George, Mary Lou - Prey (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Mary Lou George

  Chapter 26

  The next morning Jade ate a breakfast bagel in a very quiet house. Chase and Reggie hadn’t put in an appearance yet. She finished her breakfast, rinsed her plate and was getting ready to leave when Chase finally strolled in.

  He still looked a little sleepy but there was an edge to his voice. “You’re going to work today?”

  She nodded. “Why wouldn’t I go into work today?”

  “You had a pretty late night.”

  She looked at him, puzzled by his behavior. “What’s that got to do with whether I go in to work or not today? I don’t make my own hours. You know that.”

  He shrugged. “I just thought you would have booked this morning off because of the party last night. I’m sure Sam wouldn’t mind.”

  “I’m sure he wouldn’t, but animals need care every day whether I got a good night’s sleep or not.” Jade knew he had something more to say.

  He sauntered over to the fridge and opened the door. Over his shoulder he said, “You seem to be getting along well with Sam these days.” He tried to sound casual, but Jade wasn’t convinced by his nonchalant tone.

  She narrowed his eyes at him. “Sam and I have always been friends.”

  “Friends, yes. You had a big crush on him at one time.”

  Jade didn’t have time for Chase’s suspicions, but she respected him too much to treat his concern flippantly. “Yeah, I had an enormous crush on him when I was a kid, but what I feel for him now is anything but childish.”

  Chase nodded. “I thought so.”

  “Do you have a problem with that?” Not waiting for his response, she continued, “Because if you do, we need to discuss it. With all due respect, brother mine, this is my life, and you can’t live it for me.”

  “Wow, and I haven’t even raised a concern yet. Hell, I haven’t even raised an eyebrow.”

  Jade laughed. “I appreciate your self-discipline.”

  “I know you all think I’m going to have a problem with you and Sam, but that’s not how I feel. There is not a man in this world I trust more than Sam, but his experience far outweighs yours.”

  She scoffed. “How do you know how much experience I’ve had? For all you know I’ve hooked up with every available man up and down the eastern seaboard.”

  Her brother shook his head sadly. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  She punched his arm. “I’m not thirteen anymore. I’m not a virgin.”

  Chase winced. “I really don’t want to know about this.”

  She laughed. “Now look who’s being ridiculous. You brought this up. Do you want details about my relationship with Sam?” Jade began to enjoy herself. “He has this way of kissing me right here…” She pointed to her neck.

  “Stop right there! Too much information…too…too much information.” He shook his head over and over again then he treated her to his special smile. “Okay, sis. I’m okay with it. But you do realize you’ve both put me in an untenable position. To him I want to say, ‘hurt her and I’ll boil your genitals in oil’ but I can’t because he’s like my best friend…a brother. You’re my sister…my sister, my brother…the whole thing just confuses me.” With a wave of his hand he pleaded, “Go, please just go…I can’t talk about this anymore.”

  She giggled with delight at his helplessly dazed expression and kissed him on the cheek. As she walked out, she yelled, “I love you, big brother…I don’t care what anybody says, I love you…”

  * * * *

  Jade walked into the clinic and smiled at the Christmas decorations, one more reminder of the season. It really was beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It was cold and crisp outside. Snow had dusted everything like icing sugar on a donut. The last song she’d heard on the radio as she exited her car was I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Remembering the hippo pancakes Sam had made her at breakfast one morning, she hummed the whimsical song as she entered the kennel.

  “Yeah, I think we could find room for a hippo in the barn.” Sam laughed. “You sing rather well, Jinx. I hope you’re warming up for your performance this weekend at the Sinclair’s Christmas party.”

  She froze, and her stomach dropped to the floor. She looked down half expecting to see it throbbing at Sam’s feet. “I forgot about that.”

  He walked over to her and dropped a fast but thorough kiss on her lips. “I haven’t forgotten about your much anticipated return to the song stage and neither has anyone else. I think it will be the highlight of the evening.”

  “I want to yell at you, but I have to save my voice.” On tiptoe she grabbed his shirt front and pulled his lips towards her. She kissed him this time just as thoroughly as he’d kissed her moments ago.

