Why couldnt he have lost all his hair or gotten a huge beer belly? Why did he have to look so damned good?
He escorted her out, his hand at the small of her back. She quickened her pace but he did as well, keeping contact. Hold up a moment. I need to speak to my people.
She could have suggested she meet him downstairs, but in truth she wanted to see how his operation worked. It wasnt as if she had regular dealings with the werewolf pack structure. Or werewolves at all.
They had a sort of magick too, she noticed as they entered a large room with several desks occupied by large men. Lots of large when it came to werewolves, apparently. They all came to attention when Josh entered the space, gazes straight to him, waiting.
Who has some open time to help me with a tracking project?
Ive got some. Tall, dark and gorgeous stood, tipping his chin in Joshs direction.
Great. Damon, this is Michelle Slattery, shes an old friend and a cop from Roseburg. Shes here tracking a missing woman, a witch we think has been taken by mages.
He took her hand, engulfing it in his, and she wasnt a tiny woman by any means. Im happy to help however I can.
Bring GiGi with you. I want everyone working with a partner until were clear of this mage business.
A tall blonde approached, smiling at Michelle as she thrust a hand in her direction. Nice to meet you.
Meet me at my place in forty-five minutes. Well leave from there.
He spoke quietly with another guy for a bit and then turned back. Ready?
Once they got to the elevator she spoke again. I have a car.
Why dont I follow you to your hotel and you can drop it off and we can drive together?
I dont have a hotel yet. I came straight here. I might go north after we go to those rest stops today. I need to keep moving.
How long has it been since youve slept?
So anyway, why dont I drive and then I can drop you back here when we finish up?
Why do you have to resist so hard?
What does it matter? My best friend is missing and she could be dead. I cant just fucking sleep and I dont understand why it matters to you anyway.
God. Her voice nearly cracked and he totally heard it. Truth was, she hadnt slept more than those four hours before shed gone over to Allies place the day before. She was freaked and exhausted and on edge, and it was all bad business for a cop to get that way.
But what else could she do?
The guys back in Roseburg were on it. Her boss had given her some time to come up and look for Allie, but hed made it clear there was an official investigation and she was too close to the missing person to be effectively on it.
Im driving. You can stay in my guest room. And I care because I care about you. I never stopped caring about you. I left Roseburg behind but it didnt have a thing to do with you.
Im not staying in your guest room.
Where are you parked?
I found a street spot about two blocks up.
Ill drive you to it, and you can follow me to my place and park there.
Youre very bossy, she muttered. It was a good plan, but he was so pushy about it.
Yeah, Ive heard that a few times.
His car was waiting at the curb because someone had brought it out for him. Must be nice.
He grinned as he opened her door and she slid in. It is.
And so of course he lived in some swanky, cool loft-type building a few minutes away from the office. Hed told her to go inside the gate when it opened and to park in spot fourteen so she did. She sat there in the silence for a while.
She needed to hold herself together. To keep her eyes open and not miss anything. It didnt matter that she was tired. That shed been slapped in the face with one of the worst memories of her life. What mattered was finding Allie.
When all this was over, when Allie was back at home, Michelle could break down. Until then, there simply wasnt time.
He rapped on her window, concern on his features, and she did her best to put her cop face back on as she got out.
Chapter Three
He wanted to hustle her into his bedroom, pull back the blankets and make her sleep. His wolf wanted her to be naked when that happened. The man had to push the wolf back and assure it neither was going to happen any time soon.
A great deal of his agitation smoothed once hed locked the door behind them and she was safely in his space.
Im going to put the kettle on to make some tea to take with us, all right? You probably dont need more caffeine but some tea will warm you up.
She moved to the windows and stared out, her shoulders slumping slightly. He forced himself to get the water on and headed into his bedroom. The need to comfort her built inside as he moved, changing from his suit into more casual clothes. If he had to shift, itd be a lot easier to shuck jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt than a button-down shirt and a tie.
Shed grown into a woman worth getting to know. Damn it. He knew she wanted him to walk away. Or that she said so. But there was something between them. Flavored with what theyd been to one another before, but certainly it was more now. They were grown-ups now.
His life was radically different than hed ever imagined growing up in that shithole house with his craptastic parents. It hadnt been hard to walk away from that, not really. What he faced if hed have stayed there was most likely a dead end where high school would have been the high point of his life.
Like it had been for his own father.
