“Hey yourself,” she said.
“Where are you?” The hairs on Shawn’s neck stood on end and he scanned the parking lot.
“Can’t you sense me?” Joanna asked. “And I thought we had a strong connection.”
She’s here, his cougar said.
How could we not have noticed? Shawn’s eyes fixed on a black car parked on the other side of the parking lot. There she is.
“We should talk before Fiona goes in.” Joanna opened her car door and got out. “It’ll just take a couple of minutes. We need to make sure Fiona is safe.”
“Fiona, we need to go and talk to Joanna.” Shawn inclined his head toward his mate and Fiona shielded her eyes as she looked in the direction of the car before nodding her head. “We’re coming over.”
“They’re not going to talk me out of this,” Fiona said brusquely.
“I think we all realize we’re past that stage,” Shawn assured her.
“I don’t know. That police detective, Trent. I bet he thinks he has a silver tongue and can talk me out of it.” Fiona tilted her chin up and strode confidently across the parking lot.
“Trent wants Gerald to pay for his crimes. We all do.” Shawn stopped walking and turned to face Fiona. “If you are going to do this, we all have your back.”
“You say the sweetest things.” Fiona walked around Shawn and kept moving toward the car. Shawn followed, hoping this would turn out okay.
More than okay, his cougar said. We need to crush Gerald into the ground and stomp on his ashes. Then we can finally move on with our lives and marry our mate.
Shawn chuckled to himself. You make it sound as if we have been dating Joanna for months. We have only just met. We haven’t exactly been waiting around for long.
It’s an eternity to me, his cougar replied. We should be buying engagement rings and arranging our wedding. Not trying to trap a rat.
Point taken, Shawn said solemnly.
“Fiona. I’m Trent. Good to meet you at last.” Joanna’s boss leaned over from the front seat and offered Fiona his hand.
“Good to meet you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to meet us here.” Fiona gave a brief smile as she shook his hand.
“Our pleasure.” He glanced at Joanna. “We should get down to business. Nothing looks quite so suspicious as four adults sitting in a car in a parking lot.”
Shawn got into the car next to Fiona. “Hi, I’m Shawn.”
“Hi, Shawn.” Trent grinned. “I would like to say Joanna has told me all about you, but I’d be lying.”
Joanna’s forehead creased and she gave a fleeting apologetic glance toward Shawn. “Only because we have been caught up in trying to figure out this case.”
“It’s okay,” Shawn began. “I know you’re ashamed of me.”
Joanna looked horrified, while Fiona chuckled to herself. “We all know that is not true.”
“And if a dragon shifter likes you, then you are all right with me,” Trent said. “Maybe we should go out for a drink when this is all over. I can fill you in on Joanna’s past. I sure have some stories to tell.”
“Oh, no!” Joanna held up her hand to her boss. “When we first met, Shawn and I agreed that our pasts will stay in the past. Right?” She shot Shawn a pleading look.
“I am intrigued,” Shawn replied. “But I did agree, and I am not about to break a promise to my mate.”
“I’ll just have to talk to myself within earshot of you,” Trent replied then clapped his hands. “Time to get down to business.”
Joanna reached for a small earpiece that she passed to Fiona. “Wear this. And put these in your purse.” She handed Fiona a car key. “You can slip them both in your purse, and no one will realize we are recording what you say.”
“You’ll be able to hear me?” Fiona asked.
“Yes,” Joanna acknowledged. “If you get in trouble or need our assistance at all, just say the word, ‘broccoli.’”
“Broccoli. That’s not an easy word to work into a sentence,” Fiona replied as she put the key and the phone into her purse.
“Exactly. It’s not a word you would use in this situation and so you won’t say it by mistake.” Joanna fixed Fiona with a stare. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Fiona nodded and reached for the door. “Car keys?” She reached out her hand to Shawn.
“What?” Shawn asked.
