“Hey.” Dante squeezed my shoulders gently. “There’s nothing wrong with being honest.”
A phone rang behind us. The secretary informed us that we could go back inside Melcher’s office. I looked over my shoulder and saw Noel reappear from around the corner.
Valerie walked in front of Noel and took her former seat.
Noel stumbled on the way, quickly righted herself, and went for the next available chair. Dante took his usual stance against the wall. He looked from me to the spot beside him. I joined him. Better than sitting beside Valerie.
“All right everyone, let’s get down to business,” Melcher said.
He and Jared were in the same positions we’d left them in: Melcher at his desk, Jared on top of Crist’s.
“Two of the guests at this party have left town. We’ll start with them.”
Jared slipped off the edge of Crist’s desk in one fluid motion and stood. “Listen up, rookies. We’re splitting into two teams.”
It was almost worth being called a rookie to see the scowl on Valerie’s lips.
Almost.
“Ginger and Raven, you’re with me.”
Should have known I’d get paired with the vixen and Commando.
“We have names, you know,” Valerie retorted.
“Not on mission, you don’t,” Jared said. “You two,” he said louder, looking between Dante and Noel. “Moose and Mouse. You’re a team.”
I snorted. “You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not.”
I swear I saw Jared grin at me. In a flash it disappeared.
“We have a person of interest in Sitka and one in Fairbanks.” Jared set a quarter with a click on Crist’s desk. He slid it across the surface then scooped it up off the edge. He looked directly at Dante. “Heads you go north. Tails, south.”
Dante grinned. This was the sort of game he liked to play.
Jared used his thumb to flick the quarter in the air. We all leaned forward.
Heads, heads, heads, I chanted in my own head. I’d sooner go to Siberia than back to Fairbanks.
Jared caught the quarter mid-air and slapped it on his arm. “Heads,” he announced.
I actually smiled and let out a breath. It was pretty funny seeing as there wasn’t anything to be relieved about. I still had to leave town on mission with “Ginger” and Jared.
I met Jared’s eye. “What do we call you on mission?”
“Just Jared.”
Naturally.
“Why do you get to keep your name?” Valerie asked, her lips forming a pout.
“Because I’m in charge on mission.”
“It’s settled,” Melcher said. “I’ll book three seats on Alaska Airlines leaving tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” My jaw dropped. “What about school?”
“Sorry, Aurora. This takes precedence.”
I might have left it at that, Lord knows I didn’t want an audience, but my stomach had twisted into angry knots and something inside me snapped. “You’re kidding! I can’t go to an out of state college, and now I can’t even finish high school?”
I hated Melcher’s nonchalant attitude. I hated the lack of concern in his smug expression.
“You’ll get your degree, Aurora. If you get too far behind this semester I can always arrange correspondence. Just hang in there another few months. Here.” He handed me a slip of paper.
“What’s this?” I asked after taking the paper from him.
“A doctor’s note. Have your mother deliver it to your school.”
Something awful and ugly twisted in my gut. I didn’t bother checking my latest malady before crumpling the note into a wad. I squeezed the crumpled paper one last time then let it fall to the ground.
“What’s the point?” I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room.
The secretary frowned at me as I walked by. Usually I smiled at her no matter how unfriendly she acted. Not now.
I hurried down the hallway past closed doors and bland walls. My vision swam with unshed tears.
“Aurora, wait up!” I heard Dante call behind me.
I turned around, startled to see him looking very serious. He squeezed the claw at his chest and pulled it over his head. Dante held the cord out to me. “Take it for luck.”
“You’re giving me your claw?”
Dante grinned. “I’m loaning it to you. Just watch yourself, Sky. I have a funny feeling about all this.”
Great, Dante had a funny feeling. He usually lived for this stuff.
Dante fished his car keys out of his pocket. “Here, wait in the Jeep if you want. Melcher and the new general want to brief Noel and I. Shouldn’t take long.”
