Animal Attraction

by Tracy St. John

  Lana gave him wide eyes. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard more, Gerald.”

  He looked embarrassed. “I’ve got a few things working against me on this. First of all, I’m little more than Tristan’s hired muscle. People get too close to him or Patri – uh, Brandilynn, and I move them out of the way. I don’t tend to run in the same circles as these professional types.”

  Dan’s tone held no accusation. “Fair enough. What else is in the way?”

  “I’m not the same flavor as the rest of the weres here. They prefer to keep to their own kind most of the time. It’s different among those of us who work with Tristan, but I’m still kept out of the loop for the most part where the gators, bears, hogs, and snakes are concerned.”

  I frowned. “Eddie was your best friend.”

  Eddie had been a werehog, a gentleman in every way except when he had to bust heads on Tristan’s behalf. He was killed by the same creature that took out Patricia.

  Gerald had taken Eddie’s death hard, and pain crossed his face for a moment. “He was the exception. We hung out a lot one on one, not me with a bunch of hogs. I never asked Eddie what was up in werehog world, you know? It wasn’t my scene. What I’ve picked up is secondhand. Some of the gang here asked if I’ve seen so-and-so or heard anything about the matter.”

  Dan considered before posing his next question. “Do you think those who work here will talk to you? Let you in on what the missing might have been up to prior to their disappearances?”

  “They might if they think Tristan has an interest in it. Truth is, I don’t think they realize that these aren’t isolated cases. If they know shifters are being targeted as a group, they’ll talk.” Gerald sounded sure about that.

  “Great. You work on that angle, but make it after you and Brandilynn meet up with Agent Ward.” Dan turned back to me. “Get that set up as soon as you can. Meanwhile, I’ll go poke around the police station and see if they know more than they’re letting on.”

  Dan’s tone turned a little grimmer as he addressed our psychic. I doubt it was because of the electric pink polyester pantsuit she wore, but the outfit was worth being grim over. “Lana, for the ones we have names on, see if you can talk to the families. You may be able to pick up on something.”

  I thought there was only one reason to send Lana out like that. “You want to know if their ghosts are hanging around? If they’ve died?”

  Lana bit her lip. The lipstick, as pink as her pantsuit, smeared on her teeth. “Oh, I hope that won’t be the case. But if it is, I’ll find out what happened to them.”

  Dan smiled encouragingly with Jason’s face before moving on to the last of our group. “Isabella, I know you’re babysitting for the next few days.”

  The channel offered him an apologetic shrug. “Sorry. My son and his wife have had this trip planned for months. It’s too late for them to find someone else to keep the babies.”

  Dan waved her off. “Not a problem. I appreciate you coming out tonight and taking notes. Okay folks, let’s see what we can get done. Except for Isabella, we’ll meet back here tomorrow night.”

  The gathering broke up. I blew Dan a kiss after he departed Jason and before he disappeared to carry out his mission of spying on the police. Then I turned to Gerald.

  “Let’s load up the car with a case of liquid sanity and go see Levi. I’ve still got to make that county commission meeting with Tristan later tonight.”

  Gerald snorted. “Forget the case of Blood Potion then. We need an army of donors for that nonsense.”

  We headed out, snickering together over small town dramatics.

  Chapter 5

  When I first met Levi last autumn, he’d been undercover. His abode then had been a tidy but nondescript trailer parked out in the woods. Now that he was assigned as Para Academy Director at the federal training facility nearby, he’d upgraded.

  “Nice neighborhood,” Gerald noted as we purred through the Marshes of McIntosh subdivision on the north end of Fulton Falls.

  It was nice. These were not cookie cutter houses that one found so often in these planned communities. There were snug little ranch-types, prim colonials, and even beach houses on stilts on the marsh side of the neighborhood. Upper middle class all the way with professionally maintained lawns and at least half-an-acre lots for each home.

  The werewolf federal agent had snagged himself a cedar-sided A-frame with a couple of stately oaks dripping Spanish moss on his front yard. He had an acre of well-maintained lawn. He’d done all right for himself.

