Under Devil's Snare (Under Series Book 2)

by S. Y. Thompson

  Hex slammed the passenger door and headed to the entrance beside Sam. “Do you come here a lot?”

  “Not really.” Sam opened the door for Hex and followed her inside. “Usually, I just make something at home.”

  A young woman showed them to a table and took their drink order before striding away. Sam was grateful for the few moments afforded to gather her wits. She hadn’t meant to make such a personal comment, but it was so easy to relax around Detective Hex. Too easy. The waitress delivered iced tea for her and a mug of beer for Hex, and then disappeared with their food order. Hex took a swallow of beer and swiped at the suds on her upper lip with a thumb. Sam watched her look around the rustic interior of the pub, but didn’t see any sign of genuine curiosity. Like most rural clubs, the Red Robber boasted lowered light to hide the stains from numerous spills. Cigarette smoke hung thick in the air and patrons filled bar stools, watching hockey and football on the two televisions that occupied each corner overhead. Sam didn’t come here for the ambiance. The Red Robber served good food and she could escape from Harmon’s more eccentric inhabitants for a time.

  Hex, on the other hand, was up to something more than just wanting to talk about their lack of progress with the investigation. Suddenly, Sam questioned the impulsive decision to bring Hex here. She lamented allowing Hex inside her defenses, even if only in a small way, and she regretted her instincts that made her suspicious of the detective’s motives for asking her to dinner. Ready to push things along so that she could go home and finally have some peace, Sam placed her glass on the table with a thunk.

  “Out with it, Detective.”

  Hex looked at her and took a slow draw from her beer. She eschewed the mug’s handle, wrapping the glass in her long-fingered grip. “Call me Pat.”

  Irritated, Sam tried again. “You wanted a second opinion. What is it that’s bothering you?”

  “You’re not overly friendly are you, Sam?”

  “That’s Sheriff Macke and my cordiality isn’t in question.” It stung a little that Hex thought her unfriendly. “Let’s focus on business.”

  Hex smiled, seemingly unconcerned by Sam’s brusqueness. “Okay, for now. First, I do not in any way believe all the stuff going on here is unrelated. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t think Grayson’s little accident was caused by someone other than our killer.”

  “I can’t.” Sam shrugged. The idea had already occurred to her, but Jamison had presented a good case for the opposite point of view. “As you pointed out in the car, we don’t have any evidence. Still, I can’t discount the possibility of a second suspect.”

  Hex snorted and put aside her half-empty mug. “Come on, Sam. It’s Occam’s Razor. The simplest explanation is usually the correct explanation.”

  “Well, you’ve certainly simplified Occam’s Razor.”

  “That’s not the point and you know it. Once your deputy gives up on protection detail for Ms. Grayson, Detective Seaver will take over.”

  Sam felt her face harden. Hex was playing a dangerous game, and she didn’t even know the rules. “As bodyguard for Grayson or do you intend to use her as bait?”

  “Relax, Sam. It’s not like we set this up deliberately, but we’d be fools not to take advantage. Our perp clearly has a hard-on for the woman. I just can’t figure the change in M.O.”

  “I must be missing part of this conversation. What are you talking about?”

  Hex frowned in confusion. “You mean you haven’t noticed how much this Grayson woman resembles our two victims? It seems clear to me that our whacko has selected his next target.”

  “Actually, I hadn’t thought about it.” Sam felt startled by the idea.

  The young waitress delivered the food and Hex tucked in with gusto, but Sam’s appetite had disappeared.

  “That’s because you’re too close to these people,” Hex said around a bite of steak. She speared another piece of beef and pointed to Sam with the handle of her fork. “It just proves how important it is to bring in a fresh set of eyes.”

  “Okay, Detective Fresh-Set-of-Eyes, what do you suggest?”

  “Just what I said before. We’ll take turns keeping Grayson under surveillance, from a distance of course, and hope our suspect slips up.”

