Midnight Hour

by C. C. Hunter

  “Agent Farrell, who went with Tabitha, was found injured.”

  Her father, her mom, and Mary Esther all started talking at once. At first their angry words were directed at Burnett, then to each other.

  “Quiet.” Burnett’s stern but considerate plea went ignored. Voices bounced off the white walls.

  “Stop,” Miranda said, but her voice got lost in the sea of sound.

  “Silence!” Miranda lost her cool. The mind-numbing chatter stopped like magic. Completely stopped. Like real … magic. One second she was grateful, the next she saw that their mouths were still moving. Moving, but not a sound leaked out.

  Crap! Had she done that? She shot a look at the only spell-wielding person in the room, Shawn. He understood her unasked question and shook his head.

  Then she felt it. The tingle on the tip of her pinky.

  She’d done it. Mother crackers, she’d done it. But could she undo it?

  She shot up a prayer to everything holy to make it so.

  “I’m fixing it,” she muttered.

  Their mouths stopped moving. Her father’s and her mom’s wide-eyed, oh-you-are-so-grounded stares shifted to her. Mary Esther’s look was more glare than stare.

  “But let … let him talk.” Her backbone weak, she twitched her finger. Relief hit when she heard them gasp. She hadn’t rendered them mute for forever. But witch’s hell, she really needed to stop doing shit like that when she wasn’t sure she could undo it.

  Mind to pinky spells were difficult to do, but more difficult to undo.

  “You did that?” Pride rang in her mom’s voice.

  “You twit!” Mary Esther screeched.

  Unfortunately that unleashed her mom’s fury on Mary Esther. The women commenced name-calling, her dad commenced screaming. Mary Esther lifted her hand, her pinky held in warning.

  Burnett looked at Miranda as if asking her to silence them again. She shook her head in an oh-hell-no way.

  He shot forward, smack dab in the middle of the arguing threesome. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were lime green. “Stop!” Burnett’s voice shook the walls.

  Silence became golden again.

  He did a full circle, looking from her mom to her dad to Mary Esther. “I understand this is hard, but I have questions. The sooner you answer them, the sooner I can start looking for Tabitha. Clear?”

  They nodded. Mary Esther let out a heartfelt sigh of a mother in panic mode.

  “Sit.” Burnett pointed to the three chairs flanking the two beds.

  “Who do you think took my daughter?” Her dad’s tone wobbled and so did Miranda’s heart.

  She looked down at her phone again. He’s innocent. Don’t have a choice. Sorry.

  Her sister’s text accompanied by her earlier statement about how she couldn’t be high priestess if she wasn’t here had a big heavy lump of hurt forming in Miranda’s stomach.

  She didn’t want to think it. She didn’t want to say it. Because then Tabitha would be in more trouble. Especially with Agent Farrell being hurt. Then logic intervened. Tabitha would never hurt anyone.

  She was kind.

  She was gentle.

  She was … in love. And that could make you do crazy things.

  What was Miranda to do?

  “You agree, Miranda?” Burnett asked.

  She didn’t have a clue what she should or shouldn’t be agreeing to.

  She opened her mouth to say … what? Logic said she had to tell them, loyalty to her sister said …

  More logic intervened. Anthony might not be dealing or doing drugs, but he was doing something he couldn’t share with Burnett. She didn’t know what it was, but it couldn’t be good. And Tabitha was just enough in love with the guy to be blinded by this.

  “Uh … I don’t think … I don’t think Tabitha was taken.”

  “What do you mean?” Mary Esther asked.

  Miranda’s father and mother looked puzzled. Mary Esther looked angry. Burnett and Shawn looked baffled. Perry managed to look at her with empathy. As if he sensed this was eating her up inside.

  She didn’t have time to let his concern soothe her. “I think Tabitha might have left with Anthony.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Miranda explained everything.

  Or tried to.

  “And you didn’t try to stop her!” Mary Esther snarled.

  “I didn’t know she was going to do it,” she explained, telling them again how Tabitha’s conversation had been convoluted and how the text never said she was leaving.

  It didn’t help. Everyone blamed her. Or seemed to. Or maybe she just blamed herself.

