by Meg Ripley
The chopper was plenty noisy, but the silence that came through her headset was difficult to listen to. “And what, exactly,” he finally said, “makes it the wrong idea?”
“How could it not be? I mean, what do you think is going to happen when this job of yours is over and you’re not assigned to me? Are you just going to fly off into the night without saying a word like you did the last time?” All the pain and rage she’d felt before came bubbling to the surface, spilling over without any way of stopping it. “Why should I be expected to open myself up to that when it hurt so bad last time? Why would anything be different now?”
His jaw was tight, his brows drawn down. “I guess it wouldn’t be.”
“All right then. I’m glad we understand each other.” Her body was tense, every muscle fighting the urge to move. She hated to be confined, just sitting there waiting for the ride to be over. Sabrina liked to be productive, especially when she was irritated. She tapped her foot against the floor.
Max said nothing further for the rest of the ride. She should be glad he was letting the subject drop instead of arguing with her any further, but she wasn’t. She wanted him to launch into a speech about why they should be together and how much he needed her; how his inner animal couldn’t possibly live without her. She’d reject him, because it was the only practical thing to do, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be nice to hear.
As they neared, a man stood waiting on the roof of the hospital. Sabrina didn’t know him, but given that Max didn’t voice any concerns, she had to assume he was another member of the Force. His belt buckle winked in the sun over his bootcut jeans, and he held his Stetson on his head with one hand to keep the downdraft from taking it. He smiled and gave a nod and then stepped up to open the door of the helicopter and let Sabrina out. “I’m Vance Morris. I’ll be working with you today.”
She shook his hand, which was rough and callused. “Sabrina Barrett. Nice to meet you.”
He leaned toward the pilot. “Everything go all right last night? Anything I need to know about?”
Max just scowled at him and grunted.
Vance seemed to take this in stride. He nodded again and escorted Sabrina inside the building.
When they’d gotten to the surgery floor, Sabrina gestured toward one of the restrooms. “Excuse me for just a minute.”
“Of course.”
The fluorescent lights weren’t flattering as she braced herself against the sink and leaned forward to look in the mirror, focusing on her own eyes as she tried to look inside herself and figure out just what the hell was going on. She’d overreacted when she’d finally told him what she’d been thinking, and the words had been an unstoppable flood from her mouth. It was no surprise that he was pissed, even though he wasn’t entirely in the right, either. She just needed to get through this week and the trial, and then life would return to normal. Of course, that meant she had to put up with Max for that time.
She sighed, her breath creating a momentary cloud on the glass. “That man makes you crazy, Sabrina.”
7
Max sat on the couch back at headquarters, flicking a ball into the air and catching it repeatedly. He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling, catching the ball purely by instinct as his mind whirred. He should’ve gotten some sleep after he’d dropped Sabrina off at the hospital. There was no reason not to, considering Vance was taking care of her for the day. His instinctive response to see her going into another man’s care had made him unreasonably jealous, but Vance was a shit ton more professional than he was. It would be fine.
The sound of a throat clearing pulled him out of his thought cloud of misery. He caught the ball and looked up to find Jack glaring at him. “Something I can help you with?”
Jack closed his laptop. “I was going to ask you the same thing. You’ve been acting like a zoo animal all day.”
Max resented the comparison, even though he made it himself from time to time. “No, just a circus one.”
“What does that mean?”
He felt he had to perform when Sabrina was around. He didn’t know how to be himself, and that was complicated even more by the fact that Sabrina always managed to bring out his true self. It was like the façade he’d put up to deal with life got mixed in with who he really was, and he didn’t know how to untangle them. “Nothing,” he replied.
Jack cast him a look that said he didn’t believe him. “If you say so.”
“I don’t know why everyone around here is suddenly so determined to psychoanalyze me,” Max retorted. “So I’m feeling a little restless. Is that such a surprise for a tiger shifter?”
“No, I guess not. But you’re more restless than usual. I don’t think I’ve seen you sit still in several days. If there’s something with this witness, then maybe we should talk about it.” In some ways, Jack was every bit the tech freak, constantly carrying around a laptop or other gadget. He spent long hours video chatting with Hudson back in D.C. about current technology and ways to improve their computer systems. Given the men’s backgrounds in intelligence and communications, that made perfect sense. But Jack wasn’t a skinny little nerd. The brawny fox shifter was always working out with the rest of his comrades in the gym downstairs, and the only giveaway to his true passion at those times was the tattoo in binary code on his arm.
Max knew he could trust Jack as a fellow soldier, and he reminded himself that they were all on the same team. “You’re right. There is something we should talk about.”
Jack quirked an eyebrow and waited.
“We know that Sabrina—Dr. Barrett—is a key witness in a murder trial.” He scooted forward so that he sat on the edge of the couch. “She told me an Alpha bear was killed, and she was the one who saw a wolf standing over his body.”
“I’m not sure if she’s supposed to talk about the trial…” His eyes narrowed in concern.
