“What do you mean there’s no body?” Chase growled through the phone. He paced the hallway outside Sophia’s recovery room at the clinic. If his phone hadn’t lost reception earlier, this would’ve been solved already.

“Just that,” River said, “there is no body or blood. But the air stinks of strong cleaning products freshly used.”

“You think someone else cleaned up for us?” Chase pondered out loud.

“Unless there are clean-freak zombies,” River replied, “then someone took care of the dead woman.”

What the hell was going on? Would this never end?

“And the tubes and papers aren’t on the table?” Chase asked.

“Nope,” River said, “didn’t see anything.”

Shit, shit, shit. “Did you see anybody or talk to anyone?”

River sighed. “Trebir let me and the guys in the back and gave us white lab coats. We didn’t have any problems getting in. Do you want us to ask employees? Few are here, though.”

Chase’s brows drew in. “What? You gonna ask if anyone’s seen a dead body lying around?”

“Does sound bad, when you put it that way,” River answered.

Fuck, sometimes he wondered if his brother came from the mailman.

“Oh,” River chimed in, “I did meet the facility director.”

“How did you know he was the director?” Chase asked.

“We ran into him coming out of his office as we were leaving.” His brother’s voice turned snarky. “And before you give me the third degree, the title on the door read Facility Director. That’s how I know who he was.”

“Did you talk with him?”

“Shortly. He didn’t give any hint to being aware of anything going on. Nice guy. He’s a shifter, but I’ve never smelled his animal before.”

“Did you ask what he was?” Chase asked.

“No, I didn’t want to get personal with the man and have him start asking me questions.”

“Good call,” Chase said. “What’s the man’s name? Why don’t I know him? I would’ve remembered meeting someone with an exotic side.”

“Name’s Jake Schnake.” River laughed. “Jake the Snake. He’s probably heard that a million fucking times in his life. Poor guy.”

Chase wondered if it was too simple to think Jake was a snake shifter. Chase still didn’t remember meeting the man. Usually, he eventually met every new shifter who came to town.

“Okay, anything else?” Chase asked.

“Nope. Unless you want us to do anything more, we’re done. It’s up to the facility or family to question police. Do you need me to talk to the chief?”

“No,” Chase said, “I’ve got to talk to him about the break-in to Sophia’s house.”

“You don’t think that’s taken care of now?” his brother asked. “Wasn’t the dead woman in charge of the hyenas trying to get your mate’s work?”

“She was, but…I don’t know.” Chase still had a feeling something wasn’t right. Maybe he was being paranoid since this was his mate he was trying to protect.

Shit. He felt like a first-day alpha with no experience. He hated being indecisive. Logic versus intuition.

The doctor entered the hall from her office, stethoscope around her neck.

“River, the doc’s out. I’ll talk to you later.” He pocketed his phone. “What’s the verdict, Doctor?” he queried.

“She looks good,” the doctor said. “Scans show the hole has healed in the middle of the muscles already. She shouldn’t have any problems making a full recovery. She’ll have a slight scar, though.”

“Eh, scars are sexy on a woman,” Chase said, thinking with one head more than the other now that they were talking about his mate.

The doctor laughed. “As long as you think so, Alpha.”

This having a mate thing was still a bit new for him. He had to watch who he was talking to. And with which part of the body he was talking with.

Chase followed the doctor into Sophia’s room.

“Hello, Miss Sophia.” Doc maneuvered around the nurse and placed the end of the stethoscope on Sophia’s chest.

Chase wondered at that. “Can’t you hear her heart without that thing if you got closer?”

Doc looked up at him. “Of course, but how would it look if I went around with the side of my face attached to everyone’s chest?”

Point proven. Though, he wouldn’t mind putting his ear to his mate’s chest. It’d put his mouth right at nipple height.

“Chase,” Doc said, “if you insist on thinking whatever it is causing that smell, I’m going to kick you out.”

It didn’t help his case when he watched his mate’s tongue swipe across her bottom lip. He groaned when the nurse grabbed his arm and dragged him out.

“Wait,” he said, “when can I take her home?”

“After I’m done examining her,” Doc answered. “Ten minutes.”

“Thank God,” he mumbled.

“Congrats on finding your mate, Alpha,” the nurse said.

“Thanks, Marcy,” he replied. “Finding my other half is better than I ever thought, if I can keep her out of trouble.”