Chapter 17

The hoursof grueling questions left Aidan exhausted—also mad and frustrated. How could anyone believe he killed those people?

Yes, he could turn into a wolf, something that hit him years ago but that he'd always kept under control. When the wildness in him got to the boiling point, he let off steam by changing into fur and running in the woods, where the only thing he hunted was rabbits.

He'd never attacked a person. Actually, despite his intimidating size, he didn't get into fights. Most people gave him a wide berth. So to be accused of something so heinous…

The pounding at his door not that long after Red left had woken him. He'd fallen asleep, the scent of her lulling him. Still in a state of bemusement, he'd stumbled to the door and opened it to people yelling he was under arrest.

It took the silver cuffs going on his wrists for him to manage a dazed, "What am I being charged with?"

"Murder."

Worse, though, than the false accusation? The look on Red's face as they'd hauled him away.

Did she actually believe him capable? Probably. They'd not known each other long and yet, at the same time, long enough for him to know that he was incredibly attracted to her, not just because of her looks. She was the whole package. Witty. Strong. Stubborn. Sensual. Funny. And she loved gaming as much as him. He'd been having so much fun with her. More than he could have ever imagined.

But that was all over now. Now he sat in a cell, a prisoner accused of atrocities, and he had no idea how to prove his innocence. How could he when whoever framed him had been so deviously thorough? Claiming his truck had been seen in the area of the crime. Stealing his keys, which included those of two clients he'd been doing work for—clients now dead. Leaving bloody clothes in the basement, clothes he'd never seen before. And then the most damning thing, placing his business card with one of the bodies.

"It's bullshit," he'd exclaimed upon being placed in a cubicle for questioning.

"We know you did it," the pompous ass across from him kept stating. Agent Jasper apparently didn't believe in innocent until proven guilty and did everything he could to get Aidan to admit to the crimes.

In vain.

"No, I didn't. I'm innocent. Someone is framing me."

"Sure, they are," Agent Jasper drawled. "Meanwhile we found a dead body with your business card. Just a coincidence, or are you going to claim you went for a walk in the woods and dropped it?"

"Anyone could have," he'd growled. "And I told you, it couldn't have been me. I was with a woman."

"Yeah, we know. She's dead."

"Fuck off already. Blanche is not dead. She fucking works here. Ask her. She'll tell you we spent the evening together. From like nine until midnight."

"I am not bugging Agent Hood with your lies. No way she'd be dating a wolf, not with her history." Said with a sneer.

Except she didn't know about that side of him. He'd not dared mention it. Nobody knew because he'd not wanted to be pigeon-holed.

Agent Jasper kept repeating the same questions just to receive the same answers. Goaded Aiden to no result. Eventually, the agent gave up, claiming, "Maybe some time in our special cage will get you to talk." They dumped Aidan in a silver-lined cell without a phone call. Then again, who would he contact? Red obviously either thought him guilty or wanted to disassociate so as to not ruin her career.

So much for the claim the truth would set him free.

Click. Clack. The sound of heels approached, but he couldn't be bothered to look and see who came to lead the next round of questions. He lay on the bench in his cell, an arm draped over his eyes.

The person stopped by his cell, and a soft feminine voice murmured, "Mr. Malcolm? I'm sorry to disturb you. I'm Agent Jones."

"I already told the last agent everything I know, which is nothing. I didn't kill anyone," he muttered.

"So it appears. That's why I'm here. You're being released."

"What?" He almost fell on the floor in shock. He recovered and stared at the petite blonde standing on the other side of the silver-coated bars.

"While I can't state for certain you're innocent of all the pending charges, it appears that the most recent murder was conducted by someone other than you. A good thing someone reliable came forward to provide you with an alibi."

"Red finally fessed up? Took her long enough," he grumbled.

"I assume you mean Blanche? Yes, she was under the misassumption the killing occurred before your rendezvous. Once she realized her error, she told us it couldn't have possibly been you in those woods and insisted we release you."

"Glad you believed her. I told Agent Jasper hours ago about Red. He accused me of lying."

Her lips pursed. "You told Tyrone you were with Blanche?"

"Multiple times."

"I do apologize. While it's not an acceptable excuse, everyone has been on edge with these murders, and there was much excitement when we thought we'd caught the perpetrator."

"Is this a bad time to mention while I have an alibi for last night, I don't for all the incidents?" He'd probably regret his honesty.

"Did you kill those people?"

"No."

The woman stared him in the eyes and nodded. "I believe you."

"But what of the evidence?" He couldn't have said why he argued.

"Much of it is very convenient, meted out piece by piece, almost as if someone were building a case against you. Do you have any enemies, Mr. Malcolm?"

"Not that I know of." He tended to keep to himself.

"Perhaps a dissatisfied client?"

"One but I doubt he'd go this far."

"You'd be surprised. So am I to take it you do have someone displeased with your services?"

"Yeah. Some dude called me in to do some work on this office space he's renovating. I did as asked, but he complained about literally everything. The paycheck wasn't worth the hassle, so I quit."

His claim had her nose scrunching. "I don't suppose his name was Alistair Walden?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"Because Mr. Walden happens to be the source of some of the supposed eyewitness accounts."

