Worth Your While

by Connie Suttle

  "I heard that, but figured there was some exaggeration to the story."

  "Not under compulsion, there isn't. I have to be thorough for the unofficial report, you understand."

  "Trey?" Grim tapped on my office door, which was open.

  "What do you have?" Trey asked, swiveling in the guest chair he occupied.

  "We just got a hit on Gorham's bank card—cash was pulled from an ATM near Broken Bow, Oklahoma."

  "What the hell?" I was on my feet in seconds.

  "Did the ATM have a camera?"

  "Sure did. It was Gorham, all right. And we have images from the parking lot of the convenience store, too. Three others were in the truck Gorham got out of. I don't need to tell you who those other three are, now do I?"

  "Any idea which way they're headed?"

  "None," Grim walked into the room and shut the door behind him. "We've got a BOLO out to all police departments in the area, with the FBI hotline number to contact and a do not approach warning. We've asked for patrols on all roads out of Broken Bow, so we'll see if they show up again or go to ground."

  "You think they're heading south or west?" I asked.

  "I would assume the Kings would head south. As for the other two, who knows? Unless their Black Myth Queen is drawing them back this way, after we managed to thwart her attempts at the truck stop in Birmingham."

  "Then maybe we ought to send Daniel and a couple of others in that direction—to watch for their arrival," I suggested.

  "If they drove straight back to Birmingham on the fastest route, it would take at least nine hours," Grim observed. "I doubt they'll take the fastest route, as that includes interstates, where they're more likely to be seen."

  "True. At least we've gotten a hit on them—purely by accident, I believe," I said. "We may need to brainstorm as to what their move will be if Black Myth did call them back to Alabama."

  "We need to be in that meeting," Trey pointed out.

  "Agreed. Want to do it now, or before dawn?"

  "Best time is now," Grim said. "They won't appreciate getting out of bed for this, but if new information comes, we can deal with that as it's reported."

  "Fine. I'll get Cassie and her guards up. Also, her rock demon guards from Canada are set to arrive tomorrow morning. They're already in the states, but wanted to spend a day in Michigan, to visit a relative there."

  "Then it's up to you to read them in on the latest," Trey said. "Come on, Grim. We have to get people out of bed in the guest house."

  Cassie

  I showed up to the meeting in pajamas and a robe. I had no desire to get back into something less comfortable, only to hear uncomfortable news.

  Rob, Zephyr and the other sprites took it in stride; Will and Yosuke likewise. Chet didn't like being shut out of the meeting, so I discreetly allowed him in when nobody else was looking. He ended up asleep on my lap.

  The last two to arrive were Jon and Richard; Richard was about to get his baptism by fire, as the saying went.

  "Gorham used his bank card to get cash at a convenience store in Broken Bow, Oklahoma," Trey began when everyone was settled inside Parke's office. "We have security camera images of him, plus the other three in the truck outside the store. Dalton King is driving, with Morton in the front passenger seat. Franks and Gorham were in the back when the truck left the store."

  Jon placed a hand on Richard's shoulder; he wanted to ask questions, that was quite clear.

  "Where are they headed?" Cliff asked.

  "No idea, but we've got local police notified in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas."

  "They may be headed back this way, if our Poison Penelope wants to stir up trouble after the truck stop incident," Cliff said.

  "That's what Trey and Grim discussed with me earlier," Parke said. "We know she's big on revenge, and that means she's not willing to let us get away with this. We managed to kill some of her own, so why not send in demons to deal with other demons?"

  "I'm surprised Dalton and Morton haven't killed Gorham and Franks, yet," I said. "I know they're thinking it—it's what they do."

  "What we don't know, lady demon," Blaze dipped his head to me, "is how much of a hold Black Myth has on all four. I imagine that their leader will not look kindly on the killing of her other servants, unless she orders it herself."

  "Point taken, however," Ebb nodded to me. "You are correct—if they will kill their own friends and family for some kind of gain, there is nothing to stop them from killing two wealthy demons who've chosen the same dark side as they, unless their mistress prevents it in some way."

