by Terry Spear
Ready to tear anyone apart who had allowed someone to remove her sister from the facility, Tezra harbored a shred of hope Katie was still in the building. “What if Krustalus knew or suspected what we were up to? What if he figured out that I might be able to reach her mind and find proof he was the killer?”
“I should have taken her to my house into protective custody,” Daemon said with dark regret.
“Damn, I can’t believe I put my sister in further peril.” She vowed with all her heart to set things right with Katie, if she could only reach her in time.
Voltan interjected, “What do you wish me to do, my prince?” His voice was shaded in anger, and she figured if someone had taken her sister, whoever did so wouldn’t stand a chance against the giant. And she’d be there to back him up.
“Stay with us for now.”
Tezra stormed into the administrative office. Mrs. Wither, tall and thin with bulging black eyes, choppy brown hair and an exaggerated under-bite, nearly dropped her cup of coffee. She reminded Tezra of a startled Pekingese.
“What are you doing in here?” the woman snapped.
Tezra’s emotions were tied to her with barely a thread. One last tug and she’d lose control. “Where’s Katie Campbell?” she asked in a fairly reserved manner, though her blood boiled.
Mrs. Wither backed into her desk, her face as white as the crisp suit she wore.
“Where is she, and don’t make me ask again,” Tezra growled.
“Patrico Sargento signed the release papers and—”
“Patrico?” Tezra squeaked. Her knees buckled, but Daemon grabbed her by the waist and steered her to a chair.
“Patrico?” Daemon asked Tezra. “The SCU senior staff member that you said was murdered?”
“Yes, ten years ago.” Tezra’s voice was hollow, and she felt sick to her stomach. Her thoughts swirled. “Patrico can’t just take her out of here. He has no authority. Besides, he’s supposed to be dead. ”
Mrs. Wither’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. “Mr. Sargento had credentials.” She grabbed papers off her desk and shuffled through them. “Here. Power of attorney.” She looked perfectly pleased with herself. All nice and official, as if she had done nothing wrong.
“I’m Katie’s only living relative. He can’t have gotten a power of attorney to take care of her. Hell, he’s dead!” And if he really wasn’t, Tezra would strangle him once she got hold of him! Rubbing her temple, she massaged the colossal headache pooling there while she scanned the papers.
Daemon took Katie’s picture attached to the paperwork and handed it to Voltan. “Warn Maison what has happened.”
“Tell him what, my lord? That a dead hunter removed the huntress from the facility? Or that Krustalus has her?”
Daemon frowned at him. “That someone has taken her, but we can’t be sure where or who has done such a deed. Reproduce this and send word I want her located and returned to me at once. Arrest whoever has her.”
“Even if it is a hunter who holds her hostage?”
“Hunter, human, vampire, anyone.”
“Yes, my lord.” Voltan left the office and discreetly vanished.
Daemon ran his hand over Tezra’s shoulder and asked the administrator, “Where did Patrico take her?”
“He said the SCU wished to see her.”
“Didn’t you think this odd? She doesn’t communicate at all. Do they often send their people here to see her?” Daemon asked.
“He has visited her before on occasion.”
Tezra glowered at the woman. “Why did no one tell me?”
“I…well, I…”
“What did he look like?” Daemon asked, his voice calm but low, like the rumble of thunder from far away, foreshadowing the appearance of a dangerous storm.
“Tall, short strawberry blond hair, scar on his right cheek.”
Tezra couldn’t stop the shiver trilling down her spine. “It can’t be Patrico. He was murdered right after I told him how the vampire killed my parents.” Yet the description fit, and again she felt like she was going to throw up. “I have a photo of the senior staff at my apartment. Council members serve on the board for five years, but the headquarters issues a new group photo every year for the new members on the staff. I need you to take me to my apartment, Daemon. We’ll bring the photo back here and see if Mrs. Wither recognizes him.” She took a deep breath, hating what she knew was an inevitable part of the job. “Then we go after his family. Hunters are extremely family oriented. He has to have had some contact with them.”
