“You’re talking about that casino boat docked at Northerly Island?”
“The Ark, yes, run by the Lazare family. I’m sure there’s a connection with the animal fights. And with the murders you and Shade were investigating. And with his death.”
Ethan stiffened. “How do you know about the Lazares?”
“I met Luc and his sister, Nuala. Luc told me Shade died saving his mother’s life.”
“Yes, I know the Elizabeth Reyes connection.”
“There’s more to the casino than meets the eye. There’s a hidden area below decks not open to the general public.”
He’s not buying it.
Skye glanced from Shade/Boomer back to Ethan, who was frowning at the dog in disbelief.
She rushed on. “You need an invitation to get in. Actually, it’s a whole complex, and—”
“Skye, you need professional help. Like a counselor who can talk you through your grief. Thinking Shade is still around, then telling me he’s inside the pooch.” He shook his head. “And that there’s some kind of underground casino under the casino boat. It’s all too much.”
He’s doesn’t want to believe any of it. So tell him what he’s been thinking about since we came in. Something wrong with the blood tests of the three victims. Something about two kinds of proteins and extra blood types, as if their blood was as much animal as human.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, seeming concerned.
Skye blinked and pulled herself together. “What you were thinking. About the victims.”
He blanched a little, but he kept his straight face. “I was thinking about the victims. That’s my job.”
“About the blood tests. Blood that turned out to be as much animal as human.”
Now Ethan looked shaken. “You know that’s impossible.”
“But it’s what you were thinking. Shade’s the one who heard you.”
Ethan went silent for a moment, looked from her to the dog. Shade sensed his old partner was beginning to believe, though he didn’t seem ready to admit it.
“How did you hear about that?” he asked instead.
“I told you,” Skye said. “You have to believe me about what’s been happening. We can help you close this case.”
“What you can do is go home and get some rest.” With tense hands, he picked up a file. “I have a shitload of work to do.”
At least he didn’t tell Skye to get professional help a second time.
You’re not going to get anywhere with him. Yet. Let him think about it for a day before you start in on him again. Trust me, he won’t be thinking about much else. He needs to believe you, because we need his help.
What in the world am I going to do on my own in the meantime? Skye returned.
It suddenly came to Shade. My casebook.
Skye immediately picked up on that. “Ethan, before we go, what about Shade’s casebook? If you’re through copying it, can I have it now?”
Ethan couldn’t keep it from her forever, despite Dad’s feelings on the matter.
“Yeah, I have everything.” Appearing reluctant, Ethan pulled it from a drawer and handed it over.
“What about his cell phone?” she asked. “Anyone ever find it?”
Ethan shook his head. “Skye, if you need anything—”
“Don’t say it unless you mean it.” She turned her back on him and walked straight toward the entry until a familiar voice stopped them.
“Skye, what are you doing here?” their father asked. He lowered his voice. “And with that dog?”
“Dad, nice to see you, too. I dropped in on Ethan for a few minutes. I wanted to know how the investigation was going.”
“I’ll let you know when there’s a break in the case.”
The censure in his tone saddened Shade, as did the disapproving expression when Dad’s gaze focused on him.
“Right,” Skye muttered, tugging on the leash as she headed for the door. “We’ll be going now.”
Shade glanced back once and thought he caught a little sadness in Dad, too, but he was probably imagining it. Too bad. Dad was the only family Skye had left. He’d never been easy on her. Or loving. Shade had always gotten the feeling Skye reminded Dad of their mother, and because of that, he distanced himself from her. Shade only wished his death could have changed things between them.
A wave of emotion from Skye enveloped him, but she somehow blocked her thoughts from him. She didn’t want him to know how much Dad hurt her.
He was glad to get to the car. Well, at least that wasn’t a complete bust.
Skye got the door for him.
Once they were settled in the car, she opened the casebook. “What should I be looking for?”
If I could remember, you wouldn’t have to look.
“Right.”
Shade/Boomer snuggled against her arm to stare at the casebook as she perused his latest notes about the murder. Her responding smile made him melt inside. He had no idea if he could make sense of the notes while in the dog’s body, but he would try to help Skye any way he could. If he had figured out what had been going on to cause his death, he still didn’t remember. Weird about the cell phone being missing. How had that happened? His short-term memory might be affected, but his obsession with keeping that damn phone handy was clear in his mind.
Turning a page, Skye made a sound indicating she’d found something she could use. “The letters ER and an address with the letters. Elizabeth Reyes.” She guessed. “Luc’s mother. The woman whose life you saved the night you died.”
If you say so.
“My talking to her might jog your memory.”
Then what are we waiting for?
“For you to move over. Better yet, get in back.”
Why?
“Because I can’t buckle you in.”
Jeez. He leaped into the backseat. You didn’t make me do this before.
Grinning at him, she said, “I know.” And started the car. Then she sobered. “In addition to giving me information about the night you were murdered, maybe the Reyes woman could give me some important insight into her son.”
