Rurik perked. “Me? Why?”
“I’ve checked over your medical charts and…”
Rurik’s shoulders lifted as he prepared to give himself over to the beast. “If you say I have to spend another week here or go through one more test, I will stake you myself and save the captain time.”
Garth leaned slightly in Auberi’s direction. “I really hope you’re here to tell him you’re not only running more tests, but he has to stay in the med unit another week. Say two weeks so he possibly removes your head. If he kills you, I can’t get in trouble with my mate for it.”
Auberi told Garth what he could do with his suggestion in French and Garth flipped him off.
The Frenchman snorted. “Trust the Viking to resort to hand gestures when words fail him.”
“Seriously, Nicolette would have to understand why I had to kill you, right?” demanded Garth.
Rurik glanced at his captain and shook his head. “She will not understand. She is American. I find they need most things explained…slowly.”
Garth snorted. “Auberi, what do you want with Rurik? Does he need to spend more time here?”
“On the contrary,” said Auberi with a smile that didn’t show any fang, something he’d no doubt practiced over the span of his life. “I caught the tail end of the intelligence briefing and I have a mission for you.”
“He’s not cleared for duty,” reminded Garth.
Rurik nearly dropped the tension ball as excitement raced through him. He stared at Garth and then pointed at Auberi. “Your father-in-law is a doctor. He can clear me for duty.”
“You just had to toss in the reminder Auberi is now family, didn’t you?” asked Garth.
Rurik nodded to Auberi. “He came with a mission. You came to annoy me. Hell yes, I am tossing in a reminder.”
Auberi waggled his brows. “Your own men like me better than you, Viking.”
Garth made a dramatic showing of glancing around the room.
Ms. Perky noticed. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for something to stake him with,” said Garth.
She giggled and a certain level of glee filled her eyes. “I have a pen on my clipboard. Use that.”
Rurik groaned. Was everything funny to her?
“About the mission,” said Auberi, unconcerned with the possibility of death by ballpoint pen. “There is a minor catch, or should I say catches.”
“I do not care,” said Rurik, standing as he did. “I’m in.”
“Bad idea,” said Garth. “Auberi isn’t exactly known for doing anything out of the goodness of his heart.”
“It would be a shame to make my daughter a widow so soon in the relationship,” said Auberi, grinning at Garth. “To clarify, she would be sad. I would be fine, and strongly encourage her to move on right away.”
Garth flipped him off again.
“Use your words,” said Auberi.
A scathing line of words fell from Garth’s mouth, all of which were in his native language.
Laughing, Auberi focused on Rurik. “Up for a road trip?”
“I am up for anything that gets me away from her,” he said, thumbing in the direction of his therapist.
Ms. Perky picked then to wink at him.
He grunted.
Auberi raised his chin as he looked at Rurik. “There is a situation we’d like to keep a closer eye on. Details are slow to come in because the Durham Paranormal Regulator office has been hit as hard with rogues and moles as we have.”
“Durham?” asked Garth. “As in North Carolina?”
“One and the same,” responded Auberi. “Chatter has increased in that area over The Corporation channels we monitor. Something is stirring in Durham. We need more information. Rurik’s name was thrown into the mix as how to get that information.”
Garth let out a long, annoyed breath. “Was Duke the one tossing his name in?”
“How did you guess?” asked Auberi, grinning more.
“Hunch,” said Garth. “Getting rid of Rurik is one of the man’s favorite hobbies.”
“Details are somewhat limited, and plans are last minute, but everything should be in order by the time you arrive there—assuming you’re up for a mission,” said Auberi.
“Sounds like the perfect mission for you,” said the therapist, as if she had skin in the game.
A gnawing started in Rurik’s gut, bringing with it the compulsion to stop what he was doing and get to Durham as quickly as he could.
Fuck having a mission or not.
He’d never been to the city before and hadn’t ever given it much thought one way or another, but now he got the sense he was supposed to be there, not here. The sooner he left, the better. “I’ll go.”
