Winter Wolf(36)
“Kat? Katalina?”
Katalina focused on her grandma’s face.
“Kat, the police, they’re here to see you,” her grandma said gently, nodding toward the unmarked car parked at the edge of the graveyard. Detectives leaned against it.
“Police, now?” she asked, bewildered.
“I’m sorry, Kat. Susan tried to get rid of them but they won’t leave. Just answer their questions and then it’s over with.”
“Okay,” she whispered, taking an uneasy step toward them.
“I’d think it would be best if you stayed here, Sebastian,” her grandmother added.
Bass looked a little put out but stayed behind.
Katalina walked slowly toward the two men, feeling lost now Bass wasn’t by her side. She weaved between the headstones, glancing back at Bass every now and then. When she reached the detectives, she took one final look at Bass and then took a deep breath, preparing herself for the questions.
“Miss Winter?”
Katalina focused on the men and nodded.
“We’re very sorry to interrupt, today of all days, but we’re hoping you can shed some light on a few things,” the oldest of the detectives spoke.
Katalina nodded again. She stuck her hands in her pockets to hide the fact they were trembling.
“Well, why don’t you just start off by telling us what happened the night of the crash?’
Katalina opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t voice the horrors of the night. It was all too much, too devastating. She didn’t want to recall the night again.
“There were wolves, weren’t there, Kat?” her grandmother prompted with a reassuring pat.
“Yes…they followed the car. Dad took his eyes off the road for a second and”—she sucked in a breath—“then they ran out in front of the car. It flipped.” Katalina closed her eyes, forcing the images, the memories away.
“But you made it out of the car?” the detective asked.
“Yes,” she answered in a small voice.
“But how did you get away?”
“My dog came.”
“Your dog saved you from a pack of wolves?” he asked, disbelieving.
Katalina looked the detective in the eye. “Yes,” she said sternly.
“So, then your biological father finds you a few streets over, and rushes you to hospital. This is what your grandmother tells us.”
Katalina nodded.
“Why not inform the rest of your family you were safe?”
“She had no memories! I’ve told you this already,” Katalina’s grandmother snapped.
“We’d just like to hear Miss Winter’s version of events.”
“I came home as soon as I had my memories back. Now, if that’s all, I’m at my parents’ funeral.” Katalina didn’t wait to see if the detectives had any more questions. She turned on her heels, marching back to Bass.
“Are you all right?” he asked as she approached.
Katalina didn’t dare speak for fear of crying, so nodded instead.
Her grandmother returned a few minutes later, having sent the police on their way. “Kat, we must get going. We’ll be late for the wake.”
Wake…more people, more questions.
“Kat?” She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t find the words. Fresh tears pooled in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to force them back.
Bass stepped in. “I think Katalina has had enough for one day. I’ll walk her home. I think she needs a little time alone.”
“Oh, right, yes, it’s been a hard morning. We’ll see you at home, Kat” her grandma said.
Katalina hugged her grandmother, and then followed Bass as he guided her along. She was lost in her dark thoughts, playing the crash and over, looking for some way to have saved her parents. Her feet squelched in the slushy snow and the wind bit at her face, raw from tears. Her whole body felt like ice, right down to her broken, torn soul. Her only source of warmth came from Bass’s hand, still strong in hers.
“Where are we going?” she asked, after realizing they’d been walking into a crop of trees for the last few minutes.
“We are going to have a run. It will make you feel better,” he explained, stopping.
“A run?”
“Yes,” he smiled, pulling his coat, then t-shirt off.
“A naked run?” she smirked.
“Don’t be a smartass, Kat.” He slipped his jeans off and then his boxers.
Katalina gave a startled squeak spinning around so he was at her back. “Bass, I don’t want to change again remember, and I’m not sure running around as wolves is the best idea.”
“I’ll keep you safe. Now, come on, Kat, undress. I’ve seen it all before,” he said, his tone flirty.