“I plan to ask Gerald Comer to take me to the babies now. I would like to drive there rather than get in a car with him.” She stretched her hand toward him. “I need your car keys.”
“I…” Shawn shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out the keys.
“We’ll follow behind you,” Trent said. “Just keep us informed.”
“Will do.” Fiona turned around and walked off, leaving Shawn perplexed.
“Did you know she was going to do that?” He hoped the dragon shifter took care of his car.
She could just buy us a new one if it gets wrecked since she has all that treasure, his cougar reassured him.
“No,” Trent said. “But I’m not surprised. She has a mind of her own.”
“I just hope it doesn’t get her, or all of us, in trouble.” Joanna leaned back in her seat as Trent switched on a small box next to the dashboard. “Let’s listen in.”
“Didn’t you test it before she left?” Shawn asked in surprise.
“Yes.” He tapped the side of his head. “I had an earpiece in. But I figured it would be a good idea for us all to listen in on this.”
“I don’t like her going up there on her own.” Shawn ducked his head and looked at the building in front of them. The sun reflected off the glass, he wished he could see inside and know Fiona was safe.
“She’ll be fine. All she’s got to do is wave her checkbook around and Gerald will be putty in her hands.” Trent’s dislike for the mayor was obvious.
“Do you think he’ll leave with Fiona now and go to the children?” Shawn asked. “Just because she waves a check at him doesn’t mean she’s good for it. He might be suspicious.”
“I’m sure she’s thought it through,” Joanna replied. “Don’t you?” She half turned and looked at him over the back of the seat. “This is a woman who kept Yvette hidden safely away for years and who chose the right man to raise a child.”
“She doesn’t leave things to chance.” Shawn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Which means she must have a plan. One we might not like.”
“We might be about to hear it.” Trent sat up as Fiona’s voice came from the transmitter.
“I’ve come to see Gerald Comer, please.” Fiona exuded authority and there was a long pause accompanied by the tapping of a keyboard before the receptionist answered.
Shawn felt a little sorry for the receptionist. Her voice wavered as she replied, “I’m sorry. I don’t think you have an appointment.”
“He’ll want to see me.”
“He’s busy all day today.” The receptionist wasn’t firm enough. Fiona would eat her for breakfast.
“Why don’t you go and ask him? Tell him I have a large donation for his campaign. But I’ll only hand it over if I can meet him face to face.”
“I…” The receptionist was obviously unsure what to do under the circumstances. Shawn could imagine her internal debate. On one hand, she wasn’t supposed to disturb her boss, on the other, an intimidating woman who didn’t want to take no for an answer was offering money for the mayor’s campaign.
And no one turned down free money without a very good reason.
“Go,” Fiona commanded. Shawn could imagine the dragon shifter shooing the receptionist.
“I should…” There was the sound of a chair moving and then the sound of heels walking along a corridor.
Two pairs, his cougar said.
Fiona is following her. She is not taking no for an answer.
Have you ever known Fiona take no for an answer? His cougar had a point.
Shawn stared at the receiver, along wit
h Trent and Joanna who sat in silence, anticipating the conversation between Fiona and Gerald. If she got through the door.
There was a chance this could all come crashing down around them. Gerald might simply tell Fiona he was too busy to see her today and that she should make an appointment.
A knock on wood. “Sorry to disturb you, Mayor.”
“Come in, Tina,” a male voice answered.
“I have a…woman to see you.” A pause. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“That’s because I didn’t give it.” Fiona was in total command of the events unfolding. For now. Would the mayor let her in?
“I’m sorry. I’m very busy.” The mayor’s voice was closer to Fiona now.
Has he gotten out of his chair or has Fiona crossed the room to his desk? his cougar mused.
“If I could have a couple of seconds of your time, you’ll see that I’m not here to waste your time.” Fiona held her ground.
“A couple of seconds.” The mayor was very close now, his voice clear for the audio. “That’s not long to persuade me not to call security.”
