The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files: Special Edition Fantasy Bundle, Books 1 thru 5 (Smoke Special Edition)

by Craig Halloran

  Good question. According to her letter from the Bureau, she needed to call it in. Then again, this was a shadow operation, which gave her liberties with her decisions. She took some pictures of Edwin Lee, the tombstone, and the deader. “Let’s go check out this mausoleum.”

  After traversing through fifty yards of grave markers and willow trees, she came to a stop in front of an ancient rectangular structure. Standing almost twenty feet tall and just as wide, it towered over the other structures. Gargoyles adorned the corners. Vines crept over the stained glass windows and twisted along the columns to the entrance. A pair of brass doors at the top of the steps were split open.

  “In there?” she said.

  Smoke nodded.

  “Maybe he or she slipped back out.”

  “Only one way to find out,” Smoke said, starting up the steps and pulling open the door. The hinges creaked from the effort. “I’ll go first.”

  “But you don’t have a light.”

  Smoke disappeared inside. Sidney ran up the steps after him and shined her phone light inside. It was wholly inadequate, and she regretted busting her Maglite on the deader’s head. She could see Smoke well enough, however, and rows of marble burial markers. There were dates carved in them and initials but not full names. She snapped a few pictures.

  “Do you mind?” Smoke said, running his fingers over the burial vaults. “You’re screwing up my night vision.”

  “Do you have super powers I should know about?”

  “Maybe,” he said, tapping his knuckles on the stones. “Huh. Doesn’t make sense someone would run in here without anywhere to go.”

  “Only those windows.” She shined the light toward the top. The stained glass windows at the top were all intact. “Or down through the ground.”

  Smoke pressed his ear to one of the burial chambers.

  “Listening for a ghoul’s heartbeat?” she said, eyeing the floor and walls. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. “I think whoever it was already left.”

  “I don’t,” Smoke said. “I can smell them.”

  Oh boy. Sidney sniffed the air. There was nothing extraordinary. “Really, and what do they smell like?”

  “Fear.” He ran his hands over the markers and started pushing. “Help me out. There has to be a catch or something.”

  Sidney gave it a half-hearted effort, running her fingers over cold stone after cold stone. She pushed in a little here and there. “It’s just a mausoleum, not the Temple of Doom, Indiana.”

  “I take it you don’t like my plan.”

  “I think we stumbled on plenty to start with already.” Her shoulder throbbed, and she was getting colder. “I think it’s time to go.”

  “You aren’t all right, are you?”

  “This isn’t how I normally spend the holidays.”

  Wuppa—Wuppa—Wuppa—Wuppa—Wuppa …

  “That’s a chopper landing,” he said, heading for the door.

  Sidney followed him outside. Sure enough, a large helicopter landed in a nearby clearing. Its whirling blades pressed down the tall grass and stirred the leaves on the willow trees. Men in dark garb spilled out the chopper’s doors and rushed at them with bright lights and assault rifles.

  “This is bad,” Smoke said as the men surrounded them from all angles. “Really bad.”

  Shielding her eyes, Sidney took out her badge and held it up over her head.

  “Don’t move another inch, lady,” said a voice filled with authority.

  “I’m Agent Shaw with—”

  Budda-budda! Budda-budda!

  One of the armed men squeezed off a few rounds at her feet.

  “When I say don’t move, that means not anything!” His voice was muffled by a mask of some sort. “Especially your mouth. Try me again, and I’ll saw your legs off.”

  CHAPTER 15

  “Lock your hands onto your head,” the soldier demanded. “Now!”

  Slowly, Sidney put her arms over her head. Smoke’s hung ready at his sides. Just do it! she wanted to say but didn’t. She had no doubt the half dozen men she could make out meant business.

  “Looks like we have a wise guy on our hands,” the soldier said. “Teach the trespassers a lesson.”

  “No!” Sidney cried out.

  The muzzle flashed.

  Budda-budda! Budda-budda!

  Bullets tore up the landscape in front of Smoke’s toes. He didn’t flinch.

  “I’ll be,” the leader said. “Plenty of guts to splatter in this one. Take him down.”

  Two figures darted from behind the lights. One of them launched the butt of his weapon into Smoke’s belly. He doubled over.

