by C. C. Hunter
“Good call in there … with your question about hearing the other guys speak.” Burnett stepped into the room. “I missed that one.”
“Thanks.” The praise brought a smile to Perry’s lips. Living in the foster home, without a father, Perry had found a role model in his older foster brother. Burnett had never let him down.
“Now,” the vampire said. “Explain why you took your sweet-ass time getting here.”
Perry leaned against the desk. “I went to check on Miranda. Della said she’d tell you.”
“She did.” Burnett shut his door, the thud echoed in the office. “I wasn’t talking about now. I told you two days ago to get your butt back here.”
“And I told you I wanted to finish this.”
Frustration tightened the angles of Burnett’s face. “And did you … finish it? That’s why you’re back?”
“No. I had a vision or something like that of Miranda in trouble. I just needed to see she was okay. I’m heading back in just a bit.”
Burnett stared at him for a long second, disappointment flashing in his eyes. “Perry, I don’t know what it is you’re trying to prove. But—”
“Me, neither.” The hurt he’d carried around like an anchor leaked into his voice. He cleared his throat. “That’s my biggest problem, not knowing exactly what I’m trying to prove.” The truth rolled out without asking permission.
Perry looked back at the picture of Hannah. “Is she talking?”
Burnett took a few steps closer. “Your parents abandoned you, and that hurt you. Now you want to hurt them back. But I’m not sure—”
“No.” Perry continued to stare at Hannah’s photo without really seeing it. “It’s not that simple. I’m not even looking forward to…”
“Then don’t. Let me put someone on them. When they pull the next stunt, we’ll bring them in.”
“No.” Perry met the man’s stern gaze. “I have to do this, Burnett. Even if it pisses you off.”
Burnett’s lips tightened. “At least tell me what’s really going down.”
He considered it again, at least telling him about the Jax connection, but damn it, he knew Burnett, he’d pull Perry out for sure then. He didn’t understand it, but he needed to be the one to stop his parents. “I told you.”
“All you said was that they’re up to no good. Doing something illegal for fast cash.”
And this was where Perry needed to tread lightly. “As soon as I know who all is behind this crap, I’ll hand it over.” The case would be closed. His past permanently put behind him.
“What kind of crap are we talking about?” The vampire, now only a few inches taller than Perry, clenched and unclenched his right hand hanging at his side. When Perry didn’t respond in the limited microseconds Burnett’s patience allowed, he continued. “Don’t tell me this is tied to the two Dallas-area bank robberies.”
A little air caught in Perry’s lungs as he worked to snatch an answer from his brain without lying. “How did—”
“I’m not an idiot. I’ve been looking at all the local crimes in the Dallas area since you told me.” Now both of Burnett’s hands fisted. “Tell me you didn’t participate.”
More treading was needed, but he was treadless. “I had to or—”
“Damn it!” Burnett said. “You could have been shot and killed.”
“I can handle—”
“The hell you can! You might be one hell of a shifter and can morph faster than most, but you aren’t faster than a bullet. You have to pull out of this now!”
“If I was working a case for the FRU, they could easily have had me working undercover doing this same thing.”
“But you’re not undercover! If something goes wrong, you aren’t legally working for the FRU. That means you’d be held accountable. I’d have to arrest your ass.”
“Then assign me the case.”
Burnett frowned. “I can’t authorize a junior agent to work on his own, on a case we haven’t even looked into.”
See, he knew he was right, Burnett would have pulled him. “Then I’ll do this my way.”
Burnett let go of a gulp of air. “Whether you give a shit for yourself, don’t do this to me or Holiday! How do you think we’d feel if…” He stopped talking and clenched his jaw.
Burnett’s concern had Perry’s chest aching.
“I’ve got a meeting tomorrow to meet the lead guy. If I get what I need, I’ll turn it over.”
Burnett’s eyes brightened with anger. “You are not robbing another—”
“I’m just meeting the guy.”