  The shifter in question blinked to see me and Gerald on his doorstep when he answered our ring. He recovered quickly. “Well, hello. Brandilynn and her pussy are here. How did I rate this visit?”

  I ignored his rude double entendre. “I apologize for dropping in on you unannounced. Can you talk to us?”

  “You? Always. Him?” Levi eyed Gerald with open suspicion. “As long as there are no furballs left on the carpet.”

  “What about blood?” Gerald asked in a casual tone.

  Levi’s face split in a grin. “Come on in.”

  He shoved the door with its inset panels of glass wide open. I stepped into the entryway, appreciating the wood planked flooring and walls with ceiling molding. A cherry table with beveled mirror overhead allowed me to check my appearance. Patricia gazed back at me, her demeanor as cool and calm as she’d ever displayed. Satisfied that my glamour was well in place, I admired the Van Gogh print on the opposite wall. Yes, Levi had certainly moved up since quitting his tenure as a motorcycle gangbanger.

  Levi waved us towards the back of the house. A lighted doorway showed he’d been there before our arrival. “Come on back to the kitchen. I was about to grill myself a steak. I’ve got an extra if Kitten wants some.”

  Gerald had his own insult ready to go. “I never refuse steak, Pup. Thanks.”

  I put my hands on my hips and scowled at the pair. “Am I going to have to listen to you two do this the whole time?”

  They looked at each other, sizing up. Levi’s eyes sparkled. “Probably,” he decided.

  Gerald smirked. “Yeah.”

  Levi turned and headed towards the kitchen, his bare feet not making a sound on the gleaming wood floor. Gerald followed, padding silently in flip-flops despite the cold outside. Shifting plays heck on shoes, particularly if one turns into something with claws. Most weres go barefoot when possible.

  I followed the pair, my ankle boot heels clicking along as I shook my head at the agreed-upon sniping to come. Despite the digs they aimed at each other, I sensed a growing camaraderie between Levi and Gerald. And why not? They were both outsiders even in the legions of Fulton Falls’ shifters.

  As we stepped into the spacious kitchen with its light gray granite tops, Levi said, “I take it we’re going to discuss missing shifters?”

  I went to the kitchen island with its diner-looking vinyl and chrome barstools and had a seat. “Tristan has developed an interest in the case.”

  “It’s a good thing you stopped by. I’ve got some new information.” Playing the good host, Levi spoke to Gerald who perched on a stool next to me. “Coffee? Tea? Beer?”

  “Coffee’s good.”

  “Can I offer cream without being insulting?” The roguish gleam had yet to disappear from Levi’s golden brown eyes.

  Gerald grinned and patted his dark chest, exposed by the open neck of the shirt he wore. “Like everyone with good taste, I only take it black.”

  I groaned. “Oh for heaven’s sake.”

  The men laughed at me. Gerald pulled a couple of bottles of BP9 from his jean jacket pockets and set them in front of me. I opened one, certain the two goofballs were going to push me to my limits with their jibes.

  Meanwhile, Levi had the grill insert on his stovetop sizzling hot. He pulled a couple of bloody steaks ... didn’t my mouth water to see all that red ... and tossed them onto the grill. They hissed violently like snakes ready to strike. I pulled in a deep breath, enjoying the smell
and wishing vampires could digest food. I knew that if I tried to eat anything solid I would instantly regurgitate it back up. I was so out of luck and made a face at my bottled blood. Bummer.

  Levi shoved a cup under the spout of a pod coffee maker. I’d loved coffee when I was alive. The heavenly smell joined that of the seared meat, reminding me of all the good stuff I missed out on. I started to feel grumpy.

  Levi turned the steaks. He grabbed the cup of coffee and set it down in front of Gerald before putting on another cup. The coffee maker gurgled as he plated the slabs of meat and set them on the kitchen bar. While he got hold of knives and flatware, Gerald eyed his plate with undisguised delight.

  “Nice,” his said in an admiring tone. “I can still hear it mooing.”

  “No veggies?” I asked, my voice disapproving.

  Levi looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Do we look like werebunnies to you?”

