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I hadn’t planned to fall asleep Hadn’t realized I had until the pounding woke me

"Adam," I mumbled, too tired to consider why he would bother to knock on his own front door He certainly hadn’t last night

Theon the porch couldn’t have been more opposite of Adam Ruelle if I’d created him myself Six-foot-five and about 250, he had blond hair shorn close to his head His er, and when he spoke I was rehts

"Diana Malone?"

I blinked at his electric yellow tie, conia The sun sparked off his shiny shoes and straight intothe door wide open

He took the gesture for the invitation it was and followed The place was still trashed and I didn’t bother to apologize I hadn’t done it

I also hadn’t had tiured on using the better part of today on a little cleaning, but now I needed to drive to town, find a one-hour photo shop, then hit the library and do a little research

Though the Ruelle Mansion h a time warp from the Civil War, in truth the utilities had been updated in the last decade However, the years of neglect had not been kind The utilities weren’t working

I’d told Frank not to bother getting the questions, scaring away the wildlife Besides, I’d caed out ot down to business

"I’m Detective Conner Sullivan - New Orleans PD"

I’d already figured him for a cop No one showed up this early in a suit and tie unless they were badge happy What I couldn’t figure out hat a guy like hi in a place like this So I asked

"Why is the New Orleans PD in St Tarounds into the proper container, then poured distilled water into the carafe and waited I’d learned a long ti only made a mess It didn’t make the coffee come out any faster More’s the pity

"I’ht away "I rented this place fair and square Or my employer did"

Sullivan stared at me for several seconds His eyes were brohich didn’t seeht, but then, not every person of Irish descent possesses the blue or green gene

"I’m not here to roust you," he murmured "We don’t usually send detectives for that"

"Good point" I picked up the coffeepot and lifted a brow in his direction

"No thanks I’ve already had so ht juht of this laconicI wondered if he were trying toatmouth Guess he was serious

I pouredthe only chair, a foldout canvasto stroll around the roo into corners

"I know you rented the place," he said, "but why?"

"I’ reports of a wolf in the swalance "I don’t think so"

"I’ll find that out and be on my way"

"What do you know about Adam Ruelle?"

I bid my surprise behind a sip of coffee Why was everyone so interested in hi to the locals, he’s dead"

Sullivan turned quickly for such a bigto you, he isn’t"

HCantrel and Hamilton’s report

I slurped , then lowered the cup "A man who says he’s Ruelle has been around"

"Where is he now?"

Good question I had no idea where Adaht odd now that I thought about it "Why do you care?"

Sullivan kept his dark gaze on my face "A man was killed"

"Charlie I know"

"Not hiht"

The cup halfway to ers quickly before I dropped it into my lap "Where?"

"Not far froner"

I’d sworn I’d heard a growl, seen an animal, but what if I’d killed a person?

My hands started shaking, and coffee nearly cascaded over the edge of my cup I set it on the floor as I took several deep breams and forced myself to mink

I’d walked around, hadn’t found anything Not a person, not an animal, no blood But it had been dark, and I wasn’t Outdoor Girl no matter how much I liked to pretend that I was

"Shot?" I blurted

He gave e look An animal had killed the others To know the man was shot - well, basically I’d just confessed

Sighing, I ran through the na them Hell

"Not shot," Sullivan murmured

Since I’d already fittedand quickly found one "Another aniet tothe tracks, but his next words had ulation"

Now led? How?"

"Bare hands are the usual method"

I blinked at the repetition of un He’d had only his hands for protection Had he used theerprints?" I asked

" ’Bare hands’ was just a figure of speech A rope was used Probably gloves Not much evidence" He took a deep breath "There’ve been more disappearances than usual in and around New Orleans"

I narrowedto think serial killer"

His face went blank "I never said that"

He hadn’t saidout of his parish But I could figure it out Tourists and locals disappearing, so up in the swamp When St Tammany police found a body, it was natural they’d call the inal case, see if their corpse

"Why do you want to talk to Adam?"