  She jumped when the intercom sounded. There was an emergency. Sam picked up the receiver. “Tell me where.” While he was on the phone, he gestured to Jade, and she instantly understood what he’d need. She hurried to pull together the supplies he’d indicated. She could tell this was serious.

  “Jensen’s dog has been hit by a car. Let’s go.” They rushed to his truck. On the way there Sam told her all he knew of what had happened.

  “Jensen’s dog Charlie is a Corgi. His human family can trace his roots back to Morgan Goode’s dogs in the early 1700’s. He’s shy and a little neurotic. Charlie is high strung and afraid of just about everything. He got scared and ran out in front of a car. Wisely, they didn’t want to move him.”

  “Did they say if he’s conscious or not?”

  “No. I didn’t want to waste the time.” He glanced at the back seat and lifted a shoulder. “It looks like our system is working. You picked out exactly what I figured we’d need and all I had to do was hold up a couple of fingers. Genius, Jinx.”

  She smiled with pride. “We make a good team.”

  * * * *

  Again, Sam worked a miracle in Jade’s eyes. They got the little dog back to the clinic, and Sam performed emergency surgery. He’d been at it for hours. Jade didn’t know how he did it. The amount of concentration and skill required to save the dog’s life humbled Jade. It looked like Charlie was going to make it. Sam didn’t show a flicker of fatigue until they sat in his office where he dropped heavily into his chair.

  Jade couldn’t help but express her admiration. “That was amazing, Sam.”

  He laughed self deprecatingly. “It wasn’t brain surgery.”

  “No, it wasn’t, but the Jensen children are going to be very happy that you can do what you do.” She raised an eyebrow. “Not bad for a guy who claimed his only goal was to waste his massive inheritance.”

  “There’s only so much money you can spend and stay human. Look at my parents. No one would ever accuse them of being compassionate. They are definitely not a positive force in this world. In fact, my parents are actively exploitative. They’re a cancer.”

  “Do you feel you have to make up for their actions? Sins of the father sort of thing?” Curious, Jade leaned forward in her chair, waiting for his answer.

  “Rationally, I know I’m not responsible for their actions, but a part of me will always want to make up for the way they’ve lived. You of all people can understand that. Look what you did with your father.”

  He understood her so well. “A fine pair we are, huh? It’s a wonder someone hasn’t wiped us out in fear we’ll follow in our parents’ footsteps. In my father’s case he staggered so badly his footsteps are particularly hard to follow. ”

  “Don’t feel bad, my father’s feet are cloven, thus easily discernable and my mother kind of oozes leaving no discernable prints.” He laughed. “Someone is watching over us.”

  “I think it’s Ernestine.” She was almost serious.

  He chuckled. “I think so too.”

  * * * *

  That night it was Sam’s turn to host the meeting. Reggie instantly spotted the colorful outhouse hanging on his Christmas tree.

  “What were you thinking?” She cupped the gaudy ornament in her slim hand.

  Sam looked defensive. “You’re
just jealous that you don’t have one.” He put an arm around her. “Don’t worry, Reg, I’ll see if I can find another for you.”

  “Pffft.” Was all she said.

  “Well now that was ladylike,” Sam teased.

  Reggie didn’t care. “I’m pregnant, I don’t have to be ladylike.” She rubbed her still flat belly and said, “Please tell me you’ve got food somewhere in this mausoleum.”

  “I have a finely tuned sense of self-preservation, I wouldn’t have you over if I didn’t.” Triumphantly, he pointed to six bags of takeout Chinese food.

  Without a word they agreed to save the serious discussion until after dinner. They all enjoyed Sam’s attempt to show Jade how to use chopsticks until she grabbed them out of his hand and proved she didn’t need his instruction.

  “See? I don’t even drop anything.”

  “Jinx,” was all he said as he chased a pea with his chopsticks.