I thanked Dante and headed out into the cold. I retrieved my backpack from Noel’s car and tossed it inside Dante’s Jeep. I turned the key in the ignition and turned the heaters up full blast. While I waited for Dante, I turned the bear claw over in my hand. Poor beast. Hopefully this one had lived to a ripe old age and died of natural causes before having his claw stripped from his carcass. Well, I needed all the luck I could get. I slipped the cord around my head.
There was nothing to see outside the windshield besides parked cars and Melcher’s base of operation. It looked about as welcoming as an army barrack. I never thought I’d be summoned back so soon. I tightened my fingers into fists, angry with myself for entertaining any ideas of self-pity.
Crist and Mike were dead.
I hated knowing the victims. Worst of all, I hated feeling somehow responsible.
I’d walked Mike to his car. He’d gotten inside. What went wrong?
A vamp must have been waiting in the backseat of his car. Or followed him. Maybe he’d returned to the party. No, I would have seen him from my spot in the living room. I could have sworn his car was gone when Noel and I left.
What about Fane?
He’d seen Mike and I together, and it hadn’t made him happy. Where had he slipped off to?
I didn’t even want to think about it. It was ridiculous. Fane wasn’t a killer.
What about Henry?
He hadn’t liked Mike seeing him at the party and there was the location of the bodies to consider. The Anchorage dump was literally becoming a dumping ground for dead bodies. Fane, Gavin, and Henry had used it before to ditch Renard and his associate after Marcus ripped them apart.
It seemed unlikely he would be so obvious, but then again, he probably didn’t plan on the bodies being discovered. Not to mention he had no clue I was part of a secret government organization specializing in vampire activity.
I was deep in thought when Dante climbed inside the Jeep. “Feels like a sauna in here,” he said. He switched the heat off completely.
“Feels nice.”
“Good thing you’re headed south.”
Sure, into the wet cold. Anchorage was so dry that if you dressed right you’d be fine. Southeast Alaska with its damp winters chilled a person right down to their bones.
Dante pulled out of the parking lot. It was still light out. Before he could turn on the radio I asked about his briefing.
“They’re sending us up to check out some dude who comes into Anchorage every couple months. Noel thinks the whole thing’s going to be a bust—says he likes beer better than blood.” Dante leaned back in his seat. “Oh well, I’m always up for a road trip.”
Dante began tapping the steering wheel. He always did that around these parts. I knew he couldn’t wait to get off base and start speeding.
“Melcher has us all on a wild goose chase. I bet the killer is right here in Anchorage,” I said. Maybe right under our noses.
“Oh yeah?” Dante said, sounding interested. “Got a suspect in mind?”
“I’ve got a funny feeling is all.” Dante wasn’t the only one.
“And you didn’t want to share this with Melcher?”
I scrunched up my nose. “Melcher’s a freak.”
“And we’re his little Franken freaks.”
I laughed.
“Did you hear anything about the vamp I’ve been assigned?” I asked.
“Just a name and origin: Andre Morrel, formerly of French citizenship. The sergeant doesn’t seem keen on small talk.”
“Yeah, he’s a real bundle of joy.”
Jared scared me a little, but that meant he’d scare any vampires we ran into as well. Maybe this time I wouldn’t get beaten and bruised.
Then again, a quick in and out to Fairbanks with Dante was beginning to sound better. At least I knew the journey would include comedy relief. I wouldn’t wish Valerie on Noel, though, especially after she’d sunk her claws into Gavin. Maybe I could get to the bottom of that development as long as I was forced to work alongside the vixen. Maybe Valerie and Gavin had teamed up to take out Agent Crist and Mike. Nah, it was too much to hope for. While Valerie had shown no love for Crist, Mike’s death made no sense. None of it made any sense. I still couldn’t wrap my brain around the connection. The effort had begun to exhaust my brain.
“Have you ever been to Sitka or Juneau?” I asked Dante, switching topics.