Because of a stupid freak-of-nature moment, Josh had risen in the ranks of Pacific. Now he was a leader. He had nice things. An excellent job. People looked to him for advice. He was strong and fast and feared as well as respected. Hed fought hard for the life he had, and he did not regret leaving Roseburg, and the limited options it had presented him behind.
He didnt even regret that it meant leaving her behind. He couldnt be the man he was now if he hadnt cut all ties. But he did regret hurting her. It had been careless and irresponsible. That hed been nineteen really wasnt the point.
He could make it up to her. His wolf certainly wanted to. Which was interesting and most likely connected to his former relationship with her.
She was on edge. Frayed. Exhaustion ringed her eyes and he ached to fix it. Ached that most likely Allie was dead, or on her way to dead, and there was probably nothing they could do to save her.
With a sigh he went back out, and she stood at his windows still, her phone in her hand.
Im just checking messages. Looks like we have a sighting on the SUV here in the Portland area. So I want to go there first. She rattled off an address.
Thats northwest of downtown. There are some parks and wilderness areas out that way. We run out there sometimes. Well go there and then back to the rest stops. I want to compare the scents.
She nodded absently. Yes, good idea. Do you need to be in wolf form? Is that the right term? Form?
He poured hot water into two travel mugs over the teabags. Just a small amount of black tea with some other things that would probably help.
Form is fine. I think on it like my skin. Right now Im wearing my human skin. When I change, my wolf is in charge and Im wearing my wolf skin. I can get a scent without changing, but if I can shift, my senses are even better. Not always possible in public though. At least not during daylight hours. Well head over and see what it looks like. GiGi is really good at tracking. She and Damon both. Hes mated to a witch, by the way. I think its good to have him involved.
I feel like its my first day of school. She took the travel cup, wrapping her fingers around it. I dont know anything really, about this world of werewolves and witches and cat shifters.
He brushed a loose tendril of her hair back from her face. Its all right. I do. Well figure it out together, okay?
Her gaze flicked up from where it had been at her feet, locking with his and everything stilled, even his wolf whod been pacing, urging him to protect her. She swallowed hard and licked her lips.
Im so afraid Im going to fail her.
He sighed, slowly taking her free hand and squeezing. I will help you in any way I can. She might fail. Not because of anything she did, but this enemy
His phone buzzed, and he knew Damon and GiGi were waiting downstairs. He wanted to kiss her so badly it was all he could do to step back and grab his keys. Ready?
She nodded.
Drink your tea and Ill be way happier. Think of it as keeping the wolf happy.
The wolf? Why would it, he, whatever, why would the wolf care?
He guided her out and then into the elevator. What I do, who I am now is all about protection. An Enforcer is more than just a cop. Its my job to be sure everyone Im responsible for is safe and in line.
Im not a werewolf. Im responsible for my own self.
The set of her mouth screamed out for him to kiss it softer, to ease the stress lines there. She could think whatever she wanted, but his wolf believed otherwise. And frankly, so did he.
He lifted a hand to Damon, who ambled over and filled him and GiGi in on the newest developments. Well go to the address, looks like a gas station, to get a scent.
Ill do a quick canvass while you guys do that. Michelle slid sunglasses on, and he watched as she pulled her cop around herself like a coat.
They headed over, but it was already three and traffic made it slow going. She sipped her tea and stared out the window.
When did you become a cop?
Seven years now. I was twenty and Id gotten my BA but I didnt want to live in Eugene and I couldnt see myself in marketing, which is what I got my degree in. She chuckled.
Twenty and you got your BA?
I graduated early from high school and headed off to college. I just ended up taking a really heavy load to stay busy, summer courses too, and I finished early there as well. I was rushing off to do something but once I finished I just didnt know what. She leaned her head back against the seat, and the sun, pale though it was, hit her just right and she seemed to glow.
I was working as an admin person at city hall, and I started hanging out with a cop. The smile on her face told him hanging out might have been of the naked, horizontal nature. He was satisfied with his life. He liked his job. He and I had started working out, and I ended up taking the exam because Allie dared me. I did really well and so I got the job, and thank God Mark, my friend, had been working out with me because the physical part was hard. I guess it was meant to be because they had an opening.
And the friend? He would hate it if she was with someone. Not that it would necessarily stop him from pursuing her. His wolf wasnt that noble.
He moved to Seattle. Hes engaged to be married next summer. He asked me to move up there with him. ButIm a witch. It was hard to hide that from him, and I never felt like it was something I could share. Im not sure how he would have taken it.
Ah. Why didnt you tell me?