  Zap!

  The second soldier prodded Smoke in the back with a stick that was some sort of taser. Smoke twitched, growled, and started to rise.

  The soldiers laid into him.

  Zap! Zap! Zap!

  Smoke sagged to the ground, clutching at the air.

  “That’ll take the starch out of him,” one said, twirling his stick in the air. He slapped it in his hand. “How about we take a little starch out of her, Boss? I bet Barbie pees herself.”

  “Just fetch me her ID,” the leader said.

  “Aw,” the man said, strutting over. He snatched Sidney’s badge. The men were soldiers of a sort, clad in dark body suits padded in body armor and wearing rectangular goggles and some sort of masks over their mouths. “Sidney Shaw, FBI agent.” He glanced down her backside. “Not bad. Boss, can I keep this one? She’s got a nice — oof!”

  Sidney slammed her knee into his nuts. The other forces closed in with stun sticks ready.

  Zap!

  She twitched from head to toe and toppled to the ground. Everything tingled. Her bones hurt. She watched the sky above blinking as more men in strange masks crowded around her. One of them called her a bitch. She was pretty sure she knew who it was.

  Just doing my job, she thought.

  “What’s the plan, Boss?” said one of the mercenaries. “This is a great place to bury them. Alive would be nice.”

  “I’m not very fond of suggestions. Perhaps I should bury you. Nothing like a shovelful of dirt to silence you,” said the leader, kneeling down alongside Sid.

  “Sorry, Boss.”

  The leader brushed Sidney’s hair from her eyes. “It’s so hard to find good help these days, Agent Shaw. The younger ones are so, eh, exuberant. And stupid, for that matter.” There was some polish in his voice behind the mask. “I hate stupid people.” He pulled out a stainless steel pistol. The muzzle flashed.

  Blam!

  Sidney saw the body fall.

  “Leave him,” the leader ordered. “The servants shall dispose of him.” He ran the muzzle of the gun along Sidney’s chin. The hot barrel seared her flesh.

  “Uh…” The man’s tone and demeanor were those of many cold-blooded killers she’d studied. Nerveless men who didn’t flinch executing torture. Mutilation.

  “Agent Shaw, I assume you don’t have a warrant. Blink once for yes.”

  She did.

  “Good,” he said. “But I find it very strange that you are here. Why would that be?”

  Can’t exactly help with that right now.

  “I see, you still can’t speak. How rude of me. What’s this?” He took off his goggles. He was fair-haired and pale, with pitch-black eyes. He fingered the wound in her shoulder. Blood was on his finger. A hunger filled his eyes. “Mmmm … delicious, I bet.” He removed the mask over his mouth. His face was long and slender with a strong dimpled chin. He licked the blood and closed his eyes. “Delicious indeed.”

  You better not be a vampire. You can’t be a vampire.

  The leader gazed into her eyes, lending her a full view of his becoming face. He cradled her in his arms. Her head flopped back, exposing her neck to him. The leader bent down and brought his lips to her neck.

  This can’t be happening! No! She moaned. No!

  His teeth sunk into her skin. She squirmed. “No.”

>   “Ah-hahaha!” the leader laughed. “I’m screwing with you, Agent Shaw. I’m not a vampire, but I always wanted to be one.” He cocked his head and stared hard into her eyes. “But there are worse things out there than vampires, love. Take my word for it.”

  I know. They’re called lawyers, jerk. The numbness and pain started to wear off. Save your energy, Sid. Save it.

  “But I do have a bit of a dilemma here. Normally, I just kill people that trespass and have them buried. You however, are a Fed.” He scratched his neck. His nails were unusually long. “And the Feds cause problems. Questions. Investigations. Hmmm. My boss likes to keep things quiet. And I don’t like my boss showing up, so I like to keep things quiet too.” He gazed into the sky. “Damn. I really hate loose ends.”

  Sidney watched him stand up and hang the barrel of the gun over her face. He’s going to shoot me. God, please don’t let him shoot me!

