Revenge's Web (Kieran Grey Psionic Hunter)

by R. B. Fivecoat

  Revenge’s Web

  A Kieran Grey Psionic Hunter Novel

  By R. B. Fivecoat

  Copyright © 2013 By R. B. Fivecoat

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  I sat across from the traitor. Okay, so honestly I wasn’t really sure whether or not he was really THE traitor, or even A traitor. But, he could be.

  Tanaka had brought me out to the fancy dinner he’d owed me for being an ass during my training. I had only been a woman for a couple weeks now, and I’d been unconscious for a solid week of that, thanks to a particularly bad fight with a particularly nasty Master Vampire.

  You see, up until two weeks before I had been a thirty-four-year-old male. Then I’d accidently got some good men killed and destroyed a building. When I was being reassigned because of my numerous mistakes, Dr. Grey convinced me to help track down her sister’s “killer” by having my mind transferred into her sister’s then mindless body. I was still getting used to my new life. It had only been a few days since I woke up after being hurt to within an inch of my life in the fight with the Master Vampire Ahmed Targ – the particularly nasty master vampire. Thanks to Vicki’s psionic healing, the cut marks had all faded now. Vicki was my lesbian girlfriend, and she was also a werecougar, as well as a psionic. My life isn’t complicated at all, it’s just one day of unordered chaos after another.

  The five-star French restaurant was a little high class for my poor-boy tastes. Even in the fancy evening gown I felt underdressed. The long, jade green dress was backless down to just a fraction above the top of my underwear, and it was split very high on each thigh, with a neckline that plunged down to the bottom of my ribs. Needless to say, a bra was not an option with the gown. I thought it was funny that I’d actually felt naked without it since I’d lived most of my life without one, being a guy and all. The slits on the dress came up even higher than the length of most of the micromini skirts I now owned. They clearly showed the garters high on my thighs. Emmy had me wear the garters to hide my badge and a new pistol. The derringer pistol was smaller than the palm of my hand and only held two rounds of the special anti-vampire ammo I’d been given by Yuric and the Vampire Council to hunt down Jacob – the man believed to have killed the original Kieran, and my newly sworn enemy.

  Emmy had ordered the small gun to be made for me, so that I could carry a weapon even when dressed like I was that night. Both my wallet and the gun were tucked inside the garters against the inside of my thighs. They both rubbed against intimate spots, since they were so high up on the leg. It wasn’t a problem while I was sitting, but walking was . . . shall we say, an interesting experience. I could reach them by sticking my hand through the slits on the side of the dress, but the movement looked obscene at best.

  The top of my hair was pulled back with the hair clip Emmy had also had made for me. It was the style I wore my hair most of the time, and the flash grenades and an ultraviolet emergency burner were cleverly disguised within the antique flower hair clip. Even dressed as I was, I was a walking arsenal.

  I wonder if Tanaka has any weapons hidden on him right now? Or, is his body the only weapon he needs?

  I felt out of place in the fancy surroundings. Tanaka looked like he belonged though. He was wearing a real live tux just like all the other male patrons. The tux was custom cut to frame his athletic swimmers build. I’d never been to a restaurant before where you had to be wearing a full tux just to get a table. Back at the coat check he even had a matching top hat with gloves and a cane to go with it, along with his long coat that was more of a cape than anything, to complete the look.

  I’d left my jacket as well. The jacket went with the dress, and barely covered the bare back left open by the dress. It was meant to look good, not to keep me warm. But that was okay, my psionic shields kept me warm in the late December snow anyway. My shields were one of the bonuses of taking over the life and body of my new self. The shields were always on, protecting me from almost all forms of attack, including the weather. I could use them like a telekinetic and move things with my mind, or change them into weapons and tools with just a thought. But I had a feeling that the other patrons might be slightly disturbed if I don’t use the furnished silverware.

  I let Tanaka order for both of us. I couldn’t even read the menu. It was in French. I don’t speak French, or any other language other than middle-class English for that matter. Tanaka however, ordered for us in perfect sounding French. Of course he could have been telling a bad joke at my expense and I wouldn’t have known the difference. The waiter brought us wine and an appetizer. Whatever the food was, it looked too pretty to eat. I felt like I was destroying some piece of priceless art as I experimentally bit into it. I’d told him to just order whatever I’d like for me, as long as it wasn’t escargot. I drew the line at snails.

  “You seem . . . distant tonight. Is everything alright?” Tanaka asked, looking at me suspiciously as he absentmindedly ran a hand through his short spiky hair again. It was the third time he’d done it since taking off the hat.

  How am I supposed to explain that I’m questioning whether or not he’s a traitor based off the word of a master vampire I’d killed earlier? Is there a good way to start that conversation?

  During the fight with Targ, the vampire pointed out that the tribal tattoo’s covering Tanaka’s body were almost the same as the striped markings in the fur of a white werewolf that worked directly for Jacob. If Targ had been telling the truth, then if and when Tanaka shifted, his tattoos would be in his fur like dark stripes. That along with a few other odd coincidences had me wondering how far Tanaka could be trusted.

