“Jeez, Kate, I never knew. How did you get away? Did you kill the bastards?”
Cocking her head to the side, she watched me, her eyes narrowing. “You really are interested. That makes a change.”
My stomach clenched as if she’d thrown a fist into it. Now, that hurt. Was I seriously that disconnected?
“I have to admit that I’ve never really allowed myself to get to know people. It’s been hard for me, being so cooped up in the Paranormal MI5 world. I find it difficult to talk to people on a normal level. I’m sure everyone thinks I’m a freak. I’m awkward as fuck,” I rambled, stopping when Kate stamped her foot.
“You are awkward as fuck, there’s no denying it, but so what? Who cares? You shouldn’t.”
Licking my lips, I raised my arms. Her constant gesturing meant that she wouldn’t leave me alone until I’d thrown a punch or two.
My left fist connected with the right pad, the thump audible in the room. There were a couple of agents working out over in the gym area, but otherwise it was pretty quiet. There was no reason why I should care what anyone else thought, Kate was right. So, why was I suddenly aware that I’d never taken an interest in who my agents were?
“I escaped...” Kate huffed when I hit the pad again. “...when I killed the man who abused me.”
Chills went through me as I went still. Kate gave up, letting her arms drop so the pads rested on the side of her thighs.
“Are you really that interested?”
Nodding, I reached up a glove to try and get my sweaty hair out of my face. It didn’t work.
Biting her lip, Kate indicated that we should sit. I followed her lead as she took off the pads, and then proceeded to undo the ties of my gloves.
“When they left me alone in the apartment, I would work-out for hours. I would punch and kick the walls, using them to release my frustration.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I waved away Kate’s inquiring look. Yeah, so I probably shouldn’t have taken my phone training.
“One day, the perfect opportunity arose. My abuser had managed to persuade the others to go and get food. I had been in the bathroom when he’d done this, so I had no idea. When I came out, he came for me. I’d been standing by the wall. Moving out of his way at the last minute, I used all my strength to grab his neck and ram his head into the wall.”
My impressed nod of the head made her frown. “What? I’m glad you were able to do that to the bastard.”
Smiling gently, she took a deep breath as she turned serious. “He fell to the ground, his head pouring with blood. I managed to get onto his back and wrap my arm around his neck. He was a vampire, remember.”
Oh crap, I’d completely forgotten that little bit of info. No matter how much training the seer had done, she would never be as strong as a vampire.
“I’d managed to take the wooden leg off my bed, carving it into a spike when they weren’t there. I’d had to cut off the white paint, so it took me months to make, but eventually, I had a stake.”
“You shoved it straight into his heart, didn’t you?”
I was getting into the story. Maybe a little too much. Was I allowing my imagination to make light of Kate’s ordeal?
“His scream will stay with me forever. I managed to somehow get the stake out of my pocket and shove it into his back. It wasn’t smooth, it was lucky. I then used his key to escape.”
The buzzing in my pocket was still going. Tutting, I grasped my phone and pressed the off button without looking at who it was. It could wait. Kate was more important in that moment.
“Did you go to the police?”
Shaking her head, Kate stared at her folded legs. Her eyes glazed over as she obviously thought of a time that was only eight years ago. She was slightly older than me, but as she spoke, a part of me started to warm to her. I had never known of the experience she had endured. Why hadn’t I bothered to take the time to get to know her? I’d rejected both her and Jake before I knew who they were as people. What had made me so harsh?
“I may have planned a vendetta and taken out the whole lot of them.” Reaching forward, she grasped my hand. “That goes no further than us, obviously.”
Squeezing her hand, I smiled at her genuinely, probably for the first time. “I promise never to tell anyone. I admire you.”
Her quick tut was followed by a giggle. “Well, I’m honoured to have the great Gemma Abbott’s admiration.”
“What?” I spluttered as she jumped to her feet, dragging me up in the process.
