The dreamy romantic smile on Pepper’s face indicated she would not drop the subject.

Abby waved her hand as if she was swatting a fly in front of her face. “I don’t even want to think about him.” She had much more important things to worry about.

“I heard rebound sex can cure a broken heart.” Pepper’s smile switched to a devilish look.

Her jaw dropped open. “Or it could break it more.” She couldn’t survive any more drama in her life.
Why risk it?

“I’m not saying move in with the guy—just have sex with him. Have you seen his tush?” She wiggled her brows.

“Yes, and that’s all the more reason not to pursue this. He probably has supermodels lined up with those paper deli counter numbers waiting to go a round with him in bed.”

Pepper caught Abby’s wrist. “He seems like a nice person.”

She shook free from Pepper’s grip. “He’s a cop. I have that curse. Not going to happen. By the way, can I have the afternoon off tomorrow? I want to grab my clothes and stop by the Expo center. Maybe I should try to find that douchebag tampon genie.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Whatcha gonna do if you find him?”

“I don’t know? Maybe I’ll beg, or better yet shove a M80 down his throat.” She would love to blow the jerk into itty-bitty genie pieces.

Pepper looked out the window. “Lover boy just pulled up. Tell me he’s not interested.”

The phone rang. Pepper ran into the back room to answer it. Abby sighed and swore Pepper rigged the phone to ring at the worst times.

River sauntered into the store.

“Good afternoon.” He tipped his sheriff’s hat at her and smiled, showing his dentist-induced bright smile. She shook her head. No one had teeth that white without help.

“Afternoon, Sheriff. How’s Mr. Livingston?” She stacked the last can on the shelf.

“He was released last night.” River turned to study the bulletin board filled with pictures of the dogs and cats in the neighboring shelter.

“Can I help you with anything?”

He looked over his shoulder at her. “I was thinking about adopting a dog. Can you recommend one?”

He wanted a dog? Now that’s something she could help him with. She relaxed her tight lips. “We have a few puppies over here.” Abby walked over to three puppy-pens in the back of the store. Each had different color and sizes of dogs inside. She picked up a black pup with a round pink belly. He squiggled around in her hands so she tightened her grip not to drop him. She handed the baby Labrador Retriever to River. He smiled and petted the pup, who in turn, licked his face.

River set the puppy back in the pen. “They’re cute, but I want a grown one that’s trained already. That way I can bring him to work with me.”

“Like a police dog?”

He shook his head. “More like a companion dog.”

Pepper popped her head around the corner. “Abby, keep Thursday night open. We’re going to Thirsty Thursday at Your Alibi, the bar around the corner.” Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Oh, hi, Sheriff. I didn’t know you were here.” Pepper’s faux drawl returned, this time thicker than the BS she was slinging.

Abby scratched her forehead with her middle finger so only Pepper could see.

“Good afternoon, Pepper,” River said and tugged on the corner of his hat.

“Pepper, would you help the Sheriff find a dog?” Abby grinned at her. She walked over to some unopened boxes and pulled on the flaps. She was done talking to him. His deep blue eyes held warmth in them that sent fire to all the right places, and right now she was perfectly happy with those places remaining cold.

“Sure I can.” Pepper called animal control and found out several dogs had been scheduled to be put down later that evening. They decided to head over there and meet before they closed.

“Will you be okay alone? You know if you have any questions, you can call.” Pepper said half way out the door.

Abby signaled them on. “I’m fine. Go ahead.”

“Nice seeing you again, Abby.” Something in River’s tone revealed sincerity, and that scared her almost as much as any curse.

She acted like her attention was on whatever was in the box. At least she wanted it to look that way. If anyone had asked her what was inside, she couldn’t say. The fact that Pepper would be alone with River made her uneasy. She didn’t understand the little squeeze in her chest and the flutter in her stomach. Jealousy? Maybe.

Or was it that she didn’t know exactly what Pepper might reveal?

Chapter 6

River pulled up to the metal building and waited for Pepper to arrive in her own car. Adopting a dog would be a huge responsibility, but after tossing all night, he decided the right dog could help him hunt Cryptids. He exited his vehicle and strolled up to the entrance.

“Weird stuff happens to her.” Pepper opened the glass door and walked inside. The pale green walls and cement floor chilled the room.

“What do you mean weird stuff?” The more info he could gather on Abby’s jumpiness, the better. Even if he found dirt, he wanted to know.

“For instance, in high school, she was walking by the bathroom when a toilet exploded. A piece of porcelain blasted across the hall and sliced her head, almost scalped her. That’s why she has that scar on her forehead.”

He’d noticed the light white scar, about an inch long. “A high school prank, that’s not uncommon.” River heard high school kids enjoyed blowing up toilets.