Max waved it off. “We’ve known each other for a long time. Anyway, that’s not the point. My point is that she started receiving death threats as soon as she was identified as a witness. That’s why the conclave appointed her a guard and then ended up hiring us.”
“Right.”
“But there’s something about it I just don’t like. Why would a wolf kill a bear? Sabrina mentioned the bear—Isaac something—was an important guy and that the wolf pack and the bear clan had some sort of beef with each other. I just don’t see what the two of them would be arguing about.” He’d been unable to stop thinking about it ever since Sabrina had told him the situation. That is, except for those excruciating minutes when she’d decided to go over all the details about why a simple kiss was some big, life-changing mistake. Then, he’d been more than able to forget about it.
Jack rubbed his face. “There could be any number of reasons, Max. You’ve been on these missions with us, and you know how territorial clans can get. One guy looks at someone’s sister the wrong way, or one clan claims the right to run their business in a certain area, and everyone goes nuts. We’re all just animals inside, after all.”
Max shook his head. To him, for whatever reason, it just didn’t seem as simple as that. “There’s got to be something we can do, some way to investigate this.”
“I’m pretty sure President Whiteside hired us as goons with guns. He doesn’t care about our detective skills. Not that I don’t have them, of course.” He cracked a slight smile. The small amount of hubris he’d just allowed himself was more than deserved, based on what Max had heard about his military career.
“I know, but if we’re already in the mix, then there’s no reason we can’t go a little further. I want to know more about the clans and specific people involved. Sabrina isn’t worried about any of it, but I am. I think it’d be helpful if we had some sort of database of all the shifters we know about.”
The intelligence officer shifted in his seat. “Actually, that’s something Hudson and I have been working on.”
“Really? Fuckin’-A! How do we access it?” He was dying to
get his hands on some information about the other shifters around there. Though he’d been living in the Dallas area for several years, he’d never bothered to join a local clan or get too involved in the community. Now, he was desperate to know who this Isaac guy was, why he’d been so important, and why someone might’ve killed him.
“Well,” Jack said, tipping his head to the side, “it’s all still very preliminary. Most of what Hudson and I have put in the system involves those we’ve already had dealings with. I’ve been doing what I can to expand the directory, but it isn’t as though there’s some other list I can pull from. The feds have plenty of information on people when it comes to driver’s licenses, social security numbers, and prison records, but as I’m sure you can imagine, there’s nothing out there that mentions whether or not a person can morph into an animal.”
“Fair enough.” Max tapped his chin, thinking. “Can we at least check into this guy who was killed? I think she said his name was Isaac Rutledge.”
Jack reopened his laptop and began tapping away, but he glanced up at Max. “Just how familiar are you with the witness, anyway?”
Max stiffened. He’d gotten comfortable and said too much. That was something he preferred to avoid at all costs. But where, exactly, had it gotten him? The only things he had going on in life were his two jobs. He no longer had a fiancé, and it wasn’t as though living at headquarters meant much to him.
“Fine, I’ll be honest. Dr. Barrett and I used to date. Actually, we were engaged. We broke up a while ago, and it was messy.” He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. It didn’t sound like such a big deal when he said it out loud.
“Did you tell anyone else about this?” Jack asked quietly.
“No. I didn’t want to be taken off the job or anything. It’s not like it’s a big deal.” Or at least, it shouldn’t have been. With all the training and experience Max had under his belt, he should’ve been able to handle this as though he were working for any other client. That fact that he hadn’t been didn’t need to be a topic of discussion.
“If you say so. I did manage to find Isaac Rutledge in the system.” He turned around his laptop.
Max was grateful for not being pushed any further. Jack probably had no idea just how difficult it’d been to admit even the most basic facts. He sat next to the techie and took the laptop. “Let’s see what we’ve got here. Isaac Rutledge. Alpha of a black bear clan based out of Nacogdoches, ascending to that position after the previous Alpha died without any children and thus any obvious choice for the next leader. He was a medical lawyer, so that at least explains why he was working with Sabrina to open that shifter hospital.”
“A shifter hospital? That’s not something I’ve heard of yet.”
“Something Sabrina hopes to bring about so we get better medical treatment without having to scrounge up the closest person with a needle and thread. It’s great that Isaac was in on that, and from what Sabrina told me, he was a great guy. But I don’t see anything here that’s going to help me dig into the case.”
Jack shrugged. “Like I said, it’s still pretty basic. Even what we have on Mr. Rutledge is only there because President Whiteside agreed to give us some information to add to the database.”
“Did he provide info on anyone else? Like the rest of his clan members? Or the wolf that they suspect?” Max’s specialty hadn’t involved tracking down terrorists or gathering intelligence, but he was convinced there was something he could sink his claws into.
“I’ll see what I can find without a name. Eventually, I’d like to build up such a good system that we can cross-reference almost anything. We’re far from that right now.” Jack took the laptop back and rattled away at the keyboard.
Max glanced at the computer suspiciously. “So, does this mean all the members of the Force are in that database?”