I was sixteen when you went away to school. I had planned on telling you when you came back at summer. I believed you loved me in only a way a sixteen-year-old girl can. But I felt like I needed to be sure. I guess it was a good thing I waited. Because you never came back.
He blew out a breath. Im sorry. Not that I left. It was the best decision. My parents dont know and they sure as hell wouldnt understand. It took years for me to get my shit together, but once I did, I was something else. It wasnt about you and I was a dick for not at least telling you goodbye.
We were young. Its over and done with.
The gulf remained between them. But it felt a little smaller.
Its up here on the left. He indicated the small gas station as he turned into the drive and pulled into a parking space.
Ill walk with you. Use my othersight to see if I can sense any of the mage energy. Then you let me talk to the people inside, please.
Will you let me watch if you get rough?
She snorted as she got out. Maybe. If youre good.
A breeze sent cold air over her face as she stood, throwing open her othersight and taking in the area. She noted the way the wolves looked, their magick deep green with hints of earth and sunshine.
The paler blues and reds of human energy. The deep azure of witches. She paused, moving closer.
Allie had been here. Michelles heartbeat picked up as she eased her way around the side of the building, and a wave of nausea hit from the mage energy hanging thick in the air.
They were here.
Josh stepped in front of her, Damon and GiGi to either side. He wrinkled his nose. I can scent her magick. Just a hint. Yours is rich and powerful. Hers
Shes weak. Michelle tamped her panic down.
I can scent the difference between the witch magick and the mage. The mage smells like rotting things. Damons lip curled.
Stolen magick is perishable, Michelle murmured.
What do you mean? Josh stuck close, and she could far more easily sense his dual nature now. His wolf seemed to press against the human skin.
Witches, Weresour magick is natural. It comes from what we are. In the case of witches, from the earth, the air, all the energy from natural things. For you Im told its the magick of the shift. Of the way you hold your forms. I guess Vampires have it too in their own way. Anyway, its inborn. We use it, we get more. Its part of us like our blood. Mages steal it, but its not natural for them. Thats why its magick with a k when its ours and what they have is magic. Mages use it to feed their own power but it doesnt renew like ours does. So they need more. And the turned witches? Well theyre like junkies. They use the stolen magick so often that it eventually burns out their connection to the earth. To their own magick. They have been working with the mages to get a hit of the witches theyve been kidnapping. What they steal cant be kept around. It will eventually, for want of a better word, evaporate. Thats probably why you smell rotting things.
I didnt really know all that background. I mean I knew this was happening, but not all the detail.
Theres more detail Im sure. But Im a coven witch, we arent a clan, and we dont really know a whole lot about all the rest of the Others. Gage told me some, and when we got some training from Clan Owen about this stuff, they did a brief history lesson. Theres a whole world of information I need to know.
Ill help however I can.
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye, a guy running out the back door of the convenience store.
Shit. She took off after him. Stop! Police, stop and put your hands up, she called.
Adrenaline pumped through her system as her feet hit the pavement. He led her away from the main road and through a stand of trees. In the distance she caught the scent of water.
She heard the pounding of feet behind her. Dont leave that gas station! I need to know if someone else tries to run away.
Josh pulled next to her, running easily as her lungs began to burn. Damon and GiGi are keeping watch.
She indicated he head to the right and shed go left. He nodded and peeled away. She drew on her reserves and sped. Their runner was so close. She ordered him to stop one last time and he ignored her.
Drawing a deep breath, she gathered her strength and her power in the soles of her feet and sprang, leaping forward, grabbing a handful of him and taking him down just as Josh sped out of the trees from the right, his teeth bared in a snarl, eyes narrowed.
The guy beneath her tried to buck her off so she dug her knee into his back and bent his arm up, pinioning his wrist enough that if he continued, hed break something. He shrieked and stilled.
God. I dont know why you guys always do this. This is the eventuality. I will get you, and if you make me run, Im going to be cranky.
I didnt do anything!
I told you to stop. I identified myself. You kept running. Now, back to my earlier point about eventualities. She managed to cuff him before getting to her feet and toeing him to his back. Hi. Im Officer Slattery and Id very much like to ask you some questions.
I didnt do anything!
Weve covered that. I want to ask you some questions.
Fuck off, bitch.
Josh growled. Honest to goodness growled and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. The guy on the ground stilled and she got to her haunches.
Thats officer bitch to you. Now, whats your name?
He didnt answer so she patted him down and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open. Charlie Hixton. She pulled out her phone. She really should have checked in with Portland PD when she arrived in town, but it was too late for that now so shed go through her own people first and then do the checking in. Easier to apologize than to ask permission.