“I’ll send someone with you,” Burnett added.
“No.” A pound of frustration resounded in his voice. “They won’t accept anyone. The only reason I’m in is because of my father.”
“And your father could get your ass killed.”
“Have a little faith in me,” Perry said, and like it or not, old insecurities rose. Did Burnett’s protectiveness stem from affection or a lack of confidence? “I haven’t lost control and shifted in public in a while.”
“It’s not that. I—” His phone rang and he took the call. “What’s wrong?” His biting tone spoke of his anger. “Where?” Pause. “Shit. Call the men watching Miranda and Tabitha and give them a warning. Tell them if he shows up to hold him. Don’t treat him as a complete hostile, but do not let him leave! I’ll come help you search. And I’ll have Chase meet us.” He hung up.
“What?” Perry asked.
Burnett answered while he dialed another number. “Anthony must have made the agent I put on him. He got away.”
“Do you want me to go back to the hospital?” Perry asked.
Burnett appeared to consider it.
“Please,” Perry snapped. “Sooner or later you’ve got to cut the apron strings!”
The man growled. “Fine. Go.”
* * *
Shawn drove to the hospital. Lily sat in the passenger seat giving him the silent treatment. After the bombardment of insults she’d slammed on Shawn during the interview, he couldn’t say he minded. Or he didn’t for the first half of the ride. The second half it started to get annoying.
He saw her rubbing her wrist.
He recalled he’d had burns when he’d tried out the cuffs. He also recalled how much it had hurt. Knowing he’d put an innocent through that sat like a fat frog on his conscience.
“Your wrists okay?” The words slipped out.
She looked out the window. They went under a streetlight, and with her hands stilled he saw the welts on her wrists.
That frog put on a few pounds. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intent to hurt you.”
She never even looked at him. Her silence was really starting to annoy him. Or was that his conscience.
He spotted a drugstore ahead and pulled in. He cut off the engine. “Can you come in with me?” he asked in a patient tone.
She didn’t look at him. Didn’t move. Didn’t speak.
“Come on. I want to get something for the burns.” He opened the door and waited for her to do the same. She didn’t.
Frustrated, he shut his door again. “I said I was sorry, okay. Can we just start over?” Still nothing. “This is silly,” he snapped. “Get out, please.”
She reached for the door handle and muttered, “I can’t believe I thought I liked you. I’m an idiot.” She scrambled out of the car.
He shot out to catch up. Hoping to find new ground with her, he attempted humor. “You’re not an idiot. I’m actually quite likable.”
“Some people like pains in the asses, I guess.”
“That’s not nice.”
“I don’t have to be nice. I’m teaching you a lesson, remember?” she snapped, reminding him she’d heard Burnett take him down a notch.
“But can you not enjoy it so much,” he snapped back. The muscles in his shoulders knotted. Right then he realized she’d stopped walking.
He turned around. The first thing he noted were her eyes. Vampire bright. Sure
ly she wasn’t going to try to run. Or try to kick him again.
“Come on.”
“He’s here.” Her words came out like a whisper.
“Who’s—” A car shot past and a spray of bullets started bouncing off the concrete parking lot.
Shawn hit the ground, rolled over and grabbed his gun. He got off one shot before the car squealed away. Jumping to his feet, he stared at the car, trying to get a license number, when it passed under a streetlight.
He got shit. Well, not shit. Two letters. CV and the type and make of the car.
“Let’s go,” he yelled at Lily, and started sprinting toward his car before they decided to come back.
He only got a few feet when he realized she wasn’t following.
He turned back.
She lay stretched out in the parking lot.
“Damn it!” He sprinted over to her. Her eyes were closed. “Lily, look at me!”
She didn’t look. Didn’t move. Didn’t speak.
This silent treatment hurt ten times more than the last.
He saw blood pooling around her body.
He went to pick her up. She flinched. Her eyes, vampire neon green, shot open and were filled with pain.