“Yes, but the information is limited. There’s basic information that you could find almost anywhere, like the fact that we were in the military and what city we currently live in. But there’s nothing saying we’re actually in the Force. Hudson has taken a lot of precautions to make sure our systems are secure, and I’ve confirmed it myself, but I’m still edgy about it. Here.” He turned the computer around. “This is one of the guards who was assigned to Sabrina before we were brought in.”
Max recognized him immediately. He’d been with Sabrina when he’d picked her up from work the previous day. He’d taken an instant disliking to the man because of how friendly the two seemed with each other, but now it was time to dig down and apply a little more logic and reasoning to the picture. “Let’s see. Russell Barclay. Part of the same black bear clan and operating as a guard. Interesting. I wonder if he was supposed to be guarding his Alpha on the night Isaac Rutledge died. I’d be keen to know what their clan dynamics are.”
“That’s not anything we’d have in here, or at least not yet. I think the more we put in, the better, and that might very well include things like that as we come to know them. For now, that’s all I’ve got for you.”
“Yeah, all you have.” Max handed the laptop back once again, and then he was on his feet. He always thought a little better when he was moving.
“Why do I have a feeling Vance isn’t going to like what you’re thinking?” Jack asked as he shut down the computer and set it aside.
“Hey, no one said he was the leader of our unit.”
“Dr. Sheridan, then?” Jack referenced the head of the D.C. unit and founder of the Special Ops Shifter Force.
Max sighed. “Either way, you’re right. No one’s going to like what I’m thinking. As you pointed out, we weren’t hired to figure this out, only to keep Sabrina safe. But I’m not sure I can do that.”
“And is that because you have, shall we say, a certain attachment to our charge? Or are you just trying to be a modern-day Sherlock Holmes?” Jack grinned.
“I’d rather not say,” Max admitted. “But I might see if I can track down this Russell character and find out what he can tell me about the victim. It’s at least a start.”
Jack waved a hand of defeat in the air. “Fine, but don’t come running to me when Vance finds out.”
Everyone had looked to the cougar as the leader of the Dallas Force. At first, Max had thought it would be Ash, a polar bear who’d been sent out on the very first assignment of their unit. But that mission had been all he wanted of this life, and they only saw him now and then when he served as a remote consultant. Regardless, Vance didn’t seem like the type of guy who would get all that angry. The man had an easy smile and a relaxed attitude that Max hadn’t seen break yet. “Don’t worry about Vance or me. Hell, I might not even get the chance to talk to the guy before the trial. It’s just a thought.”
“You certainly don’t have time to talk to him now, considering you’re supposed to be leaving to pick up Dr. Barrett right now.” Jack pointed at the clock on the wall.
“Shit.” Max grabbed his things and darted out the door.
He took advantage of the short flight to center himself. It’d felt surprisingly good to let Jack in on his secret about his relationship with Sabrina, even though he’d managed not to give away too many details. But whatever the two of them had been in the past, Sabrina—no, Dr. Barrett—had made it more than clear she wasn’t about to go down that road once again. She’d frozen over just as she had in the past, and he should’ve expected it. That was all right. He could do the same.
Max told himself the only reason his heart was thudding in his ears when he landed was from the excitement of flying, even though he knew better. Vance was waiting with her on top of the hospital, and Max knew he’d owe the man an apology for being rude that morning. But later. It could wait.
He watched Sabrina get into the helicopter, unable to stop himself from thinking how natural she looked riding along next to him. Most of the clients he served at Luxury Air Tours were awkward, unsure of whether they should stand up straight or bend over as they headed to their seats. They�
�d put out their hands to steady themselves, yet be afraid they’d touch something that would crash the aircraft, their fingers shaking when they reached for the buckles to secure themselves. Sabrina could’ve been scrubbed in for surgery with how calm she was.
“I’m not going straight home tonight,” she explained without preamble. “I’ve got a meeting with the hospital board over at the Baxter Executive Building.”
This had his attention right away. He was prepared to have a night similar to the previous one—minus that kiss—and he was immediately suspicious of Sabrina going anywhere but home. It opened her up to too many dangers, and his protective feline instinct was quickly getting the better of him. “Why are they meeting there instead of at the hospital?”
She gave him only a quick glance before returning her gaze to the windshield. “The board room is being remodeled.”
“Right.” It was a simple enough explanation, but he still didn’t like it. Maybe all this business was getting to his head, but he was certain that something fishy was going on. “And why do you have to meet with the board? Are you in trouble or something?”
“Of course not!” Her glare was longer now, and she straightened the collar of her lab coat assertively as if to make up for the insult. “I’m trying to get them to open up a new wing, and they require a lot of presentations, figures, and plain old buttering up.”
“You? A kiss ass? Never!” Max quipped.
She punched him playfully on the arm, but her chin was stuck out in defiance. “I’m just doing what I’ve got to do.”
“What’s this new hospital wing all about? I thought you were trying to open an entirely new hospital for people like us.”
“I am.”
He waited impatiently for her to go on, but she didn’t. Apparently, she was still just as miffed over their little argument that morning as he was. “So, what’s this one for?”