Of A Darker Nature by Michelle Clay

to him. Don't you want to put the men who attacked you behind bars? They obviously know each other. Maybe he can help us find them.”
    Trent and Pete were with Starr at the old park. But how were they all connected to everything that had happened? A series of events were in motion, and she didn't yet understand the meaning behind them. “I can't do this right now. I have to go.”
    The detective called after her. “I think John Doe hurt someone outside the mortuary. If you could shed any light on this, I’d sure appreciate it.”
    “Listen to what you're saying.” Emily groaned at her choice of words. She sounded just like her sister. “These things are not possible. I must have made a mistake.”
    “Surely you of all people know there are strange, unexplained things in this world. They keep to the shadows, but there are monsters out there, Emily.”
    “What does the rest of your department say about this?” Beau questioned in a calm manner. “Do they support your beliefs?”
    The detective's gaze was downcast. “I haven't brought all my suspicions to light. I'd be forced to quit and become a laughing stock.” She turned back to Emily. “How else could a man with a bashed in skull do the things you claim?”
    Emily struggled to find meaning behind Marcus’s actions. “He could have hurt me, but didn't.”
    “He probably would have if we hadn’t shown up. Please help me find him.”
    Beau watched Emily and the detective. It looked like it was a great effort to keep his mouth shut.
    “I’m sorry, but I didn’t see anything. I can’t help you.” Emily pushed through the door and hurried across the parking area, eager to get home and put this behind her.
    Beau caught up to her by the time she reached the Bug. He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You handled that well, Emily.”
    “I couldn't tell Hahm her suspicions were correct, now could I?
    “Of course not. I just wish you hadn't told her the cadaver walked off in the first place. I don't think she's going to let it die.” 
    She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. “I was frightened and confused that night. As soon as it popped out of my mouth, I wanted take it back. Can't you wipe her mind so she'll forget?” 
    “I can. Is that what you want me to do?” He took a step in the detective's direction.
    Emily grabbed his sleeve. “No, don't. It's not right to fool with people's heads like that.”
    Emily crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “Tell me who Marcus is. How do you know him?”
    Beau seemed taken aback.
    “You were all freaked out that he was going to do something to me tonight. The two of you obviously know each other.”
    “No,” Beau argued. “You were standing in the middle of the street, kissing a vampire.”
    “I don’t buy it. You hauled me away from him at the park too.”
    He studied her a moment. “You’ve got to stop trying to find him. He’s a very dangerous man.”
    She looked up at her friend. “Trent and Pete, the two vamps at the park, are the ones who attacked me and Scott.”
    “Is that why you want to find him? You think he’ll be able to help Hahm find them?”
    “No, of course not. Do you seriously think Hahm believes in vampires and monsters? She’s trying to fluster me. Even if I were to tell her, what’s she going to do about it?”
    “Please, Emily, if you see Marcus…”
    She stared up at him. Why did everyone keep warning her about him? She totally didn’t get it. Marcus seemed harmless enough.
    He gripped her arm. “Run the other way.”
    Emily wrenched the car door open and considered her friend’s words of warning. “Why’d he fight Trent and Pete off the night they attacked me? And why’d he protect me at the park? He can’t be that bad, Beau.”
    Emily dropped into her car and put it in reverse. Leaving Beau standing in her swirling road dust was not something a friend should do. A twinge of guilt stabbed through her. Surely he could understand that she just