by Bonds, J. J.
“He probably knew The Shadow would check him out,” I reason. Nik nods in agreement. At least we’re on the same wavelength.
“That it?” Nik asks.
“Gee, I’m overwhelmed by your gratitude,” Blaine replies snickering. “For now. I’m still working on the schematics for the apartment and the office building. I should be able to get them by tomorrow. I’ll also see what I can get on security. You’ll probably be dealing with systems and real, live security guards.”
“We need that information yesterday,” I tell him, ignoring the amused look on his face. “We can’t let that hard drive slip through our hands.”
“Assuming he still has it,” Nik points out. He turns back to Blaine. “Do what you can and get back to me.”
Nik disconnects and I’m again flooded with nervous energy. I hate not being in control. I don’t think I can spend one more minute sitting around a hotel room waiting. I want to do something already!
“We’ve made a lot of progress,” Nik says as if reading my mind. He slides an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “I know this is hard for you, but we’re on the right track.”
“I feel like I might lose my mind,” I confess, resting my head on his shoulder. Nik is solid. I don’t know how he manages to exude calm in the face of such dire circumstances, but I envy him that. I’m all volcanic eruptions and summer storms; he’s placid lakes and rolling green hills. I wonder how it would feel to think first and act second. I doubt I’ll ever know.
“Tell you what,” he offers as he rubs my arm possessively. “Why don’t we see what Jacobs is up to while Blaine works on the tough stuff?”
“You mean tail him?” I ask.
“Sure. Why not?” he responds, brandishing his notes with the free hand. Geeze! Even his handwriting is perfect. “We’ll see what we can dig up on the guy and this Black & Associates. Maybe we can figure out why he stole the vaccine and what he intends to do with it.”
“Works for me,” I agree, relieved to once again have a plan of action. “We’ll need a car. We can’t exactly use a car service on stake out.”
“I’ll make some calls,” Nik tells me as he climbs to his feet. “We leave at 6am. We’ll need to catch Jacobs at home before he leaves for the day.”
“I’ll be ready,” I agree. I can’t fault his logic. If I didn’t know better, I’d think Nik had done this before. For the first time, I wonder what exactly it was he did with the Linkuri last summer. Would he even tell me if I asked? I kind of doubt it.
Chapter Twenty-One
“You sound tired.” It’s not much of an opener, but Shaye’s no stranger to my directness. It’s good to hear her voice. Nik’s been busy making arrangements for the last hour, so I decided to check in with Shaye. After all, she’s the reason we’re doing all this. “How are you?”
“I am tired,” Shaye admits. “But otherwise okay aside from missing Keegan. I can’t wait for him to get back here. Plus, your absence has caused a bit of a stir. You and Nik are in hot water.”
“No big surprise there,” I tell her, laughing. “What about Keegan?”
“Naturally, no one has missed him,” she replies and I’m sorry I asked. “Anyway, Anya’s been looking for you. She wanted me to tell you that she won’t be able to keep your missed classes from Pratt.”
“Great. More work detail.” Actually, I’d be lucky to receive work detail. If Pratt discovers the full extent of my absence, I’ll probably be expelled.
“Also, your uncle called. I dodged it, but he left a message.” Shaye pauses and it sounds like she’s struggling to take a breath. “He probably left you one too. Or, you know, fifty.”
Craptastic. I better check my messages. I’ve been so preoccupied that I haven’t really been paying much attention to my phone. It’s been on silent since we left Crossroads. A quick check reveals a whole pile of missed calls. Funny how no one calls when I’m at school behaving myself.
“So how’s it going?” Shaye asks. “Any leads?”
“Actually, yes. Nik and I are in New York now,” I tell her, pleased to be able to deliver some good news. I’m sure it will help her spirits. “Thanks to Blaine, we’ve actually made more progress than I had expected.”
“Blaine seems to be full of surprises lately,” she muses.
