Under a Hunter's Moon

Alena let her phone clatter to the countertop. She plucked up a carrot and resumed peeling with a new passion.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Hailey’s voice barely registered.

Alena was eager to tell Liam everything she and Riley had found out the previous week. She could imagine how he would react to everything they had uncovered. But her call went straight to voicemail—again. Just as it had every other time she tried phoning him in the last few days. The uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach began to intensify. Maybe something really was wrong.

“Earth to Alena!”

Alena frowned at her sister. “Liam isn’t answering. What do you think is going on with him?”

Hailey turned back to the stove. “I hate to be the one to bring up the harsh realities of life, but have you considered the possibility he doesn’t want to see you anymore?”

“What? He didn’t say anything to me about it.”

Hailey gave her a look that could only be construed as condescending, the sort of look Alena received when she was being particularly naive.

Oh, no. Not that. “He’s not that sort of person.”

“You can’t possibly know that. You’ve been acquainted for, what, three weeks?”

“Four.” Alena stuck out her bottom lip. “Besides, you’re supposed to say something encouraging.”

“OK then… I’m sure he must have a good explanation.” Hailey drew out the weak consolation as she pulled apart pieces of chicken and added them to the pot of soup.

Alena ignored Hailey’s attempt at optimism in exchange for her previous argument. What if she was right? After all, Liam was still living in a hotel. Maybe he wasn’t even planning on sticking around long.

“If he doesn’t want to see me, he should just say so.” Alena chopped up a carrot with as much ferocity as she could muster, causing the sound to echo throughout the kitchen. “This is absurd.” She dumped the slices into the steaming broth, breathing in the sweet scents of parsley and thyme, and resumed decimating another vegetable.

Maybe Liam was avoiding her, but she wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Alena was just going to have to get answers on her own. She was tired of waiting around, worrying and coming up with worst-case scenarios. “I know what I’m going to do.”

Hailey came over to remove the knife from her sister’s hand.

Alena allowed Hailey to take over her task. “I’m going to march right into that precinct and demand to know what’s going on.”

Hailey raised her eyebrows. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she protested.

“I don’t care. This is driving me nuts.” Alena bounded off to her bedroom and returned with her boots and jacket.

“You’re going now?” Hailey stopped dicing carrots and dropped the knife onto the counter.

“You didn’t think I was serious?” Alena zipped up her boots.

“Well, if you’re going, I’m coming with you,” Hailey declared.

“Fine. Then you’d better hurry up.” Alena slipped on her jacket. She grabbed her keys as Hailey ran to get her shoes.