"Son of a bitch. Why the fuck would he frame me? It's not like we fought or anything." On the contrary, things had always been very civil, if cold.

"I don't know why Mr. Walden acted in such a fashion, but rest assured, I will find out." She pressed her hand against the electronic pad outside his cell and then keyed in a password. The door clicked, and she pushed it open. "You're free to go, Mr. Malcolm."

"What about this Walden fellow?"

"We'll handle him. Don't you worry."

But he did worry because he couldn't help but recall Agent Jasper's almost constant accusation that he was targeting Red. "Is Walden trying to hurt Blanche?"

"We don't know what the killer wants with her."

"Meaning yes." He clenched his fists as his inner wolf stirred.

Agent Jones cocked her head. "You care for her?"

"It might sound crazy since I barely know her, but yeah. She's a formidable woman."

"I'm glad you recognize that. Blanche might act tough, but she's got a heart of gold."

"Is she still here? I'd like to thank her for getting me sprung."

"She should still be around somewhere. Let me see if I can track her down."

Agent Jones, who told him to call her Cinder, left him at reception while she went hunting for Red.

She returned with another woman, the pair of them looking worried. "Blanche isn't here, and her bike is gone."

"Maybe she went home to get some sleep," Aidan suggested.

The brunette shook her head. "No way. Blanche would never have left without saying something to us." She held out her hand. "I'm Belle by the way. Co-worker and friend."

A very pregnant woman entered through the main doors to the bureau, waving a phone. "Look what I found outside. Isn't this Hood's? She must have dropped it."

"Let me see it, Luanne." Cinder snagged it from the pregnant woman and frowned as she tapped on it. "The screen is cracked pretty bad, but… looks like I can still log in. Good thing I know her password." Cinder kept sliding her finger on the screen, and he noticed the moment her face turned white. "According to her phone log, Walden called her, but she didn't answer."

His fists clenched. "Why would Walden be calling?"

"He's done it a few times, usually to throw you under the bus," Belle stated.

"That's not all," Cinder stated. "Her mom called seconds after, and Blanche answered. Didn't speak long though."

"Phone Mrs. Hood. See if she knows where Blanche is," Belle suggested.

The call went right to voicemail. Cinder bit her lip. "Might not be anything."

"Bullshit," he exclaimed. "You said it yourself, she wouldn't have left without saying anything unless—"

Cinder's phone rang, and she frowned. "Unknown number," she replied, and her entire face went white after she answered. She murmured, "Stay where you are, Mrs. Hood. We're coming." She hung up and blurted out, "Blanche is in trouble. That was her mom calling from a neighbor's place. She says a man called Walden came to her place and took them hostage. Blanche helped them to escape, but she's stuck there with him." Cinder paused before adding, "He admitted to being the killer."

"Send out an emergency message," Belle barked. "Everyone needs to get their ass to the Hood cottage. Let's move." Belle's quick stride had Cinder hurrying to keep up, and Aidan tagged along.

"Where does Red's mom live?" he asked.

"Just outside the city. But you can't come." Belle tossed the last bit over her shoulder.

"Like fuck. Red's in danger."

"And you're a civilian," Belle retorted. "We'll handle this. You should go home. Talk to Luanne at reception. She'll call you a cab."

"But Red—"

"Will be fine. She's tough," Belle stated before sliding into the passenger seat of a tiny car that wouldn't have fit him anyhow. "Cinder, you coming?"

The tiny blonde bit her lip but nodded before getting into the driver's seat. They put-putted away, and he paced, the wolf within agitated, wanting to follow. However, he had no wheels, no wallet, nothing.

"You look pretty upset for a guy set free," Hannah stated as she joined him in the parking lot.

"Red's in trouble. An asshole ex-client of mine took her family hostage."

Hannah froze halfway into a truck. "Hold on. Say that again?"

"I don't know all the details. But apparently, some guy called Walden is the killer, and he took Red's mom and grandma hostage. Red helped them escape, but now she's alone dealing with that psycho. Belle and Cinder are heading there now."

Before she could reply, someone shouted her name. "Hannah." A big dude emerged from the bureau and strode at a rapid clip in their direction.

"What's up, boss?" Hannah chirped.

"We need to move fast. Agent Hood is in trouble."

"I just heard." Hannah inclined her head at Aidan.

The big dude caught up to them. He glanced at Aidan and muttered, "Sorry if we were rough earlier. Given what we knew at the time, we expected you to fight."

"No worries. Y'all were just doing your jobs." In truth, they'd been gentler than expected, given they thought him a sadistic murderer.

"Can't believe the real killer fooled us so badly. Well, he won't get away with it. Cinder texted us the address where Walden was last seen," the boss man declared.

"It's Red's mom's house. Cinder and Belle are already headed there," Aidan informed.

The big man cursed. "Those idiots. We've got to get there ASAP," he declared, swinging into a blacked-out SUV.

Hannah eyed Aidan. "Sit tight and try not to worry. We've got this. We'll send word once we locate Blanche."

"I don't want to sit around. Can I go with you? I swear I can be useful." He tapped his nose. "Especially if I let the wolf out."

"It might be ugly," Hannah warned as he clambered into the back seat.

It sure would be if Aidan found out Walden harmed a single hair on Red's head.