  "Gorham and Franks will be limited in the amount of cash they can pull from any ATM, and each time they risk being recorded," Parke took up the conversation again.

  "He is an ice demon—he could have easily frozen the camera and broken it," Will said. "Do you suppose that he wishes to be captured, rather than remaining under his mistresses' thumb?"

  "Or it could be a trap, to pull us in again," Ben Stokes suggested.

  "Yes," Trey pointed at Ben. "Exactly my thought. They've eluded us for days, only to flagrantly expose themselves now? It doesn't make sense otherwise."

  "We've issued a do not approach warning, asking those who see them to contact the FBI hotline," Grim said. "If we can track their movements, perhaps we can discover the kind of trap they're laying."

  "We will send out information to the sprite kingdoms," Rob offered. "If any movement of Shakkor Agdah is detected, we'll report it."

  "Same with the wolves," Cliff agreed. "They'll hear from me right after this meeting."

  "Word has already gone to the Council," Trey said. "All will be on alert."

  "I'm asking Daniel, Benjamin and Wallis to go to Birmingham in case the ice demons show up. They'll get the information to us quickly, so we can formulate a plan. I do not want them confronting any of these four, in case it is a trap," Parke went on. "Are there any questions? If not, go to bed. We'll have a full day tomorrow, and it starts early."

  Chapter 12

  Cassie

  "I suspect an explanation is warranted," I said after seeing Richard's expression. He and Jon had followed me out of Parke's office, after Richard heard the words demons and wolves tossed around.

  "If you don't, I may not be able to sleep. Ever again."

  "You may not anyway, after I answer your questions. Come to my office; I hope Chet doesn't mind." The cat was still sleeping in my arms as if nothing of import had just been revealed in a secretive meeting.

  "Want tea or coffee?" Rob poked his head in the door after we arrived. Chet was happy to get on my desk and lie on my list of things to do the following day.

  "Sure—coffee, please. Would you mind sitting in?" I said.

  "Not at all. I'll grab Yosuke, too, if he's available." Rob took off to get coffee. Grim walked in shortly after he left.

  "Thought you might need some help," he grinned.

  "Absolutely—have a seat. I'd ask if you wanted coffee, but I know better."

  "You're right—used to drink it, though. Kept me awake during night shifts. Now, being awake at night is de rigueur."

  "What did you do in your coffee drinking days?" I asked.

  "ER doctor."

  "Seriously? I think I want to know more of that story," I said.

  "Not a problem—when we have ten minutes to spare, I'd be happy to tell the Princess of Alabama."

  Rob arrived with a large carafe of coffee, followed by Gemma, who carried a tray of coffee cups. Yosuke was the last one through the door. Gemma poured coffee for those of us who wanted it, then left, shutting the door behind her.

  I wondered what it was that kept her in heavy makeup mode, as it troubled me. In this hot, muggy climate, it would bother the hell out of me to be so covered up.

  "We'll get right down to business," Rob told Richard. "If you decide that you don't want to take the job after all, then we'll send you back home tonight."

  "I'd like to hear what I'm dealing with, first," Richard sa
id, sounding stiff and uncomfortable.

  "What you're dealing with," I said, while Chet rubbed his head on my shoulder, "are werewolves, elemental demons, all four sprite kingdoms, shapeshifters, vampires and an enemy known as Shakkor Agdah, or Black Myth. Black Myth is behind that horrible disease that keeps breaking out, and there's no known cure for it. Their goal is to eliminate all humans, so they can have the Earth to themselves."

  "Without humans, we vampires will die," Grim stated bluntly. "My government agency, as well as the Vampire Council, agree that Black Myth wants to eliminate anyone who isn't Black Myth."

  "Are we in trouble, here?" Richard's eyes were wide as he stared at Grim.

  "Not from vampires," Grim waved off Richard's concern. "We drink bagged blood. There is no direct human contact unless it's a dire emergency."

  "But what about the others—the werewolves? What if we're bitten?"

