by Faith Gibson
No, until Gordon was dead, Elizabeth was stuck with that particular burden. Using half-bloods as decoys to lure the man into the open had so far proved fruitless. He sent his army to do his dirty work. Even though he was getting on in age, he was still proving to be a pain in the ass. The recent murders of the delegates had put a halt to their plans in locating him. Human casualties were just not acceptable.
Before Tessa left the state, she needed to make one more trip to the Pen. She wanted to tell Isabelle she was leaving, but more than that, she wanted to see Tamian.
Eight
Rafael’s time with Kaya had passed too quickly. When she said she would give him a week he didn’t realize most of his time would be spent taking care of Clan business. Now that she was ready to go back to work, he had free time. “Bella Mia, please take one more day. I am not ready to let you go.”
His beautiful mate smiled up at him, her blonde hair fanned out over the pillows on their bed. She had a satisfied look on her face, one he had put there. “You’re very tempting, but one more day will turn into another one more day. I am already behind in filing reports, and I don’t like that reporter knowing about murders before I do. Besides, I need to keep an eye on Dane. I can’t believe he’s a shifter. I’ve worked with him for years, and he’s never let on he’s anything but human.”
“If I hadn’t told you that I’m a shifter, you would never have known. Unless we phase in front of someone, our secret is safe. I hope Jasper can get to the bottom of what’s going on. If Dane is a newbie, that opens up a whole new set of questions. I want you to be careful around him.”
“Like I said, I’ve worked with him for years, and there’s no one I trust more to have my back.” Kaya must have seen the hurt look in his eye because she quickly amended her statement. “Except for you. I trust you with my life, my King.” She soothed the hurt away with her lips on his chest and her hand on his cock.
Rafael knew better than to ask Kaya to quit her job. Until she was pregnant with their child, she would continue working. For now, he didn’t want to talk about her job or Dane. If he only had one more day with her, he was going to spend it in bed. By the time he was finished with his Queen, she would be able to think of nothing other than the way he made her feel. He pressed his lips to hers, softly. His beast was momentarily sated, therefore he could give her some tender loving. It wouldn’t take long before his needs turned rough again, so while he could, he was going to be gentle.
Dane was pouring over paperwork when Jasper walked into his office. Actually it was Kaya’s office, but while she was on leave, he was taking advantage of the quiet space. “Hey Abbott, how you doing?” Jasper leaned against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest. When Jasper confided he was a shifter, Dane wanted to ask him a thousand and one questions. When he was going through his initial transition, Tessa had told him there were others. She just didn’t tell him he would be working with one.
“I’m good. I was just going over the results from the coroner’s office.” If he could get his mind on business, he might possibly make it through the day without talking about shifting. “The DNA results from the victim at the warehouse match those from the hotel room, but we still can’t confirm the body was that of Magnus Flanagan. We’ve searched every database there is, and there is no record of Magnus Flanagan anywhere. I’m betting he had someone wipe his identity so his brother couldn’t find him.”
“If this victim isn’t Flanagan, why would he pretend to be? He would have to have known the danger, unless he was trying to draw the man out. Who would be crazy enough to do that? From what I’ve read, Gordon Flanagan is the vilest man to ever walk this earth.”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out. He’s not old, but he isn’t getting any younger. He has made it his life’s mission to find that which was stolen from him. My guess is he’s getting desperate and when people get desperate, bad things happen. I’d say twelve dead bodies is just the beginning of what he has planned.”
“If only Vincent Alexander would talk, maybe we could find out where Flanagan is hiding out.”
Dane thought for a second, “How do you know about Alexander? He was put in the Pen before you got here.” He observed Jasper’s face. For what, he wasn’t sure. Something told him there was more to his new partner than what was visible on the surface. Not that he thought Jasper was hiding anything, he was just different somehow.
Jasper closed the door and took the seat across from Dane. “I’ve been in town a while. I was just waiting for my application to be approved. During that time, I kept up with the goings on in the city. But back to my original question, how are you? Are you getting your phasing under control?”
Dane really needed to talk to Tessa. She and Caroline didn’t tell him not to talk about himself but then again, they didn’t tell him to broadcast what he is either. Before he could answer, the desk phone rang. He held up one finger to Jasper and answered, “Abbott. Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Speak of the devil, Tessa was there to see him.
“I have a visitor. We’ll need to finish this conversation later. For now, I need you to see if you can locate Elizabeth Flanagan. I know it’s like finding a needle in a haystack, but that’s what the chief wants us to do.” Dane rose from his chair and made his way to the front of the precinct.
Dane couldn’t miss the looks Tessa was getting from his fellow officers. She was a good-looking woman even if she was wearing a funky jacket. Before he knew they were related, he thought she was hot. Now he could still appreciate her attractiveness, just in a platonic way. “Tessa, what brings you here?”
Her smile hadn’t changed. It was the same every time he saw her: bright with a little smirk. “Is there somewhere private we can go?”