Though if he had, his family members could be protective to the point of being dangerous.
“What about the Council? Don’t you want to check with them first to see if Patrico was bringing Katie to them on the off chance he was telling the truth?”
“If they had anything to do with covering up Patrico’s death, what does that tell you about the Council? Do you think they would declare the hunter dead, then have this same hunter pick up my sister to meet with them when she can’t even communicate?”
“I respect your understanding of the Council and its members and abide by your decision, Tezra.” Facing Mrs. Wither, he said, “We’ll be back with the photo to see if you can identify him.”
The woman folded her arms. “My shift ends in half an hour. I’ll be gone if you haven’t returned by then.”
“Wrong answer,” Tezra bit out. “You’ll wait for us until we return. Do you understand?”
The administrator quickly nodded.
Daemon escorted Tezra into the hall. “We go to your place.” He hesitated and touched Tezra’s cheek. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, let’s hurry.” But she couldn’t get over the shock of Katie being gone, and her stomach hadn’t settled from traveling the last time. Every minute Katie was missing meant she could be traumatized all the more. Tezra couldn’t get rid of the feeling that she might already be too late.
Daemon pulled Tezra close, then whisked her away to her two-story brick apartment complex. The lights were on in nearly every place but hers, making it appear as dead and deserted as she felt.
When they entered the apartment, more pronounced side effects from moving in the vampire’s way from one place to another—the disorientation, nausea, headache—assaulted her. For a moment, she tried to get her stomach under control and clung to the wall.
Daemon turned on the light for her benefit. She gasped. Eyes wide and barely breathing, she took in the destruction—her furniture in ruins, glass tables smashed, couches torn, the stuffing shredded, books ripped apart. Tezra leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, trying to get her physical discomfort under control while her emotions ran wild.
Daemon didn’t say a word but moved so swiftly into her kitchen his appearance blurred. “No one here,” he announced, sounding relieved.
Her stomach settled some and concerned whoever had trashed her apartment might have found her hidden investigative files, she practically flew into her bedroom, feeling Daemon’s presence behind her.
Feathers were strewn about from her down pillows and comforter, her curtains were in shreds, mirrors were smashed, and drawers were scattered in splintered remnants all over the carpet.
Who would have destroyed her place? The SCU? Krustalus? She didn’t think either would have done such a thing.
Enraged, she reminded herself all that mattered was finding Katie unharmed. She stalked into her closet and poked at a cedar panel, which opened and a secret compartment containing her work appeared. She reached inside and pulled out her files. “Pays to be careful,” she grumbled under her breath.
She cleared a space on the floor and started sifting through the contents. When she found the photo she was looking for, she handed it to Daemon. “I need to keep these papers somewhere safe. It’s the only evidence I have for the investigations I’ve worked the last four years.”
“We’ll return to my house first and put them in a secure place.”
Before
she could brace herself, Daemon returned her to his greatroom where Maison and Atreides were having a heated discussion.
“He’s headed down the same path of destruction as before,” Atreides said, then grew silent when he saw Daemon.
Again, Tezra felt horribly unsettled. She fought a new bout of nausea but hid it from Daemon, not about to be left at home while he questioned Patrico’s mother. Yet her head swam, and speckled lights danced in front of her eyes. She didn’t think she could take much more of Daemon’s way of travel. But Atreides’s words bothered her too. Was she the reason for Atreides’s comments about his brother? She was certain that’s who he was talking about, especially when she saw the heated look on Daemon’s face.
“Safeguard these.” Daemon handed the files to Atreides.
“I’m going with you.” Atreides passed the documents to Maison, looking a bit contrite. “Voltan gave us the word.”
Tezra clenched her teeth and braced herself for vampiric travel again.
Daemon didn’t know what to think of the situation, with someone from the SCU being involved in Katie’s abduction and the deceit concerning Patrico’s death…but for now, he worried even more about Tezra’s state of mind.