“That’s all I need,” Fiona answered.
“I tell you what,” the mayor began. “You have until I walk back to my desk and call for security to convince me not to.”
“Deal. But we need to be alone.”
“Alone.” A brief laugh. “Is this where you accuse me of sexual misconduct once my receptionist has gone?”
“Oh, please,” Fiona said with exaggeration. “As if.”
“Then if you aren’t here for my charms, why are you here?” Gerald’s words might be light and bordering on flirty, but his tone was deadly serious. “Your time starts now.”
“You have a supply of shifter children. Babies, I believe, and I want one. In exchange, I’ll give you this.”
Gerald gave a low whistle.
The three people in the car all looked at each other. None of them had any idea what this was.
“Did she say anything on the drive here?” Joanna asked Shawn.
He shook his head. “Not a word. I figured she was going to write Gerald a check for his campaign.”
“Damn it!” Trent cursed under his breath. “This could blow the whole thing. What the hell is she offering him?”
“Is it real?” Gerald asked.
“Of course it’s real,” Fiona answered. “Do you think I’d come here with a fake diamond?”
“A diamond?” Trent asked. “Where did she… Her treasure.” He shook his head. “I keep forgetting she is a dragon with a whole heap of treasure at her disposal.”
“She must want to nail him badly,” Joanna said. “From what I gather about dragon shifters, at least about Kelos, they hate parting with any of it. It’s like cutting off a limb to them.”
“She loves children more,” Shawn murmured.
No doubt about it, his cougar agreed.
The question they both had was how far would the dragon shifter go to stop Mayor Gerald Comer?
Chapter Twenty-Six – Joanna
Joanna held her breath, waiting for Gerald Comer’s response to Fiona’s request for a child. Would he abandon caution when presented with a diamond?
It would be untraceable, her wolf said. The mayor is bound to know someone who would buy it no questions asked.
“Where did you get it from?” Gerald’s voice was laced with excitement. He was going to take Fiona’s bait.
“My treasure.”
“Treasure?” Gerald asked in surprise.
“Yes. I’m a dragon shifter. Can’t you sense me? Can’t you taste me on your tongue?” Fiona purred hypnotically.
A long pause. “I can.” Another pause. “May I?”
“Examine the diamond? Of course.” Fiona must have handed over the diamond and a long silence dragged out as the three people in the car waited for Gerald to make a decision.
“And you want a child?” Gerald finally asked. “Why do you think I can help you with this?”
“I’m not here to play games,” Fiona’s bored tone was evident. “It’s simple. I have something you want, and you have something I want. I’ve lived a very long time in this world and I’ve never met my mate. I crave a child. It’s like a thing inside me that is eating me alive.”
“Convincing,” Trent said.
“She always is,” Shawn replied.
“Okay.” Gerald nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“That isn’t good enough,” Fiona answered. “I want a child now. I want you to walk out of this office and go get me one. In return, you get the diamond and we never see each other again. I’ll just disappear.”
“Now?” Gerald croaked before clearing his throat.
“Now.” She sighed. “The diamond, please.”
“Here.” Gerald paused. “Okay. Now.”
“Let’s go.” Fiona kept her voice level.
“I have to make a phone call.”
“I’ll wait.” Fiona was playing hardball, not letting Gerald gain control of the situation.
Footsteps as Gerald returned to his desk and the chair creaked as he sat down. “Hello.”
They could not hear the other side of Gerald’s conversation.
“I’m on my way over. We have a small change of plans. I want the baby ready to go.” A long pause. “Yes, now.”
The call ended and the chair creaked once more as Gerald got up and crossed the room to Fiona. The doorknob turned. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. You can follow me in my car. I’ll take you to the baby now.”
There was a long silence punctuated by footsteps, the elevator, and then a door opening.
“There they are.” Shawn slid down in his seat, not wanting the mayor to see him.