“Yeah, we can go to my office.” He led her back to Kaya’s office and shut the door. She held her finger to her lips and pulled something out of her backpack. She sat a small black box on the desk and flipped a switch. “Now we can talk without anyone hearing us. Not that anyone here could actually hear us, but you can never be too careful.”
Dane pointed at the gizmo on the desk. “Where did you get that?” He knew hi-tech items existed, he had just never seen one up close.
“From your father. Now, how are you? I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner, but I’ve been keeping an eye on Isabelle.”
“My father? Oh, Montague. It’s going to take some time to get used to the fact he’s my biological father and that I’m, well, this.” He swept his hand down his body. “Listen, I’m glad you stopped by. We have a new detective who just started, Jasper Jenkins. Is he one of my brothers? Caroline didn’t tell me the names of my siblings other than Isabelle.”
“Why would you think he’s your brother? Did something happen?”
“You could say that. When I first met him and shook his hand, my fangs dropped. He just laughed. When I asked why he wasn’t freaked out, he said he was one of us.”
Tessa’s face paled. “Dane, he is not one of us, as in half-bloods. He must be a Gargoyle and new to the city. Shit. There’s so much you need to know, and I don’t have time to go into all of it. I’ve got a missing watcher and I have to head out to Louisiana in the morning. I need to find out about this Jasper and why he would just offer up that he’s a shifter, unless he hasn’t met them all and thinks you’re a full-blood.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? I mean, if he’s a shifter, I can learn from him.” Dane was getting more confused.
Tessa was shaking her head. “Gargoyles don’t know about us, Dane. We have kept ourselves secret all these years. Your father was ostracized from the Originals for mating with your human mother. If they find out about us, we don’t know what the repercussions will be. I’m sorry I can stay longer, but I really have to go. I need to see your sister before I head out of town. But listen, be careful. Don’t give away any information about us to this Jasper. If he asks questions, just be vague.”
Dane knew that was going to be as impossible as finding Elizabet
h Flanagan. “I’ll try, but Tessa, he’s a detective. He’s smart and he’s a shifter.”
“Just do your best. I will be back as soon as I can, and we’ll talk more about it then.” She walked up to Dane and wrapped her arms around him in a sisterly hug.
The door to the office opened, and Jasper stuck his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have another murder. I’ll just let you two get back to whatever you were doing.” He closed the door.
Dane sighed, but Tessa laughed. “How long do you think it’ll take before this is all over the precinct?”
“Not long, you’re too cute.” Dane grinned at his cousin. They said their goodbyes, and Dane prepared mentally to go to the crime scene. No matter how many dead bodies he saw, it never got easier.
Nine
Tessa left the police station and rode to the prison. If she was lucky she would have a chance to talk to Isabelle then sneak around and find Tamian. She needed to get her hands on Belle’s electronic entrance card so she could visit other levels. If she was unlucky, she’d run into Gregor. She spent all day going over various scenarios of getting caught and getting away. She needed more Intel on the layout of the Pen before she attempted breaking her brother out.
Tessa had spent the last thirteen years honing her skills. Her cover as an archaeologist enabled her to travel the world and keep an eye on her cousins. Even though she was a watcher, her job sometimes came with danger. Not all of the cousins were in semi-safe locations such as New Atlanta. When the near apocalypse happened thirty-three years earlier, countries fell apart, causing them to revert to less than civil behavior. Why her family didn’t have the shifters move to safer cities was a mystery. It was a question she asked every time she was in her father’s presence, and his answer was always the same: for their safety. Xavier obviously hadn’t visited the cities where they lived, or he would know the cousins were far from safe.
Tessa slowed her bike as she neared the guard shack, but the man just waved her on through. Hmm. That was unexpected. She drove around to the back of the building and parked by Belle’s car. The same few vehicles were in the lot as were yesterday with the exception of a van, so that meant Gregor was more than likely in the building. Shit. Hopefully she could call Belle and bypass having to deal with the warden. She pulled her cell out of her pocket just as the back door opened. Luckily it was just one of the guards. She walked through the door without being questioned.
She probably should have called her cousin first, but if Belle was in a mood she might not want to see her. Tessa slipped quietly down the now familiar hallways. She paused at Gregor’s door, listening for any proof of her mate. He would talk quietly, then he would pause. Good, he was on the phone. Curiosity got the better of her so she listened closely. “We went out to a bar last night. No, it was rather boring. There was a pretty blonde who caught my eye. Yeah, you know I’m a sucker for blondes.” Tessa was fuming. A blonde? What the fuck happened after she left The Tavern? Did he not know she was his mate? Fuck you, Stone. She continued on past his door to Isabelle’s office.
She didn’t bother knocking; she just barged in and closed the door. Isabelle looked up at her, eyebrows raised. “You know, you really shouldn’t just show up here without calling. What if I wasn’t here? Would you just go through my office like you go through my home?”
Tessa pulled the same black box out of her backpack that she had in Dane’s office. She flipped the switch and set it on the corner of the desk. Isabelle pointed at it, “What is that, and what are you wearing?”
