by ML Guida
“You had a vision?”
She nodded, her teeth chattering. “I’ve never experienced anything like that before. It was as if I were actually there. I am so cold.”
He wrapped his arms around her, his body warming her. “She’s…she’s dead.” Unwanted tears fell down her cheeks. “I should have been with her.”
Hoss stroked her hair. “No, he would have killed you, too.”
He held her until she stopped shaking.
“I’m a homicide detective.” Agnes lifted her head. “I can take care of myself. But Kathy’s only a lawyer. My job was to protect her. She was my friend.” She slowly untangled herself from his protective arms.
“Are you feeling better?”
She straightened her shirt. “No, but we need to get to Kathy’s immediately.”
He tilted his head toward the police department. “Do you want to call it in?”
She laughed bitterly. “On a feeling? No. They wouldn’t believe me. Only Kathy did. She never laughed at me.” She wiped her tears on her sleeve, smearing mascara on her jacket.
He gently clasped her arm, pity filling his gold eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Agnes jerked away. “I’ll get over it,” she lied. How could anyone get used to losing a good friend? She pulled out her keys. “We need to go.”
Her voice was back to being the no nonsense detective. Her tears dried up.
He stuck out his thumb. “Get on my back.”
“What? No, my car’s faster.”
“Not dragon fast.” He glanced over his shoulder, then dipped into a thicket of trees away from the street light and security cameras. In an instant, he transformed from a handsome man back into a fierce black dragon with a glowing green stripe down his back. She stepped away, her heart threatening to jump out of her throat. He tilted his neck as if motioning for her to climb onto his back. This was stranger than a fairy tale, but Kathy deserved justice. It was time for Agnes to be strong. Kathy needed a champion.
She forced herself to climb onto his back. She clutched his neck hard. He leaned on his haunches, then jumped into the sky. She bit back a scream and pressed her knees against his thick hide. He flapped out his wings, and they soared into the cool midnight sky. Her hair flew around her, and she sucked down air faster and faster. The midnight sky, bright stars, and dark clouds buzzed around her as if she were on a spinning tilt-a-whirl. She clutched Hoss’s neck tightly, determined not to let go.
“I am sorry, Kathy. We’re coming. We’ll make him pay for what he did to you.”
9
Daidhl easily walked past the guards in the lobby. The fools hadn’t even noticed him.
“Did you smell that?” one of them asked.
He stilled, his finger hovering over the elevator button.
The other frowned. “Smell what?”
“The captain said the killer gave off an order of sourness.” He unleashed his pistol. “He’s here.”
“I don’t see anyone. You’re imagining it.”
“No, I’m not.” He clicked on his radio. “Captain, this is Rogers.”
“What’s happening?”
“I detected the odor of spoiled milk.”
“Get to Kathy immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
Curses, he should have changed into something else. He quickly left the lobby, uneasiness twisting in his gut. He ducked in the shadowy alley. Sirens screamed in the distance, but that wasn’t what sent the hair on his arms standing straight up.
A black dragon with a glowing green stripe down the middle of his back flew in between the dark clouds. Anonghos had found him. He quickly drew on his powers, transforming into the homeless foul smelling lady. He grinned. The Zalarian was becoming too much of a liability and needed to stop his persistent meddling. Soon, he’d be dead.
Daidhl hobbled past the building, not fearing the security cameras or the police cruisers skidding in front of the apartment building. Humans ignored the homeless.
Time for him to send the idiots another message.
Officers raced out of their cars and shoved past him, not giving the homeless lady a second glance. He grabbed his shawl and pulled it tighter around him, as if to block out the cold. He forced himself not to smile. Fools, they’d never guess they missed their suspect.
He was about to escape when an officer stepped in front of him.
“Excuse me, Ma’am, but the detective would like to have a word with you.” He turned to see an older gray-haired man approaching him. He’d often been with the Zalarian’s mate, pursuing him. Time to have some fun.