“Oh come on, as if you don’t know how much every agent in the building wants to work with you. Although, you have been a little off your game recently.”
I had to admit, she wasn’t wrong about me not being myself. The whole death thing might have a little something to do with it, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. No, that would be a secret that I kept with Dave alone.
“If every agent in the building wants to work with me, they’re bloody crazy. I’m a nightmare to work with.”
Putting the gloves back in their spot, I laughed when Kate went to deny it, and then promptly agreed with me. “Yeah, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows with you, even if you do live in a fantasy world.”
“Gemma!”
My mother’s snapped voice carried across the gym, reaching my ear and making me cringe. Crappity crap, I was supposed to meet her for breakfast.
“Good luck,” Kate whispered under her breath as she swung under the ring ropes and waved to my mother as she passed.
Tightening my ponytail, I made my way over to one of the heads of the Paranormal MI5 agency. Her dark hair was loose around her head, her short frame straight as she crossed her arms over her waist. The dark blue feminine suit made her look like a corporate office worker. And yet, she had a brain sharper than most CEO’s. Even if she didn’t use it as often as she used to.
“Do you defy me on purpose?” she asked when I reached her.
Resisting the urge to huff, I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I got caught up in training. It was rude of me, I apologise.”
Her frown was the only sign that she was shocked at my words. In the past, I had often been less than grateful. Hearing Kate’s story had made me feel something. I wasn’t sure what, but I knew that ignoring my mother’s phone calls had been wrong considering I was meant to meet her. Although, it had just slipped my mind. Duty was usually on the top of my agent head list.
“I got you something,” my mother said, bending down to retrieve the bag she’d dropped on the floor.
Trying not to frown myself, I took it when she offered, almost wearily. Was it something to do with a wedding? A garter or something? She’d only mentioned it the last few times I’d seen her, even though I’d completely refused to think about it. Most of the time, anyway.
“I saw it the other day. However, I didn’t buy it straight away.” She paused, gesturing for me to open the bag. “But, I had to go back and get it.”
The rustle of the bag made butterflies erupt in my stomach as my hand reached in and felt leather. Pulling the book out, I gasped when I saw the slightly used spine.
“Open it!” Her excitement was getting the better of her. What had happened to my stoic mother? Had someone thrown a spell over her to make her nicer?
“It’s a... Jeez, Mum, it’s a Jane Austen 1st Edition!” My mouth gaped as my fingers traced the fine paper, and the title Pride and Prejudice. Sweat lined my palms as I gulped back the lump that rose to my throat. The book must have cost my mother a fortune. But, she hated my reading habit.
“Why?” I whispered, unable to comprehend.
Her eyes closed briefly before she looked up at me. “You know I’m not fond of your obsession.”
“Hobby,” I corrected, smiling gently when she rolled her eyes.
“But, I’m not heartless, Gemma. When I saw it, I had to get it for you. It took my conscience a moment to persuade me that it was the right thing to do, but-”
Throwing my arms around h
er, I cut her off. The book almost hit her in the back of the head as I squeezed her. Her hands patted me awkwardly before I let her go.
“Thank you,” I forced out, trying not to let the emotion that threatened to overwhelm me. “It’s the kindest thing you’ve ever done for me.”
Looking around, my mother shook her head. “That hurts my heart to hear you say that. Anyway...” She quickly changed the subject. “...how is the case coming along?”
Of course, back to business. There was a lightness in my heart that stopped my immediate immature reaction. She had reached out in a way that meant more to me than anything. The serial killer could bring me a 1st edition classic, and I’d probably forgive him. Books man, they were my thing.
“Dave has just this morning managed to persuade Peter to tell us what he knows about the Cambridges’. He said that Helen Cambridge is buying materials for a bomb. When asked about the killings, he told us that he thinks Joseph could be responsible as it seems like something he would do. He’s given us the name of the company that Helen buys from, so we’re going to pull up the sales records and bring Helen in for questioning.”
