Welcome to the Neighborhood (23 page)

“So you suspect them.”

“Considering one of the moving vans, the one containing her safe, was late to deliver, I’m inclined to believe it was them. Not to mention the fact the antique safe had to weigh quite a bit and it would take several humans to lift it, but maybe only two of us.”

“Ah, I see your point.”

“The police dusted for prints and I’m waiting to hear back.”

“So you think they are in Merrillville?”

“I spoke with the officer investigating her robbery. He talked to someone at the moving company and learned a few of the drivers had not returned from their last job. What a coincidence it was the same ones that moved Alexi.”

“Alexi is your girlfriend?”

“She’s our neighbor,” Greg corrected. Why did he continue to say
girlfriend
? If he was trying to humor Greg, he needed to work harder at it.

“Right. So, you have suspects.”

“Yes. The officer managed to get their license-plate number and place an APB on the van. A few tips came in, and one of them is from Merrillville, another is in Evansville.”

“I think I know where you are heading.”

“Is there any chance someone in the pack could check to see if the thieves are in Merrillville if I give you the information and description on them?”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I will get the name and number of the person in charge up there, then you can contact them directly. Since we’re all within the same territory, they shouldn’t have any problem with your request.”

Greg smiled upon hearing the good news. “That would be perfect.”

“What about the tip in Evansville?”

“Since the company is based in Chicago, I’m inclined to believe the thieves would stay close to their home.”

“I’m a little surprised they didn’t return to their own territory. They would have protection from their pack brothers if they did.”

“Who knows? Maybe they think what’s in the safe is worth millions and they don’t want to share it.”

“Do you know what’s in it?”

“She told me there are items that don’t have value, like documents, but in the hands of the wrong person the information could be damaging.”

“Ah, I see. I’ll have the name and number for you tonight. Oh, and by the way, Vanessa and I will be there late. You don’t need to wait for us.”

Although Greg hoped to receive the name and number quickly, he wouldn’t complain about getting it this evening. He wouldn’t be able to do anything with the information until later anyway since he had to stand in court for the next couple of hours.

“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem. Do I get to meet our new
neighbor
?”

“Yeah, I’m sure you will get to meet her.” Greg held back telling his roommate she was a vampire, not that he thought it would change Andy’s opinion about him. Andy already knew Greg liked females from other races. If Andy asked, he would state the truth. But if he didn’t, no need to bring it up.

“Good, because I’m really curious.”

Greg leaned forward and tapped the space bar on his keyboard. The screen illuminated and showed his email inbox. “I’ll see you tonight then.”

“You certainly will.”

Greg placed the receiver back on the phone. New hope lifted his mood. As soon as he had the name and number of the leader, he’d contact him and explain the situation. Maybe, just maybe, pack brothers could find the thieves. How difficult could it be to hide a moving van anyway?

The next question jumping into his mind was how to handle the burglars if pack brothers found them. Should he ask his brothers to spy on them, catch them, or rough them up and claim the safe? Greg liked the latter, but he wanted the thieves to pay for their crimes in addition to a little beating. In honesty, the decision wasn’t his to make. He’d have to discuss the matter with Alexi.

Of course, there was the possibility the burglars weren’t in Merrillville. What would he do then? With another phone call, he could easily obtain the name and number for the leader in Evansville and ask for a search in the town.

He stared at the phone, wondering if he should call Andy back and get the names and numbers of the two leaders at the same time. Any delay to catch the thieves my give them opportunity to run or open the safe and hide. Could he take such a risk knowing how badly the woman he cared for needed her property returned?

Greg lifted the receiver and dialed his roommate’s number. He’d given Alexi his word he’d ensure her retrieval of her belongings. She might not know it, but he was a man who stood by his vows. If he had to contact every leader for help, he would. Letting down the one his heart yearned for was not an option he would consider.