The dispatcher had her hold on while she ran a check on him.
Very quietly, Josh leaned in and told her they had a contact in the police department and gave her a name.
You work here at the gas station, Charlie? She hauled him to his feet and nudged him to walk back.
Priors. Armed robbery. Reduced sentence because you testified. A few assault raps. Did some time for that. She kept listening as dispatch continued to fill her in. Car theft. Check forging. You sure do like getting arrested, Charlie. Burglary. Felons arent supposed to be carrying weapons, and here you are with a handgun and a knife. Tsk tsk.
Damon and GiGi waited, as Josh had said they would, in the parking lot. She instructed dispatch to call Portland PD, giving them the name Josh had told her, and get them out to pick Charlie up. He was in violation of his parole, and if he was in jail, shed know where he was.
So, while we wait, you want to answer my questions so I can say you were helpful? Probably knock some time off for you.
Fine. No I dont work here. I do odd jobs for my brother-in-law. I was visiting Bobby, the owner of this place.
Whyd you run out the back door and do not waste my time telling me you were on your way home and you like running.
Just stopping by. I looked out the window and saw you get out. You got cop written all over you. I didnt need the hassle. Bobbys a felon too.
A double parole violation with the weapons possession.
You ever see this woman? She held out a picture of Allie. He shook his head.
Id remember her. I like blondes.
She curled her lip, barely restraining the urge to shake him.
Know anyone with a blue SUV? Jeep Cherokee.
That he did know. She saw recognition in his features even as he tried to school it. Christ, no wonder he got arrested so many times. He was a dumbass.
Everyone and their brother has an SUV. Hell you drove up in one.
Sure I did. But we both know you know exactly which SUV I mean.
I really dont. I know at least ten people with SUVs. Cant say I notice the colors much.
I think I need to talk to Bobby about this whole thing. She stepped away, her hand still at his back, and he leapt at her, knocking her down, snarling as he tried to bite her.
Her head cracked against the asphalt so hard she saw stars, and the edges of her vision grayed slightly.
Josh hauled him off and slammed him against the car hard enough she heard the air burst from his lips. I should gut you for that, he growled low, the words laced with menace enough to bring a little fear even to Michelle.
She got up, embarrassed shed let him get the jump on her like that. See, stuff like that just means youre not being helpful and it makes me wonder just what youre so afraid of youd rather do time than reveal.
Damon, watch this piece of shit.
The Were glowered and nodded, his gaze never leaving Charlie. Boss, you smell that? He said this quietly.
Josh lifted his head, closed his eyes and breathed in. Moments later his nose wrinkled.
How long?
You ran after this piece of shit, and we hung around, out of sight to be sure no one entered or left. When you brought him back and we got a little closer, the wind changed a bit and I got the first whiff.
Mind sharing? Michelle gave Josh a look.
Something smells dead.
She glanced down at Charlie. Really now? You make something dead, Charlie?
He shook really hard, and she sighed. They werent going to get anything from him right then.
Standing straighter, she tipped her chin toward the store.
Josh tried to get ahead of her, and she grabbed the waistband of his jeans, the backs of her fingers brushing against the bare, hot skin of his lower back. It sent little shocks through her, awakening all sorts of things she had to push away.
Me first, she hissed.
What? No.
Its not a request. Im the cop. Youre a civilian. Get back or I wont let you come with me at all.
You cant stop me. The green in his eyes deepened at the challenge, the air between them nearly crackling.
I will shoot you. Dont think I wont. This is my friend and my case.
He sighed. Fine. Not because I think youd shoot me.
Whatever. The hair on her arms stood up and she paused again. Think I know where the something dead is. Stay behind me. Im going in low.
She pulled her piece out, thumbing off the safety.
Still careful, moving quicker, she pushed the door open, keeping low, and saw the blood even before the smell hit her. And what a smell. Fear and death, evacuated bowels. She kept an eye on the body even as she swept through the small interior and found it empty. She tried to cling to her training, but shed never in her life seen anything like it.
Bobby had been torn apart. Literally. Pieces of him had been flung about. She took in what she could as she huffed shallow breaths through her mouth and fought the nausea roiling through her system.
Josh touched her gently. Well wait outside. Pam, thats the cop wholl come, is one of ours. Shell get a good scent in here, but theres no need for us to breathe this in any longer.
She should gather some evidence, but her kit was in the car anyway. The Portland cops would come, and for the time being shed secured the scene so she allowed Josh to lead her out.