  He grabbed his coffee and sat with us. The two men got to work devouring their bloody carcasses. At least they had the good graces to use their forks and knives.

  I looked at all that bloody flesh and licked my lips. I concentrated on drinking my first bottle of BP9 and pretended it satisfied the cravings I had. Ha. Not even close. The two buffoons sitting on either side of me would taste so much better. And how they’d feel—

  Nope. I put the thoughts of blood and lust away. I had to keep working on weaning myself off my dependence on Gerald. As for Levi ... no how, no way, not ever again. On that, I was determined.

  So I sucked on my bottle while the two shifters chomped and made happy num-num noises as they did so. They finished at the same time, pushing their plates away with identical pleased sighs.

  Gerald stretched, looking as content as ... well, as content as a cat. “That was prime. Law enforcement pays good to get steak like that.”

  “Sure, on a federal level,” Levi said. He rose and started clearing off the dishes. “Is Tristan Keith shortchanging his security?”

  “Naw. He pays well, but my kids get most of it.”

  I gave him a startled look. “You have children? Oh, the program. I forgot.”

  Levi cocked his head to one side. “Program?”

  Gerald sipped his coffee. “I mentor kids who get hit by the Flu and are given up to the state by their parents. Georgia’s Para Child Services budget is stretched to the limit. It doesn’t always cover the basics.”

  Levi gave him a shocked gaze. “Like what? I thought by law that abandoned shifter kids got clothes, food, and medical?”

  Gerald shook his head. His long braids whispered against his jacket. “Only to a point. The program is strapped for funds. They can’t cover things like winter coats but every couple of years. One of my boys grew a foot since last winter, yet he was still supposed to do with last year’s coat. Sleeves darn near shrank to his elbows. I’m always buying my kids clothes.”

  Levi fell to musing. “How many kids in Para Care are without mentors?”

  “More than I like to think about. No one wants to foster them either, and that facility out by the airport where they live is pretty grim.”

  The werewolf scowled to hear such news. “Give me a contact number. I’ll let my guys at the academy know they’re needed. I’ll mentor and maybe foster someone myself, if I pass the requirements.”

  “You will with your background.”

  “Even if I don’t, I can maybe get some donations happening so no one is doing without.” Levi shook his head. “New coats every two years. That’s ridiculous.”

  Gerald nodded agreement. “Accidental shifts alone do damage to their clothes. Normal wear and tear do not apply. Any help would be good. Those kids need the support and decent role models.”

  “Done. I wish I’d known about this before.” Levi dropped the subject like it made him angry. He looked at me. “And now for our other problem.”

  I handed him my empty bottle since I didn’t know where his recycling bin was. “You said you had new information?”

  Levi opened a cabinet and dropped the bottle in. “Could be. The two instructors who disappeared? It turns out they had some bad stuff we weren’t aware of until the police did some digging. Stuff that would have meant them being dismissed from their jobs.”

  “Like?”

  “Like one had some illegal gambling debts. I’m talking big money in some really shady operations, not a few hundred dollars on football. The other guy supposedly blackmailed a couple of prosecutors and judges to get them to swing some high profile cases that he’d been involved in.”

  “Swing?”

  Levi started himself another cup of coffee after Gerald shook his head and covered the top of his cup with a hand. “He got them to suppress evidence that might have proved accused people were innocent of the crimes they’d been charged with. Getting convictions on those cases made him look good and put him on the fast track to promotion.”

  “And that plum instructor’s job with its good pay,” Gerald surmised.

  Levi jerked a nod. “You know it, Kitten. It’s got me wondering if the disappearances have to something to do with the missing being blackmailed.”

  “Not revenge for their evil deeds?” I asked.

  Levi considered and shook his head. “There’s no connection between the two matters. No, I think somebody got wind of these guys’ pasts and told them to pay up in some way. Instead, they pulled up stakes and vanished.”

  Gerald stroked his chin. “To do what though? Where are discredited law enforcement types going to go?”

  Levi scowled at the air over our heads. “Yeah, that’s the off part of this. Plus they both had families and didn’t take any money out of their accounts to survive on. They just up and disappeared.”