“Don’t give him too much credit. We both know why he’s doing it, and it’s not out of the goodness of his teeny, tiny, possibly nonexistent heart.”
“True story.” She giggles then and I’m glad I called. Maybe I needed a real flesh and blood reminder of what we’re fighting for. Shaye’s got everything on the line and yet she manages not to succumb to the anger that frequently rules my own life.
“Tomorrow we’re going to check out the guy who commissioned the theft. His name’s Xander Jacobs. We haven’t been able to figure out why he made a play for the cure yet, but we’re working on it.”
“It may not be that easy,” she says quietly.
“One way or another, we’re going to figure out what the hell is going on and get our hands on that hard drive,” I promise her. I’m determined not to let her down. “The samples are probably a lost cause at this point. They’d have to be kept under refrigeration and even if we found them, it would take some time to analyze them and recreate the research.”
“Maybe you should call your uncle,” she suggests cautiously. “Tell him what you’ve learned. Let him take over from here. Maybe he can send in a Linkuri team.”
“No way,” I tell her firmly. “They’d come in hot and heavy. We can’t afford to tip off Jacobs. I won’t risk it. Nik and I can fly under the radar. No one’s going to be looking out for a couple of kids. And I can assure you this guy’s playing it safe. He hired someone to take out the shifter. I can’t even imagine how they found him, or if they knew we were meeting him, or if it was just a coincidence. This whole thing is so effed up.”
“Katia, you don’t have to do this,” she pleads. “It’s dangerous and it sounds like you’re in over your head.”
“Don’t be stupid,” I reply. “Of course we have to do this! It might be our only chance to make the recovery. For you and all of the others.”
We both sit there awkwardly, unsure of what to say next. I wonder if I was too harsh. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. I just wanted her to know that we’re not giving up on her. Not ever.
“Anyway, don’t worry about us,” I start clumsily. “Go give Keegan a call and get some rest. We’ll be in touch.”
“Katia, wait. Before you go… How was Mardi Gras?”
“Mardi Gras?” I ask totally confused.
“Yeah, I heard you got all dressed up.” She starts laughing uncontrollably. A glance at Nik confirms that he told Shaye. He’s smirking and although he won’t meet my eyes, his shoulders shake with suppressed laughter.
“Ugh! I am going to kill Nik!” I whine, flopping back on the bed miserably.
“Too late,” she says sounding victorious. “I’ve already got photographic evidence on my phone. Love the….”
“If you say feathers,” I threaten her, “you’ll be next on my list.”
“Mask!” she shrieks. “I was going to say mask!”
**********
I can’t sleep. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to empty my mind of the days’ events. Shaye’s right. We’re in over our heads, but I can’t call Aldo now. He’d be furious. Besides, I have to see this through to the end. No matter the cost.
Things were so much simpler when I was a human. Or maybe it just seemed that way. I’m pretty sure I was happier then. Not that I don’t have a lot to be grateful for now. It’s just that this life also brings with it a lot of headaches. Like hiding my true heritage, being shoved into the spotlight as Aldo’s sole heir, and this crazy hot and cold thing- I won’t call it a relationship because I’m not sure if that’s what it is- with Nik.
I lie there listening to his soft and steady breathing. He’s sound asleep and I’m jealous. I wish I could jus
t block everything out and drift off. It’s strange being in the same room with him like this. I’ve never slept alone with a guy before and even though we’re in separate beds, the significance doesn’t escape me.
I roll onto my side and stare out the window through a crack in the heavy drapes. A sliver of light cuts across the foot of my bed. It’s a bone chilling night in the city. There are no clouds in the sky and fortunately, no snow on the ground. The heavy glass of the window blocks out the street noise below. The silence in our room is deafening.
As hard as I try, I can’t ignore Nik’s presence, not even with my back to him. I’m not sure how long I lay there fighting the urge, but eventually I surrender to the need for his touch. I slip out of my bed and crawl into his, sliding beneath the covers before I can change my mind.