Good.
The more she knew about Luc Lazare, the more tools she would have in her arsenal to resist him.
Shade didn’t know why exactly that was important, but he was convinced Luc Lazare was someone his sister should avoid at all costs.
Chapter Twenty
Skye exited Lake Shore Drive twenty minutes later and forced her mind to the investigation. Elizabeth Reyes lived off Marine Drive on Hutchinson. She knew the street was part of a historic district. What she wasn’t prepared for was the size of the estate. And an estate it was, like something you’d see in a North Shore suburb, with a circular drive in front of the two-story red brick building, the yard professionally landscaped, all behind a black wrought iron fence.
“Elizabeth Reyes is a retired social worker. How does one afford a mini-mansion this close to the lake on a social worker’s pension?”
Ask her.
“Oh, right.”
She probably comes from money.
“Or maybe the father of her child supports her in style. If that’s it, I can’t see her telling her anything that would ruin that situation for her.”
Skye found a parking spot a few houses down.
I’m going with you this time, Shade told her, then whistled through his doggy nose.
Wanting him to be with her, Skye let him out of the car. “Just be prepared to stay outside.”
Nah, I’ll win her over, and she’ll let me in.
“What? With your doggie charm?”
She kept him on a leash all the way to the front door. Her mind was spinning with what ifs as she rang the bell. A moment later, she saw movement through the curtains covering the glass inset on the door. Apparently, Luc’s mother was being cautious.
She lifted a hand and waved. “I’m Skye Cross—”
Before she could finish, the door opened. “I know who you are.”
Both reminded her of Luc.
Skye said, “I have some questions I’d like to ask, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. Come in.”
Shade whined in his doggy voice to remind her he was there, then stepped forward and sat before Elizabeth.
“Um, the dog—where can I leave him?” I asked.
Elizabeth patted his shaggy head. “I don’t keep a formal home. You can bring him inside.”
Told you I’d win her over.
Shade trotted right through the plant-filled foyer into a sun-filled living room. Indeed, the room was more casual than she might have expected, with a cream-colored couch and two flowered-print upholstered chairs before a fireplace. Plants hung in the windows, a potted tree filled one corner, and vases and bowls of colorful flowers added splashes of pink and yellow around the room.
Skye sat gingerly on one of the upholstered chairs, and Shade set his doggy body at her feet.
“I’m so sorry about your brother’s death.” Elizabeth paced before the large fireplace. “I can’t stop thinking about him.”
“Thank you. I can’t, either.”
Well, how could you, considering I haven’t gone anywhere?
She nudged him with her foot and gave him a look. She didn’t need him distracting her.
“What kinds of questions do you have?” Elizabeth asked. “I told the police what happened.”
“But you didn’t tell them who might have wanted you dead.”
“I don’t know. Truly.”
“Cezar’s wife, perhaps?”
Elizabeth blanched. “You know about Cezar?”
“I know he’s Luc’s father.” Certain that fact had something to do with the aborted hit on her, she hesitated only a second before saying, “I’ve been in the lower level of the casino.”
“Oh.” The older woman sank into the other chair. “I see.”
“Do you?” she asked. Luc had indicated his mother was all human, so how much did she know? “Have you been there and experienced it for yourself?”
“No. But I’ve been told enough.”
“By Luc? Or by Cezar?”
Wanting to get in the other woman’s head, she’d made Elizabeth uncomfortable. She was staring down at her skirt, smoothing the material as if she needed something to do with her free hand. Odd that she didn’t seem concerned about the killer returning for her.
Keep at her. She’s weakening, and you can take advantage of that to get her to talk.
Skye flicked a look at her companion. Shade certainly had more experience in interrogation than she did, so she nodded.
“How much do you know about Cezar?” she asked Luc’s mother. “About what he does? What he is?”
Elizabeth’s gaze appeared haunted. “I try to know as little as possible about his work. When I met Cezar, he was being attacked by some thugs on the street. I stopped to help him, but he wasn’t actually hurt. He was grateful for my concern, though, and so nice to me. Meeting him was like some kind of magic I couldn’t resist.”
Hah! She’d had a dose of that from Luc herself.
Skye, don’t let her off the hook.
“So you what? Started seeing him without knowing anything about him?”
“I’m afraid so. And it wasn’t long before I-I fell madly in love with him.” Elizabeth took a big breath. “I had no idea what he did for a living. Or that he already had a wife and a son. Once I found out, I tried to break off from him, but then I learned I was pregnant with Luc. It didn’t matter who or what Cezar was, Luc had the right to know his father.”
“Of course he did.”
“In turn, Cezar was protective of his child. Of us both.”
You were right about who paid for this place.
Skye nudged Shade/Boomer with her foot again.
“Cezar offered to leave Beatrix for us, but I wouldn’t let him leave Nik.” Her face paled. “Or Nuala when she came later. It has been something of a difficult arrangement for all of us. Especially for Luc.”