“A rabid squirrel bit her on the rear a couple years ago. She had to get all those shots.”

He raised eyebrows.
That’s odd.

“Oh, and one day, she was walking down the street and a can of paint fell off some scaffolding and splashed all over her new Tory Burch shoes.” Pepper’s lips pouted.

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“They were her first and only pair of designer shoes she ever bought. Believe me, it was bad.” She shivered and then recovered.

“All accidents.”
So, she’s accident-prone?

“Yeah, but she attracts them all the time. I only gave you a tip of the whole shebang. You can’t tell her I told you. I noticed you’ve taken an interest in her, and I don’t want to see her hurt.” She took a seat in one of the black plastic chairs lined up against the wall.

“I just want to get to know her better. Do you think she’ll go out on a date with me?”

Pepper lifted her shoulders and bit her bottom lip. She tilted her head as if she had a devil and angel on her shoulders arguing about what she should tell him. She took in a deep breath. “I don’t know. She recently suffered a nasty break up. And, you didn’t hear that from me.” She crossed one leg over the other and picked up the outdated magazine from the chair next to her.

River’s nerves clenched. He couldn’t imagine anyone ever hurting the sweet Abby he’d come to know. A sudden urge came over him to find the asshole and teach him a lesson. His vision blurred for a second before it cleared. No wonder she kept her distance. He made his mind up to investigate to see what happened. For some crazy reason he wanted to protect her.

A woman with thick wire rimmed glasses opened the steel door barricading the hall leading to the kennels. Various dogs of all shapes and sizes lined up along the chain linked kennel doors, barking, and their eyes pleading for someone to take them home.

The stench of urine and bleach filled his breath.

“We would like to see the dogs whose time is up,” Pepper said to the woman.

“Right this way.” The woman motioned for them to follow, her low heels almost silent against the pull-and-stick tile floor.

At the end of the row several kennels sat separated by a cinderblock wall. The dogs in these kennels didn’t greet them. They also didn’t bark.

No hope was expressed through their eyes—it was all gone—it was as if they had given up and knew their fate. Two golden labs, one pit-bull mix, and another two he could not identify searched his eyes for respite. His stomach suddenly felt hollow and sour.

In one of the last occupied cages, a large, shorthaired tan colored beast with a black muzzle looked back at him. The dog’s eyes drooped and his forehead wrinkled. He’d tucked his hind legs under him, and he rested his head on his front paws. A clipboard hung on to the gate displaying a five-digit number, and his name—Hercules. Mastiff identified the breed. Underneath it read STRAY with an intake date six days prior.

“Only six days? What if he has a family looking for him?” River asked the attendant.

“We suspect his family brought him in,” the woman with the wire rimmed glasses replied. “This is a high turnover facility. We are short on room, and funds, so they don’t get very much time before they’re euthanized. Thank goodness for people like Pepper who post pictures and find rescues to take most of them.”

“So this isn’t out of the ordinary?” River looked at the hopeless body language of the dogs. He wished he could adopt them all.

The woman looked at the floor. “No.”

Pepper crouched in front of a cage. “Hey, Kazoo. Who’s a pretty boy? Want to go home with me? I have the perfect mommy for you.”

River watched a small black-and-brown dog run up to Pepper wagging his tail. Kazoo had to be the tiniest dog he’d ever seen. He looked more like a squirrel than a dog. Pepper poked her fingers through the fence and the happy dog danced in circles on his hind legs, overjoyed with her kind words and attention.

He turned back to the Mastiff. Hercules now stood with his front paws on the fence, staring into his face. With cheap dog food breath, his big wet tongue lapped across River’s chin. He laughed at the sensation.

Pepper moved closer to the cage. “I think he likes you, Sheriff.”

They completed all the adoption paperwork in less than an hour’s time. A hundred-and-seventy pounds of smelly dog now sat in the passenger’s seat of River’s police car. Hercules licked the inside of the window while the end of his tail thumped a tribal rhythm against the formerly clean seats.

“Hey, big guy.” River leaned over and ran his hand across the smooth fur on Hercules’s back. The clock blinked 5:10 on the dash. He sighed. The pet store would be closed by now so he’d have to stop in tomorrow for supplies. Thank goodness the shelter gave him a couple sample packets of dog food.

He rolled down his window when Pepper and Kazoo walked by. “I almost forgot. I want you and Abby to stay out of the forest. Mr. Livingston saw something out there and until we can figure out what it is I don’t think it’s safe.”

“What did he see?” Pepper stepped closer to his vehicle.

“I don’t know, but whatever it was the damn thing scared him. He’s been hunting in that forest all his life—for him to be thrown off his game like that tells me it’s something I need to check out. I want you to promise you’ll both stay out of the woods.”