Auberi’s lips slid up more. “That is good to hear, because the catches are just about here. I can smell one of them. I’m unsure if he’s bathed recently, or ever.”
Just then, two men entered the rehab room, walking side by side. Both looked out of place. If Rurik wouldn’t have been there, witnessing the event, he wouldn’t have believed it.
One of the men, the shorter, older one of the two, was dressed in an ill-fitting costume that consisted of a blue jacket with gold edges, a matching blue vest with white stars on it that looked as if it were about to pop a button, a red bowtie, a red and white striped top hat, and matching pants. The man had on a fake white beard that had food stuck in it, all while holding a half-eaten apple pie.
The man next to him stood nearly a head taller and was dressed in a costume that reminded Rurik of something from the late 1800s. It was black from head to toe, complete with a broadcloth coat, and matching vest and pants. He had a fake beard as well but his was black. He wore a top hat that added to his height.
The sight of them made Rurik think of the little girl from years ago once more. It was as if the universe was doing its best to be sure he remembered Little Paw. He nearly cracked a smile.
The short, plump man picked then to lift the pie toward Rurik. “Happy birthday, Commie! Duke sends his regards. He’s stuck in some briefing they got going on for something happening here or somewhere. I can’t remember. You folks step in more shit than pigs in a pen.”
It was true. PSI did step in a fair amount of shit.
The man raised the pie higher. “Also, Duke said you like apple pie. I got hungry waiting for Frenchie here to get to the goddamn point.”
Bill—or Wild Bill, as he liked to be called—had become something of a permanent fixture around PSI and its offshoots. Rurik couldn’t figure out why anyone let the small hairy man within a hundred feet of anything to do with something important, let alone clandestine military facilities, but they did. Oddly, Bill had proven useful in several situations, again baffling Rurik.
“Bill,” said Auberi, licking a fang.
Bill grinned in a way that said he was up to no good. “I ain’t scared of you. A little daylight and you’re extra crispy. And I’d like to remind you that without my people, you’d be speaking German right about now. Call those twins who look like they belong in a Bond movie. Hans-Not-Solo and Jan-Nickelback? They’ll tell you.”
“Hans and Jannick?” asked Garth.
Shrugging, Bill stared at the Viking. “I don’t know. You all have girlie hair and stupid names. Are they the Germans?”
Garth appeared tired as he glanced at Rurik. “They’re German, yes.”
“Great. They’ll tell Frenchie how without us—the Americans—he’d be speaking German,” said Bill.
Gus rocked back and forth in place, staring at an overhead light, as if he wasn’t even in the room let alone part of the conversation.
“That is a misconception,” said Auberi. “In point of fact, the Soviet Union had far more to do with it than your country. Your country just likes to claim the credit. Typical.”
Bill stared at the man with a flat expression. He then slowly looked toward Rurik. “No matter what way Awe-Shuckle-Berry tries to spin it, it wasn’t France saving their own asses, was it?”
Garth chuckled. “And that would be…typical.”
Bill smiled wide and lifted the pie toward Rurik. “Want some? It’s delicious.”
“No,” said Rurik, curling his lip at the sight. All he wanted to do was get on the road to Durham.
“Hey, Commie, did you fight against the Nazis?” asked Bill.
Rurik inclined his head. “I did.”
Bill thumbed his nose at Auberi. “Did you see Frenchie back then?”
“No,” said Rurik. “I would have shot him on sight, ally or not. I have always had little patience for the French and only so much for vampires.”
A loud laugh from Garth cut through the room.
Auberi even chuckled partially under his breath. He licked his lip. “I’ve always enjoyed Russians. They’re good in bed.”
Bill stepped toward Rurik and lowered his voice. “Pretty sure he just asked you to the prom.”
“I do not know what that means,” said Rurik, eyeing the door, ready to get on with his new mission.