“Sadly, no. Melcher’s always sending me north. He knows I have a way with the natives.” Dante winked. “I envy you, Sky. You get to take on the capital.”
“Not really. I’m only passing through on the way to Sitka.”
“Even better. Back in the day Sitka was the capital of Russian America. They called it the “Paris of the Pacific.””
I snorted. “Paris, give me a break.”
Dante squeezed my thigh. “Come on, Sky, show a little enthusiasm. This is a chance to see the world, go back in time before The Alaska Purchase. You have the chance to stand outside St. Michael’s Cathedral and the old Russian blockhouses. Even better, you get to see Mount Edgecumbe. It looks just like Fuji.”
Paris and now Japan. Big stretch.
I only half listened. My concentration had flown out the window when Dante put his hand on my thigh. He had it back on the steering wheel where it belonged a moment later.
“I’m jealous,” Dante said.
“Don’t be, I’m stuck with Hothead and Strawberry Suck Cake.”
A devious smile spread over Dante’s lips.
“What?” I demanded.
“Maybe a trip out of town is just what the two of you need to bond.”
I gave a rude laugh. “Let me assure you right here, right now, that I will never bond with Valerie Ward.”
Dante’s brows shot up. “Never say never.”
“Never.”
9
Mission Southeast
The next morning, I packed my raincoat and hunting knife, secure in its sheath. Melcher hadn’t verbally lifted my ban on weapons, but he hadn’t prohibited it on this mission, either. I wasn’t about to go in unarmed.
Mom didn’t seem particularly concerned that I had to leave town. She had one thing on her mind at the moment: the divorce. Not that she’d accepted it. She told Dad she wouldn’t sign the papers until he agreed to meet with a marriage counselor.
I kept what I wanted to say to myself. “He moved on. Shouldn’t you?”
Then again, what did my mom have to move on to? She didn’t have a career or many friends. Soon enough, she wouldn’t be responsible for me any longer. It was bad enough staying in state for college. I sure as hell wasn’t staying home. The apartment search was marked on my mental calendar for the day after graduation. If I graduated.
Dante had brought a fresh doctor’s note with him from the meeting.
“Take it,” he’d insisted. “The only person you’re hurting is yourself by not turning in the note.”
He could be annoying but sometimes Dante made perfect sense.
I zipped up my duffel bag then slung it over one shoulder and stopped in front of my mother’s bedroom door. I knocked. “Mom? Mom, it’s time to go. Mom?”
No answer.
“Mom, do you want me to call a cab?”
“I’ll be right out,” came her gravelly voice.
I headed downstairs, ate a piece of bread without toasting it, and downed a glass of orange juice. I glanced at the clock on the oven. I really needed to get to the airport.
The stairs creaked with her slow descent. She appeared in the foyer in her slippers and open bathrobe. I took it she wasn’t getting dressed before seeing me off.
Mom shuffled to the fridge and pulled out a can of Diet Coke. She got a glass out and plunked a handful of ice cubes from the freezer inside before pouring the soda in the glass.
“Uh, Mom? We need to go.”
She nodded and took a sip. She set the glass down and tied her robe closed. “I’m ready.”
Mom followed me to the garage, not even bothering to put on shoes. At least the airport wasn’t far.
“Is Dante going with you?”
“No, he has to go to Fairbanks. I’m going with another girl and our team leader.” I wasn’t sure what to call Jared.
Mom hummed. “Another girl? That’s nice. Is she your age? Are you friends?”
“Yes. Yes. And no.”
“It might be nice to have a friend who shares the same line of work.”
“I have Dante.” And Noel, but Mom didn’t know that, and it wasn’t for me to share.
“I meant a female friend,” Mom said.
“Guys make good friends.” Better friends…except when they were trying to hit on me.
“Maybe this trip will give you girls a chance to get to know one another better. What’s her name?”
“You know I can’t give out that information, Mom.”
“Oh, right, I forgot.”
