Ashen Rayne (Shadowlands Book 1) by Skye Knizley Page A

Blaze,” she said. “Don’t take this wrong, but what the hell are you doing here?”
    Blaze laughed. “I could ask you the same thing. You look like someone tried to drown you. Are you okay?”
    “Ms. MacKenna saved a bus full of kids,” the patrolman said. “It was brilliant!”
    Thanks, officer , Smoak thought.
    Blaze bounced on her toes like a child at the carnival. “Really? That’s awesome, Kamryn, what happened?”
    Smoak could feel the flush rising in her cheeks, and she shot an angry glance at the patrolman, who moved a step away.
    “I’ll tell you later,” she said. “But what brings you out here? You didn’t come all the way out here to gawk…”
    Blaze shook her head. “Of course not. The officer on duty downtown told me that Detective Murphy might have made some headway in my sister’s case. When I found out he’d taken the day off, I drove out to talk to him.”
    Smoak sighed and pointed at the bloodstain on the pavement behind her. “That was Detective Murphy. Or what’s left. He was the sniper’s first victim.”
    Blaze frowned. “Shit… I was hoping he’d found Rayne.”
    Smoak shook her head. “I’m sorry, hon, I don’t think so, or there would be cops out looking. His Lieutenant would have called you or something.”
    Blaze continued to stare at the blood. “They have to find her.”
    “They will,” Smoak said. “Didn’t you say this guy was an asshole, anyway? Someone better will get assigned the case, and they’ll find your sister.”
    Blaze looked at Smoak, a hint of a smile on her naked lips. “Yeah… I can’t say I’m glad he’s gone, but I am glad he’s off the case. He wasn’t a very good detective.”
    “I’m sorry you had to see this,” Smoak said.
    Blaze shrugged. “Not the first time I’ve seen blood, and I got to see you, even if you do look like you’ve been swimming in your clothes.”
    Smoak looked down at her damp, salt-encrusted pants and smiled. “I have been. I should go home and get changed.”
    “Oh!’ I have some clothes in my car that should fit you,” Blaze said. “I keep spare stuff with me, just in case.”
    “I can go home, really it’s fine,” Smoak said.
    “Why go home when you can change right here?” Blaze asked. “Are you avoiding me?”
    Smoak blinked in surprise and looked at Blaze, who was standing with her hands on her hips, her green eyes shining.
    Finding her voice, Smoak said “What? No, not at all. I just don’t want to be a bother.”
    Blaze lifted the tape high enough for Smoak to pass through. “It’s no bother. Come on, I’m sure I’ve got some shorts or something.”
    Smoak knew she shouldn’t. Wasting time with Blaze wasn’t going to find Rayne. But something made her duck under the tape and follow the redheaded woman through the crowd to the street where her Honda was parked. Blaze let go of her hand and opened the trunk to rifle through a large duffel bag that was placed to one side. A few moments later, the girl turned and handed Smoak a pair of shorts and a fresh tee-shirt with the Pepsi logo emblazoned on the front.
    “Get changed and I’ll see if I have a brush in the car. Your hair looks...well, it looks like something has been nesting in it,” she said.
    “Where?” Smoak asked.
    Blaze grinned. “On your head? That’s where we usually keep big piles of blonde hair.”
    Smoak flushed. “No, I meant—”
    Blaze cut her off, “I know what you meant. I was being silly. Why not right here? Face that way and only the seagulls will see anything.”
    Smoak stared at Blaze for a moment and saw the hint of challenge in the younger woman’s eyes. With a shrug, she set down the pile of clothes and turned away from the crowd. She tugged off her still soaking wet jacket and wrung it out as best she could before dropping it on the pavement. This was followed by the knife sheath that hung over her shoulders. She then pulled her top over her head and tossed it aside.
    “I don’t suppose you have