Bad Moon Rising - Paranormal Romance (15 page)

* * *

Shine had to be one of the most popular places in Gallup; the people were elbow to elbow. Making her way through the crowd, she couldn’t help feeling self-conscious in the clingy black blouse and tight pants Jen had picked for her to wear.

Mya watched in awe as her friend sauntered up to a pool table surrounded by several men. Batting her lashes, Jen asked, “Do you mind if I join you boys?”

There was a burst of excitement from the men, but Mya didn’t stick around to see how Jen would make out. It wasn’t her scene at all. Instead, Mya found a table in a quiet - dark corner and ordered a beer. She would be just as content to watch Jen.

After the waitress brought her the beer she’d order, Mya spent the next little while nursing that one drink. Letting loose a little was one thing, but the last thing she needed was to get rip-roaring drunk. Donny would have fits if news of something like that got back to him. He knew she was a big girl, but she was also a representative of the police department and would have to be careful how she behaved in public.

Mya glanced down at her clothes again. She hoped she didn’t see anyone from the station, or come Monday morning the guys at work would harass her for sure.

Someone across the room caught her eye. Trent Metzger saw her at the same time she became aware of him. He immediately headed toward her table. Mya felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. At least she would have someone to talk to, though she didn’t really know what to say to him. They still didn’t have a suspect in his brother’s murder.

Trent slid into the little booth beside her. “I have to say Mya Reynolds … you’re looking hot tonight.” A smile touched his thin lips.

Mya cleared her throat, unsure if she should be thanking him or not. Instead she said, “I’m sorry we were interrupted the other night.”

Trent slipped his arm around her waist and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You know Mya … I could scratch that itch of yours … real slow and sensual like.”

She couldn’t help but be suspicious of his motive. There had been three murders, and they still had no suspect. The killer could be anyone. “I usually don’t take off with people I don’t know,” she added.

“Oh?” he said, furrowing his brows. “But you took off with Bray, who by the way … is one of the most notorious players around.”

Trent’s words stung, but Mya tried not to show it. “That’s not my business … besides, I know him better than you think I do.” It was just a little white lie, but it helped so that she didn’t feel quite so stupid for running off with David the way she had. She couldn’t really tell him the truth, which was that she felt more comfortable with the other man.

“Is that so?” he said, his mouth twisting with wry amusement. “Well I think this is something that you really need to see. It could help with your investigation.”

Mya felt her resolve crumbling. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of being alone with Trent, but she couldn’t bring herself to walk away from something that could help the police lock up a monster.

“Okay,” she agreed. “Just let me tell my friend we’re leaving.”

Mya could feel Trent’s eyes follow her as she walked to where Jen was leaning over a pool table - ready to hit the yellow ball into a corner pocket. Mya heard the loud crack of the balls banging against one another, just before Jen jumped up, clapping excitedly.

Mya was slightly disturbed by Jen’s reaction. This was the same girl that had once gone home with two guys at once when she was fighting with Chad. That kind of thing wasn’t a big deal to Jen. So why was she so worried?

“I’ll be okay. If not … you can tell my uncle who I left with.”

Jen didn’t looked convinced, but she said no more.

After stepping outside, Mya drew in a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere in the club had been heavy - full of stale tobacco and the scent of alcohol. She was almost glad for the chance to get out of there.

Mya followed Trent across the large parking lot. He’d parked his Mustang at the very outer edge of the lot.

“Do you think you parked far enough from the building?” Mya’s question was laced with sarcasm.

They had finally reached his car. “Can’t let my baby get hurt if some drunk idiot decides to hit her when backing up,” he said, gently rubbing the car’s hood.

“Hmm … you’re a car guy I take it.”

“What is a car guy?”

“You know … the type that would take their car to bed, if only it had the right parts,” Mya tried to hide a smile when she noticed the look of horror on his face.

