Hot Demon in the City (Latter Day Demons Book 1)

by Suttle, Connie

  "Anita, will you bring Klancy in?" I asked. "He may have some insights we don't. Watson, too, if he's home."

  "I'll look for him, but I didn't see him come in earlier," she said. "He didn't leave a note, either, telling me where he was going."

  "That's not good," Kory blew a smoky breath.

  I wanted to tell him I could do that, too, but it didn't seem ladylike at the moment. He'd guess I could become Thifilatha, and that didn't sound ladylike either.

  Fuck ladylike, Gran always said. Just the thought of her made me sigh. She'd have made mincemeat of these assholes already, while I felt less than adequate on the best of days.

  Davis brought a tablet and his cell phone. He was on the phone with someone quickly, asking them to research financial records belonging to Abe Raven and the private investigator, Steve Parker.

  "Ten thousand?" Davis asked after several seconds ticked by. "When? All right, that matches. Anything else?"

  "Plane ticket?" Davis began tapping on the tablet while holding the cell phone to his ear with his shoulder. "To?"

  "Yeah. That matches, too. Any chance of getting an itinerary from credit-card purchases?"

  "No, that's all right. Look, see if there's been a sale of property anywhere near that. Call me back with the information, okay?"

  Davis let the phone slide down his chest, where he caught it neatly in his left hand while still gripping the tablet with his right. "Your hunch is correct—Abe Raven paid the private investigator ten grand and bought him a plane ticket to Peru. He didn't get back until after Raven's murder, so he wasn't killed until then."

  "We need to find out what this investment is," Kory said, leaning against me on the desk.

  "Credit-card receipts show Parker's visit took him toward the Amazon, in the lower Andean region," Davis said. "That area has a lot of farming—coffee, oranges, that sort of thing."

  "Drugs, too," Anita observed. "Lots of cocaine grown in Peru and Colombia. Any idea why you guys can't seem to shut those operations down?"

  "We locked up ten drug lords a year ago," Thomas snapped, pointing a finger at Anita. Yeah, it wasn't a good idea to bait a werewolf the night before a full moon.

  "Ten drug lords?" Anita didn't sound impressed.

  "Worst of the lot," Davis claimed. "They're in the federal prison in Colorado, right now. They'll be there until they die."

  "Did you say ten?" My words wobbled, I was suddenly so scared. "Did they all speak Spanish as a native language?"

  "Yeah, why?"

  "Did they come from Peru?"

  "Six of them, yeah."

  "May the Mighty save us," I whispered.

  * * *

  Kordevik

  "You have no idea how much red tape is involved in getting DNA samples from ten convicted drug lords," Davis growled. He was so close to turning wolf, even Thomas wore a worried frown.

  Lexsi, Anita, Mason, Klancy and I were in the kitchen, waiting until Davis finished a phone conversation with his superiors, which led to a conference call between them and federal authorities at the Denver prison.

  Even with modern (by present-day Earth's definition) equipment and procedures, it could still take days to discern whether the DNA of the prisoners matched that of the men originally convicted.

  That's when the doorbell rang.

  "It won't be anybody who's not allowed," Lexsi's hand covered mine as I half-rose from my seat at the island.

  "I will answer," Klancy nodded and almost glided from his seat toward the front door.

  In moments, he and Tibby were back in the kitchen. Tiburon was terrified. "Farin is missing," he hissed. "I cannot find her anywhere."

  * * *

  Lexsi

  Watson was also missing. He no longer had the TinyCar to protect him, and somehow, he was gone, too. Phone calls to him and Farin went unanswered. Anita, normally not inclined to worry or fidget, was now doing both.

  "We have to find where they are," she said. I worried she'd turn right in my kitchen and scare the bejeezus out of everybody. She was thinking the same thing I and everybody else in the kitchen were; that Farin and Watson had been kidnapped.

  Anita was a deadly fighter, but it concerned me that we could be facing kidnappers nobody from Earth had ever seen before. Not least among them were warlocks or wizards. Either could go bad, I knew that much.