  CHAPTER 16

  “Hmmm …” the boss said, tilting his head with the moon hanging over his shoulder. “I like you, Agent Shaw. You and your friend can live, for now. But I suggest you stop your snooping around. The game you’re playing is far too dangerous for the common man—or woman.” He motioned to his men. “Drag them outside of the gate and leave them. Maybe the cold will take them.” He walked off, heading toward the chopper.

  A hand clutched Sidney by the hair and dragged her limp body over the grass. Smoke was being dragged by two men behind her. His head was slumped downward. Her teeth started to chatter. It was a miserable existence, being dragged.

  “Hurry up,” one of them said. “The boss might leave us.” The soldiers picked up the pace. “It’d go quicker if this big bastard wasn’t so damn heavy. I say we kill ‘em both. He’ll never know.”

  “You saw what happened to dumbass Franklin back there, didn’t you? You want a hole in your head too?”

  “Good point,” said the man dragging her. “But a bullet in the head’s an act of mercy compared to what I’ve seen other upstarts get. The Cage. Ew. That’s nasty.”

  “Clam up, will you. I don’t need reminded.”

  They came to a stop just outside of the gate. Sidney could see the Hellcat’s taillights and mufflers. The soldiers dragged Smoke by her side and kicked him in the ribs a few times.

  “All right, that’s enough,” one said. He started closing the gate. “Let’s go. I’m pretty sure they’ll be dead soon enough anyway. He’ll make it look like an accident is all. Enjoy the cold, agents.”

  They all piled in the chopper, and it took off.

  Wuppa—Wuppa—Wuppa—Wuppa—Wuppa …

  It was below twenty outside, and if she didn’t get moving she’d be a Popsicle in an hour. Come on, Sid. Move. Her fingertips scraped at the dirt. Her teeth still chattered. This sucks!

  Smoke rolled over with a heavy groan and crawled toward her.

  Thank God!

  “Hang in there,” he said, rummaging through her pockets.

  What! What in the hell are you doing?

  He produced her key fob and pressed the button. The taillights flicked on.

  You’d better be starting the engine.

  Smoke rose to his feet, staggered toward the car, and pulled the door open. He pulled out his duffle bag and unzipped it.

  Now you’re pissing me off.

  He produced an army green tube and stretched it out to full length.

  That’s a LAW rocket! He’s insane! She had fired the light anti-tank weapons before during Air Base Ground Defense training in the Air Force. But those had been blasting caps. This was the real thing.

  Smoke hefted it onto his shoulder and took aim at the rising helicopter.

  “No,” she managed to croak out. “No.”

  Watching the chopper rise, Smoke took his hand off the trigger and collapsed the weapon back into its compact size. Jaw jutted against the moonlit sky, he shook his head as the chopper flew out of sight.

  Thank God. The men deserved it, but she didn’t want their blood on her hands. She didn’t want it on Smoke’s either.

  He walked over, picked her up, and cradled her in his arms. “I hate loose ends. It’ll come back to bite us.” Smoke set her down in the passenger seat and buckled her inside. “Looks like I finally get to drive.”

  “Don’t you dare,” she mumbled.

  Smoke fired up the engine and pressed on the accelerator, which let out a vicious exhaust note. “What? Did you say something?”

  Pinning her to her seat, the Dodge Hellcat’s back wheels tore the gravel off the road. After a couple of minutes, the seat began warming her rear, and the heater thawed her icy cheeks. She glanced over at Smoke. In the dim light he reminded her of a modern-day road warrior. She kinda liked that about him. “Don’t get too comfortable, Mad Max.”

  “Hah. Now he was an interceptor. But that wasn’t a Hellcat.”

  She shifted in her seat and made herself a little more comfortable. Held her hands in front of the heater. The nerve-jangling effects were beginning to wear off. But Smoke had been tasered at least three times. He shouldn’t be moving. “So, was that LAW rocket a parting gift from the SEALS?”

  “Nope.”

  “You were about to kill all of those guys, weren’t you?”

  “Maybe. Don’t you think they had it coming?”

  “I’m not a judge. I’m an agent.” She rubbed her temples. “Man, this is one rotten Christmas.”

  “I’ve had worse,” Smoke said, adjusting the rearview mirror. He glanced at her shoulder. “That might need stitches. I can handle it, if you like. But you need to put some pressure on it.”