“I’ve done nothin’ wrong,” he snapped. He rubbed his hands together. “Just tryin’ to keep warm.”
“I’m sorry,” the gray haired man said. He pulled out his badge, then sucked in his breath as if not to inhale his stench. “I’m Detective Peters of the Arvada Police Department. This is very important. Did you see anyone come in or out of the building?”
“I was in the alley.”
“Please, it’s important.”
“I seen the cops go inside. And an extremely tall man came here earlier. He was a giant he was. Scared the breeches off me.”
The officer and detective glanced knowingly at each other.
“What time was this?” he demanded.
“I don’t have a watch, but the moon hadn’t shown her face yet.”
“Thank you.” That should keep the Zalarian busy for awhile.
“Get her information,” Detective Peters said.
He left them alone as Daidhl rattled off more tales to the gullible officer.
The attorney may have escaped tonight, but tomorrow, she’d be dead.
Tonight, he had another woman to kill.
10
Hoss landed on the balcony, squeezing his large frame onto the ledge barely big enough for the glass table and two metal chairs. He moved, and his tail knocked over the table, which slammed the chairs into the patio door. The porch light shattered. A loud crack made him wince. His handiwork left the frosted glass shattered.
Agnes slid off his back and fell on her ass.
“Ow,” she murmured. “That was subtle.”
He quickly transformed back into a man and helped her to her feet. “Sorry. I’m not used to fitting into tight spaces.”
She grinned. “I would think you’re becoming an expert with changing in the interview room and now here.”
He frowned, but it melted away as he stared into her big eyes. Despite the rising terror around them, she remained sane and could even make a jest. He’d never met a woman like her.
She moved the chairs away from the window. Shards of glass fell across her hand.
“Let me do that.” He frowned. “You could cut yourself.”
She flicked her hand, sending bits of glass falling onto the cement. “I’m fine.”
Someone screamed inside.
“He’s still here,” he growled.
“Kathy,” Agnes yelled as she pulled out her gun. “It’s me! Let me in!”
Kathy peeked out of the hallway, dressed in a robe, and holding a gun in her shaking hands. “Stay where you are! The police are coming!”
“She’s alive,” Agnes gasped. “Kathy, it’s me! Agnes!”
The door busted open, and an officer barged in gun drawn. “Miss, are you all right?”
Kathy pointed at the balcony. “He’s out there.”
“Time to go!” Hoss said.
“No, wait.” Agnes tried to the door again, but it wouldn’t budge. “She doesn’t know it’s us.”
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” The officer aimed his pistol.
Not wanting to argue, Hoss transformed back into a dragon, smashing the furniture again. One of the chair’s legs pierced the glass.
A shot rang out. Agnes gasped. He inhaled the scent of metallic human blood. Fear seized Hoss’s heart. He clasped Agnes with his talons and flew into the air, more shots pursuing them.
Agnes went limp, and his worst horror was re
alized. She’d been shot. Blood gushed down her temple, then filled her eyes. He knew where her home was since he’d followed her there once, but he needed to get her to a hospital. He flew faster than he thought possible.
Don’t die. Don’t die. Don’t die.
Within a few minutes, he landed out of sight from a hospital. He wished he could have taken her on board to the Orion, but he was forced to use their primitive practices.
He laid her on the grass, and she moaned. He quickly transformed back into a humanoid, then lifted her into his arms and raced to the front doors.
He burst inside to a bright white room containing chairs filled with sick people.
“She’s been shot. She’s an Arvada detective.”
A man in a white gown and woman flew into action. They helped him put Agnes in a wheel chair and ushered her out of the room. He glanced down at his shirt, and it was drenched with her blood. He should have been faster.
Helpless to do anything, he sat in a chair and waited. He was soaked with fear. On the Orion, Tryker would have been able to heal her within minutes, but Earth’s medical technology was light years behind him. The clock ticked slowly overhead, if it moved at all. People filtered in and out of the room while he heard nothing. After what seemed like hours, the woman came over.
