Read Runner's Moon: Yarrolam for Free Online Page A

phone? One of your countrymen?”
                “His name is Thom DeGrassi. He’s married to Tiron. She’s from my w-...country.”
                “Why did he call you? Howdid he know to call you on the new phone?”
                “I called one of my friends last night to let him know what had happened. In case something happened to us, I felt someone should be aware of it. He must have contacted Thom.”
                “Why would your friend contact him?”
                “Thom was a detective in Crescent City when he met Tiron. They moved to Tumbril Harbor where Thom now works for the local sheriff’s department. Thom called to let me know there’s an APB out for me.”
                Cherron felt a chill run through her. “Oh, God. Is Aaron…”
                “They can’t find him. Our office was broken into, and the place was ransacked. The police tried to contact us, without success. I tried to call him again this morning, but it went straight to voice mail.”
    “Do you think Aaron destroyed his phone like you did?”
                “He may have. Cherron, they think the people who trashed our office were the same ones who broke into our apartments.”
                The implication made her wince. “ Your apartment? Why there? What were they looking for?”
                “That’s what the police want to know.”
                “Is Detective Washoo the person you need to contact?”
                Liam nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “As soon as we get back to New Orleans, I’m to stop at the first police station and identify myself. I’ll let them know Washoo is waiting to hear from me.”
                Cherron played with a piece of toast, swirling it around on her nearly empty plate. “I guess the police are going to want to talk to me, too.” She looked up at him. “I promise I won’t tell them what you told me in confidence.”
                He smiled at her. It was slight, and revealed his weariness over the whole incident. “Thank you, Cherron. As soon as you’re finished, we’ll be going.”
                “Good. The sooner we let them know what we know, the sooner this will be cleared up. And hopefully they’ll find Aaron.” An ugly thought reared its head. “Liam? What if Aaron’s…dead?”
                “Don’t think about it,” he whispered. Reaching out a hand, he patted her on the wrist. The connection tingled, as if he’d charged her with a thin stream of electricity. “Let’s stay positive. Aaron’s out there. And when we find him, he’d better have a damn good reason for getting us involved in this mess.”
                The last sounded like a near threat, making her snort in amusement. “You and me both. What do you say we get some coffee to go before we hit the road? I’m anxious to get this whole sordid affair behind us as soon as possible.”
                Liam agreed and signaled the waitress for their check.

Chapter 7
    Questioning
     
     
                “Yarrolam? This is Thom DeGrassi. I’m married to Tiron Tarakon.”
                The words, spoken in the Ruinos language, shook him to the core. It took great effort to hide his surprise from Cherron, but she was aware of it anyway. She would. He could sense her beginning to meld with him. His emotions. Almost his thoughts. She fully trusted him now, even though he’d given her no reason to. They’d known each other less than twenty-four hours, and she’d already placed her life and well-being totally in his hands.
                “Answer something, would you?”
                Yarrolam pulled himself from his thoughts. They were less than an hour from the city, and would soon cross Lake Pontchartrain.
                “I’m listening.”