  * * * *

  After dessert they got down to business. They each provided an update. Travis revealed that the FBI came up empty, but he wasn’t completely convinced he’d been taken seriously. Unexplained phenomenon were often filed away and forgotten. Government investigative agencies weren’t known for being open minded, the X-Files notwithstanding. The Smithsonian was very interested in any evidence they’d found that might prove the existence of an undocumented species, but couldn’t provide any assistance. The county medical examiner ruled the cases death by wild animal or animals. They’d found no match to the print they’d lifted from the bear trap.

  Travis said, “Come on, Reggie, please tell me Constance came up with something of use.”

  Reggie shrugged. “She’s certain that the desire to procreate is driving this thing. Sorry, Jade, but it looks like it wants to plant its seed in you.”

  With good humor Jade waved a hand. “Don’t mention it.”

  Reggie smiled at her sister-in-law with admiration. “Constance reminded me that the creature is unnatural and couldn’t possibly be your run-of-the-mill shape shifter.” She rolled her eyes, “She refers to a shape shifter the way I’d refer to a duck. Anyway, she suggested that there is a possibility that this thing is some kind of medical hybrid. Something man has created.”

  “That fits with what I’ve learned from the conspiracy theorists on the internet,” Chase said. “There’s no real proof, but they claim that scientists have been combining human and animal DNA in an attempt to create an ubber species. As far as they know, the experiments have been unsuccessful.”

  “Well, my father is an overachiever and not to mention…evil. It is possible he’s financed some, if not all, of these experiments. My geek stoolie tells me that until recently, Daniels Pharmaceuticals had an entire wing under lockdown, no unauthorized personnel allowed.” Sam grimaced. “There was human blood at every crime scene of course, but there was also blood I couldn’t identify. It wasn’t animal, and it wasn’t human.”

  Jade asked, “Why was the creature’s blood at the scenes? Did the victims fight back? I was under the impression this thing killed quick and clean. I assumed they didn’t have time to inflict any wounds on the thing.”

  Sam nodded. “That’s just it. The creature’s blood wasn’t found under the victims’ fingernails or anywhere else on the bodies or what was left of them. It was on the ground. Something’s making the creature bleed.”

  Gillian asked, “Do you think there’s a chance it’s dying from some sort of wound?”

  Sam shook his head. “I don’t know, but there’s no sign that the creature is getting weaker, so I doubt it.”

  Gillian took a deep breath. “I’ve been sitting with the last victim, Kristen Sage. She won’t be regaining consciousness any time soon, she’s not ready. I did get a rather sketchy impression of what happened to her the night she was attacked.” Gillian had her audience in the palm of her hand as she continued, “It ran her off the road, the same thing it tried to do to you Jade, but poor Kirsten isn’t the driver that you are. She spun out and lost control. When she brought the car to a stop, it grabbed her right from the driver’s seat and ran off into the woods with her. The creature kept shifting in appearance so descriptions are useless. A stag appeared and caused a distraction. That’s the only reason that creature didn’t finish what it started.” Just relaying the sequence of events made Gillian shiver. “That’s not all, guys. Get this, the creature could talk. It kept saying or moaning the words, ‘need, need, take, take.’”

  Jade said, “Some part of it must be human. But what happened to the stag?”

  Chapter 27

  “He has everything. Sam is the quintessential man who has everything. So what do I do?” Jade complained to Reggie and Gillian the next day

  Gillian said, “I guess a tie or aftershave’s a bad suggestion.”

  Reggie said, “You could always go with the ever popular signed photo of David Hasselhoff, oh or a Speedo.” She scooped a handful of popcorn and delicately popped a fluffy white kernel in her mouth.

  The three of them had gathered at Reggie’s to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. Gillian insisted that New Crescent looked just like Bedford Falls, George Bailey’s home town. Once it had been suggested, Reggie and Jade had to agree.

  “What are you getting Chase?” Jade asked.

  Reggie lifted an eyebrow. “I’m going to have his gigantic baby. What more could he ask for?”

  Jade laughed. “Well, there’s just no topping that I guess.”

  Gillian nodded in agreement. “I’m having the same problem with what to get Travis.” She gave Reggie a look of warning. “And, no, I’m not going to give him a baby for Christmas, at least not this year. You’re the pregnant one for now, Reggie.”

