They were seated at a long conference table with Dubrosky on one side of him, Denopoulos and Teague on the other. As far as he could tell, they were the only creatures in the building. The staff consisted of robotic arms and artificial intelligence. Since the MBI had jurisdiction over the case, it had been decided that the RHPD would assist in an unofficial capacity during the investigation. For Gillian’s sake—and Brooke’s, of course—he would do everything in his power to help, even if it meant revealing his connection to Malcom and things from his past that he’d rather forget.
“Where do we go from here?” Dubrosky broke in, tapping her fingers on the conference table. She wore a navy suit and kept her dark hair pulled off her face in a tight ponytail. The only thing missing to her detective ensemble was a trench coat.
“First, I want to get the matter of the coven off the table. We’ve got uniforms parked outside.” Garrett turned to his partner. “Dubrosky, can you stop by periodically to make sure those women are safe?”
“Got it covered, partner.” Dubrosky smiled. “That should score some points with Gillian.”
The three of them laughed. He ignored them and continued. “I’ve made some calls to check on Lawrence’s alibi for the night of the murder. I’m still waiting to hear back.” After Garrett filled them in on the captain’s plan to use Gillian as bait, he exhaled, not sure how they’d react to this new information.
Teague nodded his approval, running a hand through his spikey, blond hair. “Let me get this straight, you and Gillian under the same roof, pretending to be a couple?” He burst into laughter. “Don’t ever let me hear you complain about getting the shitty assignments, Mulroney.”
Garrett muttered a curse. “Wait a minute. It’s not like that—”
“Yeah, give it time. How’s that working out so far?” Denopoulos chimed in, scratching his beard. “Does she know you’ve got the hots for her, Mulroney? I hope she’s not walking around your place in those short little robes all the girls wear around the coven.”
“Yeah, don’t remind me.” Garrett rubbed the back of his neck and tried not to groan. He’d already taken one cold shower this morning, which did nothing to fan the flames of his desire.
Everyone laughed, except Dubrosky. “Seriously, Mulroney, if you don’t ask Gillian out on a real date when this case is wrapped, then you don’t deserve her.” She sat back in her chair and sighed, looking a little starry-eyed. When the room grew silent, she cleared her throat. “Moving on. We can take turns keeping an eye on her. I can stake out the shop, and pretend I’m a customer. But I think it’s time to poke the tiger. What if we have Gillian go out in public to draw Lawrence’s thugs to her with one of us hiding nearby?”
“Great idea, Dubrosky. Make it happen. In the meantime, we need to make a deal with someone from the party.” After Denopoulos opened the Lawrence file and flipped through the pages, he pulled out his pen and began scanning the pictures inside. “We find one of them with a lot to lose, and see who’s willing to make a deal. Hold on, what about this guy, David Jackson? If memory serves, he’s an assistant to a local congressman by the name of Johnathan Stevens. I say we put pressure on him to talk. We make sure to offer him a deal to keep the congressman’s good name from getting dragged into this. No formal charges have been made against Jackson, but that can change.”
Teague mulled it over. “I think it’s time for us to go have a long talk with Mr. Jackson before we go directly to his boss. In the meantime, we applied to the Council for an exigent warrant to get the credit card number Lawrence used at the hotel in Clinton. What about the connection between this dating website Lawrence and Malcolm Strauss are involved in?”
“We’re still running some background checks on him to see how Malcom fits into all of this.” Garrett rubbed his chin. It was still too early to reveal his hunch that Malcom Strauss and Malcom Von Scrivner were one and the same. That is his sire was back. No, he couldn’t say anything until he had proof. “Any ideas where he may have gone and taken Brooke Corey?”
Denopoulos glanced at his tablet before looking up. A line appeared between his dark brows. “We sent a squad car over to Lawrence’s residence. He’s gone, and we checked two of his businesses here in the city. They’re empty. It’s like they never existed. I don’t know how he managed to pull this off. I’m going to keep digging. I guarantee he may have closed up shop here, but he’ll start up somewhere he has a connection.”
