“I’m too antsy to sit.”
“Why don’t you go lie down? Try and get some sleep.”
“It’s barely seven. We just ate dinner. I can’t go to sleep now.” Sienna shook her head. “Jesus, I swear you guys just eat and sleep around here.”
His gaze narrowed. “And try to save the lives of a group of feral shifters.”
Guilt stabbed and she winced. “You’re right. God, I’m sorry, that was crass of me. Maybe I am a little tired. And stressed. But I still don’t think I can sleep.”
“Would you like to take a walk?”
Sienna blinked, surprised by the offer. Her options seemed to be staying locked in the house all day or walking chaperoned outside. And with Warrick and Quinton—both walks had been with the intent of interrogation. Just the idea of being grilled again exhausted her and if those were Agent Hilliard’s intentions she’d rather just sit her butt inside.
“If we do, I’m not going to answer any of your questions.”
Agent Hilliard grinned and waved his hand in dismissal. “Nah, I figure they’ve pretty much drained you in that department. I’ll leave the questioning to Quinton. If you want to go out and stretch your legs, I’ll take you for a walk. No pressure.”
You can’t trust anyone. The voice inside her shrilled to life a sharp, paranoid reminder, but the idea of getting out of the house was so damn tempting. She hadn’t been outside since yesterday when she’d been down at the river with Warrick.
She narrowed her gaze at him and bit her lip, trying to decide if she could trust him. Then again, she’d been alone with agent Hilliard for the last three hours. If he’d intended her harm he probably would’ve done so by now. Or maybe he’s taking you out into the woods to off you.
Oh God, she was way too paranoid. Maybe if they walked nearby…close enough for people to hear them if he tried anything.
“Come on. It’ll do you good.”
Shit. Was there a weapon around here she could grab? Some mace? A butter knife? Okay, maybe she’d just have to grab a rock on the trail.
“Oh, well…are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Hell, I could always use some time to stretch my legs. We’re active creatures, Sienna. Like to keep moving.”
She really did want to go outside. She’d just be ready to scream bloody murder if he made any suspicious movements.
“All right.” She gave a quick nod and stopped her pacing. “Getting outside would be nice.”
Hilliard straightened from the window and grinned. “There ya go. After you.”
Sienna debated grabbing a sweater—or that butter knife in the kitchen—but the way Hilliard seemed to be watching her every move, she knew he might get suspicious.
So instead she just headed out the front door with the agent right behind her. They stepped off the porch together and her gaze immediately sought out the barn. Inside she could make out the other agents working and hear their shouts as they struggled with the shifters.
Her throat tightened with a longing to go help. To see how the feral shifters were faring and if maybe there was something she could do. Dammit, she felt so helpless. Everyone told her to stay out of the way and that this was beyond her.
“There’s a trail this way I ran on earlier.”
The river was probably a few minutes into the woods. A little farther than she’d hoped, but close enough still that if she got into trouble…
“Sure.” She gave a swift nod and followed him onto the path. “So how long have you been with the P.I.A.?”
Her attempt at small talk was greeted with another soft laugh, but he shrugged good-naturedly. “Ten years about. Been here longer than some, not as long as most.”
“That’s a decade. Not too shabby, I’d say.” She glanced one last time at the barn and bit her lip.
Agent Hilliard followed her gaze and grimaced. “No use worrying about it, honey. The other agents have things under control. Well, as much as they can right now.”
“Do you know them? The feral shifters?”
He gave a slight nod and his forehead crinkled with worry. “One of them—the female—is an agent. The others I recognize from the community.”
“The female is an agent?” The realization sucked the breath right from her chest.
She hadn’t even considered the possibility that any of the ferals could’ve been Warrick’s fellow agents. It completely changed everything. Shed a new light on why everyone seemed so frantic and pissed off.
“Yeah. Grace. She’s still pretty green. Only been with the P.I.A. for a few months. Sweet girl, really. Ambitious.” He shook his head. “Everyone’s blaming themselves, trying to figure out how the hell she got into such a dangerous situation.”