Unspoken: Shadow Falls: After Dark by C. C. Hunter Page B

happened to her. But…” Della reached up and touched her neck. “I think her neck was cut.”
    “That would be right,” Burnett said. “It was stated in the report.”
    Della inhaled, trying to deal with the ugly truth.
    “I know this is hard to talk about,” Holiday said. “But sometimes they try to tell us something in odd ways. They say something strange, or might be wearing something that doesn’t fit their character. Can you remember anything odd about her visit?”
    “No,” Della said, wanting the image of her out of her head. Then she remembered. “Wait. That’s not true. She had a basketball. It was bloody.”
    “A basketball?” Burnett asked.
    “Yeah,” Della said.
    Holiday shifted Hannah to the other side of her lap. “And I’m assuming Mrs. Chi didn’t play ball.”
    “No.”
    Holiday raised a brow. “Then this is a sign. Either the killer had a ball with him, or she’s seen the killer play ball. Or maybe both.”
    “Is there a park with a basketball court near your house?” Burnett asked.
    “Yeah,” Della grasped on her first ray of hope at finding the killers. “At the front of the park where we caught the other weres.” She stood up. “Should we go there now?”
    “No, I’ll send Lucas.” Burnett pulled out his phone. “If he runs into any weres they might be more forthcoming with him.”
    “But—”
    “Don’t even start.” Burnett looked up from his cell. “First, I already told you that you weren’t working this case. And second, if you go there, they’ll recognize you or your scent from last night.”
    “And I’ll recognize them,” she said. Right then the lights in the room flickered and went off. The dead silence of a power outage filled the room.
    Burnett moved to the wall where the controls were for the alarm system. While he hit a few buttons, he continued speaking. “Being this close to a full moon, it’s best to let another were handle this.” A light beep came from the controls.
    “Problems?” Holiday asked, looking at the alarm.
    “Probably not.”
    The lights flickered on again. He looked back at Della. “Now go catch up on some rest. You look like shit.”
    Holiday pulled her daughter closer, pressed a hand over her ear, and shot her husband a frown.
    Burnett made an apologetic shrug. “Sorry. I mean, you look … awful.”
    Della glanced at Holiday. “He’s such a sweet talker. How did you get so lucky?”
    Holiday chuckled, then stood and touched Della’s shoulder. A warmth traveled into Della’s chest and for one second Della wished she could just give in to it and forget about all her other problems.
    “He occasionally says the right thing. And as poorly as my husband put it, you do look tired. Go get some rest. Miranda and Kylie should be here in a couple of hours. And I know they are going to be over the moon that you’re back. And there’ll be no resting then.”
    Della heard Burnett telling Lucas about the basketball court. She looked back at the stubborn vamp, then frowned again at Holiday. “It’s not fair. I need to work this case. I knew them. I care, damn it!” Her voice shook, escaping around the knot forming in her throat. “Why can’t he see that?”
    Holiday sighed. “You are working this case. Mrs. Chi is coming to you with clues. And when you’re exhausted your chances of channeling a ghost are less likely. Plus, I’m sure Burnett will fill you in as soon as he hears from Lucas.”
    Della, certain she couldn’t change Burnett’s mind, and doubtful Holiday was going to help her out this time, shot out of the office.
    She exited the cabin door, and had one foot on the porch when Holiday called out from the doorway.
    “Yeah?” Della asked. Her gaze fell on Hannah as the baby gave her a big smile. Della felt almost guilty being in such a bad mood.
    “If Chase gives you any problems, I want you to come to me. You got that?”
    “I think I can take care of him.” Della frowned, not liking the fact that