by Sophia North
Maybe she'd been too rash in agreeing to show him her studio. But whatever her feelings on the matter, it was too late to rescind the invitation.
Leading Darius up the stairs to her studio, she tried to put her key in the door when it swung open the moment she touched it.
Furious at discovering her home had been invaded, Penny was about to charge in, but Darius grabbed her by the waist to prevent it. He held a finger to his lips.
The door creaked further ajar after he gently pushed it. Entering, he switched on the lights, scanning the room instantly. No one was there. The place was empty. Literally.
Rushing in behind him, Penny gasped as she took in the vast empty space. Everything was gone but for the large sectional and a few other furnishings.
"My paintings! They've been stolen!"
Chapter Twenty-Two
THE CRACKLING SOUND of the police radio on the Constable's shoulder bounced off the walls of the empty studio. Every few minutes another alert would blare out the latest pursuit. 'Suspect on foot heading down Sumner towards the Thames'.
Apparently all was not well in the nation's capital, if the constant stream of criminal activity was any indication.
Nursing a hot cup of tea, Penny glanced up from her sectional at the man in charge. If not for the shock of having nearly all her worldly possessions stolen, she might have appreciated his rugged good looks more. She'd always been a sucker for men in authority. Must be her love of challenging it that drove it.
"Miss MacGregor, you claim the paintings were stolen but how can you explain the half a million in cash in that bag over there?" The Inspector asked impatiently. The theft did not rate high on his list priorities, but nevertheless, he'd been sent to investigate it.
Darius stood, arms crossed, staring at the man, his deep brown eyes smouldering with barely suppressed rage. He'd remained with Penny to await the police, although why she refused his offer of assistance mystified him. But refuse she did, and insisted on ringing the authorities.
Darius reckoned she was regretting her decision right about now. They were half an hour into filing her report about the stolen paintings but their questions seemed to be going around in circles.
Losing his patience, he finally intervened. "Lang, is it? Ethan, I believe. You should know I have had many dealings with your elder brother, Marcus."
Ethan Lang's eyes flashed briefly with anger at the mention of his family background. "I fail to see how that has anything to do with what we are discussing, Mr...?"
Darius grinned at him dangerously. "You know who I am, young pup. My acquaintance with the Langs goes way back."
Penny picked up on the exchange. "You are a Lang, Lang?" she asked dejectedly. If that was the case, she'd no hope of assistance. Police Inspector or not, no Lang would ever help what they deemed to be a vamp sympathiser. Vampyres and werewolves were not exactly on the best of terms at the moment.
The Inspector's handsome face grimaced slightly. Ethan loathed being lumped in with his asshole brothers. As the youngest of three, he'd grown up being treated as the annoying youngest sibling, despite the fact that their birth order made them almost like triplets. There was barely a year between each of their births.
"Miss MacGregor, I am Inspector Lang, let's leave it at that," he answered brusquely. "You claim to have sold a painting today for fifty thousand pounds in cash, which has now miraculously grown into five hundred thousand. That's an amazing inflationary rate, wouldn't you agree? Is such a large cash sum a usual business transaction for your type of business?"
Darius couldn’t listen anymore. The Lang runt went too far with his insinuations. "Miss MacGregor has answered this point on numerous occasions. Sounds like you have nothing further to ask. You have the names of the two dealers that may have something to do with the theft. So I suggest you call close of play and get on with doing your jobs."
Ethan snapped his notepad closed. He'd never understand human women's fascination with these vamp cunts. Penny MacGregor was an excellent example. Beautiful but obviously stupid.
Why else get tangled up in the vamp black-market?
Although even he had to admit the shift to art work struck him as a strange choice for diversification. Vamps tended to deal in drugs and ammunition.
Casting another look around the studio, he focused his gaze to look for clues a typical Inspector might have missed.
Nothing.
Why the fuck were they reporting all this to the police? he mused silently. He must be missing something and it was of far more interest than tracking down some fictitiously stolen paintings.
