***
“Sid,” Ted Howard said, sitting behind his desk, “we’re trying to help. Honestly, you know that.” He took a swig of bottled water. “It hasn’t even been a day yet. You know how these things go.”
She sat back in one of the chairs, arms folded, legs crossed, and foot kicking. “It’s a little different when your own family is missing.”
“It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours yet,” Cyrus added. He was sitting in the seat beside hers, facing Section Chief Howard. “Give our people, your people, a little more time. They’ll turn up.”
“Yes, they’ll turn up dead if I don’t get moving.” She started up out of her seat.
“Sit!” Ted said, rising up from his chair. He lowered his voice again. “Please, Sid. Let’s work on this together.”
Reluctantly, she took a seat. “I know you don’t have anyone on this. You don’t have time for it. I’m only here because I got carried away and busted that freak Dwight Guilden in the face. What about his autopsy? Certainly you checked on him.”
Ted and Cyrus looked at each other. Cyrus shrugged.
“You two are dropping the ball,” she said. “How did you do an autopsy on the burn victims but not follow up on the man who got me arrested for attempted murder? Huh?”
“The man, Dwight you say,” Ted said, checking out some papers. “He’s at the county morgue. The burn victims went to the state where we have better connections. Look, I’m sorry. I’ll get a man down to county as soon as I can find one.”
“No hurry, Ted. He’s dead, so I don’t think he’s going anywhere. At least not until the Drake make him disappear, just like they did with my niece and my sister!”
“Keep your voice down, Sid. Please. You aren’t being yourself,” Ted said. “It worries me.”
No, she wasn’t, and she knew it. Instead, she was coming unglued. It wasn’t like her. But this was different. Her family had been taken. And by the sound of things, the two men she knew best in the agency didn’t believe her.
“Look Sid,” the chief said, “run this by me again. This Guilden fella. What exactly did he say?”
Cyrus took out his notepad and added, “Yes, walk us through it one more time. Word by word.”
She got up again. “I’ve got a couple of words for the both of you.” She pointed at each one. “Screw you, and screw you.”
“You better button it up, Sid!” Ted said.
“I’m a shadow agent. I don’t have to be here.” She headed for the door. “You have no idea what I’m up against, because if you did, you’d be in the thick of this with me.” She swung the door open and marched straight out.
Sitting behind her desk, Jane gave her a disapproving glance and opened her mouth to speak.
Sid cut her off and shot her a hard look. “Not a word if you know what’s good for you.” She made a bead for the elevator and noted the group of male agents mumbling and watching her go. “Worry about your own sorry cases, you bunch of jackasses.” She punched the elevator button, tapped her foot on the tiles, shook her head, and blasted through the door to the stairs.
I’m beginning to hate this building.
She jogged down four flights, crossed through the lobby, and pushed her way outside through the main entrance doors. Taking the steps two at a time down onto the street, she realized something. I don’t have my car!
CHAPTER 26
Sidney stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets and meandered down the sidewalk. They’re idiots. Then again, maybe I’m the idiot. Throughout all of her career, everyone had preached teamwork—until the Black Slate. Now, it seemed no one wanted anything to do with her—or it. She felt like an outsider looking in. It hurt. It made her angry.
She took a breath and tried to flag down a taxi. It was getting dark now, and the busy streets had begun to thin. She didn’t see a taxi anywhere and cursed. Get ahold of yourself. What would you do if you were in their shoes? She had never bent the rules before, but now things were different. Everything she knew about life was turned upside down.
“Hey! Hey! Taxi!” She dashed into the street as one went by. The driver waved. She smacked the back of his trunk with her hand. “Thanks for nothing!”
She headed back onto the sidewalk. A woman and her son were staring at her with widened eyes. What are you gawking at? She didn’t say it. Instead, she tucked her chin down, picked up the pace, and marched down the street. She took out her phone. I suppose I could call a cab. She pressed the info button.
“How can I help you?” said a male computerized voice.
“I need a—”
A nearby car let out an awesome exhaust note.
Vrrrrooom! Vrrrrooom! Vrrrrooomm!
Sidney turned around. Her phantom-black Dodge Hellcat with orange highlights awaited in the street.
Smoke was in the driver’s seat. He rolled down the window. “Need a lift?”
She walked over to his side, bent over to eye level, and said, “I’m driving.”
He got out, walked in front of the hood, and entered the passenger side door.
Sidney took her place in the driver’s seat. She adjusted her mirrors and seat. Cars honked as they passed by. She popped the sunglasses holder. The glasses from Mal’s house fell into her hand. She slipped them on. The dark streets became brighter, distant images crystal clear. She squeezed the wheel. “Do you know what’s going on?”