  I'd seen the evidence of one of their spells earlier in the day. I berated myself, too, for not telling Farin that I'd take her home.

  "Fuck," I hissed my grandmother's favorite word.

  "I'll bet money that Claudia has Watson somewhere at her vineyard," Kory said. "Probably in that wine cave that you could drive a truck through."

  "If he's still alive," Anita snapped.

  "I have to believe that he is," Kory said. "What good are dead hostages?"

  "I think so, too," Davis agreed. "This is a potential hostage situation until we learn otherwise. After all, we have no proof that they're in Claudia's or Granger's hands."

  "If there are hostages, there will also be a ransom or other demands," Klancy's words were even and filled with the weight of lives.

  Farin, I wish you could hear me, I sent. I wish you could send mindspeech back, to tell me where you are.

  Unlike my words to Kory, there was nobody on the other end who was able to reply.

  * * *

  While Davis and Thomas made dozens of calls and employed every resource they had (which was considerable), the rest of us spent the worst night of our lives.

  Tomorrow was the full moon, we still didn't have sufficient information and continued attempts to contact Farin and Watson proved futile.

  My hunch about the ten imprisoned drug lords was still on the table, but we couldn't verify anything. All we had was ten missing migrant workers from a bus, all young men, to offset ten drug lords from Peru and Colombia.

  DNA on the prisoners wouldn't be verified for days or weeks.

  As it turned out, we didn't have to wait for DNA. Shortly before dawn, when all except the vampires were exhausted from lack of sleep, word came that a simple blood-typing test was all we needed.

  Of the ten drug lords imprisoned, six didn't have the proper blood type for the prisoner originally incarcerated. The others appeared to be matches, down to the fingerprints, but I wasn't willing to bet that their DNA would also match. I felt it was merely coincidence that the blood types were the same.

  I wanted to yell at Davis, then, about Loftin Qualls, who was probably enjoying his murderous freedom while a double created for that purpose had died in his place.

  Davis had enough on his plate, however, and looked like a werewolf who'd been dragged behind a truck for several miles when he heard the news.

  "The fucking fingerprints match," he hissed and tossed his cell phone onto the kitchen island. "We have six to ten drug lords who could be in Peru by now, starting up their cocaine operations again. Can we get some coffee?"

  "Yeah." I scrambled from my place at the island and slid toward the coffeemaker.

  While Davis and Thomas had their third cup, they learned that the kidnap victim who'd shown up in Dallas had a different blood type than the original college student had. At the time, they'd chalked it up to faulty records.

  At least we knew more about why he'd disappeared a second time.

  Somewhere, other criminals were probably walking free while all those young men were imprisoned in their place.

  My guess was that most of them were obsessed or had compulsion placed—our enemies had a Sirenali and plenty of vampires at their backs.

  "How can this be done?" Thomas accepted more coffee and a plate of food Anita and I had prepared.

  "I told you if there were wizards or warlocks involved, they can do this if they've gone rogue. My guess is a warlock or warlocks, because a duplication spell would be right at any third-to-fifth-level's talents," Kory said.

  "You call that a duplication spell? What about the fingerprints?" Davis snarled.

  "As
long as they have the original, and in this case, they did," Kory explained patiently, "then it would be easy enough. It takes a day or two, last I heard, to get the complete outside to look like the other."

  "They were running out of time, in Loftin Qualls' case," I breathed. "That's why the victim who was put to death recalled that he wasn't Loftin Qualls."

  Davis' cell phone rang again. "Stone, here," he barked.

  "Houses are on fire at the bottom of the hill," he announced after ending the call and setting the phone on the island again. "No cause listed," he added. "Firefighters are on the scene."

  "Should I go to work as if nothing's happened? Farin will already be late to work," I said. It was nearly five; I could get there on time if I dressed quickly and skipped to my usual landing place.

  I looked from Kory, who was breathing smoke, to Davis, who was considering the idea.

  "If I were going to be awake during the day, I would vote no," Klancy said. "I shall retire now, as must Mason. I hope to see you when I awake," he added.