His wolf senses may not have picked up any clues about the reason for his visit, but they told him that much. He could smell her lie. No one had entered this studio in the three hours Penny MacGregor had said she'd been out.
"Very well, the hour grows late and we will need to bring the two gentlemen in for questioning tomorrow. Where will we be able to find you, Miss MacGregor?” he asked. “This studio will remain a crime scene until Forensics clears it. Should we need to follow-up, it would be helpful to know where to contact you."
Hmm, how was this going to work? Penny would be staying at Simone's, but she couldn't really give him her address. Nor was her mobile going to be of any use. Dante's underground fortress did not receive a signal.
"I would like to be present when you question them," Penny announced. "Although, I can assure you Lionel Smitherman has nothing to do with this. It is Reginald Reilly you really need to speak with, as I said there was something off about the man from the moment I met him."
"Unfortunately, Miss MacGregor, it would be highly unconventional to have you present. Civilians are not allowed to take part in police investigations," Ethan countered.
Penny's nostrils flared. "Inspector Lang, I am not a 'civilian', I am the victim. And if you have any further questions based on what comes out during your interviewing, surely it would be useful to have me on hand to clarify any details."
Ethan sighed. Here we go. Another irrational female to complicate his life. If he didn't allow her to attend she looked the sort to go right up the chain of command to get what she wanted.
"Very well, Miss MacGregor. I will ring you when the interviews have been arranged."
Penny smiled warmly at him, pleased to have gotten her way. She would have hated getting the young man into the bad books of his superiors. Not that he looked all that young, she reckoned he was slightly younger than she was, around thirty. But the way Darius spoke to him had given her the mistaken impression he was a much younger man than he was.
"Thank you, Inspector Lang. As for where I will be, I've decided to stay with a friend until I depart for Scotland."
"Have business up there, do you?"
Sweet Goddess, he was at it again. All suspicion and insinuation. She really wished she hadn't bothered with the police and taken Darius up on his offer to help. Problem was, doing so may have resulted in Vlad becoming involved. And she had no intention of letting that happen.
He was under strict orders to stay away from her and if he possessed any sense whatsoever, he needed to do exactly that. Their last encounter, which could still curl her toes with pleasure when she thought of it, could not happen again.
The hunger she felt for him was starting to unnerve her. The sooner she saw her Gran, the better.
"Yes, in a way. The family sort. I'm sure you can relate," she replied tersely. She too had become tired of being treated like the perpetrator. "Use my mobile as your first point of contact. It is the best way to contact me, if you don't reach me, leave a message. I have a habit of leaving it on silent."
Rising from the couch, she carried her cup into the kitchen to place it in the sink. A shadow outside the large warehouse window caught her eye. But it happened so quickly, she couldn't be sure if it had really been there. Maybe it was just her fraught nerves playing tricks on her mind.
Emerging back into the main studio area, Penny announced, "I’m feeling quite weary.
If there is nothing else, Inspector, I'll head over to my friend's now."
Ethan nodded. "Unless you have anything to add to your statement, I'm good, Miss MacGregor.”
Dog with a bone. That's what he was.
"May I take a few of my things with me?" Penny asked, looking down at her evening dress. She could try to raid Simone's for some clothes, but they were completely different body types, and she didn't relish the idea of going to Scotland Yard tomorrow dressed like a designer prostitute. Her breasts had nearly broke free from the corset she'd borrowed last time. Best not tempt fate.
"Yes, but I'm afraid one of my men will need to inventory the items. Procedure, you understand."
"If my knickers are so important to note, then by all means, Ethan. Sharpen your pencil."
THE SMOOTH GLIDE OF the Phantom lulled Penny's ragged nerves. It was late, or early dependent on one's point of view, and she'd had quite the day.
Curled into the corner of the plush interior, she watched the London cityscape pass by. Tugging Darius's coat up under her chin, she sighed in contentment at the familiar feel of its supple leather. It was a Watcher's coat, just like Vlad's.