I curl my body around his, snaking my arm across his bare stomach as I bury my face in his shoulder. My fingers trace the hard lines of his abdomen and I pause guiltily when I sense that I’ve woken him.
“Don’t stop,” he whispers huskily.
My hand trembles at his words. I’m not sure what I was thinking or how far I want this to go. I just wanted to be close to him, to take comfort in his arms. As if reading my thoughts, his arms tighten around me. Here, with Nik, I feel safe, like nothing can hurt me, like nothing else matters.
“Hold me?” I ask quietly.
He kisses my forehead softly. “Always.”
**********
“There he is!” I lean forward in my seat, pointing excitedly. The thrill of the hunt is kicking in. It may be a different kind of hunt, but the exhilaration is the same nonetheless. “Don’t lose him!”
“On it.” Nik shifts the rented BMW into gear and maneuvers the car into rush hour traffic. We follow Jacobs for several blocks and he doesn’t use his turn signal once. He’s not exactly a courteous driver, I decide. Fortunately, he’s easy to tail with morning gridlock in full effect. Still, I’m relieved when Jacobs swings his Range Rover into a squat parking garage.
The garage is private and requires a permit for entry. Nik and I roll past looking for street parking. We score a spot at the end of the block which gives us a clear view of the midrise that houses Black & Associates. As it turns out, it’s attached to the garage where Jacobs parked his car.
“We should split up,” I suggest, craning my neck to look around as Nik parks the beamer. “You check the garage. Find Jacobs’ car and check to see if there are any other exits from the garage. I’m going into the lobby to see what, if any, other businesses are in the building. We can meet back here in fifteen minutes.”
“Are you sure you want to split up?” Nik asks, looking concerned.
“I’m sure,” I tell him as I open my door. “It’s broad daylight. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“You’re the boss,” he teases. Nik hits the lock button and the car alarm beeps in confirmation. “In fact, I’m starting to wonder if you’ve done this before,” he says, echoing my thoughts from the night before.
“Yeah, well, I’m a quick study,” I retort. “Besides, it just makes sense doesn’t it?”
We make our way down the block at a brisk pace. I’m marginally aware of the fact that neither of us is wearing a jacket despite the bitter winter chill. All around us people are bundled up in their heaviest winter gear. Hats, scarves, mittens. They walk with their heads down in an attempt to ward off the biting wind. It works in our favor. No one is paying attention to us. Maybe they wouldn’t anyway. I recall that people have a tendency to avoid making eye contact with strangers in the city.
Nik and I part ways in front of Black & Associates. I enter the lobby trying to look as if I belong among the throng of busy professional types that flood the building. The place is bustling. There are people coming and going every which way. While they all wear the bored faces and obligatory suits of harried business professionals, they all share one other glaringly obvious trait: they’re not human.
As far as I can tell, they’re all vamps. I watch their beautiful, fluid movements and it reminds me of organized chaos. The only place I’ve ever seen this many vamps together is at Crossroads. The only humans in sight are the receptionist and the Fed Ex guy towing a dolly full of packages toward the elevator. I wonder if either of them has any idea what’s really going on in this place. Do they sense how different they are from those around them?
I move purposefully toward the directory, not wanting to draw undue attention to myself. The directory lists various departments: acquisitions, training, research, blah, blah, blah. So the investment firm is the only business housed here. Interesting. Given its limited public records, it seems like an awful lot of employees and real estate for a business that is practically invisible. That in itself is suspicious. It’s not exactly vamp style to strive for low key. What is this place?
I decide it’s probably time to get the hell out of dodge. I move toward the exit, but I’m not fast enough. As I reach for the door, a security guard grabs my arm. Panic sets in. Even with my strength and training, there’s no way I can fight my way out. I’m seriously outnumbered.
“Miss?” The guards tone is bored. I turn to look at him and he releases his grip on me. “I think you dropped this.” He’s holding a hotel key card. I recognize the logo. It’s the one from the hotel we stayed at last night. It must be mine. I pat my back pocket only to confirm that it’s empty. The card must have slipped out. Not good.