  “I’m sorry,” Miranda finally said.

  “You’d better be!” Mary Esther snapped.

  “It’s not Miranda’s fault,” Perry defended first.

  Burnett came in a close second. “It’s no one’s fault. I’ll talk to you later,” he told Miranda. Then he glanced from Shawn to Perry and nodded to the door.

  Burnett started out, Shawn followed.

  Perry turned to leave then stopped. He came over to the bed. Before she knew his intent, he wrapped his arms around her. It wasn’t a sexy-boy kind of hug. Just a worried-about-you hug. It didn’t help, or maybe it did.

  When he released her, she saw Shawn standing at the door, watching them. She bent her legs, hugged her knees, and watched the three of them leave. Frankly, she was too anxious about her sister to worry about Shawn.

  * * *

  Perry followed the two other guys out. He didn’t miss the warning in Shawn’s eyes. He just didn’t give a damn. Miranda had needed a hug. He gave her one.

  He planned on doing that a hell of a lot more, too.

  “Watch it,” Shawn said, seething at Perry the second the door closed.

  Perry stopped and faced him.

  “No!” Burnett swung around at them.

  The vampire was right. Now wasn’t the time.

  Burnett looked back at Agent Jankowski. “Don’t let Miranda out of your sight. Don’t let anyone, anything, in. Not a mouse, a fly, or a speck of dirt. I’ve got someone watching her window on the outside.” Then Burnett looked at Perry and Shawn “Come on.”

  Burnett stormed down the hall. Then turned on a dime and shot into a patient’s room.

  It was empty, of course. Burnett’s sensitive hearing had deciphered that.

  The man stood, locked his hands behind his neck, and groaned. “None of this makes a lick of sense.” He took a deep breath and faced Shawn. “Tell me again what happened. Every detail.”

  Shawn explained how he’d stopped at the drugstore to get something for the burns on Lily’s wrists and how they’d been overtaken by gunshots. His last words were, “I shouldn’t have stopped.”

  “No,” Burnett said. “The mistake wasn’t stopping, it was not watching to see if you were followed—obviously they followed you from her place to the offices and then again when you were driving her to the hospital.”

  Burnett stared at the ceiling and then back at Shawn, who looked filled with self-hate. “I might not have had my own guard up, either. But we all should.” He squeezed his hands behind his neck again. “Did you get the license plate?”

  “Just the first two letters. I called in what I had. We’ve got regular police and agents looking now.” He frowned. “I should have gotten more.”

  “It was dark.” Perry wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to ease the guy’s blow.

  Burnett continued. “And Lily’s in surgery?”

  Shawn nodded.

  “Who’s doing it?” Burnett asked.

  “Dr. Lynch. He’s warlock. Because she’s part human I thought I’d better bring her here.”

  “Good call.” Burnett’s frown deepened. “Does he think she’s going to make it?”

  “Yeah,” Shawn said. “The bullet hit her shoulder. She lost a lot of blood. With her being part vampire he expects she’ll heal quickly. As long as no infection sets in.”

  “When she’s o
ut, she’s going into protective custody!” Burnett rolled his shoulders as if to throw off stress. “I don’t give a shit if she likes it or not.”

  The vamp stuck his hands into his pockets then pulled them out. “Have you heard how Mr. Crow from the jewelry store is doing?”

  “Lily wouldn’t go into surgery until I found out. Just a concussion. They’re keeping him overnight.”

  Burnett stilled. “The way I see it is this Jax knows that she can connect him to the robbery.” He stood there in silence for several seconds. “I’m running out of agents, but text the office and tell them I said to put one on Mr. Crow, and his wife. If they came after Lily, they might go after the Crows.” He paused. “Wait. Just ask for one. I’ll get Della to cover one of them.”

  “Got it.” Shawn started texting.

  Burnett turned to Perry. He didn’t say anything, but it was clear it was Perry’s turn to spill.

  He started from the beginning, how he’d heard moans and had gone into the dark room to check.

  “You sure it was a shape-shifter?” Burnett asked when he finished.