  "You won't become a werewolf, and any decent werewolf knows not to bite a human unless they're threatening the werewolf's life or those of the pack. Here, that pack includes sprites, vampires, humans and demons," Rob replied. "Everyone on this estate, except the human employees, are dedicated to one purpose, and that is finding and eliminating Black Myth and their servants."

  "I take it the servants are the ice demons mentioned in the meeting?" Jon asked.

  "Yes. Unfortunately, I'm related to two of them," I said. "That doesn't mean I won't kill them without a second thought," I added. "They murdered my mother and my aunt Shelby, and who knows how many others. I won't even stop to ask questions, and neither should anyone else. Kill first, contemplate later, where Morton and Dalton King are concerned."

  "Should I be armed?" Richard asked, surprising me. Yes, he was military trained, but I hadn't considered arming him. Generally, bullets had little effect against a demon. I had no idea whether a normal gun could harm Black Myth, although I doubted it.

  "A gun will only be effective against human intruders," Rob explained. "As long as we're in the house, you should be safe enough, although if there is an attack and a subsequent fire, get out as quickly as you can."

  "You expect them to set fire to the estate?" Richard didn't understand.

  "No, but Cassie's fire is the one guaranteed way we have of killing Black Myth."

  "I'm a fire demon, Richard," I sighed, while Chet arched his back beneath my chin to solicit more petting. "If I set the place on fire, then that is the last option available on the estate. Anywhere else, they'll be blasted to death before they can blink."

  "Look up the report on a recent fire outside Douglasville, Georgia. They're still trying to pin down the reason for such a scorching, localized blaze," Grim said.

  "I wondered about that," I turned to Grim.

  "Just what's in the official report—my agency has the full details, of course. And Richard?" Grim went on.

  "What?" Richard's eyes met Grim's.

  "You won't be able to repeat anything you've heard in either meeting tonight. That's all."

  "Get some sleep," I told Jon and Richard. "We'll be back here soon enough in the morning."

  Tuscaloosa, Alabama

  Lilith Sloane

  "You sure this is where Cliff Young lives?" I turned to Jinx. I had to track him down; he was serious about getting out of town. He was also serious about making Cliff Young pay for his association with Gemma the bitch and any part he had in Pit's death.

  "Yeah."

  I'd parked my car on the side of the road, where we could see a house in the distance, past a hay field and backed by a heavily wooded area. "Likes the remote life," I said.

  "Makes it easier to torch it, don't you think? We've been here for ten minutes and not a single car has gone past."

  "I want to dig around inside, first, unless we set off an alarm."

  "What do you think you're gonna find?"

  "I have no idea, but there could be valuables inside, or addresses or something."

  "Fine. If we don't find an alarm, or can cut the power, we'll go in first and look around. Then we burn the motherfucker down."

  "Agreed. He'll learn not to mess with us."

  "Let's do it at midnight," Jinx nodded, as if talking to himself. "Yeah. That'll work."

  Cassie

  "I need a triple shot latte," I moaned, sliding onto a kitchen barstool and closing my eyes. As expected, the morning after the late night had come much too early.

  "Do you want me to order a cappuccino machine?" Richard and Jon walked into the kitchen, although Jon asked the question.

  "Would you? Do you know how to use one? Where's a barista when you need 'em?"

  "It's not that hard, once you learn how to steam and froth the milk," Jon said, sounding far too perky for this kind of morning.

  "Good. You are in charge of frothing from now on."

  "Plain old coffee," Beverly set a cup in front of me. "I don't do espresso."

  "I still love you," I sighed and lifted the cup to drink. Beverly chuckled and went to fill breakfast plates with Kate and Destiny helping her.

  I'm sorry your summer sucks, I sent to Destiny, knowing she wouldn't hear. Instead, she bobbled the plate in her hands and almost dropped it, before turning to stare at me.

  "You heard me?" I set my coffee cup down with a thump, splashing hot, brown liquid on my hand.

  "Here," Jon covered my hand with a napkin. "Are you burned?"

  Destiny laughed; it was a very welcome sound. "Nothing hot can burn Cassie. Trust me." She set the plate of food in front of Richard. "I hope you like ham. Since you're the newest, you get food first."