  Sidney had a few things to consider. A trip to the hospital would generate paperwork. She was a shadow agent now, and maintaining a low profile would take some getting used to. There were other bizarre matters too. The deader and the body of Edwin Lee. She still needed to confirm that. Grimacing, she searched her pockets. Panic seized her.

  “What’s wrong?” Smoke said.

  “That man, the Boss, he must have taken my phone!”

  ***

  On Smoke’s insistence, she let him take her back to his place. It wasn’t like her to not put up a fight, but his words persuaded her. Now, she sat on his kitchen counter inside his service garage apartment. The gas heater made a soft roar overhead, which gave the place a cozy feeling. Her shoulder throbbed, however. Sitting too long and staying awake on depleted adrenaline had stiffened her body.

  “I’ll be back,” Smoke said, heading for his bathroom. “You might want to remove your jacket, and you’ll probably need a clean shirt. I can help out with that one.”

  With a few grunts, she slid her jacket off and dropped it to the floor. The shoulder of this shirt was ripped and soaked in blood. She debated taking it off or not. Screw it. Life’s too short to be modest. Off the shirt went, leaving her in only her bra and slacks.

  Smoke returned with a towel, a damp washcloth, and a medic kit. “Did you learn that move from your sister?” he said, eyes fixed on hers.

  “Ha ha. If it were my sister, there’d be no top at all and your sofa-bed would be unfolded.”

  “Ouch,” Smoke said, inspecting the wound. “Sounds like you’re feeling better, but it’s pretty nasty.”

  “Just get on with it.”

  He went to work. Wiping off the blood. Cleaning the wound. Threading the needle. “Four or five should do it. It might sting a little.”

  She didn’t look away. She looked right at him. His warm presence and rock-steady hands drew her in. Her blood began to sizzle. They’d only spent a few days together, but it felt like a lifetime. The needle dug into her arm. Her eyes watered.

  “You okay?” he said, fixated like a surgeon on the wound.

  “Never better,” she said in his ear, eyeing the wound.

  He ran another stitch through. “Good. That’s two … that’s three … and four.” He knotted it off and clipped it with scissors. “All done.”

  “That was fast,” she said with bated breath, loo
king into his eyes and resting her good hand on his neck. She rubbed his cheek and earlobe with her thumb. Her body was throbbing. “Good job.”

  “You’re a wonderful patient,” he said.

  Her lips drew closer to his. “And you’re a wonderful—”

  Smoke withdrew just as the sound of an approaching car caught her ear. Morning glory!

  CHAPTER 17

  Headlights illuminated the window blinds. Smoke went for his gun. She went for hers. The sound of tires crunched over the driveway. He peeked through the blinds, pulled back, and headed to the other side of the room.

  “Who is it?” she said, standing in her bra and slacks, holding her gun.

  Smoke opened up a dresser drawer and withdrew a T-shirt. He tossed it to her. “Put this on. We have company.”

  “Good company or bad company?” she said, slipping the shirt on. It was a little tight and had a battle helmet and axe logo on it. “Whose was this, your girlfriend’s?”

  “I used to be smaller.” He put away his weapon. “It’s a sentimental treasure.”

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  Smoke made his way over to the door and swung it open. A short stocky man, bald-headed and bearded, bustled inside. A woman, taller, followed in behind him. Her honey blonde hair was pulled back in a long silky pony tail. Her winter jacket did little to hide her generous curves. Smoke closed the door behind them. She was older than Sid, over forty, but without a wrinkle and nary an eyelash out of place. I hope I age that well.

  “Nice shirt,” the woman said with a voice that was a little Lauren Bacall-like. She looked Sid up and down with very pretty eyes then took off her coat and handed it to the other man. She wore a sleeveless black top adorned in silver sequins and a pair of Buckle jeans. “I used to have one just like it.”

  “Hey,” the man said to Sid, “The Darkslayer. I like that.” He hung the woman’s coat on the wall and did the same with his. He wasn’t tall for a man but stocky as a bull, with thick forearms bulging beneath his flannel sleeves. His voice was warm and friendly. He had a rugged charm about him. He walked over and extended his hand. “They call me—”