“Say no, man. Abort, abort,” Bill repeated. “Looks like he’s into some freaky shit in the bedroom. It’s all fun and games until someone breaks out a hamster and says, hey, let’s see if this will fit up—”
“We get the point,” said Garth, mercifully cutting the man off before he could finish his sentence.
Bill eyed them. “Hey, are any of your asshole buddies werehamsters? Is that a thing? It should be a thing. Tell me it’s a thing.”
“He likes to hear himself speak, doesn’t he?” Garth rubbed his temple, his patience for the small man clearly exhausted.
“That didn’t answer my question,” said Bill with a loud grunt.
Gus put his back to everyone and faced the mirrored wall.
Rurik wanted to join him and no longer be part of the conversation either. “I’m ready to go.”
“I want to know about werehamsters,” said Bill with a stamp of his foot.
Garth groaned. “I’ve never met one. There is a wererat though.”
“Means there is probably a hamster too. Hey, Frenchie, up for giving me some bedroom kink ideas?” asked Bill, focusing in on Auberi. “Ixnay onyay ethay amstershay. Once was enough on that one.”
The therapist eyed Bill. “Are you dressed as Uncle Sam?”
Bill nodded. “Duke said the Russian was having a change of heart about America and wanted to celebrate his birthday with style. Gus decided to be Abe Lincoln. Mostly because he’s so tall and it was the only costume the shop had that didn’t stop partway down his legs.”
Gus, the man in the black top hat, continued to face the mirrored wall as he reached into his front pocket and withdrew a small American flag. He waved it around. He then returned it to his pocket, only to reach into his other pocket and withdraw a small stuffed brown bear. He waved it around as well before shoving it back in his pocket. When he was done, he faced the men once more.
Garth bent his head and touched his brow line. “Who keeps letting them in?”
“I thought it was you,” said Auberi. “You have always had questionable judgment.”
“Ha, jokes on all y’all,” Bill interjected. “I got a keycard. It has my name on it and everything. I’m official now.”
“You have a visitor’s pass,” said Auberi.
“You mean I had a visitor’s pass,” said Bill. “Some of the other teams’ wives did something so my card lets me in anywhere. They think I’m adorable. Most women do.”
Miranda smiled at him before tugging gently on his fake beard, causing pieces of pie to fall to the floor. “You are very adorable.”
Bill beamed. “See?”
She skimmed her hand down him, over his belly, and then around to his arm and back. She pressed in even closer. “So, you like pie? Just so happens, I know a place with an all-you-can-eat buffet of pie.”
Bill stared into her eyes. “Have mercy, woman.”
Gus made a strange noise and flapped about a second before calming.
Bill watched his friend. “Nothing? Really?”
Silence ticked by.
Finally, Bill glanced at Miranda. “Looks like I can’t go to a buffet with you.”
Garth lifted his arm, motioning to Bill and Gus. “You mentioned a catch and they arrived. You’re not thinking of sending them on this surveillance mission too, are you?”
“I am,” said Auberi.
“Another one of Duke’s suggestions?” asked Garth.
Auberi nodded.
“No,” said Rurik, still itching to get a move on it. “I draw the line there.”
“I grow on people,” said Bill. “Plus, I gotta help drive since you’re not back to full strength. Pussy.”
Garth reached out quickly, pushing on Rurik’s shoulder to keep him seated and from going at Bill. Not a moment too soon either.
Rurik looked at Auberi. “I will kill him before we leave this room.”
“Not if you want to get out of here and be back to work,” said Auberi with a sugary-sweet smile. This time he did show fang. “As you noted, I am a doctor. I can just as easily make sure you spend another week here.”
“Want to stay here with me or go on a mission? You pick,” said Miranda.
Rurik’s eyes widened at the thought of being subjected to her a moment longer than need be. “No. I’ll take them with me and do my best not to kill the little one.”
Bill lifted the pie and took a bite, getting even more of it all over the front of himself. He talked as he chewed. “Probably the best offer you’re gonna get out of him, Frenchie.”
“Can we go now?” asked Rurik as he headed for the door.