  “Ah, you agreed to marry the guy. That’s gift enough for a lifetime.” Reggie licked butter off her finger and closed her eyes in appreciation.

  “That’s what he said.”

  Reggie dropped the humor for a second. “Actually, I searched the Old Family archives and found a likeness of Constance McCann when she was a young girl. There is a family resemblance that’s striking. I’m having the portrait restored, dry mounted and framed. I wonder if Egg will look like her.” Bemused, Reggie smiled.

  Jade thought for a moment then burst out excitedly, “You’ve given me a brilliant idea!”

  Reggie motioned for her to explain. “Well, spill.”

  Gillian was much more polite. She simply smiled with encouragement.

  Jade put them out of their misery. “Do you remember that photo booth they had in the old mall? You know the kind I mean, you put a couple of dollars in and get four wallet sized photos back?” Reggie and Gillian nodded. “Well, I have a shoebox full of those strips of pictures from when we were kids. I cannot tell you how often I dragged Sam to that silly booth and made him pose with me. I’m going to haul them out and get them framed together.”

  Reggie’s face lit up. “I remember that booth. You’d have some of me too.” Her golden eyes gleamed. “Jade, do you have any of Chase and me together?”

  “I’m sure I do, and you’re welcome to them. I’ll pull them out for you.”

  Gillian said, “That’s a great idea. Sam and Chase will love it.”

  “That’s much better than a tie,” Reggie said.

  Gillian pretended to pout. “I’ll just have to get Travis some aftershave.”

  Reggie sympathized. “You could give him a date for Christmas.”

  Gillian laughed, and Jade looked at her in astonishment. “You mean to tell me you still haven’t set a wedding date?”

  Gillian had the good grace to look a little shamefaced. “Travis has been bugging me, but so much has happened since I accepted his proposal. Reggie, you’ve given me an idea. Thanks. Now there will be something for Travis under the tree. Our tree is stuffed with gifts he’s got for me.”

  Reggie shook her head. “Travis loves to give presents. Indulge him. Besides, we are so much easier to buy for.”

  “Well, tell us what you’re goin
g to do, Gillian.” Jade insisted.

  “I’m going to pick a date and have it silk screened on to t-shirts. I’ll get his whole family to put theirs on while he opens his. In fact, I’ll get one done for everyone in town, like baseball jerseys.”

  Reggie laughed. “He’ll like that. Especially since the whole town’s been watching your whole wedding proposal saga.”

  Gillian started to laugh delightedly. “I have another idea.” She turned to Jade and explained. “One of Travis’s attempts to propose to me was to hire a sky writer, but the pilot fouled it up and misspelled my name. He ended up asking Gilligan to marry him. For weeks people were singing the Gilligan’s Island theme song to him and calling him Skipper.” Jade’s laughter joined theirs. “I’m going to buy him the entire TV series on DVD.”

  “For the man who has everything,” Reggie said. The room filled with their laughter and excitement. It was, after all, Christmas in New Crescent.

  * * * *

  Jade made sure it was still light when she went back to her place to gather up the photos for Sam’s Christmas present. These days she didn’t go anywhere alone after dark. The restriction was starting to cramp her style. She felt like someone had imposed a curfew upon her. The only time she’d ever had curfews was when she’d lived in New Crescent. Rachel McCann had loved her enough to make her follow some very reasonable rules. Jade’s father had never cared what his daughter did unless it inconvenienced him. She’d always made sure not to draw too much of her father’s attention. Her life was much easier that way.

  Driving back to Chase and Reggie’s house, Jade acknowledged that her father was probably the reason she’d never completely trusted a man, except Chase of course. The night of Reggie and Chase’s holiday open house, Jade had made a leap of faith for the first time in her life. She’d decided to trust Sam. He’d always been good to her. She really had no reason not to trust him. It wasn’t easy, but she’d made a conscious decision to believe in Sam, the man she loved. To her knowledge, he’d never once lied to her. He deserved her trust, and she was ashamed that she’d ever doubted him.