18

“I assure you, Mr. Attar, unless the market crashes, you should see positive results from your new investment,” Alexi said for what seemed like the tenth time. For the last forty-five minutes, she’d discussed her findings about two new funds that had been on the market less than two years. She gave him profit numbers, statistics, all the information she had, as well as her prediction on where the funds were heading. Her voice felt scratchy from talking too much and her butt was numb from sitting so long. Still, she smiled with confidence at the web camera built into her computer screen.

“I don’t doubt your knowledge and skills, Ms. Cartwright. Since I hired you three years ago, I have seen remarkable increases in my investments. Because these two funds are still in their infancy stage, I must question if the time is right to invest in them, or wait another six months.”

The picture on the computer screen showed Mr. Attar leaning back in his chair and staring back at her. He had dark hair, a mustache and tanned skin. The smug look on his face was typical, just like all the other times she’d met with him over the Internet. He always questioned her, as if he couldn’t afford to lose any money. The prince had millions thanks to one of the oil refineries he owned. Like most men, he was greedy and always wanted more returned on his investments. All her clients fit into the same boat and were money-hungry leeches. Regardless, she did her job well and treated him with the respect. Business as usual.

“I understand your hesitancy. Keep in mind that investing with a newer fund early could potentially bring you greater return because it will grow.” She closed the folder on her desk with all her research documents.

“You make a valid point, Ms. Cartwright, but I will need time to think about this.”

The answer didn’t surprise her. It was the same one she’d received the other times. Then, after he pondered for a day or two, he would take her advice and wire funds to her account.

“Take all the time you need. You have the documents I sent to you. If you have more questions, we can arrange another meeting.”

“I appreciate your thoroughness. My good friend Ghalib Al-Fayed was right to trust you. He tells me you have handled his investments for over ten years and he has over five times as much earnings now.”

Alexi grinned and nodded. Ghalib Al-Fayed was another client she’d helped become wealthy. No, make that wealthier. None of the princes or kings ever lacked money. She’d never met Mr. Al-Fayed in person or online, and she’d only spoken with him on occasion. Yet, at least once a year she’d gain a new client because of him. She did owe him a bit of gratitude since he’d helped her bank accounts grow substantially. While humans had only a lifetime to worry about money, she had eternity.

“Managing finances is in my blood. I perform my job with great pride,” she said.

“Yes, I have no doubt about that.”

Alexi leaned closer to the desk. The time on the monitor showed midnight approaching. She provided Mr. Attar with everything he needed to make an informed decision. With nothing more to discuss, it was time to end the meeting.

“Mr. Attar, may I remind you that with any new investment, I carefully monitor it. And if I see any problems, I will notify you immediately.”

“Of course. I will consider the information and contact you with an answer.”

She moved her pointer to the exit button on the screen. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

“Good evening, Ms. Cartwright.” He bowed his head.

Alexi clicked the Exit button and a second later his picture box disappeared. Glad to be done, she pushed her chair back and rose. She stretched her arms above her head and rolled her head around to loosen her neck. To work out the stiffness in her legs, she walked around the room. As the blood in her veins flowed freely, her body warmed.

Halting in the middle of her office, she stared at the empty space that once housed her safe. She wondered if she’d ever see it again. Greg had called her several hours ago, but she’d been too busy unpacking to answer. The message he’d left said the police didn’t have the identification back on the prints yet, but he had some information he wanted to share. Although she was curious to find out what he had to say, she delayed calling him back. She didn’t want to seem over anxious, and besides, it was the night of the full moon. He needed to run, to hunt, to live true to his nature.

Feeling gloomy, Alexi turned and headed out of the office. She had such a wonderful time with Greg at the zoo and at the club. Talking to him lifted her spirit and every time she glanced at him he sparked other desires within her. There was no denying she wanted him. But could she trust him with her heart?

She ascended the stairs and stepped into the kitchen. The open curtains showed a peaceful night outside with a large moon glowing high in the sky. She stopped in front of the patio door and gazed out. Her empty backyard looked lonely and quiet. Trees swayed slightly in the distance. The silence surprised her. She’d expected to hear howling. Maybe she’d missed their playful cries. Being down in the basement had a tendency to drown out noises.