Turning her head, she saw that Darius was also staring intently out the window, his jaw clenched in anger. "You were right. I shouldn't have bothered with the police...with the investigation being headed by a Lang, I won't hold my breath on a result."
"Is this your way of giving me a green light to take over?" he asked, the prospect bringing a gleam to his eye. "I'd love to get my hands on the responsible party."
Surprised by his venom over what amounted to nothing more than some canvases and paint, Penny sat back and pondered his reaction. She was, of course, gutted by what happened. And there was a tiny hint of panic in the back of her mind over how she was going to explain the loss of the portrait to Lionel's client. She didn't give two figs about Reginald Reilly's reaction to the theft. Not when he was her number one suspect for the heist.
"I am grateful for the offer, Darius. But my answer remains the same. I'd hate to add to any tensions between vampyres and werewolves. Vlad used to complain about how unreasonable they could be."
"Fuck Vlad's diplomatic ways," Darius spat. Realising he'd let his temper get the better of him, he tried to soften his strong words. "I'm sorry, my sweet. I'm not good with playing second fiddle."
It may not have been the ideal moment to broach the subject, but as he'd opened the door, it would have to do. "Darius, we need to discuss what happened in Vlad's chambers...about your asking to Court me. I hope I haven't given you the wrong impression...well, maybe I have and I regret doing so. But...you know we can never be together, right? Vlad may be the world's biggest asshole, but I would never hurt him like that."
Darius stared out the window, deliberately avoiding her gaze. "He will never be with you the way you want him to be, Penny. His stubbornness won't allow him to break his oath. You would be wise to accept this truth. I'd hate to see you hurt because he cannot control himself and stay away. It will leave you pining over him for years...perhaps even a lifetime. You deserve better."
Oath? What on earth was he talking about, what oath? Digesting his words, she sat up, stripping away his heavy coat. She suddenly felt very warm.
"And you are the better choice, is that what you are trying to tell me? Why would you want me? I cannot give you much of a future. I cannot give you children, Simone's test confirmed that. Nor, quite frankly, do I want them."
Darius turned to her, his eyes glowing with intent. "Simone's wrong. Vlad knew it, and I trust the Viking's instincts far more than science."
The Phantom lurched to an abrupt halt, the motion throwing Penny off-balance. And not a moment too soon, in Penny's estimation. Darius's behaviour had taken a strange turn and she wasn't sure what to make of it.
"Fuck, that's it. You are dismissed Watcher. Don't be here when I return. I will deal with you back at Lowerton."
The driver's hands tensed on the wheel. Vlad's control was slipping. He'd been in the shadows all evening, watching, listening.
He wanted to tear Darius's head off for the shit he'd said tonight. But he didn’t dare take the chance of upsetting Penny. She'd been through enough and he wasn't going to add to her misery.
"Penny?" Darius gently shook her shoulder. "You weren't hurt were you?"
She blinked a few times. "What?...no, I'm fine. What happened?"
"I was being an ass, for which I apologise, and it would seem my cunt driver has parking issues. On a positive note, we've arrived at Simone's. You will soon be free of me and my insufferable temper."
His humorous explanation eased her earlier misgivings. This was the Darius she knew.
"Apology accepted. It's been quite the night."
"That it has. Come, I'll see you in. I'd rather not have Simone dock me anymore points than I have deservedly forfeited. I wager once she learns about my behaviour tonight, I'll be lucky to be admitted after a year."
Vlad waited until Darius and Penny were out of sight before he got out of the car. He desperately wanted to stick around for Darius to return. There were a few choice words he'd love to exchange with him, accompanied by a swift fist to his face. But he had other fish to fry at the moment.
It was time to pay a visit to the good Inspector. From what he'd heard outside the kitchen window, the Lang pup had some explaining to do.