  "Thank you," I nodded at Klancy. We watched as both vampires disappeared down the hall toward their shared bedroom.

  "I say yes," Davis said. "We need somebody to act normally and without suspicion. That means you, Lexsi. I assume you'll know whether the concern over Farin's absence is real or genuine."

  "I don't like this," Kory snarled.

  "I can get out of there fast if it doesn't look good," I said.

  "Lexsi, you don't have combat experience," Kory said. "I know you can take down three humans in a parking lot," he held up a hand. "But when you're met by those who may not be human?" His dark eyes were slits and his forehead wrinkled as he frowned at me.

  "Who else do we have?" I whispered. "I have to go soon, or I'll be late."

  "If they ask, tell them you thought Farin spent the night with Tiburon," Davis instructed as I headed for my bedroom and clean clothing.

  You'd better keep me informed every step of the way, Kory's voice sounded in my head.

  Don't place yourself in danger; skip away if you have to, Anita's voice followed Kory's.

  I'll do what I can, I sent to both of them.

  I found the note on my bed when I walked into my bedroom.

  I blinked at the short message.

  Da'quon the'lat vic nacca.

  The words were from the Falchani language—the warrior's motto.

  First, kill your fear.

  My breaths were shaky as I struggled to clear my mind. Uncle Sal would be disappointed in me—that I allowed my emotions to rule my abilities and my actions.

  After all, I was High Demon and not susceptible to compulsion, obsession and any spell, unless the spell was meant to help and not hurt. I could skip from one place to another in a blink. I could also turn to mist, thanks to my grandmother.

  Lastly, I had a Thifilatha. I hoped it would come when I needed it.

  * * *

  Kory hung his head when I rushed into the kitchen, dressed for work. For any other couple, this is where they'd kiss. He—we—couldn't.

  "I have to go," I said, shoving terror down for the hundredth time.

  Kory lifted his head; dark eyes locked with mine.

  I love you, he said simply. I will kill anyone who attempts to harm you.

  Yeah, I replied. Same here.

  Before he could reach out to hug me, I skipped away. I didn't want to cry in front of him and the others. In the coming moments, cold anger could become my staunchest ally. Somebody had Farin and Watson. My guess is that my new boss knew all about that.

  I could tell when he was lying. I wondered if Milton understood that yet. Straightening my clothing after landing in the alcove, I marched away, determined to make it to work on time.

  * * *

  Kordevik

  My father always says that shifters become restless and angry the day of the full moon. I watched those things bloom around me, in werewolves and a rat who hadn't slept the night before.

  Should we send them to bed? Anita asked.

  I'm not suggesting anything, I jerked my head to emphasize my refusal.

  When do you think we'll hear from Lexsi? She asked. I could tell she was just as frightened as I was.

  We know where she went, I said, attempting to soothe Anita's fears as well as my own.

  I'm here, Lexsi sent, startling Anita and me. They have Gerald doing the weather reports. He doesn't look happy. Turn on the news. Buildings are on fire near downtown. I have a meeting scheduled with Barry. I'll let you know what I find out.

  * * *

  Lexsi

  Barry was now obsessed. I knew it the moment he handed me a contract, freshly concocted by the legal department at the downtown office.

  The person who'd written it was also obsessed, because it spelled things out specifically.

  Either I accepted the promotion offered by Rome Enterprises, transferred to the LA station and agreed to move into a rather expensive home there (photographs were included), or Farin Armstrong and I were subject to immediate termination.

  My breath stopped at the word termination.

  They didn't mean losing our jobs. They meant losing our lives.

  "I told you she'd understand immediately," Milton walked into Barry's office with another man. I blinked at both. "Deris Arden," the stranger introduced himself. "We'd have come in by folding space, but your peculiar talents prevented it."

  "Because you employ spells to do it," my lips felt numb as I spoke. "Only those who have the talent naturally are unaffected by my nullification." I didn't add that I knew he could have, if he'd meant me no harm.

  This one meant harm. Somehow, the Thifilatha in me understood that better than I did.