“Yeah,” Smoke said, eyes forward, switching the magazine on his gun.
“You might want to get out. I’m going to see Mason Crow. Don’t try to talk me out of it.”
“I didn’t swing by to give you a shoulder to cry on.” He slapped the magazine into the gun.
“Good.” She slapped the gear shifter into drive and punched the accelerator. The front end lifted off the ground and the rear tires dug in. “Now let’s go get those bastards.”
***
You can count on me. Smoke’s words echoed in her mind. It was clear now. He meant what he said. It strengthened her. There weren’t too many people she trusted in this world. Whenever she had trusted someone, they’d let her down. Maybe my expectations are too high for most people. Not everyone can be a ‘do the right thing or die’ kind of person.
The car engine purred as they traveled down the road back toward Mason Crow’s estate. Or the Drake estate. It didn’t matter to her whose it was.
“So, you plan on driving straight up to the front porch?” Smoke inspected the keen edge of the knife he had in his hand.
“I’ve got a feeling they’re expecting me.”
“You have a good sense of things. Guts too. I like it,” he said. “Let’s just hope they stay in you.”
“I’ve got my sweet heart suit on. I figure my guts will be just fine. Getting my hair messed up is what worries me.” She eyed his shaved head. “At least you don’t have that problem.”
He let out a low chuckle.
“You need to let that hair grow back out if we make it out. Just saying.”
“All right, Delilah. If we live, I’ll never cut it again.”
“No, don’t go all hippie on me, either.” Her phone buzzed. She turned on the car’s Bluetooth. “Hello, Mal.”
“Good guess, Agent Shaw. Is Smoke with you?”
“Yes,” she said.
“And I see that you’re headed back. You need to turn around.” Mal’s voice was urgent. “Now.”
“Can’t do that,” she said.
“It’s a death wish. Turn around.”
“It was nice meeting you, Mal. But we have to go now. If you recover our bodies, make sure it’s a nice funeral.”
“And if I’m gored to death,” Smoke added, “be sure to hide the hole if it’s in my head.”
“Have you two gone mad? You’re on a suicide mission. You need a plan.”
“We have one,” she said. “And it involves using all of your ammo.”
“At least take the pills,” Mal said. “Please, take the pills. Take them now. They’re time release.�
�
“I don’t have any pills.”
“I do,” Smoke said, holding up two liquid green pills. “Sorry, but I couldn’t resist. Reminded me of The Matrix.”
“Well, you can take one for you and one for me then.”
“Agent Shaw, listen to me. Your lives depend on it. So do your niece and your sister. Turn around.”
“Good-bye, Mal.” She disconnected the phone and powered it down. “I don’t like being talked out of things.”
“I know,” Smoke said, “but if you don’t care, stop for just a few seconds.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d stop for you if you were asking.”
She slowed the car down and put it into park.
Smoke shifted around in his seat and faced her. He held up the two green pills. “Who knows what sort of real monsters we’ll find in there. I think we’ll need an edge this time. These super vitamins might help.”
“It doesn’t seem like you,” she said, eyeing the pills.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I won’t take it if you won’t.”
Now the pressure was on her. She rubbed her palms on her jeans. “Don’t you put this on me. If you want to take it, then take it. Don’t blame me for dying if you don’t.”
His dark eyes bore into her. “If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for Allison. Do it for Megan.”
“Fine.” She snatched the pill from his hand and swallowed it down.
Smoke did the same. “See, that wasn’t so bad.”
She put the car into drive and hit the gas, pinning them both to their seats. “We’ll see about that.”
After they rounded the last bend, about a quarter mile in front of the ranch was a gate under heavy guard. Suddenly, a spotlight beamed on her car.
Sidney stopped the car about an eighth of a mile away. “Huh. I get the feeling they’re expecting us.” She squeezed the grip on her pistol.
Smoke held a gun in each hand. “They haven’t started firing yet.”
The sounds of small engines roared to life. Four ATVs zoomed in from the tall grasses, surrounding her car. A dozen gun barrels were lowered on them.
“Get those hands where we can see them!” yelled one of the men.
“Yep, they were expecting us.” Smoke eased his hands up.
One of the men hopped out of an ATV, holding his fist up. He pecked on Sidney’s window with the butt of his weapon.
She rolled it down.
“Are you Agent Shaw?” he said.
“No, I’m the tooth fairy.”
The man lifted his bushy brows. “Nice car, tooth fairy. Now take a nice easy drive up the road, and come to a stop at the log cabin. Someone will meet you there.” He spit tobacco juice on the ground. “I hope you’re up for a long night. It’s gonna be hell. It’s gonna be death.”