“This is a device that allows us to speak freely without being overheard. I don’t want the warden’s super hearing to be a problem. Have you found out any more about what Henshaw was up to?” Tessa didn’t explain the odd looking jacket she was wearing.
Isabelle shook her head. “No, but I don’t believe Gregor is in on it.” Tessa cringed every time her cousin called Gregor by his name. She couldn’t have the man, but she didn’t want her cousin to harbor any feelings for him either.
“And why’s that? You didn’t mention any of this to him, did you?” She really hoped Isabelle was being smart.
“Of course not. He actually brought up the fact that Dr. Henshaw was having trouble diagnosing some of the inmates, and he wanted me to pay careful attention to those files. If he was in on it, he sure made himself seem innocent.”
“Innocent my ass. I’m telling you, do not trust him.”
“What do you have against Gregor other than him being a full-blood?”
Tessa was not having this conversation now. “Isn’t that enough? Anyway, the reason I’m here is to tell you I’m going out of town for a while. I have to check on one of your siblings. She’s a few years older, and I haven’t visited her in a while. I’ve called one of the other watchers, Sophia, and she’s on standby should you need anything. Here’s her number. She’s a little younger, but she has been training for a few years.” Tessa handed Isabelle a slip of paper with the information scribbled on it.
Isabelle crossed her arms over her breasts. “Do you know all my siblings? Who are you going to see, and where does she live? I would like to start meeting my family.”
“Yes, I know all your siblings, but they have no idea who I am. I am going to see Lillian who lives in Louisiana. I understand how you feel, and as soon as I get back, I will give you the lowdown on who your siblings are and where they all live. Right now, I don’t have time,” Tessa explained.
“I still don’t see why you feel like I need a babysitter. I’ve seen Dane change, so I know what to expect. And I don’t go anywhere but here and home. If I were going to run into my mate, I think I’d have done it by now, don’t you?”
“You go to the grocery store, the gas station, the post office, the library. You could run into him or her any of those places, including here.” Tessa threw the her in there just to get a rise out of her cousin. She knew Isabelle had experimented with girls in college.
“What do you mean her? I don’t like women, and if my mate happens to be a woman, she’s just out of luck.”
“I’m just saying your mate could be anyone, and you could be in their presence at any time and not realize it. Now, I have to go pack. My plane leaves early in the morning, and I need some sleep. Take care of yourself, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call Sophia.” Tessa packed the black box in her backpack and started to slide it over her arms. On second thought, leaving the backpack would give her an excuse to visit again. She didn’t wait for Isabelle to say goodbye. Tessa slipped out the door and headed away from Gregor’s office. Tessa used her bond with Tamian to search for him silently. When she got no response, she found the nearest door leading to the stairwells.
Isabelle would kill her if she found out her keycard was missing, but it was the only way she would be able to look for Tamian. She was pretty sure the steps going up led to the main cell blocks, but something in her gut told her to go down. At the bottom of the steps was another door requiring her to use the access card. She paused before swiping it, listening for guards. When she heard none, she swiped the plastic and was grateful the buzzer made little sound. She hesitated again, searching for guards. When she found none, she continued on her way. She had entered solitary confinement. Tamian surely wouldn’t be down here because his crime didn’t warrant it. Still, Tessa peered in the windows of the steel doors on the first level. It wasn’t bedtime yet, but most of the men were lying on their beds. Luck was on her side when she located her brother. Tamian. Tam, wake up.
Her brother opened his eyes and jumped off the bed. “Andi, what are you doing down here?”
“I told you I was going to get you out of here.” That ever present pull between them tugged at her brain.
“And I told you I’m in here for a reason. Listen to me. I put myself here. I’m undercover. You have got to stop this craziness before you get caught. How did you get down here anyway?”
“That doesn’t matter. What does matter is you. Are you okay? Why would you pu
t yourself in this hell hole?”
“I’m trying to get Intel on Gordon. There are men in here who were in his army. I’m listening to see if I pick up any information that can help us find him.”
“So you just went and got yourself locked up? How did you manage solitary if you were arrested for assault?”
“The warden was in on it. Gregor and his cousin, the owner of the gym, asked me to do this. Don’t you see? It’s perfect.”
“You do know they’re full-bloods, don’t you?” Tessa couldn’t believe he put himself in here with the enemy.
“Yeah, but they’re the good guys.”
“How do you know that? Better yet, just how long have you been in New Atlanta?”
“I’ve been here a while. Someone has to watch the watcher.” Tamian winked at her.
Tessa listened for a moment. She was out of time, someone was behind her. “Tam, I have to go. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself in here.”
“I promise.” Tamian placed his hand on the glass. “I love you, sis.”
“And I love you.” She placed her hand on the window briefly before taking off at a quiet jog. She hoped like hell there was another staircase leading back up to the main floor. She opened a door and was thankful the stairs did indeed lead up. She took off running up the stairs only to find the door to the main floor wouldn’t open. Why would Isabelle not have access to the main floor? She couldn’t stop now, she continued up until she found a door she could open. The one she finally found unlocked led to the roof. Well shit.
Ten