“I got you.” He scooped her up in his arms and pulled her soft weight against him.
“You…” she said, her voice weak as a newborn kitten. “You sure do know how to show a girl a good time.” She passed out.
Chapter Twelve
Perry was told Miranda had been moved to a new room. As he got off the elevator on the new floor, the hospital scents filled the air, but the thrill of seeing Miranda chased away the bad aroma. A few nurses sat typing at movable work desks. He spotted Agent Jankowski standing in the hall, his phone to his ear, a scowl on his lips.
“What is it?” Perry asked.
He hung up. “They took Tabitha Evans up for an emergency MRI on the sixth floor about ten minutes ago. Agent Farrell went with her. The nurse came by and I asked how long it would take. She didn’t think one was ordered. She’s checking on it. But Farrell isn’t answering his phone. Reception is shit here, but I don’t like it.”
“Me, neither.” Perry’s gaze shifted to the door. “You sure Miranda’s okay?” He took a step toward the door.
“Yeah, her parents are still here.”
He stopped. Mr. and Mrs. Kane weren’t Perry fans.
“I’ll check on Farrell,” Perry said.
He got off the elevator on the sixth floor. Empty silence greeted him. The lights were dim. Was anyone even on the floor?
Moving with caution, he heard a faint noise. A moan. Considering he was in the hospital, it shouldn’t alarm him. It did.
This floor didn’t seem to be used for patient rooms—just offices and labs.
His first instinct was to prepare himself to shift. Problem was that shifting in a public place should be a last resort. Breathing in deeply, he cut his eyes left then right, listening.
Only the silence rained down.
A sign marked RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT pointed down the empty hall. He continued that way, following another sign and turning, purposely keeping his footfalls as quiet as possible.
The moan came again. He tracked the sound to a waiting room. An empty gurney was left in the middle of the room, the sheet dangled off the mattress to the floor. Had they brought Tabitha down on that?
On the counter, a note hung: PLEASE SIGN IN.
He edged over and looked at the clipboard. No one was signed in.
A door led the way to the back. Another note hung there. PLEASE WAIT TO BE CALLED BACK.
He couldn’t wait.
He pushed his way in, the door creaked, as if needing a squirt of oil. Then it swooshed closed. Darkness rushed at him. He blinked to help his vision adjust.
Pausing, he felt it again. Something was wrong.
A dangerous kind of wrong.
He reached for his phone, but he heard another sound. The distinctive moan of someone hurting.
Someone needing help.
His next step was met with a fist to his face. Slammed against a wall, pain exploded behind his right eye. Unable to stop it, his blood started to fizz. The need to morph, to protect himself, made his skin tingle. He inhaled deeply. The vision of a lion, strong, hungry, and mad, filled his mind. He gritted his teeth to stop the shift from happening.
Stiffening his shoulders, he forced himself to rely on his physical strength. Something he’d worked on. Something he should be able to count on.
He heard movement and spotted a figure coming at him.
He swung his fist, made contact, and heard the person hit the ground. He didn’t stay down long, but after he sprung to his feet, he collapsed against the wall.
“Kinda hurts, doesn’t it?” Perry said. Ready for round two, he fisted his hands, ignoring that his knuckles now throbbed in rhythm with his eye.
Trying to focus on the shadowy figure, he took another step. Time to end this. But Perry tripped over something … or someone. Someone lying dead still on the floor. He pushed up, his palms slid on a thick substance on the floor. The coppery scent of blood filled his nose.
Another moan told Perry his reason for falling was still alive. The door he’d seconds ago entered whooshed open and closed. Perry bounced up to give chase, but the person losing blood caught Perry’s ankle and yanked him back. The slick sticky blood on the ground added to his second fall.
“Let go!” Perry demanded, not knowing if the person was friend or foe.
When the demand wasn’t met and he could hear the jerk who’d hit him running away, Perry kicked his foot to lose the hold. The shoe connected with something solid. Another moan escaped. If he was friend not foe, Perry would apologize, but not now.
