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I continued to slow "Nope State police have all blue lights We have red and blue, as does the sheriff’s office Shit" I wiped my hands on my jeans There was no reason for them to want to look in the back of the truck, but there was also no way to warn Kehlirik to remain quiet and still This U-Haul didn’t have a een the cab and the truck I was just going to have to hope that Kehlirik would wait until I opened the back door to ee I didn’t want to think about ould happen if he came out in the rin crossed Ryan’s face "I dare ya to sic the deh, but I wasn’t very successful "Stop that"

"I double-dog-dare you I’d love to see theirls"

"Shut up! I kneas ahie was there, and I couldn’t help but snicker "Okay, that would be pretty darin with one ofmyself to enjoy the brief moment of shared silliness Then I forced my face into an overly serious expression "Now, behave yourself," I ordered, as I slowed to a crawl and joined the short queue of cars going through the checkpoint

"Yes,such a dour and stern face that I alain

"Why do I put up with you?" I asked in ically "You’re obviously madly in love with me"

I let out a snort of ah s!"

Then ere at the roadblock and I had to school nize the trooper aved me to a stop, but I didn’t have much cause to deal with troopers either The road ere on was a state highhich h usually the only tiave a crap about that hen there was an accident and we had to decide ould write the report

"License, registration, proof of insurance," he recited, tilting his head back to look up at ed the crap out of him I’d worked plenty of checkpoints, and I knew that I liked to be able to see into the person’s car and save him a friendly smile and handed him the rental paperwork, then pulledit to be sure that he caught sight ofabout that, but he didn’t, which only made " one’s way out of tickets or DWIs, but this was one tih I kept my ears trained on the back of the truck while the trooper looked over ht, I could see another trooper adMy lips twitched as I watched thethe walk-and-turn Yeah, he’d be taking a ride in the back of a car real soon

I returned my attention to the trooper as he lifted his eyes fro down in a slight frown "Why are you driving a rental truck at ed and smiled "I worked late today, and this was the only chance I had to get over to my aunt’s house to clean some of the crap out of there"

The frown stayed on his face "Have you been drinking tonight?"

"No, I’ve been working a case"

I heard the sound of claws on metal from within the truck, and it took every ounce of control I had to keep fro I had a brief frisson of hope that it hadn’t been all that loud, that I are of it only because I’d been listening for a sound, but I wasn’t that lucky The trooper’s gaze snapped toward the back, and his frown deepened "What’s in the truck?"

I gave a sigh "I think one ofto be a pain, but I don’t want to be up all nightthis stuff"

His eyes narrowed "Do you mind if I take a look?"

I could feel Ryan tense beside , I knew that he are of how disastrous it would be if anyone caught sight of the demon, and I was suddenly thrilled that I was a cop Not because I was able to badgeto work here--but because I knew hts

I kept my tone even and polite as I met the trooper’s eyes "I don’t think there’s any need for you to look in the truck I really don’t have time for that, and unless you have probable cause"--I stressed the tords very lightly--"to believe that I’al, I’d appreciate it if you could let et on my way" Because this hat too many people didn’t realize: Just because an officer asks to look in your vehicle doesn’t mean you have to say yes

His expression hardened, but I could tell that he kneas stuck He could stillother ways to delayto come out to the scene--and I didn’t want to think about what the dog’s reaction would be But to my intense relief, he handed the paperwork back without a nod or sht"

I could tell he didn’tthe smile plastered on my face "Thanks You too!"

I didn’t mean it either

He stepped back and I eased the truck forward,to norht-ass," Ryan said, as if rehed "He definitely would have screaht of a demon"

The rest of the drive was blessedly uneventful, and it ith deep relief that I made it to Tessa’s house I backed into her driveway, as close to the garage as I could get and still be able to open it I shut the truck off and hit the ree door, then hopped out, ed the back door of the truck up

Kehlirik crouched in the center of the truck, holding on to the straps that I’d provided for him He peered at me as I opened the door "Did you have any problems in here?" I asked him

He blew his breath out in a snort I’d never seen a reyza smile, but the expression on his face was one that I could have sas delight "A unique experience I am appreciative of the opportunity"