When Sirens Screech: A Mayhem of Magic World Story (Bedlam in Bethlehem Book 3)

by Nicole Zoltack

  “I’m not playing at it. You can’t expect me to not worry about who you’re seeing. Especially given the circumstances.”

  “What circumstances?” I ask innocently.

  Ali scowls.

  Uh oh. Is there some trouble in their paradise? I hope not. If there’s any couple that could be a power couple, it’s them. They have major staying power. I mean, not even a vamp attack and induced amnesia could stop them. Hell, Travis fell in love with Ali twice!

  “What’s going on?” I ask, glancing between them.

  Ali huffs and crosses his arms.

  Travis clears his throats and rubs the back of his neck.

  “Seriously, guys. I feel like I’m missing something.”

  “You’re lucky,” Ali bursts out. “You’re single. Well, dating someone but you aren’t married. You have no idea what it’s like to be stuck with someone so pig-headed.”

  “Yeah, I’ll admit it,” Travis says easily enough. “I’ll accept that. I’m pig-headed. But what do you want from me, Ali? Do you want me to lose my job? Do you want to start a panic?”

  I glance back and forth like I’m watching a tennis match. It’s tense and awkward, and I think I know what’s going on here.

  “Why would you lose your job, Travis?” I ask.

  “Because I have a hunch about the things that are going on. I wanted to blog about it. It’s my job. But being the good wife that I am, I asked my husband, a cop, for an interview. Who promptly shut me down.” Her eyes flash with frustration.

  But not fear. How much does she suspect? Does she know the truth? Is it just a suspicion on her part? Seems like it from her use of hunch.

  “Just what is your hunch?” I ask casually.

  “There’s been a lot of death lately. A huge rise in crime. I think they’re all connected somehow. I want to investigate this further. Travis doesn’t want me to.” She scowls.

  “But why would it cause you to lose your job?” I ask Travis.

  I’m so perplexed right now. Does she know the truth or not?

  Ali cuts in before he can speak. “I asked him about this one night when he was half asleep. He gave me some… interesting answers. Answers he now claims weren’t real. That he had been mumbling nonsense because of being out of it.”

  “Answers like what?”

  “Oh, stop.” Ali shakes her head. “He told me that vampires and werewolves might be real and that I need to be careful. But I’m not the only one who needs to be careful. The entire city needs to be!”

  Oh, crap. I’ve been afraid of this. It doesn’t surprise that someone in the media has caught on. It’s even less shocking that the person who snooped it out is Ali.

  “Have you talked to your boss about this?” I ask Ali and hold my breath.

  She exhales through her nose, a bit angry and guilty. “No. I wanted to talk to Travis first. I thought I was onto something. I thought my husband would be willing to help me. I thought wrong.”

  “I’m sorry,” Travis says to me before glaring at his wife. “We weren’t going to mention this.”

  Ali looks stricken now. She hangs her head, clearly sad and even guiltier. “I didn’t mean to bring it up. Forget I said anything.”

  “No, no.” Anxious myself, I wave my hand. “I know. It’s a struggle. Bottom line, we all want the same thing. We want to keep everyone safe. Alerting the public to the idea that vampires and werewolves might exist will just cause panic.”

  “It’s not like they can ever be primed and ready for that kind of news,” she points out.

  “We have to protect them,” I say, “even from each other.”

  “Do you mean to protect the vampires and werewolves too?” she asks, horrified.

  “Of course not.”

  Travis makes a strange face.

  “People are panicking already because of the bombs,” I continue. “They think terrorist launched an attack. They’re already up in arms. Can you imagine what would happen if they knew about vamps and werewolves? They’d attack each other. They’ll shoot someone who looks at them twice.”

  “You really think vampires and werewolves don’t deserve rights?” Travis asks.

  I gape at him. “Vamps…” My gaze shifts to Ali, and I fall silent.

  We’re just confirming her suspicions.

  “I’ll go check on the pie,” Ali says. She rushes away from the table.