“It’s too loose, Gemma,” my mother said, biting her bottom lip as she watched me. “There’s no hard evidence of the PFF having anything to do with the killings, which are our priority right now. Do I have to remind you of the threat against the agency?”
Gritting my teeth, I sucked in a breath. My mother often made out that it was my fault that Paranormal MI5 had been ordered to improve. By the human government, no less.
“If you let me get back to work now, I can-”
“Will...” she demanded. “...not can. You will solve this case soon. I’ve got the others breathing down my neck.”
Ah, so the witch was taking it out on me. The pressure she faced had been put on me since the moment I was made an official agent. It was like I was her little puppet, doing her biding.
Holding up my hands, I was almost tempted to shove the book back at her. I quickly changed my mind. As if I would refuse a signed Jane Austen book. I’d be mad not to accept it. Even if it was a bribe to get me working harder. I had no shame.
“Fine.”
Spinning, I grabbed my holster from a hook in the wall and ran for the door. My mother’s shout stopped me as I grabbed the handle. Looking over my shoulder, I didn’t give her the full attention she probably deserved.
“Remember your training. You know how to find this man.”
Dismissing her with a wave, I left the room. As I headed for the showers, I fought the urge to curse my mother. At the end of the day, I’d allowed my own personal dilemma to take over my skills. She might be a bitch, but my mother was right. I knew exactly how to catch a fucking serial killer. I just needed to get my head back into the game.
Chapter 11
“I can smell him,” Jake whispered as we hid behind the industrial sized dumpster.
“Are you sure it’s not the waste right in front of us?” Clasping my nose between my fingers, I looked around the dumpster so I could try and see.
Logan Hill had called in a report of a disturbance on an industrial estate. The police officer had immediately called us because the caller had described bright lights and unusual chanting. Apparently, no one had been prepared to go into the building and check. That was better for me. Meant I could do what I wanted when we caught the person who was casting magic in a no magic zone. Too many humans worked here by day. It might be dusk, but the risk was still too great.
“The magical scent from previous crime scenes is here too.”
Glancing at him, I clocked the bright blue of his eyes as he watched me. He knew to follow my lead, and yet, I had an idea to do something we’d never done before.
“How do you feel about shifting?”
Those pretty eyes widened before he nodded. “I’m fine with that, if that’s what you need.”
Dave chuckled in my ear. He’d agreed to stay behind and be my eyes and ears again. When the phone call had come in from Logan, Jake and I had been on our way back from questioning the manager of the company that we were investigating for connections with Helen Cambridge. We’d not been far from the building, so Jake had been more than happy to be my backup. Kate had clocked off for the evening, already at home.
“I’m sure he’ll be all you need,” Dave said. “I wonder if he has a thing for you.”
Rolling my eyes, I got my gun out of my holster and looked around the bin again. There was a door beside a big shutter. Dave had already told me that the address belonged to a paper goods company. The depot would be full to the brim with reamed paper. How exciting.
“I can see the bright light through the window in the door. It’s red and green, which means there’s possibly a warlock in there.”
Warlocks were usually the only magical creatures who could cast physical, brightly coloured magic. It often formed as balls, spheres, or streams. It was very pretty, but also extremely deadly depending on the strength of it.
“As a wolf,” I said to Jake. “You’ll be able to sneak around and detect who the serial killer is. Hopefully. You’re also at your most powerful in that form so if there’s a fight, you can kick some arse. Or bite some.”
The quirk of his lip made me smile. I didn’t know much about Jake either. Maybe a heart to heart was in order, although, he didn’t seem like the sort to be open like Kate had been.
A small noise in my ear alerted me to Dave’s impending voice. “I’ve found another entrance. If Jake transforms and then you head for the stairs to the left of the building, they lead up to the roof where there’s an entrance. It will probably be locked, so you’ll have to unlock it.”