“She was unconscious from the shock, but she’s awake now. She’s lost some of her hair and a chunk of skin. Her wound has been cleaned and stitched. The doctor gave her a sedative for the pain. You can see her now.”
He followed her quickly down a corridor that had drapes shielding rooms on one side and open rooms on the other side. Agnes sat in a bed, holding her head.
A doctor had his arms crossed and had a scowl on his face. “You need to stay here for observations, Detective.”
Agnes stubbornly shook her head. “No. This is nothing. I just need some rest in my own bed.”
Pain crossed her face, and she gritted her teeth. She’d a nasty zipper down her right temple.
Cursing the medieval care under his breath, Hoss walked into the room. “So, you think she should stay here, Doctor?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, I’m not,” Agnes said. “And neither of you can stop me. Hoss take me home. Now.”
Her glare would have melted the Earth’s North Pole.
“You can’t make her stay?” The doctor looked helplessly at Hoss as if he wanted to him to do something, but Hoss hadn’t known Agnes for long and had no illusions, he’d lose this argument.
“No, he can’t,” Agnes answered.
She slid out of the bed and swayed, but Hoss caught her arm.
“Maybe you should stay.”
“I’m not staying. I hate these stupid gowns. I hate hospitals.”
The doctor frowned. “We’re only trying to help.”
“I said no. Where are my clothes?”
“Under your bed.”
“Hoss, will you get them?”
“Sure.” He grabbed the plastic bag, which had her bloodied clothes. “Are you sure you want to wear these?”
She pulled the oversize blue gown away from her chest. “Well, I’m sure as hell not wearing this.”
The doctor shook his head. “I’ll have a nurse help you get dressed.”
Hoss stepped out as a nurse entered the room. He leaned against the wall, wondering how he got such a stubborn-ass mate.
In a few minutes, the nurse opened the door. “Will you please tell her she can’t walk and needs a wheelchair?”
Agnes stuck out her chin. “I can walk.”
Hoss gave her a hard stare. “You’re taking the chair.”
Agnes opened her mouth, but quickly shut it. Surprisingly, she obediently got into the wheel chair and allowed the nurse to roll her out of the emergency room. But before they could leave, Agnes had to sign of mountain paperwork. Another strange human habit. On Zalara, once you were healed, you left, but Zalarians didn’t sue their doctors for malpractice, either.
When she was finally finished, the nurse said, “I’ll wait here with her, while you go and get the car.”
Hoss blinked. Now, what the hell was he going to do?
“We don’t have a car,” Agnes said.
The nurse whirled the wheel chair around to go back inside. “Then I can’t––”
“She’s confused. We have a truck.”
Agnes opened her mouth to argue, but clamped her jaw tight.
Hoss ran to the back of the parking lot until he found an oversize truck that he could squeeze into comfortably. Using dragon strength, he forced open the door, then ripped out the wires to start the truck. He smiled. Human technology was so primitive and stealing a car was easy.
After the nurse closed the door, instead of Agnes thanking him, she leaned her head back. “We’re not keeping this truck. Dump it.”
He was about to argue, but she was his mate and a cop. He begrudging parked the truck in the back of another lot. Not waiting for her to argue, he changed back into a dragon and lifted Agnes into his arms, then flew into the sky.
He landed at her cozy townhouse or at least that was what he thought the humans called it. Luckily it was dark and all the lights were off in the other homes. He closed his wings and dropped her gently. She sprawled out on the lawn like a lifeless rag doll. His heart was in his throat. Blazes, he should have been quicker. Why couldn’t the bullets have hit him?
He transformed back into a humanoid, then picked Agnes up, cradling her in his arms. Blood trickled down her temple and onto her jacket. He sucked in his gut. What was he going to do? He knew nothing of human anatomy. If only the Orion were here, he could take her to Tryker. But he was on his own.