“You can come with us later, Atreides.” Daemon wrapped his arm around Tezra’s waist and returned her to the hospital’s administrative office.
Mrs. Wither was no longer in her office.
Daemon rubbed Tezra’s back, but his action didn’t alleviate the tension straining her muscles, and she looked awfully pale. “We’ll find Katie, if it takes—”
The woman walked back into the office and cried out, dropping her cup of coffee. The mug shattered on the linoleum floor, and the black liquid splattered all over her white pumps and nylons. “I…I didn’t expect you’d return so quickly.”
Daemon shoved the photo at the woman. “Is this the man?”
“I think so. He appeared older, but then—” she pointed to the year of the photo and said, “—this was taken ten years ago.”
Tezra looked at Daemon, her green eyes narrowed and dark, but she clung to him as if she needed his support. “We have to see his mother. She’s a retired SCU huntress, so we have to take precautions.”
“Thank you,” Daemon said to Mrs. Wither. He escorted Tezra from the room, appreciating the logical way in which she tackled the investigation despite how upset she appeared. “I can guess what you’re thinking, but we don’t know that he has anything to do with your parents’ murder.”
“Why fake his own death? Why take my sister when we’re so close to revealing who the killer was?”
“All valid points, Tezra, but we don’t know all the facts, and jumping to conclusions—”
“Isn’t an investigator’s way. Yet I don’t feel like much of one right now.”
“I’d say you’re doing a remarkable job under the circumstances. We go home first, let my brother and Maison know of the situation, then we’ll take it from there.” He hoped he could convince her to stay there while he and his brother spoke with Patrico’s mother. He definitely wanted his brother’s backing and Voltan’s support for additional muscle in the event the SCU had solicited Patrico to abduct Katie.
As soon as they returned to the house, Tezra freed herself from Daemon’s grasp, though she stumbled and appeared not at all well. Again, he felt she should remain behind.
“Where are my swords?” she asked, her voice harsh as she looked from Daemon to Maison, Voltan and Atreides.
“It wouldn’t be wise to arm her,” Atreides said. “Remember, she threatened our guards the last time she had a sword.” He motioned to Voltan. “And she made mincemeat of his leather jacket. If she gets hold of this Patrico, no telling what she’d do to him in her present state of mind, particularly if he’s unarmed.”
Tezra took a swing at Atreides, and he moved so quickly, Daemon didn’t have time to react. Trapping her shoulders against the wall, Atreides held her firm. “You know,” Atreides said in a low, husky voice, “your actions are tantamount to a vampire’s sexual foreplay. If you were a vampiress, I’d have pinned you to the couch and shown you how powerful an ancient male vampire can be.” His eyes sparkled with devilish delight. “If Daemon hadn’t already laid claim to you, I’d assume you were trying to entice me. However, be forewarned, huntress, do not try this with other ancients. Many would not be as controlled as I am.”
“Daemon hasn’t laid claim to me,” Tezra growled.
“Release her,” Daemon said, not willing to disagree with his brother over the enchantress. He had not claimed her for his own, but he didn’t figure anything he had to say would convince his brother otherwise. However, he fully intended to have a word in private with him once they’d cleared up this other matter.
Maison stroked his chin, considering the situation with reserved thoughtfulness. Voltan stood with his arms crossed, waiting for the end result.
Atreides released Tezra, but she swung at him again. Daemon caught her wrist this time and pulled her away from his brother. “Save your energy, Tezra.”
Atreides’s small smile faded, and this time he addressed Daemon. “Three hunters came here looking for Tezra while you were gone. They said Lichorus has made a formal complaint to the SCU and accused us of trying to turn her against her will. The SCU Council members don’t believe she’s here of her own free choice.”
“Did you tell them where I was?” Tezra asked, rubbing her temple, and Daemon assumed a headache was brewing in that pretty head of hers from all the anxiety she felt.