  “Positive. He left an orb around after he jumped out the window. And … Farrell’s injuries were more consistent with a bear than … anything else.”

  Burnett ground his teeth as if chewing on the information. “You said he was going to be okay. You sure?”

  “Yeah.” Perry held up his wrist, exposing two small puncture wounds. “I gave him blood right away. When Chase got there he was able to get him out and took him to see Dr. Whitman. Chase texted me and said he’s good. Good enough to be pissed because I broke his nose.”

  “You broke his nose?” Burnett asked.

  “It was dark, I’d fought with the shape-shifter and then tripped over Farrell. The perp ran and Farrell woke up enough and grabbed me, I shook my foot to get loose. His face was in the way. He can’t be mad at me. I gave the guy my blood.”

  Burnett stood there as if everything ran laps around his mind. “Someone’s working the scene now?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Did it appear that anyone else besides Farrell was hurt?”

  “There was blood in the room with the broken glass, but not much.”

  Burnett clamped down on his jaw again. “When Chase got there, did he get any traces of who’d been there earlier?”

  Perry nodded. “An unidentified shape-shifter and Anthony and Tabitha.”

  “Damn it!” Burnett seethed. “I still don’t get it. Did Tabitha get taken or did she go willingly with Anthony? And how the hell is Anthony involved with shape-shifters?”

  “It has to be the drug house,” Shawn said. “The gang running it must also have their hand in pulling off robberies.”

  “But that means it involves witches, shape-shifters, and vampires.” Burnett breathed deeply. “Is this a non-specific species gang?”

  “It has to be,” Shawn said.

  Burnett clenched his fist. “Do you know how much havoc a gang of different supernaturals could raise? Each have their strengths and weaknesses, but if they come together … Shit!”

  “We’ll stop them,” Perry said, thinking he had the best lead.

  Burnett started again. “It would make more sense if they were half-breeds, but Lily said this Jax is all shape-shifter and Anthony is full vampire. What are they doing working together? Was the explosion an accident? Or was it supposed to hurt Miranda or Tabitha?”

  “We’ve gotta stop them,” Perry said. The thought that someone might be after Miranda, or her sister for that matter, had his protective instincts standing at attention.

  At least tomorrow morning he’d be meeting with Jax. He considered again telling Burnett what he knew. But in big-brother mode, Burnett would never let him go.

  “Nothing makes sense,” Burnett continued. “If Anthony is in on it, does that mean Tabitha is? But no,” he surmised aloud. “Why would she risk being in an explosion?”

  “Maybe Anthony has Tabitha fooled?” Perry offered.

  “That would mean he has a lot of people fooled,” Shawn said. “I could be wrong, but I still don’t think Anthony is a killer. He’s more of a hugger.” The warlock paused. “Maybe he was trying to make some cash selling drugs. No, I don’t even believe that, either.”

  “Me, neither,” Burnett spit out. “Shit! Damn! Shit! I can’t fit one friggin’ piece of this puzzle together.”

  He started pacing laps around the hospital room. Thankfully the room didn’t have a bed in it and allowed him space. Even then, both Perry and Shawn backed up.

  After making five tight circles, he stopped and faced Shawn. “Check in with the office and Fallen PD to see if they’ve got anything on the BOLO. Then go back to the drugstore and see if anyone in the area spotted something. When Lily’s out of surgery I’ll have someone talk to her again.”

  “Do you think she’s hiding something?” Shawn asked.

  “Do you?” Burnett asked.

  Shawn seemed to consider it. “I don’t think so.”

  “Thinking doesn’t prove anything!” Burnett frowned. “Go. But don’t stay out too late. I need you in early tomorrow.”

  Shawn left.

  Burnett grabbed his phone and dialed. “Perry said you got a trace where you found Farrell?” Pause. “Good. Is he still doing okay?” Pause. “Are you sure? Shit! Come back to the hospital and comb the area and see if you can get another scent and follow it. And call Della and tell her to meet me at the hospital.”

  Burnett hung up and focused on Perry. “Get this. A 911 call was made from a cell phone, saying someone was hurt on the sixth floor. They had a French accent.”

  “So Anthony isn’t all bad,” Perry said.

