Tempting the Light: Legends and Myths Police Squad (L.A.M.P.S. Book 1) by Bonnie Gill

shirt.”
    Ottar journeyed around the corner to catch up with River, and left her alone in the kitchen.
    Abby meandered over to the counter to sneak a peek at the stack of books. The top one displayed a picture of the Jersey Devil with huge wings spanning the cover. Her legs weakened, her knees threatened to collapse.
    They knew . . . Dear God! Both of them knew ! She covered her mouth with her shuddering hand.
    They believed Mr. Livingston’s story.
    From the look of Ottar’s guns, they intended to hunt down and kill her. Abby backed away slowly from the books as if they were a bomb threatening to detonate. She tried to wrangle her expression from scared poopless to neutral, but no matter how hard she bit her bottom lip it wouldn’t stop quivering.
    River and Ottar bounded back into the kitchen.
    “I need to go. I can just walk home. You two look busy.” She concealed the fear in her voice.
    “No.” They both fired the word in unison.
    River walked up and clutched her hand. “I said I would drive you home.” He looked over to Ottar. “You coming?”
    Ottar wagged his keys in front of him. “I’m driving.”
    Sitting in the back seat of Ottar’s humongous black SUV, Abby listened while River called out directions to Pepper’s house. She stared at the small braids intertwined with the hair on back of Ottar’s head. His slayer eyes targeted Abby’s in the rearview mirror. Her throat went dry as if someone packed silica packets into her mouth. In fact, those eyes scared the crapola out of her. She concentrated on figuring out a way to get that genie to remove the curse before she ended in the sights of Ottar’s shotguns or worse, dead.
    Halfway up the long driveway to Peppers, Ottar pulled over to the side. “Stay here.” He jumped out of the driver’s seat, ran around to the rear of the vehicle, and pulled out a scary gun.
    Abby tugged on the door handle. It wouldn’t budge. Ottar lifted the gun and aimed. She rolled down the window, frantic to stop him. “Wait. Pepper has dogs and horses on the property. Don’t shoot them.” The child-lock was engaged, she reached over the half-opened glass and pulled on the outside handle to open the door.
    Boom! The gun fired.
    Abby hopped out of the truck, ducked, and covered her head with her arms. Oh shit, what the heck is he doing?
    “Bloody hell.” Ottar raised his gun a second time.
    River placed his hand on the gun and lowered it. “Nice. You just shot a dinosaur statue. I think you’ve been out in the field too long, you crazy bastard.”
    Ottar lifted his left palm. “Crikey. Who in their right mind has a brachiosaurs in their front yard?”
    River snickered. “That would be Pepper. Oh, I can’t wait to hear you explain why you shot her sculpture with a tranq gun.”
    “Yeah, well, she must have a few wallabies loose in the upstairs paddock.” He pointed to the side of his head and made a circle with his finger. “You could have warned me.” Ottar placed the gun in the back of his truck.
    “Thanks for the ride, guys.” Abby slammed the truck door and headed toward the porch. She hurried. Good heavens, what was a madman like that doing with a gun?
    “Wait up.” River jogged up behind her and grasped her fingers.
    She hesitated, then turned to face him.
    “I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be tied up with Ottar for a few days.”
    “What’s going on?” She played dumb, knowing full well what they planned to do. They were going hunting for the Jersey Devil.
    His brows pulled in. “There’s something dangerous in the woods. Promise you’ll stay inside. Okay?” His eyes pleaded with hers, begging her to be careful.
    “Oh—kay.” She couldn’t very well tell him she was the monster they were after. But maybe if she acted like she didn’t believe him, he would double think about hunting the Jersey Devil. “But I like to hike through the woods.”
    “I mean it.” His voice was more forceful this time, a direct command. He