He bolted up and shot out the door.
The need to shift rose again. He fought it.
He shot through the waiting room, his heart thump-thumping against his chest, then stopped. Looking both left and right, he saw no one. The elevator down the hall to his right dinged as if opening. He started toward it, but then a whoosh of another door closing echoed down the hall to the left.
He shot left, guessing that someone escaping would choose a faster route than the elevator.
At the end of the hall was a door, still shifting back and forth. He entered another black room. Only this time the sound of traffic below filled the darkness. His gaze darted around. Seeing no one, he walked to the window. His feet crunched on shards of glass.
Someone had broken the window. Had they jumped out? Perry hadn’t heard it break. Perhaps it had been broken earlier.
He recalled he was on the sixth floor. No human could jump.
Unsure, he shifted his gaze up, down, left, right. Only empty shadows hid in the corners. He blinked, his right eye throbbed, and his hand hurt like a mother. Moving to the window, he looked down to the dark parking lot. No one was on the ground. The perp was either a vampire, or a … Right then he felt it. A minuscule sting hit his arm. He felt it pop.
An orb. An orb left by a shape-shifter who’d just morphed.
He considered changing and giving flight, but to chase what? He couldn’t see anything in the dark sky.
Instead, he ran to see who he’d left bleeding—and kicked—in the other dark room.
As he went, he saw bloody footprints. One pair belonging to him, one not.
He snagged his phone and dialed Burnett. The call was answered before it rang. “We got a problem at the hospital! Sixth floor.” He never heard Burnett speak. Hanging up, he pushed open the door, not knowing if the guy he’d left was trouble. Or if he owed someone an apology for kicking the shit out of him.
Perry pushed open the door. The figure lay still on the floor.
Perry ran his hand on the side of the wall, looking for a light switch.
He found it. Light chased away the darkness.
Looking down at the unconscious heap on the floor, Perry’s breath caught at the official black FRU suit. Agent Farrell. He kne
lt, felt for a pulse, and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
* * *
Miranda sat on the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, her heart gripping. Ignoring the arguing adults. She’d started having the oh-shit feeling five minutes ago, but hadn’t said anything. Then Burnett had stormed into the room, his demeanor and aura told Miranda that her oh-shit premonition hadn’t been a ruse.
Tabitha was missing.
“We’ve searched the hospital,” Burnett said. “She’s not here.”
“I don’t understand,” Miranda’s father screamed at Burnett. “She went down for an MRI. How could she be missing?”
“We’re trying to figure that out, Mr. Kane,” Burnett said.
“Are you saying someone took her?” Mary Esther asked. She stared at the vampire as if he’d done something wrong, her panic palpable in her expression.
Burnett’s empathy-filled gaze met Miranda’s briefly, before focusing on Tabitha’s mother. “We’re investigating it.”
Raw panic pulled at Miranda’s mind.
“No you’re not investigating, you’re here talking to us,” her father snapped. “Go find my daughter!”
Burnett didn’t flinch. “I understand you’re upset.”
Miranda looked back down at her phone. It had dinged with a text thirty seconds after Tabitha had been wheeled away. The message hadn’t made sense.
He’s innocent. Don’t have a choice. Sorry.
Was her sister saying …
The door swung open. Perry, followed by Shawn, walked into the room. Miranda’s gaze shot from one guy to the other and her heart did a complete stop, drop, and roll.
Blood.
Both were covered in it.
Both sported black eyes. What the hell had happened?
Burnett’s gaze, bright probably from the blood, went to Perry first. “And?”
“He’s going to be fine,” Perry said.
Burnett looked at Shawn.
“She’s in surgery.”
“Who’s fine? Who’s in surgery?” Miranda asked.
“What does this have to do with my daughter?” Mary Esther asked.
“We’ve had a couple of incidents,” Burnett said.
“What incidents?” Miranda asked.