  Sam couldn’t even think of all the ways that little scheme could go wrong. Unknowingly, Hex had just placed her in an awkward position. Things could get really ugly if one of the Panthera got caught changing into their animal forms by a federal investigator. An image of a mutilated federal detective played across her mind’s eye. Sam didn’t care for the Panthera; in her opinion, they were more beast than human. Even so, she realized that didn’t apply to everyone. She would have to let Kessler know what Hex was up to or things could spiral out of control very quickly.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “Nothing. I’ll consider taking turns watching Grayson, but I’m not making any promises. What else is bothering you?” Sam wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

  “Are you going to eat that?” Hex pointed at the now cold chili dog and fries. Her own plate was empty.

  Sam pushed her food across the table. “Where do you put it all?”

  “I have a high metabolism.” Hex took a large bite out of the hot dog and chewed for a minute before speaking. Sam ignored the chili at the corners of her mouth. “Am I the only one who thinks it’s strange how Ms. Grayson avoided any major injuries?”

  For the second time during their meal, Sam experienced a sinking sensation of dread. “I think she was very lucky. You should be happy about that.”

  “I am, but did you see her car? That Mercedes was totaled and Grayson walked away with a busted nose and a concussion.”

  “She hardly walked anywhere. You do recall there was an ambulance in the equation?” Sam couldn’t believe she had to actually defend the community’s shape changers. “Grayson was also, still is, unconscious.”

  Hex waved her remarks away. “True but there was no internal bleeding or broken bones. A tree limb fell on her that should have bashed her head in and all she has is a concussion.”

  “I’m sorry, Detective, but you’re not going to convince me that Grayson is some kind of Wonder Woman.” Sam hoped she wasn’t overdoing things. “The truth is that a woman got very lucky and survived an attempt on her life. Let it go at that.”

  Hex held Sam’s gaze while she licked chili off her fingertips. Then she picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth. “Fine, moving on. I have another suggestion besides trailing Lee Grayson around.”

  “Am I going to like this?” Sam leaned back, expecting the worst.

  “I think it’s time to use the media. We thought an information blackout would prevent someone from accidentally releasing vital evidence to the public, but since we don’t have any evidence...”

  “You’re hoping someone might have seen something and will come forward. The problem is that the bodies were dumped in the middle of federal lands that are notoriously short on crowds.”

  “Ah ha,” Hex said triumphantly. “They were dumped there, not killed there. We don’t know where they died.”

  “Okay, you have a point, but we need to bring Ranger Kessler in on this before we do anything. Once the media gets hold of this story, people are going to be flocking into the park trying to see something.”

  Hex nodded. “It’s sad how the macabre brings out the sickos.”

  Sam leaned forward and took a remaining fry off her plate. She chewed without enthusiasm before draining the last of her tea. Staring down at the wooden table surface, Sam wondered how things could get so complicated. At first, living in these mountains had been like a dream. That dream became a nightmare a few years ago starting with Nicky’s death and the hits just kept coming. Sam had actually thought last year was as bad as it could get with a shape changing monster slaughtering people and animals in these woods. Now, another killer haunted the park and they didn’t have any idea how to stop them except by using an innocent as a lure. She f
elt ill.

  She kept her gaze on the scarred table while Hex ordered and received another beer. Time seemed to drag as people surged around them, coming and going from the pub. When they’d arrived, Sam wanted nothing more than to turn around and head home. Now, she didn’t have the strength to lift her head.

  “What was her name?”

  Through the din of customers, Sam barely heard the question. “Who?”

  “The woman who broke your heart. I mean, I’m assuming it was a woman. If I’m wrong, let me know and I’ll back off.”

  Sam finally looked at Hex. “What makes you think anyone broke my heart, as you so dramatically put it? Why can’t I just be tired?”

  “You’re tired,” Hex allowed, “but you wear your professionalism like a shield all the time. No one does that unless they’re trying to avoid letting someone in. So what did she do, cheat on you and run off with another woman?”

