Page 270 of One Winter Knight
“Shit, that was him?” Tad asked.
“The formula for what?” The cop’s eyebrows rose.
“Something I developed. I go to Briar University in Research Circle. Clegg wanted it for the wrong reasons. He didn’t listen when I said I couldn’t sell it to him,” I replied.
We gave him our IDs as a fire truck pulled up. I could still see the flames through the trees. The smell of smoke was strong.
Police came and got our official statements, and an EMT checked us out, as another fire truck came through.
I texted Mercy and let her know they’d rescued me.
“You ladies are lucky you didn’t get hurt, next time leave it to the professionals,” one of the officers said.
Saoirse caught his eye and gave him a lethal look.
But considering she’d shot people up, it might be better for them to think she wasn’t capable. Not sure they were going to look too hard at everything, anyway.
Which was for the better.
“I’m going to need to talk to somebody about whatever was in the lab.” A woman in a lab coat with a county badge came over.
“I know what they were trying to make,” I replied. I went with her and answered her questions.
Fiona and Carlos stayed close to me, and no one objected.
“It's technically not illegal,” I added. “It was formulated very specifically to be grey-area and not show up on the collegiate drug tests for athletics. But don’t worry, it’s going off the market, because it’s been sold to Compass BioTek.”
As I answered a few more questions, I realized they were much more worried about the toxicity than any shooting that had happened. Smoke, as well as the scent of chemicals and burning booze, hung heavily in the air.
“Was anyone hurt?” I asked, feeling bad about the explosion. I’m pretty sure I knocked over one of the lights when I tripped, which then set something on fire, and caused things to blow up.
“There are some injuries, but no fatalities,” she replied.
Okay, that was good.
When we finished, we sat on the tailgate of my truck. I wrapped a blanket around Fiona, Carlos, and me. Saoirse and Dusty talked with Big Tad. I’d fill Grace in tomorrow, in case she needed to senda cease and desist letter to Clegg.
“Can we go now? It's cold,” Fiona whined.
“Officer, when can we go? I'd like to take my pack home,” I asked.
“I’ll check on it.” The officer left.
It didn’t look like anyone was in any trouble for coming to get me. Thank goodness.
I held Fiona to me. “You looked so fucking sexy back there.”
“I’m always fucking sexy.” She grinned.
“True.” I turned to Carlos. “You, too.”
My pack came for me. Amazing.
Dusty had Saoirse in his arms as he murmured to her softly.
She rolled her eyes and gave him a little push. “Fine.”
“All right, you can go, but I don’t know if you should leave town.” The officer came back.
