“Thanks for coming.” Chris held out one hand. The man stared at it a moment then finally shook it. “I’m Chris, Christopher Walters.”
“I'm Dennis.”
“It's good to meet you, Dennis. If you'll come this way, we can sit down in my office and talk.” Chris led the wolf shifter down the hall. “In here.” He opened the door and propped it open. There was no one else on the floor, and he wasn't worried about being overheard. “Have a seat.” Chris waved one hand toward the seating area on the opposite side of the room from his desk and sat in one of the two leather chairs.
Dennis sat nearly on the end of the matching sofa and held out a folder. “I was told to give this to only you. My Alpha also said only when you were alone or with a dragon woman. No one else.”
Chris took the folder and opened it. “Thank you.” He looked at the first few pages then glanced up at Dennis. “You know what's in here?”
“I do. I assisted in some of the work to put it together.”
“Good. Give me a few minutes to look it over, and I may have a couple questions.”
“Not a problem.”
Chris paged through the folder, seeing some of the same things his own investigation team had turned up and others they hadn't. He wondered why they had found so much more, and asked Dennis as much.
“I'm not sure, sir. It could be any number of rea-sons. More experience, more or better contacts, more trusted by those underground, or simply not known by them, while those in your Fraction will likely know who is close to you, who you trust, and who you don't.”
Chris stared at Dennis for a couple moments then closed the folder. “What would you suggest then? Should I ask people I don't trust to get me information?”
“Not precisely, sir, but maybe use someone out-side your Fraction. You've got alliances, other Fractions you are friendly with, use them to your ad-vantage.”
“Thank you.” Chris glanced down at the folder in his lap, then looked back to Dennis. “Did you have anything else for me? Another message perhaps?”
“No, sir, the folder and answering your questions about it is all I was told about. Were you expecting something more?”
“No.” Chris looked away, then stood. “Let me walk you out. Thank you for coming today. I know it's not a normal business day.”
“There are no normal business days in my line of work. You work when there's a job and don't when there's not.”
Chris walked beside Dennis to the elevator, said goodbye, and watched the doors close before taking the folder back upstairs with him. He was trying to decide whether he should take it with him to Rachel's or put it in the safe. The safe for now, as he didn’t want to leave it lying around, even while he was at home.
17
After Chris dropped her off, Rachel cleaned up and got dressed in clean clothes before sitting down at her dining room table. She scanned the table top, where all the information on her search for Ricky still sat, then made notes about what they'd learned from the wolf shifter alpha. Rachel wasn't sure how yet, but she had a feeling that somehow that black market he mentioned was tied to Ricky's disappearance. Now she was trying to connect the dots and figure out the details.
THE PHONE RANG, STARTLING Rachel. Shaking her head at herself, she answered without looking at the screen.
“Rachel,” Teya's voice came across the line. “I hear you had a busy morning.” Rachel frowned, wondering what her friend was talking about. “What time did you make it back to town? Where are you?”
Oh. Someone had told her about the meeting at dawn. Rachel wondered who, but she didn't waste time asking questions.
“We arrived before noon. I'm at home, why?”
“I was curious. Do you have company, or can I come over?”
“I'm here alone,” Rachel glanced at the clock on the wall, “For another three or four hours at least.” She'd told him seven, but she wouldn't be surprised if something kept him later or even all night.
“Okay, I'll be there in a couple.”
The call disconnected, and Rachel pushed away from the table. She stood and straightened the mess she'd made of the papers stacked there, then stretched. She'd been sitting still longer than she planned. A yawn snuck up and surprised her, so she went into the kitchenette and started brewing a cup of coffee. She'd just hit the start button when a knock sounded on her apartment door.
“Come on in,” she called, knowing Teya's prints were programmed into the lock. The door swung open and Teya stepped inside.
“How are you?” Teya looked Rachel up and down, as if trying to gauge for herself.
“Tired, but I'm fixing that.” Rachel pointed at the coffee maker. “You want a cup?”
“I'm good.” Teya waved one hand dismissively as she looked around the apartment, then headed for the stacks of papers on the table. “What's all this?”
“It's my command center for information on Ricky. Some of it's mine; some of it's Chris's.”
“Chris?” Teya glanced at her with interest.
“The new were alpha. I told you about him, re-member? I met him the night of the costume ball. He was looking for a missing member of his Fraction, we've figured out since that she's Ricky's girl-friend.” Rachel filled Teya in on all the developments of their search but left out that Chris was her mate. She wasn't quite sure how to broach that topic. They talked a while longer, going over what they knew while Teya made suggestions of things to try in Rachel's search for her brother.
“Now, tell me about the were alpha. I’ve been a little caught up in my own life, and Jericho, and I guess I’ve not been paying as much attention as I should,” Teya said after a while.
“I'm not sure what you want to know. He's been extremely helpful, shared all of his own information with me, and helped me search for Ricky.”
“I've met him. He seems capable of the job and far more interested in the good of his Fraction than his predecessor, and from what I’ve seen and heard, a better man than his father.” Rachel looked up, her interest piqued.
“That's right, you knew his father, didn't you?”