So this guy has a brother as well as a sister.
Focusing, Skye asked, “Why was it especially difficult for Luc?”
“He’s torn between our two worlds.”
And there you have it, the ‘in’ you were trolling for. Go for it.
Her pulse jumped as she asked, “What is that other world exactly?”
Elizabeth’s mouth opened and closed, and for a moment Skye thought the conversation was over, that Luc’s mother would now ask them to leave.
But she took a deep breath and said, “I thought you’d been to the casino to see for yourself.”
“A casino with a hidden area under the lake is an impossibility unless something extraordinary is involved. Or someone.” Elizabeth had to know, Skye thought, when she asked, “What exactly is Cezar?”
“He runs an organization called The Company.”
“The Company. Are they all descendants of the Nephilim?”
Elizabeth blanched again. Her mouth opened but she couldn’t seem to force out the answer. Skye waited. Not that she was patient. She simply made herself seem that way. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.
Press her, Shade urged.
“Well, at least you didn’t deny it.”
“Luc told you?”
“Not exactly.” She wasn’t about to tell her about The Book of Powers nor about the dream she’d had. “I overheard some things, put it all together.”
“I don’t understand. How does any of this concern you?”
“My brother is dead because of that casino.” Certain now that she knew exactly what her son’s father was, she decided to be frank. “Shade hasn’t passed on, by the way. He’s stuck here for some reason. I mean right here.” She indicated the dog. “At the moment, his ghost is fused with Boomer.”
Taking his cue, Shade/Boomer whistled through his nose, sat at attention, and gave a sharp bark.
Elizabeth didn’t even blink when she said, “Oh, no.” She locked her gaze with mine. “Your brother was working undercover at the casino. He must have played in the high roller room trying to get information.”
“Then he got information that’s keeping him here?”
“No.” Elizabeth was looking at the dog as she spoke. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I-I don’t understand.”
She looked as if she wanted to tell her something, but in the end, she shook her head. “I don’t understand, either. Whoever was out to get me that night killed him instead. I feel as if his death is my fault.”
“And you have no idea of who that might be? Is that true or did you tell the police that to protect your son and lover?”
Elizabeth flinched, but she shook her head. “It must have something to do with Cezar’s business. And Luc, of course. I couldn’t tell the police the truth. That it would be a lot easier for Cezar to win Luc over if I was out of the way.”
“Win Luc over? What do you mean by that?”
Elizabeth shook her head and got to her feet. “I’ve said too much already.”
Don’t let her off the hook.
Skye wasn’t about to. She thought about the dream-vision, about seeing humans take over predators on the Ark. She remembered hearing human voices coming from the predators that surrounded her outside the arena when she went after the coyote.
“About Cezar and Luc—are they shapeshifters, too?”
Elizabeth gaped at her. Then she licked her lips and said, “I’m sorry, but you have to leave now.”
Without waiting for her reply, she exited the room, reminding her once more of her son.
Defeated for the moment, Skye got to her feet. But before she could tell Shade they�
�d better get going, she was stopped by a wall of what felt like raw emotion.
“Why don’t you ask me what I am?”
Her gaze went straight to the shadows on the staircase. Luc stepped from them and worked his way down. Her heart thudded when she got a better look at him, wearing nothing but a pair of warm-up pants as if he’d been getting ready to work out. Even his feet were bare.
She tore her gaze from a bronzed chest that shot a thrill skittering along her nerves. Sexual magic she’d been experiencing from the moment he’d rescued her outside the arena. As Cezar must have held for Elizabeth. And look what happened to her. But she wasn’t Elizabeth. She didn’t know everything, but she wouldn’t be fooled the way Luc’s mother had been. Skye knew enough to be cautious around her son. She wasn’t going to let him get to her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, forcing her voice to remain even. “You live with your mother?”
“She keeps a room for me. And she needs me now to protect her.” His gray gaze glinted silver as it shot from her to the dog. “You both need my protection.”
Boomer pressed up against the side of her leg and softly growled, though if Shade had thoughts on the matter, she couldn’t tell. She didn’t know if it was because he wasn’t sending any message or if she was too jittery to receive it.
“You want to protect us? Why didn’t you protect Shade before it was too late?”
He moved closer. “I had no control over him, either.”
“You mean like you can’t control me?”
His lips twitched. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Don’t start.”
“What?”
“Trying to put your mojo on me.”
“Maybe it’s you working your magic on me in that dress.”
He worked his gaze up from her bare legs to the vicinity of her collarbone, covered by a green material that deepened the color of her eyes. She put a hand there as if she could protect herself from his gaze and felt the outline of the pendant underneath.
“Don’t play games,” she said. “Wrong time.”
“There’s a right time? When?”
He was doing it again. Getting under her skin. Doing his best to distract her. Part of her wanted to go with that for a moment, but she wasn’t going to, not with her brother pressed up against her to remind her why she was here.
Animal Instincts (Kindred Souls Book 1) Page 11