  I lean forward over the table. “Vamps survive by killing humans. You really think they deserve to be given rights?”

  “You brought some in to be questioned,” he counters.

  “Yeah, but I was fine with having them starve to death.”

  Travis winces. “Clarissa—”

  “No. Hear me out. You haven’t been up close and personal with them like I have. They’re monsters. “They’re savages. They’re—”

  “Some humans are monsters. Murderers. Rapists. Drug dealers. You name it. Would you tar all of us because of them? No, you wouldn’t. Why do the same to vampires?”

  “Their very nature is predatory. It doesn’t matter if one might speak educated or have manners. A tiger can’t change its stripes. A vamp is evil pure and through. I can’t believe you think differently.”

  “You remember Derek Greiver?” he asks.

  I rub my chin. “Derek the Daredevil, right?”

  “Yeah. We busted him for a huge ring. He landed in jail, and then his lawyer got him off on a technicality.”

  My nostrils flare. I hate it when we do all the hard work, and the lawyers screw it up.

  “What about him?” I ask.

  “He’s really turned his life around. I’ve been keeping a close on eye on him since he came out two months ago. Straight and narrow. He’s even started up a non-profit for kids with cancer.”

  I snort. “Probably to launder money.”

  “I’ve checked. Had forensics look into their accounting. It’s all legit.”

  I say nothing.

  “His son has cancer,” Travis adds. “It can change a person. Make them realize what’s important in life.”

  “And if his son hadn’t gotten cancer? Do you really think he would’ve changed? If his son dies, do you think he’ll stay on the right course? Do you think he’ll slip back into his old ways?

  “It’s impossible to say, but I hope—”

  “Hope isn’t going to stop a vamp from biting into your neck. That’s why you need a silver bullet. Or a full magazine of silver.”

  Ali comes back in with three huge slices of pie. It smells heavenly. The only time to eat a Marie Callender’s pie is straight from the oven. Reheating in the oven the next day just isn’t the same.

  “We have some vanilla bean if you want it a la mode,” she offers.

  Despite the decadent smell, my appetite is gone. This whole dinner has taken a turn for the worse. I’m agitated, uneasy, worried. Freaked out is kinda becoming my new normal, and I hate it.

  Travis stands up. “I’ll love some, but I’ll get it.”

  “I’ll get it.” She leaves the room.

  Travis follows.

  I don’t try to eavesdrop. Okay, I totally eavesdrop. They’re whispering back and forth, and then I hear distinct kissing sounds.

  Ugh. Good, I guess. I mean, I’m glad they aren’t fighting, but I don’t need to listen to that.

  Since they’re out of the room and it can’t be considered rude anymore, I whip out my phone. I’m checking through news reports to see if any other reporters have thought along the same line as Ali. None. So far, we’re in the clear.

  My phone vibrates.

  A text.

  From the lieutenant.

  Kat has silver eyes.

  Chapter 27

  It takes me a few seconds for the text to process. Kat. That name rings a bell. Yes. The nurse who watched over the lieutenant after he’d been bitten by a vampire. I thought I saw a spark developing between them, and someone mentioned to me about him dating someone.

  The cat’s out of the bag
for sure now.

  I grimace. Horribly, ill-timed pun.

  “Something wrong?” Ali asks.

  I push my chair back. “I’m sorry. I hate to do this, but I have to go. It’s an emergency.”

  Travis narrows his eyes. “Something… related?”

  “Not vice relate, so you don’t need to worry about it.” I force a smile.

  “Clarissa, you don’t just stop being my partner because you aren’t in vice with me anymore.”

  “Trust me, you can’t help me with this.” I walk over to him give him a hug and then embrace Ali. “Thank you for having me. Next time, you two can come over to my place. I’ll make… Domino’s sound good?”

  Travis grimaces.

  Ali smiles. “That sounds wonderful.”

  He grunts.

  I leave. Ali shuts the door behind me.

  “Believe me. If she needs you, she’ll call you,” Ali says.