“In a professional capacity, yes.”
“Did you know his mother?”
Teya frowned, tilted her head back slightly, and looked upward. “I don't think so,” she said after a moment. “If I did, I was unaware she was his mother. Why? Is something wrong?”
Rachel thought for a moment, pulling her mouth to one side as she wondered how much she should share, and how much Chris might not want to be public knowledge.
“I wouldn't say wrong per se, but odd. Apparently, Chris and the alpha of the wolf shifters are brothers, but Chris had no idea. He didn't even know he had a brother. They nearly came to blows over things before we discovered it though.
“Chris has been looking for the person behind the illicit market for human flesh in Las Vegas, and he thought he'd found that person in the wolf alpha. Benjamin obviously wasn't who he was looking for, but he had been looking into the same problem and had some insights into the issue he was willing to share.”
“What was that?”
“I don't know. Benjamin was going to have it de-livered to the Lunar Obsession this afternoon. I haven't seen it yet.” Rachel glanced at the clock. “Chris said he was going to come by later, he may bring it, but I don't know.”
Teya watched her a moment. Rachel had the feeling that Teya was looking past the obvious and trying to see something more, something Rachel might not be ready to share.
“You seem to be spending a lot of time with the were alpha, and I know not all of it is spent hunting.” Teya winked, and a hint of a smile crept across her face. “Is it convenience, distraction, or some-thing else?”
Rachel stared down into her coffee for several long seconds. “He's my mate.”
Teya's brows shot up, but she stayed quiet.
Rachel struggled with what to say. She sighed. “I like him. It's working between us, but I'm not sure how things will end up. It's crossed my mind that you m
ight not want me to stay on as your assistant if he and I stay together. I didn't like that idea, so I've avoided thinking about it.”
“Why wouldn't I want you to keep working with me?” Teya frowned.
“I'm afraid working for you, while mated with the alpha of the werewolves and I assume living at the Lunar Obsession, would be a conflict of interest.”
Teya pursed her lips as she thought about it.
“I see why some people might see it that way, and how it might become one if your Chris turns out to be more like his predecessor than we would like.” Teya fell silent for a few seconds. “You said he’s coming over tonight?”
“He said he would, but he may change his mind.”
“Why don't the two of you come have dinner with Jericho and I? In our apartment, not upstairs. I'll have food brought down, and we can have a quiet dinner. I can get to know him better, and we can discuss the possibility of an alliance between our two Fractions. How does that sound?”
“It sounds good, but I need to check with him be-fore I say yes. He had quite the shock this morning, and I'm not entirely sure he'll even show tonight.”
“All right.” Teya stood. “A quiet evening at home sounds good either way, so I'll go arrange to have dinner sent down. You talk to your Chris and let me know.” Teya bent and hugged Rachel before straightening again. “I'll see you later.” The Fraction leader left, closing the door softly behind her as she left Rachel sitting on the sofa, hopeful that things could possibly work out between her and Chris.
18
Chris was on the treadmill, lost in thought as he jogged, when the music in his ears stopped and the phone supplying it started ringing. He hit the button to slow the machine then reached up and hit the button on his headphones to answer the call.
“This is Walters.”
“Chris.” The single word was enough to send a wave of delight through him. He loved hearing his name from Rachel's voice.
“Rachel. Is something wrong?” Chris glanced at the clock hanging on the wall across the room. Four forty-eight PM. Still hours before the time she'd said he could come by.
“No, nothing is wrong.” Her sigh echoed over the line. “You and I were invited to dinner, and I wanted to check with you before I accepted. It's all right if you don't want to go, but my Alpha wants to meet you.”
“Well, I was hoping to show you the information the shifter Alpha sent me, but we can do that.”
“Bring it. Teya and I were talking about Ricky and my search for him today. She may have some input on what you've found out. She's led our Fraction for more than thirty years, let’s take advantage of any insight she may have.”
“Sounds good.” The treadmill slowed to an easy walk and Chris with it. “Did she happen to say why she wanted to get together?”
“She said something about getting to know you some and the possibility of discussing an alliance be-tween the two Fractions.”
Chris's heart thundered in his chest, more than his running could account for. An alliance between the weres and dragons? Not only would that help make his hold on the weres more secure, but it would also let him have a relationship with Rachel. He knew a lot of shifters mated for life, but he didn't know any weres who had. Well, his father had found Tiffany and they claimed they were mates, but their lives weren't bound together in the same way many shifters were. He would be happy if Rachel agreed to be with him long term.
“Sure. Let's do the dinner thing. I'd like to discuss an alliance.”
“Great.” Rachel sounded excited that he'd agreed. “You still planning on seven?”
“I was, but I could do six thirty, if you'd rather.”
“Either is good. I'll see you when you get here.”
“All right. I'll call you when I get to the casino door.” He hated having to disturb her to let him into the elevator, but he understood it and at the same time, was thankful that security was good and Rachel was safe.
After hanging up with Rachel, Chris shut off the treadmill and stepped off without waiting for it to stop. His mind still spinning with possibilities, he headed for the shower. He wanted Rachel with him, always.