“He’s been mixing the proceeds from the blood ring in with the legitimate businesses,” Garrett said, desperate for something to turn up soon. “He could be hiding Brooke in the basement of one of his bars or restaurants, but it’s unlikely. Either way, I’ll keep checking. Did forensics pick up any fingerprints at her apartment or on the box that was sent over to the coven?”
Dubrosky sighed. “Not a one. Whoever did it wore gloves. I checked the witness accounts and did a quick scan of the signed statements. There’s nothing that leads us to Lawrence or where he could be hiding any of these women. As for his other operations, we could go over there to question his staff and get a warrant for his files.”
“This is all going to take time,” Garrett shot back. “We need to find a way to infiltrate his operation, and that’s how we find him and Brooke Corey. He’ll probably lie low for a while, and then reach out to his clients, maybe some from Rowena’s Cherry’s list. We come up with an op from that. We need to act fast. The longer Brooke Corey is with him, the harder it will be to break their bond.”
“I’ve read his profile.” Dubrosky took a sip from a mug and gestured with her hands. “He's a borderline sociopath. But the question remains, did he kill Serena Bensen on purpose, or by accident after he bit her?”
Garrett’s phone pinged. He glanced at the text from Lawrence’s office manager and shook his head in bewilderment. “Well, Lawrence might be guilty of a boatload of twisted shit, but he’s not a killer. His alibi checks out for the night the Bensen woman was killed. We’ve got him on camera and it’s time-stamped.”
“That’s the trouble with vampires,” Teague muttered. “They stalk their prey and turn them into their personal feed bags.” His gaze narrowed in Dubrosky’s direction, before glancing over at Garrett with a sheepish expression. “Sorry, Mulroney, no offense.”
Garrett cleared his throat. “None taken.” Cayden Teague had roamed the Earth for centuries, but somehow never managed to let go of his distaste for vampires. Garrett could understand how any female, even a vampire, could get intimidated by the barrel-chested demon. He stood almost seven feet tall with a booming voice and gray horns curling along the sides of his head. Deep down the guy had a heart of gold. But he wouldn’t get a pass for acting like a dick to his partner. His behavior was not okay. “Don’t you think you’re coming off rather gruff?”
Dubrosky glanced over at Garrett and held up her hand. “Thanks, Mulroney, but I’ve got this. Why don’t you let us go over ideas for my cover at the shop?”
She glared across the table at Teague and hissed a curse in Russian, her fangs extending from her lips. “How dare you judge my kind? Who are you to talk? Demons are notorious for being egotistical male chauvinists, and you’re no different.”
“Have you been checking up on me?” Teague surged to his feet and leaned his enormous body over the table. “I’m flattered, but let’s face it, sweetheart, it wouldn’t matter anyway. I’m guessing you’ve already formed an opinion. Demons are third-class citizens outclassed by both vampires and witches. But hey, maybe being a male chauvinist is just in our brute nature.”
“If you’re third class citizens then you have no one else to blame but yourselves by holding onto grudges and lacking decorum.” Dubrosky wrinkled her nose at the coffee stain on Teague’s Metallica t-shirt, the one he wore under his suit jacket. “And stop calling me sweetheart.”
Teague’s horns elongated and flared red. “Do you prefer shrew? How about harpy?”
“I think this would be a good time for a coffee break. You in?�
�� Denopoulos asked over the shouting.
“I’m right behind you.” Garrett stood and followed him into the hallway.
“Did I miss something?” Denopoulos poured what looked like black sludge into two mugs and handed one to him. His mind immediately drifted to Gillian. Having her at his place, drinking coffee and eating breakfast, filled him with excitement, something he could get used to. And then he wondered if they’d ever get past the invisible barrier between them. She might be physically attracted to him, but he craved so much more from her. She may have accepted his apology, but he could tell from her body language, something still bothered her. Clearly, she still didn’t trust him. He was determined to find out why. But he wouldn’t let it detract from the case. She would never forgive him if he didn’t find her cousin, and he would never forgive himself.