Chapter Twenty-Three
NEW SCOTLAND YARD'S Headquarters was not living up to its illustrious reputation. At least, that was Penny's opinion after spending the past two hours sitting in a grimy Interview Observation Room listening to Ethan Lang question Lionel Smitherman. The man should have been released an hour ago, having answered every question put to him eloquently and with the necessary documentation to back it up. And yet, just when Penny thought Ethan was going to wrap things up, shake Lionel's hand and thank him for his amazing patience, he'd find something else to ask him.
The tech assistant sitting beside her, pressed down on the mic's button to communicate again with the Inspector. Even she was annoyed with the bizarrely longer than required interview.
"Inspector Lang, Reginald Reilly has been waiting for an hour," the bespectacled young woman said tersely. "Sir," she added at the end, so as to avoid sounding too insubordinate.
Ethan spun round and brutally eyed the two-way glass, his ear still ringing from Constable Wylde's overly aggressive reminder. Penny chuckled, appreciating the woman's show of spirit.
"He is very handsome when he scowls," she teasingly observed to the young Constable. "Too bad he is such a prick."
Constable Wylde stiffened. "It's not my place to comment on a superior's looks or personality, Miss MacGregor."
Ethan stuck his head through the door to the room. "Wylde, turn down the fucking volume! Are you trying to deafen me with your shrillness? Send word to Constable Blackfriars to bring in Mr. Reilly. And get me a coffee, will you?"
Penny watched the young woman take the tongue lashing without complaint, wondering if she'd been mistaken in the assessment of her character. She'd sounded rather robotic in responding to Penny's cheeky, but rather accurate comment.
"Yes, Inspector. You take your coffee with milk and two sugars?" she asked deferentially.
"Been taking it that way for the past three months. Not sure why you think my preferences have changed," he barked before leaving.
The young woman picked up the phone, rang Blackfriars with his instructions, then went to the back of the room where the coffee maker was located. Slamming down a mug, she filled it with the foul black liquid that had been sitting there before Lionel's questioning began...AKA a very long time. After adding milk, she picked up the sugar bowl and basically poured in all its contents. With a quick stir, she strutted past Penny to deliver the foul concoction to the Inspector.
The robotic woman was not so robotic after all.
"Mistress Penny, shouldn't we stop her?" Alfred whispered worriedly over her shoulder. "I rather like Mistress Wyl
de, she's been the most pleasant person here. It would be a shame if her actions resulted in some sort of stain on her employment record. The world needs more humans with integrity like hers."
Penny sighed. She knew Alfred had a point but she was still unhappy about having him hovering. But Simone had insisted he accompany her to the interviews. For support, she'd claimed.
More like a second pair of ears in order to report back to his mistress. But what could Penny do? Simone's heart was in the right place.
When the constable returned, Penny attempted to broach the topic about exchanging the mug of coffee with something drinkable. But the arrival of Reginald Reilly waylaid her from averting the inevitable disaster the cup of coffee was going to cause.
As soon as Penny saw the rodent-like man again, her skin started to crawl. He looked even more hideous than she remembered.
"My apologies for the wait, Mr. Rigley, is it?" Ethan asked innocently, leaning against the table where the man sat.
"Reilly, Constable Lang," Reginald replied with a tight grin.
"Inspector," Ethan corrected, not appreciating having his tactic used against him.
"Oh yes, that's right. You are one of these new pilot programme fast-tracked Inspectors. Imagine going from Bobby to Inspector in just eighteen months, as long as one has the right credentials. That law degree from Cambridge is paying dividends, I see. Can't imagine many barristers opt to walk the beat. Congratulations on your promotion, you've been an Inspector for how long now? Three months?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You are well-versed about my background. But perhaps you will be so kind as to answer my questions and refrain from asking your own. I learned that in basic training...from way back."
The tension between the pair was palpable. Penny leaned forward, intrigued to see how far Ethan Lang would go with the odious Reginald Reilly. There was hope for him yet in proving to be useful.