“Relax,” Joanna told him. “Nothing says guilty like a person cowering in the back of a car.” She smiled to herself as Shawn rolled his shoulders and sat up straight. “Better.”
“So what now? We just follow them?” Shawn stared at Fiona and Gerald.
“We do. Once they are in their cars and heading for the exit, we follow along.” Trent sat still, his hand hovering over the ignition. “I just hope that this doesn’t backfire on us.”
“Fiona seems to have it under control,” Joanna replied as the dragon shifter walked across the parking lot with Gerald.
“Which is your car?” Fiona asked as they walked.
“The black Mercedes,” Gerald answered.
“Oh, that one.” Fiona kept walking with Gerald even though Shawn’s car was in the other direction.
“What is she doing?” Trent asked no one in particular.
Gerald reached his car and opened the driver’s door and slipped into the driver’s seat. “Is your car close by?”
“Yes, it’s over there.” Fiona pulled open the passenger door. “Just in case I lose you in traffic, where are we going?”
“There’s a place, a couple of towns over.” He paused. “Don’t worry. I won’t lose you.”
“Great” Fiona shut the car door and walked away, heading back across the parking lot to Shawn’s car.
As they listened, the sound of an engine starting and a radio filtered through the transmitter.
“What did she do?” Shawn asked.
“She slipped the phone into Gerald’s car.” Joanna couldn’t help but be impressed. This would give them eyes and ears on Gerald as he drove to the hotel, or wherever else he planned to hand over the baby.
“She doesn’t trust him,” Trent said quietly. He started the engine as Fiona got into Shawn’s car. “And I don’t blame her one bit. That diamond is too much of an attraction to a man like Gerald, but he might not hand over a child in return.”
“Instead, he might hurt Fiona.” Joanna swallowed down her anxiety and kept her cool. This was no time to let personal feelings get in the way of what they had to do.
“She also told him there was more where it came from.” Shawn’s hands gripped the front seats, the whites of his knuckles showing as Tre
nt backed out of their parking space and drove out of the parking lot, tailing Fiona, who was tailing Gerald.
“Hi, Rex.” Gerald’s voice came through the transmitter.
“Yeah. I’m getting the baby now,” a gruff male voice replied.
“Okay. Take the baby to the kitchen. I’ll meet you there.” Gerald paused as the car took a right turn and headed out of town. “I also want you to get together a group of guys. Five or six. I want you to capture the woman I’m bringing with me.”
“Capture?” Rex asked.
“Yeah, that’s all you need to know,” Gerald answered. “Just be ready.”
“What about the baby? It might get hurt,” Rex asked.
“It’s bait. This woman is dangerous, but she won’t do anything if the baby is there, I’m sure of it.” Gerald turned onto the highway. “Just do it and be ready.”
“There isn’t much time to get my best people here,” Rex warned Gerald.
“It doesn’t matter. Just do what you can.”
The call ended and Joanna grabbed her phone as Gerald said, “I’m gonna get your treasure, old dragon. And there ain’t nothing you can do about it. I’ll make sure of that. In fact, a dragonhide might look good hanging on my wall.”
Joanna’s face paled. “We need to update Fiona on the risk. Do you want me to call for backup, too?”
“Backup might expose Fiona,” Shawn said. “If they find out she’s a dragon shifter.”
“We also don’t know where they are going,” Trent replied. “They might not go to the hotel.”
“I have an idea,” Joanna said. “Why don’t we get Fiona to stall? The three of us can go in and take care of the guys inside. Then she can come in with Comer and we can take him down.”
“I thought we were taking him into custody?” Trent asked.
“That’s what I meant.” Joanna also had a plan on how they could convince Gerald that Fiona wasn’t a dragon shifter after all. She tapped the phone screen and hoped Fiona would pick up. “You have handsfree, right?” she asked Shawn as the phone rang and rang.
“I do.” He chewed the inside of his cheek as they waited for Fiona to answer.
Shawn Spring Shifter Seasons Page 19