by Sharon Green
"I thought they were here to take down that vampire 'conspiracy,'" George put in. "That was the impression they gave us after they burst in to rescue Taz. That they'd found the people they were after."
"Those vampires were part of what they were after, but not all of it," Eric said, and he was frowning again. "I'm not discussing things I shouldn't, because no one ever told me any of that. It was just an impression I got, but I'm not unsure about that impression. Grail and Jaril have a habit of not sharing information with anyone else unless they absolutely have to."
"What a surprise," Freemont said, his tone very dry. "And they wonder why we don't want to have anything to do with them. But I have a question on another topic, Eric. Taz and George said that James, the shapeshifter, only grew fangs and claws, leaving the rest of his body human. Do you have any idea how he did that? Especially since it wasn't the full moon?"
"He was able to do that?" Eric asked, his eyes actually widening in surprise. "Only one in about five thousand shapeshifters can change parts of their body and not the rest, and it takes strength. It's a very rare ability, and one kind of strength usually means strength in other areas too. It's a lucky thing the SWAT people were there to put him down, Taz. You wouldn't have had much of a chance against him if you two had been alone."
It's a good thing I was eating a roll when Eric said that, otherwise I might have been stupid enough to tell him I hadn't had all that much trouble holding James off. I remembered thinking James was using hysterical strength, and if he'd been in better physical condition I might have had a problem with him. But the strength James used hadn't been the overwhelming kind, and I really didn't want to know right now what that meant. George glanced at me but he didn't say anything either, at least not on that particular topic.
"So James was special, but in a positive way," George commented with a shake of his head. "If his parents hadn't raised him to be a useless nonentity, I wonder what he would have accomplished in that same positive way. Well, it's very much too late to get the answer to that question now."
Just because George was critical about a lot of things didn't mean he wasn't making a very good point this time. The rest of us sat quietly, doing nothing to add to his comments, but that didn't mean we weren't thinking about them.
It didn't take long before our food came, along with a profuse apology for George. The kitchen's head chef hadn't been able to come up with a single idea for George's meal, and George actually broke down and told the waiter that there was no harm done.
"After all," George told the poor man, "my kind of being isn't so common that people have made preparations for us. Please give your chef my thanks for having tried. I really do appreciate the effort."
The waiter was very relieved to be let off the hook so easily, and after thanking George in the same profuse way he left us to our meal. The exchange lightened everyone's mood a bit, so we were able to tackle our food with the enthusiasm it deserved. Freemont and George did some chatting with Eric, but I kept my attention on my plate. The wounds on my arms hadn't gotten the kind of reaction from Eric that I'd wanted, and now I was out of ideas.
"That was good," Freemont said after using his napkin for a final time before putting it back on the table. "I planned on having dessert tonight, but I just don't have the room for it. What about you, Taz, or you, Eric?"
"If I explode they probably won't let me eat in here again," Eric said as I simply shook my head. "I don't know how much longer I'll be staying, so I'd rather play it safe. So… Have you folks come to a decision about hiring me? If you need a little more time you can certainly have it."
"No, I think we've had all the time we need," Freemont said after exchanging a glance with George. And just with George. "We're prepared to offer you a three month trial period, during which we can all get to know each other a little better. If, at the end of that time, we all agree we can work together, we'll make the association more permanent. Are you willing to accept those terms?"
"Of course," Eric answered with a smile that looked very pleased. "It's always possible we won't get along, so being cautious just makes sense. What I need to know now is how long we'll be staying in this area. The task force has been paying for my suite, and if we're staying I have to make other arrangements."
"Don't make other arrangements just yet," Freemont told him. "I've gotten the conviction that we'll be getting a call tomorrow, but I don't know where the new job will take us. All I know is that it won't be around here."
"Then I'd better get packed," Eric said, using his own napkin before putting it down and getting to his feet. "What time do you think I ought to be ready for tomorrow?"
"We're going to police headquarters at about nine in the morning," George answered, drawing Eric's attention. "Taz needs to file the bounty papers, and we also need to claim that extra reward. Since Freemont will be going with us, there's no reason for you not to do the same."
"Then I'll be in the lobby at nine," Eric agreed, smiling around at all of us before picking up his part of the bill and heading for the place to pay.
"I'm glad he didn't offer to pay for your meals as well," George said once Eric was far enough away not to overhear him. "If he had, I'd be very suspicious."
"I'm suspicious anyway," I said, the first words I'd spoken in quite a while. With Eric gone, I found it a lot easier to breathe. "How do we know that he wasn't told to join us so the task force will find it easier to keep tabs on us and learn what we're doing? We only have his word for the fact that he actually quit."
"I think that might be what Freemont was trying to find out about when he shook Eric's hand," George said, turning to look at a slightly distracted psychic. "What did you get from him, Freemont?"
"Nothing about whether or not he still works for the task force," Freemont answered, the small movement of his head showing annoyance. "There was something else, though, which is why I offered him the trial period without checking to see if you'd changed your mind, Taz. Both of you need to know what that something else is."