A small piece of paper scurried across the grass and for some reason her thoughts veered to Greg. Was he enjoying himself, running and hunting with the others in the woods? She imagined he was a sight to behold in wolf form. Since he had dark hair, the same color would cover his body. His gorgeous blue eyes would gather any female’s attention. Hell, even in his human form she couldn’t stop staring into them.

Excitement flooded her at the mere thought of seeing him as a werewolf. She considered running out to find him. He had invited her. If she found him, she could thank him for replacing her patio door and cleaning her carpet. As for another matter, she hadn’t fed since she left the hotel, so she could use a snack. Wild animals tended to give her a little indigestion, but they did serve their purpose. Having convinced herself what to do, she put on her walking shoes, slid her key into her pocket and headed for the front door.

A slight breeze flowed over her bare arms as she walked along the sidewalk, heading for the wooded area behind the cul-de-sac. She glanced at her attire and realized she hadn’t changed from the sweat pants and cotton shirt she’d worn all day. The casual attire seemed too informal, but she wasn’t about to turn back and change. Besides, she wasn’t going on a date. For all she knew, he was running a few miles out and she might not see him. Reaching the cul-de-sac, she decided to keep moving forward.

With each step, she listened to the crickets chirp and dogs whining. Yard lights in front of each house illuminated the area. At the end of the street, two homes sat dark and silent. A wide gap separated them. In the middle of the open space, a sidewalk led the way to the woods. She strolled along the path, wondering if the owners were home or if they were out running too. Since the werewolf population was one of the larger ones, it came as no surprise to her there were many living in Midnight Gardens. When she reached the forest, the concrete sidewalk ended and dirt path began.

Bugs silenced their nightly music as she passed through the woods. Tall trees blocked the moonlight, forcing her to sharpen her vision. She scanned for signs of wildlife and detected nothing more than birds and squirrels in the near vicinity. Maybe it was best to put off feeding until after she found Greg, if she could find him.

The trail broke off into others, but she continued eastward. Upon hearing the trickle of water, she assumed the sound came from a nearby creek and headed for it. When she reached the stream, she spotted a small man-made wooden bridge. As she strode across it and stayed on the dirt path she wondered how much further she had to walk before reaching the end of the forest. Mr. Hadley had said there were miles of land to explore. After strolling along what seemed like an hour, she believed him.

Alexi stopped when she heard the rustling of branches and a few snaps. The soft beat of a heart grew louder. The temptation to find out what it was nagged her. Craving nourishment, she crouched down and listened to the creature moving nearby. She’d hunt it and obtain her snack after all. Then, loud howls rose from the distance and took her attention away from her thirst.

She sprinted in the direction of the call. Her feet thudded on the ground as one werewolf after another sang praise to the moon. Listening to them, she guessed they were a mile away. The distance benefited her as approaching werewolves during a full moon was not in her best interest. She’d encroached a pack’s celebration during a full moon once before when she was a young inexperienced and hungry vampire. The fresh scent of blood had lured her to their festivities. They surrounded her and after enough growls and a few bites, they forced her to leave. From then on, she learned to stay back.

The lengthy jog finally brought her to the end of the woods. Seeing sparse trees ahead, she slowed her pace and carried on with a brisk stride. More howls continued to sing in the night. When she reached the last bit of the dirt path, she stopped and scanned the area.

Acres of open land stood between her and a wide pond. The bright moon reflected on the water. On the other side, werewolves played while others tilted their nozzles toward the sky and cried out. Not far beyond them, there was another wooded area.

Exhilaration rushed through Alexi as she watched the playful creatures. She looked for a dark-haired werewolf, but at such a large distance, she wouldn’t be able to pick him out. Damn, she wanted to know if he was as gorgeous in wolf form as she imagined.