Chris didn't care if it was here or at the MesoAmerican. An alliance between the Fractions would make that possible. His pack wouldn't like him being in a permanent relationship with someone not a were, but he was certain he could convince those that mattered. Chris was sure he could get his major supporters in the pack to see the benefits of having such a powerful and long-standing ally.
While he showered, Chris continued to think about his situation with Rachel. As much as he wanted to make things more official with her, she was too engrossed in her missing brother right now. Chris needed to wait until something was deter-mined about Ricky, one way or another, before he approached Rachel about their being mated. That meant they needed to find Ricky. His mind went back to the file Dennis had delivered and tried to remember if there was anything there that might help.
AFTER DINNER, THEY were sitting in the dragon al-pha's apartment discussing the best way to find their missing people and the illicit market of human meat when Rachel's phone rang. She frowned as she stared down at the screen.
“I don't recognize the number, but it's local.”
“Answer it.” Teya said.
“Hello?” Rachel put the phone to her ear.
“She's dead, Rach. She's gone.” Chris's enhanced hearing picked up a voice he didn't recognize sobbing on the other end. He watched Rachel's face for some sign of who it was. Shocked disbelief was her only expression.
“Ricky?” Tears pooled in her eyes. “Is this really you?”
“It's me Rach, but she's dead.” There was a ragged intake of breath. “I don't know what to do now.”
“First things first, where are you?” While tears streamed down her face, Rachel's voice was amazingly calm. She spoke to her brother for a couple of minutes, and then ended with, “Just stay there, I'll be there to pick you up as soon as I can.” Hanging up the phone, she looked at him first. Relief and joy shined in her eyes. “He's alive. Oh my god. He's alive.” She stood up and scrambled to gather her things. “I have to go get him.”
“Hold up,” Chris stood. “You're not driving any-where in this state. Tell me where you need to go, and I'll take you.” He turned to Teya. “Thank you for dinner, and I'd like to continue our talk about how our Fractions can help each other, but I've got to go just now.”
Teya waved one hand. “Understood. You go take care of Rachel and Ricky, and we'll talk more later.”
Chris herded Rachel out the door and down the hall to her apartment as she muttered under her breath.
“He's alive. I have to go get him.” She kept repeating the same words, and Chris understood her shock.
“Where is he?” He waited while she collected her jacket and purse then he stopped her at the door. He put his hands on her shoulders and waited until she stopped muttering and met his gaze. “Rachel, where is Ricky?”
“The dam. He's at the dam.”
“Okay. Good, we can get to the dam. How do you get to the tunnels from here?”
Rachel looked at him wide-eyed and lost for a moment. Then he saw something in them click. She turned around and grabbed a set of keys off the hook behind the door.
“The elevator.”
THE ELEVATOR RIDE SEEMED to take forever and opened into a tiny room, just a waiting room for the elevator. Rachel pushed out the door and stepped out into the dark cavern. As Chris followed her, lights flickered and lit the area. Rachel hurried a few steps down the enormous tunnel and pressed her hand against a scanner. After a few seconds, a large garage like door started rolling up. Once it was a few feet off the ground, Rachel ducked under the door and into the garage beyond.
“Here, you drive.” She tossed the keys she'd taken off the hook at him and went to the passenger side of one of two small SUV's parked inside. The shock of Ricky's call seemed to be wearing off, but Chris was going to keep an eye on her just in
case. He slid in behind the wheel, started the car, and eased out of the garage and into the tunnel. It was the occasional moment like this that Chris was glad he'd prowled these tunnels for hours and days on end as a teenager and knew them well. Hitting the gas, he sped off to retrieve his mate's brother.
19
To Rachel, the trip through the tunnels to the Hoover dam seemed to take hours, but according to the clock on the dash, it was just under twenty minutes. Chris slowed the car to a more normal speed and glanced around.
“Where is he? Did he tell you where exactly?”
“No, he just said the dam, maybe he's on the sur-face?”
“We can check there.” Chris sped up slightly, turning a couple of times down narrower, but still wide, tunnels as if he knew exactly where he was going.
Rachel was lost. She used the tunnels in town on occasion but had never been this far. After a few minutes, Chris pulled up and stopped in front of a wall, which seemed solid. After a few seconds, the wall started moving. As the door rolled upward, it revealed a dimly lit parking garage. As Chris eased the car into the garage, Rachel scanned the area, looking for Ricky. Chris seemed to know the area well as he headed straight for the exit. They were almost out to the narrow, two-lane road, which crossed the dam in both directions, when Rachel spotted Ricky.
There he was, running toward them.
“There.” Rachel pointed toward her brother.
Chris stopped the car, and Rachel hit the locks and got out. She hugged Ricky as he fell against her. She could feel his bones through the dirty, torn clothing.
“We've got to hurry. They're right behind me.”
“Who?” Rachel opened the rear door for him and followed him in, slamming the door shut. “Go. He says they're right behind him.”
Chris jerked the wheel and turned back into the garage, avoiding the few cars inside as he went back to the door leading to the tunnels they'd just come through.
The Dragon Chronicles_City of Sin Page 17