Chapter Eight
Durham, North Carolina…
Rurik leaned against the black SUV that was parked toward the back of the driveway of the safe house, near the detached garage. After being on the road for nearly three hours, everything on him was stiff, and not in a good way. When he’d first gotten out of the SUV, he’d paced the driveway with pent-up energy that he couldn’t exactly explain. He’d been agitated from the second Auberi had brought him the assignment and the feeling had only increased with every mile he’d drawn closer to Durham.
So did his pain level.
The last thing Rurik wanted to admit was defeat or the fact Garth had been right to be concerned about him and his capabilities.
For now, he’d just continue to stretch his legs as he worked his hand, doing his best to figure out why he’d felt the need to be here.
He’d already unloaded the gear as well as supplies from the SUV into the safe house, all the while ignoring the bite of pain in his back and shoulder, trying to pretend it didn’t hurt. He’d pushed through pain in his life before. This was nothing new. He’d do the job the mission required of him.
The safe house Auberi had secured was older and somewhat run-down but would do the trick. The garage Rurik had pulled the SUV up to sat back behind the home a decent distance and he was pretty sure if he dared open the double doors, they’d fall off.
Since he’d only seen a few homes in the neighborhood with actual driveways, let alone any garage to speak of, he wasn’t about to complain too much.
Parking on the street and unloading an SUV full of surveillance equipment during the day would have drawn notice.
A garden hose attached to an outdoor spigot was draped across the long, single-car driveway. He gave himself another ten minutes before he was winding it up and placing it on the hook attached to the old home. He wasn’t one who liked things to be disorganized. From the look of the backyard, no one had bothered with upkeep on the place.
The house he was supposed to be watching was directly across the street. He hoped the hardwood trees that lined the street on both sides obscured any clear line of sight the occupants might have of him currently.
It was mid-morning, and the neighborhood was dead still, making him wonder if most of the older homes were renovated and rented out to college students—most of whom were probably at school or slee
ping in as that age group tended to do.
It would make sense with the neighborhood’s proximity to the university.
Many of the older homes looked to have been converted into apartments or duplexes at some point. Thankfully, the one Auberi had secured was a single-family one. Rurik couldn’t even begin to imagine the headache keeping an eye on Bill and Gus while sharing walls with civilians would entail.
Auberi had finished briefing Rurik on the mission before he’d left. He hadn’t been joking. Details were incredibly sketchy at best. While Auberi had claimed the particulars were being gathered and the files would be ready for Rurik to look over prior to departing, that hadn’t been the case.
He’d been too anxious to get away from doctors and therapists to wait around. On his way out of the medical facility, Miranda had followed through on assigning him homework all while handing him more tension balls.
The ball he was holding was hard to miss, seeing as how it was bright blue. The other one that he’d brought along on the mission was equally as bright, but pink.
The start of a smile touched the edge of his lips as he thought about where the pink ball was currently. Someplace it could do the most good. “Ah, blissful peace and quiet.”
Bill had been especially trying on the drive in. Rurik had been close to laying waste to the little shit somewhere around the thirty-minute mark. That was why he’d gone ahead and found a way to silence Bill, at least for now, in a way that wasn’t hurting him. It wouldn’t last forever, but it had given Rurik some quiet time. And that was priceless.
At least Gus had been fairly easy to deal with so far on the trip.
Rurik had let him sit up front on the ride and had even allowed the man to bring the mannequin head he was obsessed with. Rurik wasn’t sure how Gus had come by the thing, or why he insisted on taking it with him wherever he went, but it had become something of a permanent fixture and was never far from him.
At some point, someone had decided to put the head within an American football helmet, managing to up its creepy factor. If it hadn’t worked wonders to keep Gus happy and, more importantly, silent, Rurik would have tossed the thing out the window around the same time he’d chucked Bill’s cell phone out of the SUV.
Act of Surveillance: Paranormal Security and Intelligence® an Immortal Ops® World Novel (PSI-Ops/Immortal Ops Book 7) Page 8