  "Ah, well educated, too," Deris crowed. "Granger will be most happy to have her, I think."

  I wanted to curse—I held it back. I recalled my meeting with Granger at Hannah's dinner party. He'd seen something he wanted. I had no intention of giving it to him.

  They have Farin and Watson, a small voice reminded me.

  First, kill your fear.

  "You get nothing from me until Farin and Watson are safely returned," I said. "Without obsession or compulsion."

  "She wants to bargain," Deris smiled at Milton. "How's this for a bargain? We leave both alive and discontinue setting San Francisco on fire?" His subsequent grin betrayed the joy he'd taken in setting homes and businesses on fire already.

  "I can seal the buildings, you know, before setting them on fire," Deris added. "So many lives to be lost." His grin faded and he glared at me.

  "I'm not the only one you should worry about," I snapped.

  "Oh, we have plans for him, too. We think that a threat sent his way involving you will ensure that he'll either obey or leave us alone."

  I wanted to ask how we were so dangerous to him and his associates.

  I already knew the answer. We could fuck up everything that he, the Romes, Granger and Claudia planned to do with spells as the impetus.

  He also knew we had to be in close proximity to prevent the spells from working. "Did you lose a warlock inside a van, recently?" I asked.

  Kory had destroyed everything inside the van, then destroyed the van that followed us from Claudia's vineyard.

  They considered me the weak link. They think I can't turn. They think I'm all but human, except for my nullification talent.

  First, kill your fear.

  "I want to see Farin and Watson," I said. "So I know they're safe. Then I'll sign this stupid contract." I pointed the papers in my hand toward Milton.

  "Ah, she can see reason," Deris chuckled. "Barry, have George bring a van around. We'll make this trip together."

  * * *

  Kordevik

  We're heading for Sonoma, Lexsi informed me. She'd already read me the important points in the contract they'd shoved in her hands at work.

  I understood, too, that they wanted to blackmail both of us, because we presented a problem for them.

  If t
hey don't let you see Farin and Watson, get the hell out of there, I instructed.

  I will, but we're still stuck with the asshole warlock, who wants to burn down San Francisco and kill people inside their homes and businesses.

  Baby, I'll take care of that problem; you just tell me where you are when the van stops.

  But what if it gets Farin killed? I could almost hear the terror in her voice. She's human, Lexsi continued. At least Watson can go down fighting. I doubt Farin knows to knee an attacker in the crotch.

  That's provided they're not under compulsion or obsessed, I reminded her. I realized too late that my observation would only frighten her more.

  Kory, I get the idea that Deris isn't the only warlock involved in this, Lexsi said.

  Davis strode into the kitchen while I was having my mental conversation with Lexsi.

  "Peru just resigned from the Union of South American Nations," he said. "Their borders are now closed and calls from the State Department to the President and Prime Minister have gone unanswered. Guess who filed a flight plan two days ago to take their private jet to Peru? If you say anyone besides James and Laurel Rome, then you're denser than I thought."

  "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I demanded.

  "It means that the league of assholes we're dealing with are more serious than I thought about producing cocaine."

  "Dude," I snorted a cloud of smoke without attempting to stop it, "cocaine won't be what they're growing. With an outside alliance and local funding, it'll be a lot worse, I assure you. Right now, they have Lexsi, and they're supposed to be taking her to Farin and Watson. That's the only reason I'm still here at the moment. If they threaten her or I find out Farin and Watson are dead, I'm going after them. Lexsi and I pose a major threat to their newly formed kingdom, and they want us out of the way."

  "What the hell are you, man?" Davis demanded.

  "High Demon. They have Karathian warlocks at their command. If you don't understand how much trouble that can be, then I suggest you learn how to read Alliance common. Entire libraries are dedicated to how much trouble can come from Karathia."

  * * *

  Lexsi

  I didn't tell Milton and Deris that I'd already been to this area once before. In fact, I saw the shallow crater and burned grapevines left by Kory's destruction of the van as we drove past. My captors didn't say a word as that section of Claudia's vineyard disappeared behind us.