He was about to close his office door, when the receptionist barged in. “Can I get y’all a Coke? We have bottled water too. Or coffee.”
He glowered at the woman. “Mrs. Caruthers, I am trying to—”
“You hush, Hank. Where are your manners? And for Pete’s sake, call me Aunt Birdie.” She shook her head and looked at Delaney. “I changed his diapers, you know. And his brother Titus’s.”
“Mrs. Ca—Aunt Birdie.” Sheriff Merrow pointed out the door. “Back to your desk please.”
Delaney hoped her shock wasn’t registering on her face. She could not imagine changing a werewolf’s diapers. “I would have thought it was more of a housebreaking situation,” she muttered under her breath.
Hugh coughed and shot her a pointed look.
“What was that, dear?” Mrs. Caruthers asked as she soundly ignored Sheriff Merrow.
“Nothing,” Delaney said. “We’re good on the drinks.”
Mrs. Caruthers’s grin widened. “If you change your mind, just let me know. And y’all can call me Birdie.”
Sheriff Merrow pointed with greater enthusiasm.
Birdie left.
He shut the door. “Sorry about that. She’s a force of nature, that one.”
“Is she really your aunt?”
Sheriff Merrow’s nostrils flared. “Yes.”
Delaney stifled a snort of laughter. “I like the pushiness of Southern hospitality, although it’s going to take some getting used to.”
Sheriff Merrow sighed, opened a file and pushed it across the desk toward her. “Pictures are grainy, but it’s the best Bridget could do. Resolution on her security feed isn’t great.”
She studied the pictures, finally pushing the file back toward him. “Sorry, neither of these men look familiar, although they do look like the type of guys that Little Tony—that’s Anthony Rastinelli’s son—hangs out with.”
Sheriff Merrow closed the file and moved it to the corner of his otherwise pristine desk, then looked at Hugh. “What did you find out from Piper?”
“Not much,” Hugh said. “Just that she found a missing person’s report on Delaney.”
Sheriff Merrow tapped a finger on the file. “That doesn’t help me eliminate these two at all.”
“Probably makes them even more suspicious, huh?” Delaney sighed. “Hugh said we probably shouldn’t go to the parade tomorrow with those two in town.”
“Actually…” Sheriff Merrow sat forward. “If you went, we might be able to draw them out. If they are indeed in town after you.”
“No,” Hugh said. “We’re not using Delaney as bait.”
She put her hand on his arm. “Wait a minute. If it means getting rid of these guys—or maybe finding out there’s no one here after me—then why not?” She looked at the sheriff. “I’d be totally protected, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“By you and two deputies?” Hugh snorted derisively. “I wouldn’t call that totally protected.”
Sheriff Merrow’s already squinty-eyed gaze got a little squintier. “We’re all werewolves. And I’d assumed you’d be at her side the whole time. Are you saying you plus three of us wouldn’t be enough?”
Hugh leaned forward, clearly not amused, considering the stern set of his mouth. “I’m saying I don’t want to put her into any more danger than she already is.”
“The thing is,” Delaney started. “We don’t actually know if I’m in danger or not. This would be a good way to figure that out.”
Hugh shifted his gaze to her. “I don’t like it.”
“I’m not madly in love with it, but it’s a solid plan.” She nodded at Sheriff Merrow. “I’m willing to give it a shot.”
Hugh frowned. “What about your new friend, the gargoyle? You think he’d be up for helping out? Just to add a little sheer brute force.”
“I talked to him for five minutes. I have no idea.” But it was nice to know Hugh was over being jealous of Nick. She looked at the sheriff. “He said he knew you from the Army. Nick Hardwin?”
Sheriff Merrow’s head did a slow bob. “Nick Hardwin. Good guy. Just into town. I could deputize him if it makes you feel better.”
“Yes, it would.” Hugh stared at Delaney. “Are you sure you’re all right with this?”
“With three werewolves, one gargoyle, one vampire and Stanhill? I can’t think of how I might be safer.”
“I can,” Hugh groused.
“Yes, I know. If I wasn’t there at all.” She bit back a laugh. “Sheriff, what about the possibility that these men don’t even see me at the parade?”