  Burnett just groaned. “Is there any chance you could stay here and help out?”

  Perry didn’t answer.

  “Not even for Miranda?” Burnett asked.

  Perry emotionally flinched. Burnett would have to put it like that, wouldn’t he? “I have to go. Hopefully, I can return quickly.” With something that will help blow this case open.

  Burnett continued to stare. “Why do I get the feeling there’s some shit going on that you aren’t telling me?”

  He couldn’t lie, so he went with the truth—a truth that wouldn’t open up the can of worms. “I have to do this. Please understand.”

  “Even when you don’t?” Burnett asked. “You told me you didn’t understand.”

  “Yeah, even then.” Perry looked down.

  Burnett rested his hand on Perry’s shoulder. “I know all about wanting answers about your parents. I just don’t want those answers to hurt you more than you’ve already been hurt.”

  Perry shuffled his feet and thoughts before looking back up. “Aren’t you the one who told me that sometimes doing the right thing can hurt, but it’s still right?”

  “You are never supposed to use my own words against me.” He sounded only half serious.

  Perry smiled. “Then stop dropping your wisdom bombs.”

  “Promise me you’ll be careful?”

  “I promise,” Perry said.

  “Call me after this meeting tomorrow. And no more robberies! Got it?” Burnett squeezed his shoulder tighter. A vampire’s hug.

  “Got it,” Perry said, hoping he wouldn’t have to break that promise. They walked out. “I’m going to go say good-bye to Miranda.”

  “Do it quick. I’m taking her back to the camp. It’s a hell of a lot safer than here.”

  Perry’s gut tightened. “Don’t let anything—”

  “I won’t,” Burnett said.

  Perry glanced down the hall and saw Miranda’s mom giving Agent Jankowski a come-to-Jesus talk about God only knew what. “Will her parents let you take her back?”

  “Her dad will listen to reason. Her mom is going to be a problem. She always is.”

  Burnett looked at Perry. “You and Miranda … back?”

  “Not completely, but … she’s agreed to talk with me.” Perry couldn’t keep from smiling. Then t
he smile faded a notch. “I’m not sure she’s forgiven me. I did her pretty shitty.”

  “Yeah, you did.” Burnett paused. “And Shawn. He knows that she’s agreed to … talk to you?”

  “He’ll figure it out,” Perry said.

  “I don’t want trouble.”

  “Is that why you kept him on the Lily Chambers case?” Perry asked. “There were sparks flying in there. The romantic kind.”

  “That played no part in my decision.” But damn if the vampire’s left brow didn’t twitch. So the big bad vampire did have a little matchmaker in him.

  Not that Perry minded. He wasn’t too proud to accept any help he could get.

  “Thank you,” Perry said.

  “I didn’t say…”

  Perry walked off.

  * * *

  “You need to calm down,” Miranda’s father told her mom when she stepped back in the room after giving the agent hell. Miranda didn’t have a clue what it was about, but it didn’t matter. Even if her mom was right, her approach wasn’t.

  At least Mary Esther had left. Miranda felt sorry for her.

  Her witch of a mom had turned into a bitch of a mom. And Miranda had a front-row seat. She didn’t want to see this. Didn’t want to hear this.

  “Someone tried to kill my daughter,” her mom snapped. “How can I calm down?”

  In bed, Miranda’s castless arm wrapped around her legs, she tried to think of something to say that would stop this.

  “We are all upset, but your attitude isn’t helping,” her dad said.

  So not a good thing to say, Miranda thought and felt the air crackle with tension.

  “If you want to go be with her, why don’t you just go?” her mom hissed.

  Her father looked slapped. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I told you, Mary Esther and I are co-parents and nothing more. How many times do I have to—”

  “You hugged her!” her mom accused.

  “She’s Tabitha’s mom and our daughter is missing!”

  “What about our daughter?” her mom spit out.

  “Enough. This is child abuse,” Miranda said.

  They looked at her as if they’d forgotten she was there. Then her father focused on her mom. His shoulders dropped. His aura faded. Miranda couldn’t remember him looking so exhausted, exasperated, emotionally perplexed. He always held it together.