  Of course I was naturally paranoid of everyone anymore.

  “I’m sorry Tanaka, I just have had a lot on my mind lately.” I gave him a smile to try to lighten the mood.

  “Thinking about Jacob again?”

  Jacob was a psionic and a vampire. A deadly combination. He’d been running around the city raping and murdering for months before the original Kieran went to catch him. No one knows what happened, but her body was found later with her mind erased. Jacob was the only lead we had. Not to mention he was an arrogant, sadistic son of a bitch. The GCP wanted him dead for his crimes, as did the Vampire Council. He was one of the few people in the world that I truly believed needed to die. Which was good, since it was my job to find him, and then kill him. And I had every intention of doing just that.

  “Sort of. So much has happened these past couple of weeks. I’m just having a hard time adjusting between the Council, and the switch, not to mention that business with Targ.” Okay, so not the full truth, sue me.

  “I want you to enjoy yourself tonight. Please don’t think about work.” His Japanese eyes held a pleading look in them.

  Fine, I will pretend to be happy. Or, at least I’ll try.

  “Sorry. So, do you have plans for Christmas
yet?” I asked as my first attempt to enjoy the evening.

  “The Archives is having a party for employees Christmas Eve. Other than that I don’t really celebrate much anymore. My family is at home back in Japan, and I can’t go visit because of work.”

  “Why not?”

  “Doc has me on call for security detail this Christmas season. That way some of the other agents can have time off with their families. I don’t mind. I plan to go visit for New Years, so I’m not missing that much. My family understands.”

  My new body still had a mind of its own, and I’d given up fighting against it a while ago. Suddenly I felt sorry for him not getting to celebrate with family. I stretched my hand across the table, placing it gently on top of his.

  “You’re just on call right? The girls and I are having a small party Christmas Day at my place. Why don’t you stop by, it could be fun.”

  Yes, I just asked the possible traitor to join us for Christmas. I can’t help it. This body still has feelings for him. Besides, keep your enemies close and all.

  “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Vicki and Detective Michaels don’t seem to like me much. I think that my presence would just be” -- he paused as if searching for a diplomatic approach -- “awkward, for everyone.” He pulled back his hand from mine to reach for his wine.

  “I know why they don’t like you,” I announced teasingly while sipping my wine with a blank look on my face.

  He looked at me with wide eyes. “And?”

  “You know how the old Kieran dumped her steady to go out with you? Well, Vicki was the steady.”

  Tanaka choked on his wine. It took him a minute of coughing before he could breathe again. “That explains a lot. No wonder they hate me. This must be hard on you, dealing with the messed up love life of the old Kieran.”

  “Actually it’s kinda fun at times. I never had a love life of my own to worry about before. But, it is all very confusing at times as well.”

  “Are you sleeping with Vicki again then?” he asked staring into his glass.

  I blushed slightly, glancing around me to see if anyone heard. “Tanaka, that is a very personal question, and not really any of your business. But the answer is yes . . . and no.”

  “Huh?”

  I groaned to myself and decided to explain it so that he couldn’t embarrass me more by asking about it directly. “Yes, Vicki and I share a bed from time to time, but we haven’t actually had all out sex together, only a few rounds of mutual masturbation. Satisfied?”

  He lifted his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry, just curious.”

  I’ll bet. Any guy would be curious to watch two women he knew go at it in the sack. I should know, I used to be one of them. And I would’ve paid good money to have seen the show. Not that I could have afforded it back then, but it’s still a nice thought.

  “Officer Grey, oui?” The Maître d’ was suddenly beside our table. He was looking down at me expectantly with one eyebrow cocked up and a twitch of his pencil thin mustache. It took me a second to acknowledge him with a nod. “You haft an urgent phone call from ze Detective Michaels of ze St. Carver Police Department,” his French accent was thick, but understandable. He handed me a cordless phone and left with a short bow.

  I threw a quizzical glance at Tanaka, he just shrugged.

  “Ren?” I asked in place of a greeting.

  “Damn, you’re a hard girl to find sometimes. It took forever to explain to the guy on the phone what you looked like. What the hell are you doing at a place like that?”

  “Having a dinner date actually, what’s up?”

  “Christ, it would cost me a month’s salary to eat dinner there. . . . Sorry to interrupt. Look, Jacob may have struck again. I’m on my way to the crime scene now. Can you meet me?”

  I sighed. I knew Tanaka would be upset if I left, but I had a job to do. It came with the body, sort of a package deal. Besides I wanted Jacob dead more than I cared about Tanaka’s feelings. Harsh, but true.

  Sometimes I hate this life.

  “Of course, where are you going?”

  I borrowed a pen from Tanaka and started to write the address down on my cloth napkin. The Maître d’ that had brought me the phone was suddenly beside me out of thin air with a look of absolute horror on his face. He yanked the napkin out from under the pen before I started writing, and placed a piece of expensive heavy cloth-paper stationary on the table for me. It was decorated with real gold foil lettering that spelled out the name of the restaurant along with a pleasant flowery design.