This time it was me who exchanged a glance with George, the very solemn expression Freemont wore making me wary. I wasn't going to like what I heard, I knew I wasn't going to like it.
"It was one of the strongest vibes I've ever gotten," Freemont went on, back to looking faintly distracted. "If we don't let Eric stay with us, he'll be dead inside of a month."
Those words made me flash on a picture of Eric, tall and strong and so very full of life. I'd been terribly aware of him for every minute he sat at the table, and even now that he was gone he hadn't taken all of that tingling vibration with him. The feeling still played softly over my nerve endings, a teasing memory of the real thing. At some point he'd let his guard down, and I'd gotten a taste of the … wild vitality filling him before he got it under control again. He was so very, very alive, but if we didn't keep him with us he'd be dead?
I knew I'd hate what Freemont had to say, I just knew it.
Chapter Nineteen
When we headed down to the lobby the next morning we were all set. I wore a black tee shirt and electric blue slacks, black sneakers, my weapons belt, and carried a black shoulder bag. Freemont wore his favorite jeans, but he'd added a bright yellow shirt to make himself look dressy in spite of also wearing running shoes. I'd filled out the bounty forms the night before after joining Freemont in using the hotel's laundry facilities, and once the clothes were dry I'd packed. We still hadn't gotten the call Freemont was expecting, but the day was young.
And as soon as Eric came over to join us it was the same old story. I suddenly felt as if I were drowning in the vibration he produced, needing to clench my teeth instead of joining in the morning greetings being exchanged between him and Freemont and George. It was all I could do to notice that Eric was also wearing jeans and running shoes, but his tee shirt was powder blue. When the three of them headed out to the parking lot I trailed along behind, still not saying anything until we reached the Saturn. That was the point I knew I had t
o say something.
"I can't do it," I stated as they all turned to me, waiting for me to unlock the car. "I'm sorry, Eric, but I just can't get into a car with you and still be able to drive well enough not to get into an accident. If you take your own car we all ought to survive the trip."
If I'd expected Eric to get angry or simply shrug and comply, I would have been disappointed. I suddenly found him staring at me, and then he shook his head.
"No wonder you haven't said more than a few words," he observed, a puzzled look in those light gray eyes. "Why haven't you quelled the feelings?"
"What are you talking about?" I half-demanded, the question coming out almost without my permission. Then I had to grit my teeth again, so it was George who continued the discussion.
"I don't think Taz knows what quelling is about," George said, speaking to Eric. "Can you tell her how to do whatever it is? She's never really gotten involved with other shapeshifters, you understand, not without a fight of some kind being involved."
"And a fight makes quelling unnecessary," Eric said, his nod definitely thoughtful. "Okay, Taz, lean against the car and close your eyes, and I'll explain how you quell what you're feeling. It isn't very hard."
Not very hard. I didn't really believe Eric and certainly didn't want to get involved with more shapeshifter garbage, but it wasn't as if I had a choice. Either I did something about the way he made me feel, or his association with the team was over before it really began. And if he didn't stay with us… That thought sent me over to the car, where I leaned against a fender and closed my eyes.
"Okay, now you have to picture what I'm saying," Eric's voice came without his moving closer. "What you're feeling is like a thick cloud filling your mind, a cloud you can't see through or even breathe through. What you haven't realized is that your mind now has arms, and you can use those arms to gather up that very thick cloud. Get your mind's arms all around the cloud, then pull it back and down, away from your active awareness. Once you get the cloud moved you'll still be aware of the feelings, but they'll be far enough away that they won't bother you."
The heat of the fender I leaned against might have distracted me if I hadn't been struggling with the concept of mind-arms. The idea was so weird that I almost told Eric how crazy he was, but then I noticed something almost as strange. It wasn't really arms that I reached out with, but it was still possible to encircle that thick cloud Eric had mentioned. Once I had a good grip on the cloud I pulled on it, and suddenly everything I'd been feeling … muted down. I would have been happier if those feelings had disappeared completely, but a tiny whisper is better than a screaming shout any day.
"It worked," I said as I opened my eyes again to find Eric still standing where he'd been and Freemont and George staring at me intensely. "I am still aware of the feelings, but they aren't beating me over the head anymore. Thanks, Eric."
"No problem," Eric answered with a faint smile, an odd look in his eyes. "The only time you want those feelings to be right out front is when you're in the mood for company. At any other time they can drive you crazy."
"Isn't it nice when a new addition to the group proves his usefulness so quickly?" Freemont said, a grin wiping away all traces of worry. "I knew we'd be glad to have Eric around, but right now we'd better get going. I can feel that people are waiting for us, and the longer they have to wait the more … antsy they're going to get."
"Then let's go and chase the ants away," I said, the relief filling me almost making me drunk. "And now we can all go in the same car."
I pressed the button that unlocked the doors, and it wasn't long before we were all in the car. Freemont sat beside me in the front passenger seat, and George sat next to Eric in the back. A minute later we were leaving the parking lot for the highway, a comfortable silence surrounding us. I felt … freed from a terrible burden, and all I wanted at the moment was to enjoy the sensation.