Trent was right. About ten miles outside of town, he turned off. Like most places on the reservation, the last of their trip would be on a dirt road, but this one didn’t seem to go too far before they came across a little shack like building. It was just out of sight of the main highway.

Mya was on edge, and she now wished that she’d have thought to bring some kind of weapon with her. Although she wasn’t too far from the main road, it was doubtful anyone would hear her screams if he decided to attack her.

Trent switched on the flashlight and pointed it in her direction. “Oh it is. It’s going to totally blow your mind.” The excitement in his voice reminded her of a kid that was getting ready to spill the beans about someone’s secret.

Mya followed him through the door. Once inside, the first thing she noticed was that a layer of gray dust covered everything. It was clear that no one had been in the place for years. In one corner of the room was a twin bed with a rusty metal frame. A wooden table and two chairs sat directly across from the bed. The chairs looked as if they would fall apart if you actually sat on them.

The walls were made of plywood, without even the benefit of plaster. On the wall above the bed was a picture calendar depicting desert scenery. All that was left of the bed itself was an old mattress with most of its stuffing torn out. Mya assumed rodents had gotten to it. There was also a tattered - dirty quilt draped haphazardly to one side of the mattress.

He shook his head, laughter dancing in his eyes. “No … that’s just what they told you. They all lied to you Mya. The people that you
thought
were your parents … everyone.”

“What do you mean the people that I thought were my parents?” Mya asked, her voice fragile and shaking.

“Joan Begay is not your mother. Back then … she was a social worker who lived in Gallup. She took you in, but she’s not your mother,” he explained.

Mya’s face turned white. “Why would you say such things? What do you hope to gain by these ridiculous lies?” Her mouth was a thin line of fury.

“It’s true,” he said, lifting his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I’m sorry, but you need to know the truth. It’s your only chance of making it off this reservation alive.”

Mya turned away. “Take me into town,” she commanded.

“See.” Trent walked over to the calendar and pointed to a date that had been circled with red ink. “This is your birthday … isn’t it?”

Mya turned back and stared blankly at the calendar. It was on the month of April, and the fifteen was circled, but she couldn’t make out the year. Stepping closer, she saw that it was a calendar for the year she was born.

“You could have done this,” she accused. “It doesn’t prove anything.”

Trent shook his head. “You owe it to your mother to accept the truth … and to yourself.”

Forcing her panic back, Mya looked around the room. There were chains attached to the headboard. On the wall was a small snapshot of a middle-aged couple. The woman was a pretty red head with a kind smile. The man in the picture was average; he had brown hair and brown eyes. They were just average people that you might see walking down the street, but wouldn’t remember five minutes later.

Leaning over the bed, Mya pulled the tack out of the wall that held the picture up. Turning the photo over, she saw only three words on the back. Mom and Dad.

“Start from the beginning.” Mya still didn’t believe him, but something bad had happened here, that much she was sure of. The atmosphere in the room was so thick with despair that she could almost feel the emotion, as if it were her own.

“Do you know what the
Sinapu
are?” he asked, his smile widening.

Trent shook his head. “Not exactly. They are guardians … they protect the heart of the people. Every fifty years, four of them take their place as protectors of the heart. That’s David and his three friends. The time for them to take their place is coming soon.”

“Okay … you lost me somewhere,” Mya sighed. “What does this have to do with anything?”

“Well give me a minute to explain.” Trent scowled. “Everyone keeps peace with the guardians. I mean … they are not exactly the kind you want to piss off.”

When Mya said nothing, he continued. “But there is a group of skinwalkers that think they should have control of the heart, and they will do anything to get it.”

Confused, Mya shook her head. “What is this heart? Why is it so important?”

“Only the guardians know what the heart is or where it is, but it is important. Of course that’s another story. Whoever controls the heart, controls the people. Can you imagine what kind of power that would give you?” Trent placed a hand on her shoulder and gently turned her to face him. “With that kind of power … you would be like a god.”