He could tell she wanted to strike out at anyone who was involved in taking her sister from the hospital, or anyone who would try to stop her in locating Katie. Something else seemed to be troubling her, yet as usual she kept her thoughts shielded from him.
Atreides tilted his head to the side in a condescending manner. “No. The SCU has no jurisdiction here without a warrant.”
“I want my other weapons.” Tezra took a menacing step toward him.
Daemon shook his head. Then she poked her finger into his chest. “You have my favorite swords. Where have you hidden them?”
Her dark curls tangled over her shoulders; her cheeks flushed in anger. Every inch of the inferno-tempered woman tantalized him. Atreides was right—Tezra truly didn’t realize how she taunted him.
Atreides channeled his communication solely to Daemon, “Lock her in the cellar before she causes the situation to become even graver. Maybe we can discover some clues without putting her life and yours in danger. She’s too hot-tempered over her sister’s abduction.”
Daemon considered the wild look in her eyes. His word should be law. Not so with Tezra. Was that what appealed so much? She was like the river—shifting, dangerous, out-of-control. He agreed with Atreides about Tezra’s temper and wanted to leave her behind with protection. Still, she might be able to reach Patrico where Daemon and his kind couldn’t.
“Give her swords back to her, Atreides. She needs her weapons for the trouble I’m sure we’re bound to get into. We’ll go to Patrico’s mother’s home and hope the SCU hasn’t already gotten wind of our plans.”
Chapter Ten
When they arrived at Patrico’s mother’s blue and white colonial, Voltan and Atreides watched for Patrico in the event he tried to leave or enter around the side or back of the house while Tezra pushed the doorbell. Maison sat in the form of a raven on a nearby rooftop, watching for vehicles approaching the house—mainly concerned SCU hunters might arrive any minute.
Tezra’s face was so pale Daemon worried traveling with her in their way was making her sick, but he knew he couldn’t have talked her into staying at his home. In any event, he figured she would get farther with Patrico’s mother than he and his vampire companions could.
When she reached up to push the ringer for the fifth time, Daemon took her hand and kissed it.
A fiery blaze burned in her expression like she wanted to devour him in one bite.
A white-haired woman with a benev
olent, Mrs. Santa Claus kind of face, opened the door with a squeak.
He assumed the woman, wearing a floral housecoat and fluffy pink slippers, was Patrico’s mother. A strong fragrance of perfume surrounded her like an invisible cloud of flowers. Mrs. Sargento gave Tezra a tentative smile, then glanced at Daemon.
The look of recognition in her eyes told him a lot about her. What was a vampire doing visiting a retired huntress? And why was Tezra here? He felt the woman knew a hell of a lot about Katie’s disappearance. Using his vampiric abilities, he attempted to read the woman’s mind. For an instant, he gathered a thought—Tezra was one of them. A huntress turned vampire. And then a brick wall like the one surrounding Mrs. Sargento’s backyard rose to shield Daemon from reading any further thoughts. Fine. He’d get the information out of her one way or another.
The way Tezra was studying her so intensely, Daemon assumed she was trying to read her mind also. “Mrs. Sargento,” Tezra said, “I learned your son is alive and well.”
The woman’s face turned into a mask of white marble.
“Patrico has my sister.” Tezra’s voice was even, not accusatory. “Why did Patrico take her, and why was his death faked?”
“You’re mistaken. He’s dead. How could he have taken your sister from the hospital?” Mrs. Sargento vehemently shook her head, loosening a curl from her bun. “That’s absurd.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“At his funeral.” Mrs. Sargento avoided Tezra’s hard look.
“Closed casket. Did he fake his death or was the SCU in on the charade?” Tezra asked, and Daemon was proud of her for being so controlled in her questioning. Not even a hint of emotion coated her words.
“I don’t know anything about this.” Yet Mrs. Sargento’s voice quaked.
Again, he tried to read her thoughts, but she blanked them. Daemon rubbed Tezra’s arm but willed Mrs. Sargento to reveal the truth. “Tell us where Katie is, and we’ll be on our way.”