  “You don’t really believe that, do you? You think I’m pig-headed? She’s more tenacious than a bull.”

  I grin at that.

  As soon as I climb behind the wheel, I call the lieutenant.

  “Tempest! Where the Hell are you?”

  “At Travis’. Where are you? Do you want me to come over?” I put the key in the ignition but hesitate and don’t turn the car on.

  “I’m at home for once. I had her come over so I could make her dinner. We haven’t spent a lot of time together lately, and I wanted to make up missing Black Friday shopping. And you don’t need to hear this. What the Hell should I do?”

  My mind races. “You could lock her up.”

  “Lock her up? Are you crazy? She doesn’t seem to be really possessed. Maybe she’s fighting it.”

  “We can’t talk to her about anything related to the siren.”

  “I know that!” he snaps. “You killed off enough people by asking them about it. You think I didn’t know about Lacey Morris? Of course, I do. I’ve been looking into all of your activities as of late. Fraternizing with vampires and werewolves on your spare time?”

  “Only ones with silver eyes,” I say critically. “And if you’ve been paying attention enough to know that, you know that that vamp and wolf tried to kill me!”

  “And that you were defended by the others. Curious, huh?” he snaps.

  “Yet I find it confusing that you are still calling me for help. Do you want it or not? Considering you aren’t my boss anymore, and technically, I don’t have to help.”

  He heaves a sigh of sadness and regret. “My hands are tied. I can’t. I… Look. I’ll admit that I might not always make the best of choices.”

  Like the girl he rescued from a kidnapper. That kidnapper had killed her parents. Her parents had abused her.

  Life had been terrible for Rose. She found one person to trust, one person she could talk to.

  The lieutenant.

  But he shipped her off to live with her aunt.

  I never told him at the time that I thought he should’ve adopted her because I hadn’t felt like it was my place. After everything with the vamps but before the whole Amarok gig, I told him then.

  “Rose,” I murmur even though I don’t mean to.

  “Yes, Rose. Exactly. But with Kat, I’ve been trying. I’ve been happy. I’d almost started to think that happiness is just an illusion. That cops can either be good at their job or have a normal life with family, kids, and all of that. It’s too late for me to have kids now, but a wife, I thought maybe I could try to have both.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure Kat is perfect for you. Just promise me that after she’s saved, that you’ll ask her to marry you.”

  “Marry? Already? That’s a negative. We haven’t been together long enough. It hasn’t even been a month. You’re insane, Tempest.”

  “I—”

  “And damn straight I’m worried. I don’t know what she’s been told to do. I have no idea what she might try to pull. Robbing a store is one thing, but what if she’s supposed to set up another bomb in the city?”

  “Who knows?” I ask sarcastically. “Maybe she’ll set you up to take the fall this time.”

  He says nothing.

  “Is she in the house with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure? She could’ve ducked out a window.”

  He mutters a curse. The sound of fumbling comes over the line. A minute later, he breathlessly whispers, “She’s still here.”

  “Okay, good. Is she supposed to be getting something? Doing something?”

  “She mentioned wanting to go out for a movie. I told her I had a headache and wasn’t feeling well. That’s when her eyes flashed.”

  “She wants you out of the house.”

  “Or the cover of darkness to slip away.”

  “But a movie isn’t for long. Whatever she intends to do must be close to the theater.”

  “What should I do?” he asks.

  He sounds anxious, worried. It’s so unlike him. His unease twists my stomach into knots. There has to be a way to keep him safe, to keep Kat from killing herself, and to determine the siren’s plan.

  At least for tonight.

  “The way I see it, we have two options. Either you pretend your headache is gone and go with her. I’ll wait for her to leave the theater and tail her. Or you tell her to go ahead without you and that you’re going to bed. I can tail her, and you can catch up with me. Which sounds better to you?”

  “I don’t know. Whichever one will keep her safer. Which one do you think that is?”

  “She wants you to go to the movies. Go with her.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” I insist. “Maybe just leave the tailing to me.”