“I should take you back to the hospital,” he muttered.
“No,” she groaned, prompting him to move.
Not caring who heard, he kicked her door, the wood splintering.
“Key…in…my jacket.”
He thought he’d shout for joy. She was alive! However, the door wasn’t so lucky.
“Sorry a little late.”
“You’ll…fix it.” She swayed as she stared at her splintered door. He held her shoulder.
“You need to see a doctor.” He cringed.
She glanced warily at him. “Don’t worry. I don’t want to go to the hospital. Quit making a big deal about this. It’s not like I’ve never had a bullet graze my temple before. I’ll survive.” Despite her pale face, she flashed him a smirk. “I…promise. I just…need to…rest.”
Her voice faded away. Her eyes fluttered, and she collapsed.
He caught her. “Stubborn mate.” He gently kissed her forehead.
With his dragon eyes, he could see through the darkness and carried her up the stairs to a bedroom with clothes, books, and magazines thrown onto the floor. He glimpsed one of the covers of the books, which was a man naked from the waist up.
So, his little hardened detective did think of romance. He tenderly laid her on an unmade bed. She released a shaky sigh.
He hurried into a bathroom that had hair spray, mousse, and all kinds of different lotions. Dried toothpaste was stuck to the sink mixed with strands of blond hair. In the cabinet, she had all kinds of pills and bottles, but he had no idea which one to use.
He took out his telicator. “Captain?”
“What’s happening?”
“I still haven’t located Daidhl. My mate’s been shot. I need to talk with Tryker.”
He couldn’t hide the panic rising inside him.
“Tryker, here.”
“Tryker.” Anonghos held on tight to his telicator. “My mates been shot. She says she doesn’t want to go to a hospital. What do I do?”
“Remain calm. Is there a lot of blood?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t want to go back to the hospital.”
“Clean the wound, then put antiseptic on it. If the doctors examined her and allowed her to leave, she should be fine.”
“But the doctor wanted her to stay for observation, and she refu
sed.”
“If you’re worried, use your transrecorder to determine if there’s any shrapnel, if there is or if the wound keeps bleeding, whether or not she wants to or not, she has to go to the hospital.”
He found a clean washcloth inside a cabinet, then wet it with warm water. His hands were shaking so bad he could barely hold onto the slippery cloth. He found a bottle of antiseptic below the sink along with some bandages. He hurried back to the bedroom, then carefully dabbed her forehead with the cloth.
She winced.
He jerked back his hand. “I’m sorry. Are you in pain?”
“Just have a bad headache, but I’ll be fine.”
“I radioed the ship and––“
“You radioed a ship?”
“The Orion. Our doctor Tryker said that I needed to put antiseptic on your wound, but first I need to check you out with our transrecorder.”
She opened one eye. “Excuse me?”
He removed the transrecorder. “It won’t hurt. I just need to know if you have any shrapnel.”
Hoss gritted his teeth, waiting for the damn transrecorder to analyze her. The green light flashed on, and he released a thankful sigh.
“So?”
“No shrapnel.”
“I could have told you that.”
He stuck it back into his belt. “You’ll have to excuse me for not believing you. Your stubborn streak says differently.”
She smiled weakly, closing her eyes. “I just need to rest for a minute. I’m not stubborn. I’m determined.”
He dabbed the cloth with the antiseptic and wrinkled his nose at the potent smell. “Brace yourself. This is liable to sting.”
He slowly patted the side of her temple. She jerked and sharply hissed, but didn’t complain or beg him to stop. This was a woman who must have experienced some of the same battle scars he had. He hadn’t met many women who were like her, even when there had been women on Zalaria.
She put her hands on the bed. “I better get up.”
He put his hand firmly on her shoulder. “No, you need to rest. If you’re weak and injured, you’re liable to make mistakes.”
“You sound like my brother.”
“Your brother is overbearing?”