  Sam swallowed hard and drew a shaky breath. Hex’s tone was a mixture of light teasing and compassion, like she didn’t know how to broach the subject but wanted to pursue the topic just the same. Sam couldn’t fathom what possible purpose there was for Hex to know this information, but she hoped that if she answered, Hex would stop.

  “No, Pat. She died of bone cancer three years ago.”

  Hex’s eyes closed and her empty mug hit the table. When she looked up, Sam could have sworn there were tears in her eyes. “God, I’m sorry. I feel like an absolute ass.”

  Seeing Pat’s remorse touched Sam in a way that nothing else had in years. For the first time since losing Nicky, she was concerned for another woman’s feelings and not in a professional capacity. Sam felt the urge to reassure Pat, but it had been so long since she reached out to another person that it proved awkward.

  “You kind of sounded like one, too.” She smiled to show she wasn’t angry.

  Pat’s eyes widened in shock and then she relaxed. “I really am sorry and I promise not to tease you anymore.”

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  The rest of the evening passed more pleasantly. Pat insisted on picking up the tab in an effort to make amends for bringing up a painful subject. Sam drove Pat back to the bed and breakfast before things became uncomfortable again. She pulled to the curb in front of the renovated Victorian house and expected Pat to get out immediately. She didn’t. Instead, Pat bounced her leg up and down again and Sam realized it was a nervous gesture. She had done the same thing on the way out to the Red Robber.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Uh, no, of course not.”

  Watching her in the darkness, the truth hit Sam so hard that she almost flinched. Pat was attracted to her. The knowledge struck her like a sledgehammer to the forehead. Sam’s heart pounded in sudden fear and she felt her scalp prickle. She did not know how to handle this situation. Life and death scenarios were one thing, but she had decided long ago that she was finished with matters of the heart. Way out of her element, Sam sputtered for a way to end this awkward moment without hurting Pat’s feelings or leading her to believe there was a possibility of anything developing between them.

  “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then. When do you want to go see Kessler?”

  Pat turned her head away and Sam felt some of her tension drain. When she spoke, her voice sounded husky, her tone disappointed. “How about two o’clock tomorrow? I’ll meet you at Kessler’s office. I’m sure I’ll have something from Chase and Seaver about the car by then. Hopefully, they’ll find something that our killer left behind.”

  “Sounds good to me, but I don’t know if Kessler will be there tomorrow. I guess that all depends on how her partner is doing. I’ll call Jamison and see what she thinks.”

  “Fine, let me know.” Pat seemed to be waiting for something more, but Sam didn’t know what to say. After a second, Pat reached for the door handle. Sam thought she was upset and wanted to reach out to her in some way.

  “Pat...”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sam.” Pat slammed the car door behind her and jogged up the concrete steps to the inn’s entrance.

  “Damn.”

  Sam’s head flopped back against the seat and she rubbed her eyes. She didn’t have the time or inclination to worry about hurting Pat’s feelings because this night wasn’t over yet. Sam still needed to call Jamison and let her know what Hex had planned. She decided she wasn’t going to make that call from her car. Pulling away from the Harmon Arms, Sam headed across town. Most of the Panthera around town lived in the more rural locations, which was exactly why she chose to reside inside the city limits. Her only concession to privacy was in purchasing a home on a double lot toward the edge of town.

  The ride home didn’t take long and Sam sighed unconsciously in relief as she pulled into the driveway. She parked inside the garage and took the adjoining door into the kitchen. Usually she felt the tension of the day drain away as soon as she closed the door. Tonight that was decidedly not the case. The situation with Hex left her with a knot of tension between her shoulder blades.

  After removing the gun belt and pouring a shot of scotch, Sam settled into an overstuffed chair and put her feet up on the ottoman. She took a sip of the amber liquid and allowed it to burn a trail down her throat. Images of Patricia Hex crowded behind her closed eyes and she pushed them away. To banish those impressions entirely, Sam picked up her cell phone and flipped it open. The sooner she finished this call, the sooner she could get some sleep.