  I knew this place was too fancy for me, but I did tell him I wanted a “fancy dinner” didn’t I? Next time I’ll remember to ask for a burger, or a pizza, maybe ribs. Ribs sound good.

  Tanaka never asked me for an explanation. While I was writing, he went to cancel our food and get our coats. When I’d finished he had already paid and was ready to go. He drove me to the scene without question.

  In a way, he would make the perfect boyfriend. If only he wasn’t a suspected traitor. Or a suspected werewolf hiding his fangs.

  Or a guy.

  Perhaps I’m a little too picky.

  Chapter 2

  We arrived on scene after the police had already put up their yellow tape around the street. Tanaka pulled over as close to the tape as he could and still be able to turn around. I asked him to open the trunk so I could get out my bag. I’d put my regular guns in a large purse and had him lock it in the trunk. I just didn’t go anywhere without weapons close at hand anymore. Not since I started fighting against shifters, and killing master vampires. Most girls never left home without their makeup, I never left without a small arsenal. Or two.

  “I still owe you dinner you know,” he said with a little cloud of breath. He held the trunk open for me in the falling snow like a gentleman.

  I dug out my gun belt. It held two of the special Walther pistols loaded with explosive anti-vampire ammo I’d been given from the Vampire Council themselves, and spare clips for each. Along with the guns, the belt held an assortment of ultraviolet light sticks and light grenades, and my belt-pack was filled with rations and meds. The belt looked strange draped around my waist over the evening gown. Tanaka lifted an eyebrow at the new look.

  “Fuck fashion, I want firepower. Especially if Jacob is involved,” I explained.

  Tanaka just nodded. He didn’t even look upset about canceling dinner early.

  Why did he have to be so perfect and understanding all the time?

  I reached my hand up under my skirt fishing for my badge. Tanaka even turned his head as I did. He was being the almost annoyingly perfect gentleman again. The wallet opened with the badge facing out. A hidden cord turned the badge into a necklace that held the badge between my mostly exposed breasts. With badge and guns in place I was ready to go to work.

  “I’ll drop off your bag and jacket at your place. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you, okay? Don’t forget your glasses.” He handed me the high-tech wraparound sunglasses that doubled as my cell phone. We’d left them in the car during dinner, so as to not be disturbed the way we’d been with a call to work.

  I couldn’t stop myself, and I didn’t even try. My hands went up pulling his face to mine. Without giving myself time to think and reason my way out of it, I kissed him. A deep loving kiss. I was kissing a guy for the first time, and it wasn’t even freaking me out.

  Damn this feminine body and its ways. Next thing you know, I’ll be crying at chick flicks and hiding my burps. I’ll survive though, as long as I don’t start attending any poetry clubs. Got to draw a line somewhere.

  He was the perfect gentleman as ever, keeping his hands only on my back. I really wouldn’t have stopped him if he had felt around some. With all he’d tried to do for me he had earned a few groping privileges, even if he was a traitor. Hell, if it’d been me I would’ve taken all sorts of liberties by then. I broke the kiss first. His face couldn’t hide the amazement in his eyes.

  “I just wanted to thank you for
the attempt at dinner, and for understanding.”

  He smiled at me. “I’ll have to attempt dinner more often.”

  He drove off leaving me to walk the rest of the way in the thickly falling snow. My shields kept me warm and dry in the late December snowfall. It had been snowing so hard that the snow was piled up over my ankles, even with the heels on. The uniformed officer at the edge of the tape glared at me trekking towards him around the growing crowd of onlookers. I wondered what he found more interesting, that I was out in the freezing cold without a coat on and not noticing the cold, that I had the guns on over my dress out in the open, or the badge hanging around my neck that identified me as a Global Centurion Protectorate Hunter Class Officer, someone that outranked even his boss’s, boss’s boss. Whatever he noticed the most, he did notice the badge. He lifted the tape for me without me even having to say who I was or why I was here.

  I guess I’m expected.

  The crime scene was in a short alley between two five-story aging brick apartment buildings in the low-rent district. Police filled the alley clear to the trash cans at the other end. They all parted for me like the Red Sea. I was given a wide birth down the narrow alley. None of them wanted me within touching distance.

  Fine, at least I’m not being harassed this time, like I’d been a couple weeks ago.

  The first dealings with the police I had after I’d woke up as a woman had been unpleasant. A rookie cop sexually harassed me in public, and then ended up shooting me. Well, shooting at me actually. My shields protected me of course, but I got pissed and beat him up just a tiny, microscopic, little bit. All the cops have acted strange around me since then.

  Go figure. Make one rookie piss himself in fear for his life and everyone is suddenly scared of you.

  At the end of the alley Ren was knelt down in the snow next to the body. Detective Serenity “Ren” Michaels was my best friend, and all cop. Her straight black hair fell down the back of her winter coat, as her always gloved hands moved around her in the snow. Ren was also a psionic, a touch clairvoyant. She could see things in whatever, or whoever she touched with her bare skin. If she didn’t keep the gloves on, she kept getting flashes off everything she touched.