“Don’t worry. You can call her Ginger. That’s her codename on this mission. I’m Raven.” Raven was a heck of a lot better than Mouse. I couldn’t imagine Noel was too thrilled about that, or that she and Dante would stick with those names. Dante liked to use the name Peter, as in Peter Pan, the boy who never aged. I doubted he’d make Noel his Wendy. He reserved that name for me.
Mom pulled into the departures lane in front of Alaska Airlines and put the car in park. I glanced at her slippers. What I wanted to do was lean over, kiss her on the cheek, and get out of the car, but Mom pulled on the handlebar and stepped outside. I hustled around to the trunk and took my duffel from her hands.
“Thanks for dropping me off, Mom.”
She nodded, looking me over. “You be safe.”
“I will.” I gave her a quick hug.
“Call me after you land.”
I hoisted my duffel over one shoulder and walked to the curb.
“Let me know as soon you return, and I’ll come pick you up.”
I lifted my hand. She took a step toward me. Now that I was leaving, she couldn’t seem to say goodbye. I would feel more relaxed once she got back inside the car.
“Aurora, I love you.”
“I love you, Mom. I’ll be home in a couple days.” I had no idea when I’d be home. That was part of the job we had to accept. I went where the agents told me for however long it took. I couldn’t imagine this mission taking long. It seemed to me like we were shooting in the dark. I guess it made sense to start with the most obvious candidates and make our way down the list from there—though being from out of town didn’t strike me as particularly sketchy.
The night before I’d tried to psyche my mind into believing I was headed out on a mini holiday…with two of the last people on the planet I wanted to be stuck with.
“I’ll call you when I land,” I said again, then turned toward the sliding doors leading into the terminal.
I caught one last glimpse of my mom standing in the drop-off lane in her slippers and robe.
Warm air greeted me as I stepped into the terminal. Valerie came out of nowhere, practically bumping into me as she pulled a small suitcase on wheels behind her.
“What’s with your Mom? She looks like she escaped from a mental ward.”
“My mom’s not a morning person,” I said defensively.
/>
Valerie parked her suitcase at the back of the check-in line and put her hands on her hips. “Where’s Jared? He has our tickets.”
“We might as well wait in line till he gets here.”
She tapped her foot as the line inched forward. She wore a fashionable trench coat that stopped above her knees.
My raincoat was the outdoorsy kind. I’d stuffed it inside my duffel bag along with Dante’s bear claw in case TSA tried to confiscate it. For the plane trip, I had on my standard jeans and pleather jacket. I’d left the red scarf at home. Last time I wore it on mission I was abducted and nearly killed. Didn’t want to jinx myself.
The closer we got to the check-in counter, the faster the line moved. At least I wasn’t the only one flustered. Once we were next up, Valerie glanced over her shoulder and huffed. “Don’t tell me he got the time wrong.”
“Next!” a ticket agent called.
Valerie and I stood in place. Just as I was about to admit defeat and head to the back of the line, Jared gave us both a shove from behind toward the check-in counter.
“Hey!” Valerie said.
“Hey, yourself, Red.”
She snorted in disgust. “Really? Is that the best you can come up with?
“Works for me,” Jared replied, pushing between us to get to the counter.
“Dipshit,” Valerie said under her breath.
“Three to Juneau, final destination Sitka,” the clerk said. “I have you all seated together in aisle twenty-three. Will you be checking in any luggage?”
“Three bags,” Jared said.
It’s not like we could carry all our knives and hazardous materials on board.
“What seats are we in?” Valerie asked as the three of us waited in line at security.
“I’m taking the aisle,” Jared said. “You two can flip for the window seat.”
Valerie shook her hair over her shoulders. “I’m not flipping for anything. I call window.”
Great, stuck between Ginger and Mr. McCreepy.
“Fine,” I said. “I’ll take window on the way back. It’s only fair,” I said when Valerie began to protest.
Northern Bites (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter, Vol. 2) Page 8