  “Maybe they had bank accounts you don’t know of.”

  Levi smiled. “Point made, and I’m sure the cops are looking into that. At any rate, it would be interesting to know if the other missing shifters also had something hinky that they didn’t want known. Something they wanted to keep hidden.”

  I exchanged a look with Gerald. “We’ll check that out. Thanks, Levi.”

  “My pleasure. Thanks for nosing into this.”

  We got up. Levi and Gerald shook hands and the agent said, “Stop by and tell me how it works out, Kitten.”

  “I’ll do that, Pup. Next time, I’ll bring the steak.”

  They treated each other to real smiles. Levi’s tone was enthusiastic as he said, “You’re on. Championship playoffs start this weekend, you know.”

  “Yeah. Who are you pulling for?”

  I rolled my eyes and headed for the front door, walking out on the budding bromance. “Don’t make me late for the commission meeting, Gerald.”

  Behind my back I heard Levi ask in a low tone, “She still can’t fly, huh?”

  Gerald sighed. “She’s a slow learner.”

  I was at the door. I turned on my heel and glared at both of them. “But I hear perfectly well, and you know I haven’t got the hang of it because the vampires won’t help me.”

  Gerald joined me and gave me a conciliatory pat on the shoulder. He told Levi, “She’s right. They’re being jerks.”

  Levi shook his head, his tongue clicking sympathetically. “Vampires are not the kindest creatures. Now the poor girl is one of them.”

  I opted not to grace that with a reply. I was not a vampire, but I didn’t have time to set Levi right ... again. With any luck, I wouldn’t have to deal with the werewolf any longer. I would let his new best buddy Gerald keep him informed from now on.

  * * * *

  I had to give the county commission meeting one thing: it was not as boring as Jamus Percy’s writing. Not by much, but it managed to be a teensy bit more interesting.

  I was hard pressed to pay attention from my front row seat where Patricia always sat in the chamber of the city hall building. I even took notes, as she once had ... along with a few doodles here and there in an attempt to make Gerald laugh. He sat next to me, nudging me
when I started to fidget. I was worse than a toddler in church.

  I had nothing to even glare about. Droning reports from the county’s parks, then more boring stuff from the water and sewage commission, and then more from other departments that I had no interest in. Where was the backbiting and arguing the county reps were known for? The slanders? The insults? They were all playing nice.

  I’d brought a little interest to the proceedings with my entrance. Patricia’s absence had been felt all right. The buzz of conversation that accompanied me walking down the aisle with Gerald in my wake had promised some excitement. But an hour later, that had fizzled out. No one cared now that the meeting was rolling and everyone attended to his or her own concerns.

  I nudged Gerald’s foot with mine. In a low voice that wove way beneath the snoozefest of a tourism report I asked, “Are you still awake?”

  Other than the twitch of a smile, his lips barely moved. “That’s my job. Scintillating stuff, isn’t it?”

  “I’m tempted to stake my own heart to get out of this.”

  That got a real snicker out of the werepanther. Tristan’s black gaze flicked in our direction. As head commissioner, he sat in the middle of the commission podium with the other six elected officials on either side of him. Little signs in front of them listed their names, and they each had a microphone to speak into when they did speak. Tristan was the only non-human sitting there.

  Gerald and I composed ourselves. Tristan returned his attention to the tourism board’s report.

  Gerald’s voice was barely more than a breath, but my keen vampire ears picked up his words fine. “You are a terrible influence.”

  “Sorry,” I said. I wasn’t. Getting a warning look from Tristan had been the most riveting part of the meeting thus far. I wondered what other shenanigans I could pull to liven things up without getting into too much trouble. For once I wished I was crashing face first in a field somewhere.

  Tourism Dude wrapped up. Tristan thanked him. The man left the small podium in the middle front of the aisle between the two groups of public seating. The place was full, which I found interesting given how slow the night was going. I had already noted that norms and paras kept separate for the most part. A few mundanes sprinkled in with the supernaturals, but our state of integration was clear: not very good.