“Hey, we were talking about Teague and your new partner.” Denopoulos prompted, breaking into his thoughts. “I like her by the way. She’s whip-smart and not bad on the eyes.”
Garrett never thought of Dubrosky in that way, but he supposed with her crisp white shirts and conservative pantsuits, she could be deemed attractive in a penal sort of way. Garrett inclined his head to where the shouting continued. “My guess is this all goes back over a thousand years to the battle of Ramayana.”
“The battle of Ramayana?” Denopoulos shook his head, looking confused.
“All before my time. It took place on Arcadia, the demon plane.” Vampire and demon relations were at an all-time high. Garrett refused to let a centuries-old rift between creatures get in the way of this investigation.
“Whoa, there’s a demon plane? That’s a new one.” Denopoulos sipped his coffee, staring at him in disbelief.
Garrett’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me for a moment.” He walked off to the side and glanced at the text.
Hey Garrett, are you free tonight? Want to open a bottle of wine and hang out?
It was from Michelle, his interior designer, a woman he’d taken out and slept with recently. Big mistake. They hadn’t spoken in weeks. He’d made it clear he wanted to keep things casual.
He’d explained to Michelle—along with every woman he took out—that he didn’t do relationships. He kept things light. Being a vampire just made it complicated and painful all around if either party got attached. He made sure to always be upfront so no one got hurt. After she’d finished the job at his home, she seemed fine continuing a professional relationship. But he shouldn’t have gone there in the first place. It was a lapse in judgment he wouldn’t repeat.
And right now, he was focused on this case and Gillian. An image of her in that short robe she wore at breakfast flashed through his mind, but he shook it off. Eventually, when he didn’t make plans with Michelle, she’d find someone who could offer her something real and long-term. He shot out a text and hit send.
Sorry, I’m working. But you go out, and have fun.
“Everything okay?” Denopoulos stood in front of him, angling his head at his phone.
“Yeah, all good.”
“I believe you were telling me about this demon plane.”
“Well, Arcadia doesn’t exist anymore. This all took place long before I became a vampire. I’m surprised Teague never told you about that period in history.” Garrett inclined his head in the direction of the conference room. “After losing the war, his people became enslaved by the Coterie, a cadre of ruthless vampires.”
Denopoulos finished the last of his coffee and set his mug in the sink. “It certainly explains why he's giving your partner a hard time, but it’s no excuse. He never talks much about his past. He’s always been treated like a friggin’ rock star for putting a bunch of vampires convicted of some heinous shit in Hellios, long before I came to work for the agency. You’re saying you think it’s related to this battle on Arcadia?”
“It’s just a guess.” Garrett hoped this wouldn’t have any impact on their ongoing investigation. They had enough to deal with. There was no room for ancient rifts to get in the way. Talking about the past made him think of the similarities to his own.
“I’m curious, how come Teague’s never given you a hard time?” Denopoulos asked, pushing Garrett back to the present. “You may not have been around back during this vampire-demon war, but you’re one of them.”
“I’m considered a young vampire in the grand scheme, especially in comparison to the Dubrosky family. They’ve been around for generations.” Garrett took a sip of his coffee and made a face. The stuff really was awful. “She comes from an ancient line. Hell, they’re practically royalty.”
“In other words, she could’ve had family members who messed with his people?”
“It’s certainly a possibility, but he’s taking this a bit too far. Teague needs to find another outlet to work through his anger.” Yeah, like Garrett was one to talk. He’d been searching for Malcom Von Scrivner for nearly a century to enact his revenge. Garrett shook his head, forcing his mind back to the present and set his mug on the counter.
“What do you say we break up Grudge Match in there?” Denopoulos pointed to the conference room.
Garrett chuckled. “My money would be on Dubrosky all the way. She might be petite, but she’s a serious badass, not to mention she has a mean right hook.”