  “But—”

  “I swear I won’t engage her. Not even if she’s actively committing a crime. I won’t risk activating some kind of siren booby trap. I swear I won’t talk to her. Not one word.”

  He exhales noisily into his phone. “Fine.”

  “Who are you talking to?” I hear from the background.

  “Just talking to the movie theater,” the lieutenant says. “Trying to figure out which movie to see. You still want to go, right? I was going to purchase advance tickets.”

  Man, is he smooth.

  “We can get them there,” Kat says.

  She sounds like her normal self. We only met a few times at the hospital. Seemed sweet enough, doting, kind. Everything a great nurse should be.

  When not under the influence of a siren’s song.

  “But what about your headache?” she asks.

  “I took some medicine. The Advil’s already working. By the time the beginning credits roll, I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

  “Wonderful,” she purrs.

  “You do want to go to AMC Allentown?”

  “Let’s go Center Valley instead,” she says.

  The lieutenant hangs up.

  “All right,” I murmur. “Let’s go see a siren about a song.”

  Chapter 28

  I hightail it over to the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. The movie theater is the first thing you see when you drive in, at least where I turn in. It’s amazing how many times the theater has changed ownership already. The outdoor shopping mall opened in late 2006. It has a lot of great places to shop here. Good eats too. It’s a shame the Pita Pit closed. I loved their chicken Caesar pita. The dressing, the bacon… divine.

  Man. I should’ve brought that pie slice along for the ride. I’m hungry yet after all, and food is kinda necessary when you’re on a stakeout.

  Tons of cars are already parked, so I have to drive around toward the back. I slide down in my seat and watch from as far below as I can. Soon, enough, a car pulls in nearby. It’s not the lieutenant’s, so I almost don’t pay it any attention.

  Then his loud voice booms. “I’m so glad I changed my mind.”

  He slams his door shut.

  I note where he’s parked and wait for them to disappear from view before checking out
the make and model of the car. A dark Honda Civic. Quickly, I get out and snap a pic of the license. I return to my car and swing it around so I can pull out immediately.

  On my phone, I bring up the movie listings. If they opt for the romance, it starts in ten minutes. An action adventure type begins in twenty. Kat will wait until the previews are done, and the movie’s started to begin.

  Hm. I wonder if the lieutenant will be able to catch up to tail her. If she uses her car, he’s stranded here because I can’t wait for him. Besides, it might not matter anyhow. If she spikes his soda, he might be out for the count. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about him following her.

  I can’t risk sending him a text to warn him not to drink or eat anything. Man, this is the pits. Stakeouts aren’t meant to be carried out alone either. I turn up the radio, but it’s not the same. Hell, I’ll even take being around Mercedes just for a little company.

  Nah. I’m not that desperate. She’s the mean girl of cops. I can’t stand her, and the feeling is mutual. Suits me just fine.

  I can’t risk calling anyone and being distracted. I even turn down the radio.

  Forty minutes later, footsteps approach, soft but fast and with purpose. Kat appears. She’s wearing a dark trench coat, jeans, and boots. Her car beeps as she unlocks it, and she gets in.

  I’ve tailed plenty of people before. I know all the tricks for not losing a car and to not be caught. Trust me. When you’re following drug dealers, you gotta have the street smarts to pull it off. The biggest trick of all? Being flexible.

  Kat leads me back to Bethlehem. First, she gains another tail, but I quickly realize the two of them are working together. Must be another silver-eyed siren goon.

  She stops so many times, as does her partner. Half the time, she climbs out, removes something small from her trunk, walks away, and returns without it. The other half of the time, her partner does the work.

  They work like fiends. Each stop only takes half a minute, some even less, and the locations aren’t far from each other at all. In all, they deposit a grand total of one hundred and eleven times. I mark the coordinates of each on my phone as we go along.

  An hour and a half later, she returns to the promenade and the movie theater. I sure hope the lieutenant is all right. I’m guessing she opted for the action adventure and not the romance. She sure led me out on an adventure.