“Thanks,” I say, grabbing the card. I push through the heavy door and sigh with relief as I lose myself in the pedestrian traffic crowding the street. That was a little too close.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Back at the car, I wait anxiously for Nik. He’s late. That’s not like him and I find myself twisting in my seat impatiently. What could be taking him so long? I desperately hope he didn’t run into trouble.
I’m stuck there twisting in the wind for another ten minutes as my imagination takes control. I theorize all kinds of things- none of them pleasant- that might have happened to Nik at the hands of the vamps inside Black & Associates.
When Nik finally shows up, I’m beside myself with worry. And annoyance. I punch him in the arm without explanation.
“Ow!” he yelps, giving me the evil eye. That’s a new development. I can’t remember Nik ever looking angry at me. “What was that for?”
“For scaring the crap out of me!” I yell at him. “I thought something bad happened to you.”
“You were worried about me?” His face lights up and I can actually see his head getting bigger to accommodate his inflated ego. It’s a wonder he can even fit it through the door. The smile isn’t half bad though. I do love that dimple. “And here I thought you didn’t care.”
“I don’t,” I lie. “But I do need your help, which means I need you in one piece. Preferably living and breathing.”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that,” he tells me looking amused. “It’ll be much more fun that way.”
“Whatever. Now, how about you tell me what you found?” I ask, changing the subject. We have much bigger things to worry about right now than our dysfunction.
“Good news. Jacobs’ car is in the garage and there are no other vehicle exits, so unless he leaves on foot, we’ve got him,” Nik confirms. “If he leaves on foot…”
“We’re screwed,” I finish. Between the garage and the midrise there are probably more than a handful of exits. There’s no way we can watch them all.
I give Nik a quick rundown on what I discovered inside. He doesn’t look surprised. Maybe he was expecting as much. I don’t know if that’s a relief or a greater cause for alarm.
“Oh, and Nik? There is one other thing.”
“What’s that?” he asks looking wary.
“We should probably change hotels tonight.” He smiles, but thankfully doesn’t bother asking for an explanation.
We watch the front of the building all morning. Talk about boring! It doesn’t take long to figure out that Nik i
s much better at this whole stakeout thing. It seems he can sit for hours without talking or moving, while I fidget nonstop unable to contain myself.
“This isn’t going to get us anywhere,” I announce as I tap my feet on the dashboard. I turn in my seat to face Nik. “Jacobs has been in there for hours. Who knows when he’s coming out? Can’t you call Blaine and see what he’s got?”
“Be patient, Katia. I know you’re anxious, but what he does is far more difficult than it appears. He’ll call us when he’s got something.”
“We need information. Isn’t that his specialty?” I reason. “Just check in with him. Please?”
“Alright,” he agrees. “But only because you asked so nicely.”
“Good. Tell him we need to know which floor Jacobs’ office is on and how to get past security.” Nik looks at me suspiciously. He doesn’t appear to like where this is going. “If Black & Associates is a shell company, then it stands to reason that the theft is tied to this place and not Jacobs’ personal life. If he still has the hard drive, it’s in there. We have to get in there and look for it. And we need a way to get past a safe if we find one.”
“Anything else?” he asks.
“No,” I tell him, smiling triumphantly. “That should do it for now.”
*********
“You do know this is crazy, right?” Nik asks, looking more than a little uncomfortable.
“There was a time when I would have agreed with you,” I tell him, “but nothing seems impossible anymore.”
“I’m just saying that maybe we should spend a little more time on the actual planning phase,” he argues. “It could mean the difference between living and dying.”
“Or it could mean the difference between success and failure,” I counter as I look over the items strewn across my bed. I do a quick inventory. We’ve been busy. Instead of wasting the afternoon watching Jacobs’ building, we’ve been putting our plan in motion. “We don’t have the luxury of time.”