  I would like to go swimming, Destiny explored her new-found talent. But the pool is empty and filled with leaves and dirt.

  "Richard, after you hire some help for Beverly and Gemma, look for a pool service. Destiny needs a swim."

  "I'll get on it right after breakfast," Richard pulled out his phone and began making a list.

  "Yay," Destiny bounced and clapped. "Thank you."

  "The water may be cold at first," Jon warned.

  "Ice demon," I pointed at Destiny. "Nothing cold can hurt her."

  "Seriously? Fire and Ice in the same family?" Jon blinked. "I've had a few conversations with Jerry and Pete."

  "I had a great-something-or-other-grandfather fire demon," I shrugged. "Our mother and ah, our biological father were both ice demons. I got the recessive gene," I explained, before feeling a shiver go up my spine. As if what I'd just said was a lie.

  Suddenly I was questioning my heritage, and I had no idea why. I'd never felt this before—as if someone were trying to tell me something. I shuddered, hoping to dispel the feeling.

  Cliff didn't have to announce bad news when he walked into the kitchen—I could read it plainly in his expression. "What happened?" I scooted my barstool back to stand.

  "My farmhouse was burned down last night," he said. "I need Rob's help to see if Shakkor Agdah had anything to do with it."

  "Only human scent, and nothing I recognize," Kent told Cliff after making the change from wolf to humanoid. He'd gone sniffing down the road leading to the house, while Cliff had sniffed around the house.

  I wasn't sure if he could get anything other than the scent of smoke and burning from the place, but he was determined to try.

  At least the local authorities had stopped their investigation long enough to let Cliff in to survey the damage; he promised not to disturb anything in the rubble, and since he was still officially on the county payroll as their Public Defender, they allowed him to take us through.

  Rob, on the other hand, had already stuck his bare toes in the earth, searching for signs of Black Myth.

  And found nothing.

  "Does this mean Black Myth has new human slaves working for them? That's unusual, isn't it?" Parke walked up to Cliff's side.

  "I suppose it's possible. I'll get my insurance agent on the phone and get the ball rolling on that stuff, but why attack this place now, and send in humans to do the job? They've known all
along where this place was, and also knew I haven't been here in a while. Pretty stupid, actually, not to show up themselves. I figured it was another trap, for sure."

  "They remember the beating they got last time in a direct confrontation," I said. "I doubt they were looking to tangle with the new fire demon again. If they had any part in this, it was out of petty revenge, and that would be a stupid move. We've seen the type of revenge they prefer, and that's spreading their disease around."

  "Plus, it was way too early for the Kings to get here and torch the place," Cliff nodded agreement. "Doesn't make a damn bit of sense."

  "Was there anything in the house worth taking?" Parke asked.

  "An old shotgun and a fire safe that didn't have anything important in it. I moved everything else when we got the other place."

  "Can you ask the investigators to search for both?" I asked. "Maybe the motive was robbery, and then covering up the break-in."

  "Alarm should have gone off, and it didn't," Cliff raked fingers through his hair. "Unless they managed to cut it off."

  "Did you have an older system that sent signals through the phone line?" Kent was acting as the police officer he was.

  "I did," Cliff said, hunching his shoulders. "Never thought I'd need to change it to wireless. That means the alarm went off, but no signal went to the police or fire department."

  "That matches the report," Kent said. "Somebody drove by and saw the fire. Called it in. By the time the fire department got here, it was too late to save anything."

  "I'll tell them to look for the gun and fire safe. There's nothing else to be done here. If I smell either of those two humans again, though," he didn't finish. Instead, he turned away and stalked toward Will, who'd waited outside the perimeter to take us back to Gulf Tides.

  "You get any vibes from this?" Rob asked. He'd put his shoes back on and now stood beside me, while Parke moved to follow Cliff. Cliff was upset—I knew that feeling. This was his home, and somebody had maliciously destroyed it.

  "I get an itchy feeling about it," I confessed, as he and I began walking toward Will. "Like it's something to pay attention to, but not a top priority right now."