What if they were going to do that to Allie? What if they had done that to Allie? Rage swept through her hot and fast as she headed toward Charlie, who paled at the sight of her. She saw no blood on him, just dirt and some pine needles from when theyd tackled him. His jeans were faded and his T-shirt was pale blue so he couldnt have hid it. And if hed been part of what had been done inside, there was no way hed have come out this clean.
What the fuck? You want to tell me what the hell did that to him? She pulled out her phone and called her dispatcher to report the body and have that relayed to Portland PD.
I dont know what you mean.
She stared at him for so long he began to move from one foot to the other. You got yourself a little hobby, Charlie? Hm? Playing all serial killer? It puts the lotion in the basket? She quoted Silence of the Lambs.
I didnt do that! You cant hang it on me, no how. I didnt do that.
Who did, then, Charlie?
He clamped his lips together and shook his head. But then he whispered, Listen, lady, you dont want anything to do with them. And said nothing else.
Chapter Four
Pam, the wolf cop, cop wolf, whatever, showed up with two others, also wolves. Michelle hadnt needed to be told because using her othersight she found it rather easy to detect such things by that point.
If she hadnt been searching for her missing best friend and dealing with a dead body that had been torn to bits, she might have had the time to be excited and amazed by all the things she was learning. As it was, she barely held herself together. Shed questioned Charlie again thoroughly and had given a sketch of what had been said to Pam, whod be her liaison in the police department so that was one less thing to worry about. Sadly there wasnt much to tell. Hed made that creepy comment about not wanting to have anything to do with them but had remained silent about anything else. He stuck to his story about running because he was in violation of his parole.
Lets head down to the rest stops, just so I can see if the scents here are the ones there.
None of this will be admissible, she mumbled as she headed back to Joshs car.
Probably not. But we take care of our own problems. It wont need to be admissible. Charlie there is human, as was Bobby. But Allie isnt. I dont care about the mages, as far as Im concerned theyre not human either. Josh paused. I need to talk to Damon and GiGi. They have the scent from the SUV here. I want them fanning out north and in the area. Theres already an alert on the car so weve got that covered. I want to see if the scent is the same down south, but we can split up some labor now.
How far shed come in less than two days.
Two days ago shed never have allowed all this non-police interference in a case. Two days ago shed never have been silent when someone hinted at vigilante justice. Two days ago she believed in the system and maybe she still did, but her hands were tied by the way things were and she couldnt let Allie get killed by real-life monsters because of the system.
What she would do when this was all said and done she honestly didnt know. For the first time in a really long time, she just didnt know. She was alone and drifting, and she had to let that be okay until she found Allie. Then she could go soul searching.
Is she going to be all right? Damon tipped his chin toward the car. Gotta be a lot to take in for her. He did grin for a moment though. I will say shes a little bad ass. The way she handled Charlie was a sight to behold.
Shes a nice girl from a small town who has just had her entire world turned upside down. So yeah, I think shes a little overwhelmed. Shell deal. Shes got a spine of steel to go with her badassery. She made a tackle Id have admired back in the day.
I forget you played football. She was a cheerleader I hear.
Better not let Gina hear you talk like that. Your witch will cut you. GiGi smirked as she referred to Damons mate, a witch like Michelle, but one whod grown up within the clan system and was far more versed in the world of the Others.
Depending on how long shes in town, you guys should come over for dinner or something. Gina would like Michelle, and Michelle could use some allies, people like her.
One step at a time. Lets just find her friend first. I know this girl, Allie. Grew up with her too. You and GiGi track here in town. Work with Pam on any other sightings of that SUV. Were headed south to those other rest stops. I want to be sure theyre the same mages.
He checked in briefly with Pam, but the coroner had shown up and she was far too busy to say much, which was fine. His mind was already on Michelle.
That was a lie.
His mind had never left Michelle. His skin still burned at the small of his back where shed touched him. Her scent had pushed even the pervasive and horrifying stench of death from his nose.
He wanted her. So much he had to force the need from his mind with other things. He remembered that body in the convenience store. He hoped like hell that wasnt Allies fate. Hed die before he let it be Michelles fate.
Ready? he asked, sliding into his seat and fastening his seatbelt.
Yes. I checked in but theres nothing new. Kathy, thats Allies mom, shes got her sister staying with her and the coven is in touch with Owen. No one else has gone missing, though I find it hard to believe they just stopped off in Roseburg, kidnapped a witch like a cup of coffee on a road trip. This seems far more organized than junkies grabbing a fix.