  Chapter Seven

  JAMISON SIPPED AT the hot mocha and savored the caffeine as it hit her bloodstream. “Thank you, Dinah. This is exactly what I need.”

  “No problem. Has she woken up yet?”

  The sisters stood in the hallway outside Lee’s room. Jamison preferred to talk outside since a human nurse was currently taking Lee’s vital signs.

  “Not yet. Mom says it’s not that unusual considering the head injury, but I’m starting to get worried.”

  “I’m sure it’s okay. Mom wouldn’t lie to you about this.”

  Jamison realized logically that Dinah was right, but it didn’t make her feel any better. She just needed Lee to open her eyes. Darlene said Lee wasn’t that badly injured, and Panthera healed at an accelerated rate as compared to humans. She was smart enough to realize that her reasoning did nothing but drive her blood pressure up. Jamison needed to change and run through the forest, feel her claws ripping into damp soil. It was the only thing, other than Lee actually opening her eyes, that would ease the pressure on her chest. Only, she couldn’t do that. Jamison refused to leave Lee’s side. Given no other options, she felt like she might explode.

  “Jami, why don’t you take a walk outside? Don’t freak,” Dinah interrupted when Jamison’s expression hardened. “I just mean a walk around the parking lot. Stretch your legs and get some fresh air. I’ll sit with Lee and I’ll call you if she wakes up during the five minutes that you’re actually out of the room.”

  She considered the idea. If Jamison didn’t get away from the smell of antiseptic and the sounds of beeping hospital equipment, she was afraid she’d lose control of her beast. Even a partial shift would help her to feel more centered and she couldn’t do that inside the confines of a medical center. It wouldn’t be for long and she wouldn’t go far away.

  “All right, but you’ll call.”

  “I promise.”

  “Even if you just think she’s waking up.”

  “Get out of here,” Dinah finally ordered.

  Jamison nodded and headed outside. She exited into the parking lot to find it mostly deserted. The moon was high overhead and there was a definite chill in the air. Goosebumps rose on her forearms. Like most cats, she didn’t like the cold but hadn’t thought to grab a jacket earlier when the call came in about the accident. Regardless of the temperature, it still felt good to be outside. Jamison took another drink of her coffee and felt the heat flow into her, in counterpoint to the air on her skin. She headed toward a far corner of the lot to a
place where the streetlights didn’t reach. Jamison stood facing out into the shrubs lining the asphalt and her eyes slipped closed. She concentrated on the sounds of the night, wind in the trees and small animals in the underbrush. When she opened her eyes, her sight had expanded.

  Outside of the parking lot, the hospital grounds were perfectly manicured. Benches sat under trees and a small creek wound around the south side before trailing away into the darkness. In the distance Jamison spotted a tabby striped house cat moving over the bridge just above the stream. He played in the shadows, darting and swatting at nothing. After a few seconds, he stopped and sat down before turning his head and meeting Jamison’s gaze. Whether the distance between them gave the cat courage or because he was unafraid of his larger cousin, the housecat evidenced no sign of fear. Amused but impressed by his bravery, Jamison glanced away and scanned the rest of the area with her Panthera enhanced vision. Although she’d only allowed her eyes to change, Jamison felt more at peace than she had in days. Nearby she could sense Lee’s heartbeat, their connection powerful. Jamison sensed her partner’s strength and finally believed her mother’s words. Lee’s essence was strong, her sleep a healing one.

  When the phone rang, Jamison growled low in her throat at the intrusion. Then she thought the call might be from Dinah and she quickly reached for the cell. She blinked and her eyes assumed their human shape. The display told her it was a call she couldn’t ignore. “Kessler here.”

  Silence greeted her. Then the caller spoke. “What are you doing answering the phone?”

  Jamison smiled and started back toward the hospital. “You called me, remember? Why shouldn’t I answer?”

  “Because you’re in a hospital and cell phone usage is typically frowned upon.”

  “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m outside. What can I do for you, Sheriff?”

  “I just had dinner with Detective Hex.”