When they walked back into the room, Teague and Dubrosky didn’t exactly stand nose to nose, since Teague easily stood over seven feet and Dubrosky was five-two on a good day. But from the way they glared at each other, Garrett wasn’t sure if they were going to kill each other or kiss.
“Break it up, you two and take a seat,” Denopoulos commanded and shot a warning look at his partner. “Take it easy, Thor. Put the hammer down. Let’s get back to the reason we’re here today, the Lawrence case, remember?”
With a huff, Teague plopped down in his chair. “Of course. My apologies. You could always switch it up and take Gillian back to the coven. Who knows, it might draw Lawrence out. Either way, it’s only a matter of time before he takes the bait and sends one of his minions after her.”
Garrett would be ready when the vampire did. He wouldn’t hesitate to rip him apart. “If I go to the coven, the other girls would intrude and put themselves in danger, which is why it makes sense for her to stay put for now. I’m sticking with the cover.”
“As long as you’re okay with the arrangement?” Denopoulos asked, giving him a sidelong glance. It was clear from the curious look on his face, and their conversation at the diner a few months back, he suspected Garrett’s interest in Gillian wasn’t purely professional.
“I’m making the best of the situation,” Garrett muttered under his breath, trying not to draw attention to himself.
“I bet. I’m sure it’s a real hardship playing house with a beautiful woman. All jokes aside, what are you planning to tell everyone?” Teague asked, folding his arms across his massive chest.
Garrett rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ve already come up with a cover. We stayed in touch after I finished the investigation on the coven and started dating recently. It made sense to keep our relationship a secret until we knew where it was going. Things moved quickly from there, and I asked her to move in with me. It might not be ideal, but this cover is for everyone’s safety.”
“What about the engagement party?” Dubrosky asked, glancing at Garrett with an expectant look on her face.
“It might raise suspicion if we both don’t show.” Garrett shot back, shifting in his seat. It would be one thing to pretend in front of a few people at Gillian’s shop, but it was quite another to do it in front of a whole room full of friends and family. “It’s your decision, Denopoulos.”
“There will be questions if you both don’t show. I’ll tell Willow of course. She knows how to keep a secret. Besides, it will serve as a perfect time to convince everyone of your relationship,” Denopoulos said with a wink. He’d met Willow while undercover, and their relationship had created quite a stir.
“The party’s at Amanda’s in Hoboken?”
Teague glanced between them. “Don’t you think it’s a little too out in the open? It’ll be one hell of a challenge to keep it secure.”
“I’m friendly with the owners.” Garrett smiled. “I eat at their other restaurant, the Elysian Café, every day for lunch.”
Denopoulos pulled out his phone and began typing. “Funny, I heard the place was a speakeasy during prohibition.”
Garrett nodded. “I used to go there when it was a speakeasy. It has an interesting history, not to mention the best sirloin steak salad in town.” He grabbed his pad and pen and made a note to talk with them about security. “I’ll make sure the entrances and exits are guarded at all times.”
“I’m happy to help out,” Dubrosky added, refusing to look in Teague’s direction, which at this point was probably a blessing. They didn’t need to go for round two. The conference table looked like it was made of solid mahogany. It would be a shame to see it turned into a pile of splintered wood.
“You’ll have to make this fake relationship look convincing,” Denopoulos insisted, getting to his feet. “Maybe you two should practice acting like you’re in love.”
The room erupted in fits of laughter.
He wasn’t sure how Gillian would take the news. Garrett had a very strong suspicion this would be a major point of contention. “I guess this time the jokes on me.” No question about it, this could quickly turn into a major shit show.
Chapter 13
Gillian stretched out her hand to refill the mugwort and rosehip jars. They were arranged like glass soldiers on tall wooden shelves behind the shop’s register. Glancing at the clock on the wall showed that it was almost nine, which meant she still had a few minutes to gather her wits before the other girls showed up for work.
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