It didn't take more than a few minutes to reach the police headquarters building, and when we walked inside Granger Allen was waiting for us with a lot of company. He and Dan Newsom, the SWAT team leader, grinned as just about everyone stood up and applauded us. Eric, who had been walking behind us, moved to one side and just stood watching my discomfort with a smile. There had been times when other people had shown their happiness with what we'd done, and I'd learned that I was the only one of the team who was allergic to gushing gratitude.
"Taz and George, welcome," Allen said with the same wide smile after the applause had died down some. "And this must be your third partner, the one who narrowed the search area so beautifully. I'd like you all to meet my boss, Police Chief Warren Helms."
Chief Helms stepped forward with the same kind of smile and put his hand out to me. He was a middle-aged man of average height, on the stocky side with brown hair and eyes and a florid face. His blue suit looked fresh and his blue-patterned tie matched, and his handshake was so careful that I think he was afraid of hurting me.
"Ms. Bell, it's a true honor to meet you and your partners," Helms said, glancing at George before sending his smile to Freemont as well. "You helped us out of a very nasty fix, and we want you to know how grateful we are. The mayor will be here in just another few minutes, and then he means to hold a press conference. We won't be goin' into a whole lot of detail, but we do want folks to know how grateful we are. Now, tell me if there's anythin' we can get for you while we're waitin'."
"I have the bounty forms that need to be signed," I said, pulling the forms out of my shoulder bag. "If we can get that taken care of and out of the way I'll be able to forget about them."
Helms took the forms and signed them himself rather than pass them on to someone else. He kept the copy that his office had to send out, speaking quietly to one of the detectives before handing him the form, and then he returned the copy that I had to send in.
"We'll get that in the mail today, so don't worry about it," Helms told me, gesturing in the direction of the form that the man he'd spoken to had disappeared with. "Now how about sittin' down and takin' some refreshment? I know Mr. Lees probably doesn't want anythin', but that still leaves you and Mr. Freemont. And I hope Mr. Freemont understands that I would have offered to shake hands but I was told that that might upset him."
"Not only do I understand, but I appreciate the thoughtfulness," Freemont answered for himself with only a small amount of amusement. "Most people don't understand that I'm not trying to be rude when I decline the offer of a handshake. The truth is just too … involved."
"Of course, of course," Helms agreed, ushering us toward the coffee room. The chief seemed to have no idea that Freemont was indulging his sense of humor, which was a lucky thing. The truth about Freemont wasn't involved, it was actually very simple. If he kept his shields in place he would probably get nothing from anyone he shook hands with, but he just didn't like to shake hands.
Granger Allen and Dan Newsom joined us and their chief in the coffee room, where Freemont and I were given chairs and cups of fresh coffee. While the chief sent a couple of detectives off to do things, Dan Newsom came over to stand next to me.
"I can see Allen was right when he said you'd be all healed by this mornin'," Dan said, definite satisfaction in his eyes. "In case you don't know it, all you have to do is hint that you'd like to stay in these parts and the chief will fall over his own feet offerin' you a job on the force. Any chance you'd be willin' to do the hintin'?"
"I appreciate the offer, Dan, but the truth is our … talents would be wasted if we settled down in any one place," I said with a sincerely regretful smile. "People call us in when they're facing things they just can't handle alone, and we help them get out from under. But if we could settle down, this is the place I would do it."
Dan answered my smile with a better one of his own, obviously knowing that I wasn't just being tactful. I did like the people in this area, but settling down wasn't in the cards for me.
"Your bein' here even for a short while has opened some eyes that were tryin'
to stay closed," Dan said, his tone having gotten softer. "The chief got together with the mayor after readin' our reports, and now a new directive is in the works. We'll be actively recruitin' shapeshifters for the force in the same way we recruit vampires, somethin' that should have been done a long time ago. They're goin' to call it a perk for the human members of the force, but I don't care what they call it. As long as I can have a few people on my team almost like you, I'll be a happy man."
The chief called Dan over then, so he didn't get to see the strain in the smile I kept showing. I couldn't help wondering how my life would have gone if my own department had wanted me to keep working for them. Would that have made my parents change their minds about not wanting to know me? Would the people I'd known when I was human still want to be friends with me? Would I have been able to stand it if I'd been nothing more than the token shapeshifter? How would the recruited shapeshifters be treated on this force and by the people in the street once everyone knew what they were?
"Things won't be the same here as they would be in the city, Taz," Freemont said softly from where he sat to my left, apparently reading my mind. "I wouldn't have believed it before spending time down here, but there really is less prejudice in the South than there is in the North, at least that kind of prejudice. And no, I'm not reading your mind. I just know you well enough to know what you're probably thinking."
Freemont's smile encouraged me to join his amusement, and after a moment I touched his arm in thanks. My partners who were actually my family did know me, at least as well as I knew them, and I couldn't imagine giving up being with them for anything in the world. I took a sip of the coffee I hadn't yet tasted, found it surprisingly drinkable, so I took an actual swallow. It wasn't as good as the coffee we'd had with breakfast, but it was definitely better than nothing.
