Fire Storm by Ally Shields Read Free Book Online Page A

month.”
    “You’re really serious about this baby thing.” Ari gaped at her. She had known Claris wanted to be a mother, but was really surprised she was jumping into motherhood so soon.
    “You bet. I want a dozen.”
    “You should have been a rabbit.” Ari chuckled at her friend’s eagerness.
    Claris wiggled her nose and sucked on her lower lip in a classic rabbit face. Both women burst out laughing. The peeling of the shop bell broke up their heart-to-heart.
    “I gotta go.” Ari headed for the coat rack. Still grinning, she pulled on the poncho, nodded at the young customer hanging up her wet umbrella, and stepped into the street. The pouring rain had eased, but a cold breeze whipped up and down the street. A horse hitched to a tourist carriage in front of the French pastry store had his head lowered in an effort to block the wind with his body. She wrapped her poncho tighter. Miserable weather.
    Five minutes later she raced up the steps of the police station. An officer exiting the door held it open so she could get out of the cold and rain. She smiled her thanks and ducked inside. The tile floor of the station was wet. A mop and bucket sat next to the door where someone had attempted to clean the mess, but finally gave up. The small doormat was soaked and water squished under her heels. She stopped next to the bucket and used a rag hanging on the rim to wipe off her boots, frowning at their glossy surface. Perhaps this hadn’t been the day for designer boots. But she was missing Andreas, and bad weather equaled bad hair… All things considered, why not have an extra strut in her step?
    Ryan wasn’t in his office when she arrived on the third floor. She wandered down the hallway, waving at officers she knew, poking her head into conference rooms. When she still didn’t find him, she returned to the information desk on the first floor.
    “I haven’t seen him lately,” the clerk said. “Let me ask.” She stuck her head around a corner, talked to someone and was back. “He’s working a double homicide. You caught a break on this one. No Otherworlders involved. Foster got tagged because one of the major crimes guys is on vacation. You need me to raise him on the radio?”
    “No, it’s not important. I’ll catch him later.” She walked away and was ready to head back into the rain when her cell rang.
    “Good morning. It is morning there, is it not?”
    “Andreas.” The warmth of his voice spread through her, making her tingle from head to toe, chasing away the cold and damp. “I know you’re in Italy but you sound like you’re next door.”
    He chuckled. “Modern technology has improved communication since the days when it took weeks or months for letters to cross the ocean.”
    She shook her head and grinned at the phone. Who would make a comparison like that except a two hundred year old vampire? “So what are you doing? What’s it like?”
    “It is late afternoon here, warm and sunny. I am seated on the veranda with a glass of Chianti, waiting for my overseer. The vandalism appears to be more extensive than I believed, so I am pursuing those details before I meet with the medical examiner. Since an autopsy has already been done, there is no rush to see the body.”
    “What kind of vandalism? Was it serious?”
    “A series of break-ins and thefts. Could be childish pranks, but I will know more about the cumulative damage after this meeting. What are your plans for the day?”
    “Staying dry would be at the top of the list. It’s been raining all morning. I had coffee with Claris, and we talked about wedding plans.”
    They continued to chat for another ten minutes. She told him Mangi and Zylla appeared to be getting along, but she didn’t mention Zylla’s warning. She debated telling him, but finally decided it wouldn’t make him increase his security, and he’d probably jump to the conclusion she was in danger. He didn’t need to be stewing about her during his stay in Italy. She