Nodding along as Dave spoke, I repeated what he said and gestured for Jake to get ready. He put his gun down and indicated that I should turn around. I frowned, not quite understanding what he’d meant until he reached for the bottom of his shirt and tugged it over his head. As the ripped muscles of his torso moved, I tried not to stare.
“Gem, I know you’re probably enjoying this view, but I suggest you turn round. Now.”
Reaching for the button on his jeans, Jake wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Shit, no, that... just, no. Almost yelping as I faced the other way, I stumbled as Dave laughed in my ear. What was wrong with me? I could be so slow sometimes.
The sound of rustling was followed by a grunt as Jake got to the floor and started his shift. I’d seen him do it once before in a rush when we’d been chasing a suspect. His clothes had ripped apart, which was why they were now in a neat pile beside me.
“Okay,” Dave said, his voice tight in my ear. “Time to go.”
The sound of chanting started inside. They’d had a break from it for at least fifteen minutes, but as the words filtered out to me, I froze to the spot. My feet tingled where the magic from the ley line was pulled harshly. They were trying to take the magic.
“Come on,” I said.
My eyes landed on the shifted Jake. He was as tall as me, his eyes staring into my face. His teeth rested on his bottom lip, the sharpest pair of teeth I’d ever seen. Boy, he was a formidable huge dark grey wolf.
“He’s a big boy,” Dave muttered. “No wonder the ladies like him.”
Not bothering to reply, I indicated that we should go with a nod of my head. My instinct kicked in when he lowered his wolf head slightly. He was ready.
Holding my gun to my side, I checked around the dumpster, tiptoeing out from behind it when I determined that the way was clear. The words were still vibrating in my head as those inside chanted the spell to absorb magic. If I didn’t stop them, they might very well be able to drain me of my link to Mother Earth.
Shuddering as my boots silently skipped across the concrete, I reached the steps and started up them. Jake was behind me, his breath the only thing giving him away. The warmth of it on my back made me a little uneasy.
“I can hear your heartbeat,” Dave said in my ear as we reached the roof.
Well, what did he
expect? Adrenaline was rushing through my veins. I wasn’t engrossed in a book now, I was playing out real life, ready to do my job. Taking down the bad guy was my life’s work. Protecting the ley lines was my purpose. It had been drummed into me my whole life.
“There’s the door.” Dave’s quick instructions always helped when we were in the throes of a mission.
Moving across the roof, I tried the handle of the metal door as we reached it. Nope, it was locked, just as Dave had suspected. Taking a deep breath, I took out my dagger. Jake nudged me with his nose. They wouldn’t understand that I couldn’t use the ley line magic at that moment. If the witch was as powerful as I thought he was, he might very well feel me using it. Which meant that I had to take the magic I kept in my dagger at all times.
As I gripped the handle of the dagger, I closed my eyes and allowed the warm energy to filter into me. As soon as it was empty, I tucked it away and whispered a spell as I envisioned the lock in my mind. Sliding it in my vision, I laughed when I felt it vibrate in my hand. It had worked.
Opening the door quietly, I looked into the murky hallway. The sounds of voices rose up the metal stairway from below. The echo made me clench my gun harder. Jake’s nudge up my backside almost had me squealing. Okay, so I may have hesitated, but I was going in, damn it.
“Nice and slow, trigger happy,” Dave whispered.
He was lucky that I had to stay silent. The git would have got an earful if I had been able to speak. It was as if he was talking to an inexperienced newbie, which he wasn’t, thank you very much.
The energy intensified as we carefully tiptoed down the metal steps, getting closer and closer to the chanting. A chill went down my spine as it stopped suddenly, leaving the place in total silence. Both Jake and I froze on the steps, our breath going quiet.
“Maybe they’re having another break,” Dave whispered.
About to get going again, I paused when the chanting started up. Good. The noise was a good cover for us. No matter how much I tried not to hear Jake’s claws on the metal, it was still a little louder than my own footsteps. I hadn’t often worked with him in his wolf form, but it was reassuring to have him by my side.
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