CHAPTER 27
Inside the oversized log home, a fire burned beneath a great hearth of cut stone that rose up through the ceiling. Sidney’s face dripped sweat from the heat of the blaze. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she was on her knees. Smoke was in the same position beside her, with sweat dripping off his chin.
“Hot, yes?” said a man with a booming voice. It was Mason Crow, sitting in a grand chair carved from wood and animal bone. He was larger than life. Dark skin with large eyes underneath a head of shaggy brown hair. His shoulders were inhumanly brawny. A large machete rested on his lap. “Enjoy it. It’s much warmer than the grave.”
Sidney shifted against the bonds biting into her wrists and gave him a defiant look. “Where’s my sister? Where’s my niece?”
A tall well-built woman wearing a dark purple and gray suit with short salt and pepper colored hair strolled over and drove her booted foot into Sid’s gut.
“Ooof!” Sid teetered over onto the floor, coughing and spitting.
“I doubt you are in a position to ask any questions,” Mason said, rolling up his white cotton sleeves. “If I want you to speak, I’ll ask.”
Sid fought her way back onto her aching knees. She didn’t care what he wanted. She hadn’t come here to play games. She just wanted to know if Allison was alive or dead. “Just answer me, you fricking animal.”
The woman launched a punch into her jaw. Whap!
Sid swayed, kept her balance, and leered up at the woman. “You hit like a girl.”
Whap! “You bleed like one.” The woman drew her fist back again. Whap!
Sidney’s stinging eye began to swell. Her split lip tasted like blood. I hate these people. Like a fool, she had rushed into the lion’s den, and now she would have to face the consequences.
“She is a spirited one, isn’t she?” Mason said, cocking his head and giving her a study. Nostrils flaring, he took a deep draw through his nose. “I don’t smell fear in her. Nor in him, for that matter. Much unlike her family.”
Sid’s head snapped up, and she stared him down.
“Yes, Agent Sidney Shaw,” Mason said. “I have seen them, and you’ll be glad to know that they live… for now.”
“Show me!” she fired back.
The woman cocked her fist back to strike.
“Hold!” Mason said. “Let her save her energy, Double Dee. She’ll need it. Humph.” He picked up his machete, stood up, and made his way toward them. He brought the blade up under Smoke’s chin. “You are the one who shot me. Humph. It takes a special bullet to penetrate my skin. My attendants marveled when they plucked it out of my hide. A breakthrough in ammunition. It will take more than that to kill me, but it’s more than enough to kill mortals like you. I’m all about heavy blades and horns.” He hefted the machete high over his head and brought it down hard with a tremendous yell. “Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Smoke!” Sidney yelled.
The blade quavered less than an inch from Smoke’s skull. The man remained still as a stone.
Sidney gasped. “You’re sick! What’s wrong with you people! Are you nothing but bloodthirsty vampires?”
Mason withdrew the blade and stuck it into the hardwood floor. “Please, no need to insult us. We are nothing like those blood-sucking leeches. Leave those vermin to the European world.” He backed up and resumed his chair. “Humph. Survivors. I like that. It’s been quite some time since the attendants of the Drake have been tested. You took down the wolf man and the bird lady. Quite a feat.” He stroked the coarse black hairs on his chin. “I’d say they underestimated you.”
“That’s an excuse,” Sid fired back. “Your friend Night Bird didn’t like lab rats who fought back. Well, we do fight back, and given the chance, we’ll kick your hairy ass too.”
Mason’s chest heaved with great laughter. Some of the other guards in the room chuckled. The woman called Double Dee smirked. “Said like a true warrior. It’s no surprise that they chose you, bold woman. You have guts.” He stomped his foot, shaking the room. “And I aim to see them splattered underneath my hooves.”
“Doesn’t make for a very nice memory of the petting zoo,” Smoke said. “Say, do any of you fiends turn into llamas? You know, half man, half llama. Now that would be formidable.”
Sidney laughed.
“Fools,” Mason said, “but cocky fools. Humph. That makes for great entertainment, but unlike the battles you had with my lesser colleagues, this one will be quite different.” He snapped his fingers. “Let me see their weapons.”
One of the soldiers carried Smoke’s duffel bag over, bowed, and set it down at Mason’s feet. Slowly he stepped off to the side.
Mason reached down and pulled the duffel bag up and into his lap. Clank. “Let’s see what our dear enemies have in store for us.” He fished his hand into the bag and withdrew one of the daggers Mal had given them. He thumbed the edge. “Interesting.” He ran the blade along his arm. A hairy clump of arm hair drifted toward the floor. “Now that’s a sharp knife. I like it.” He eyed the point, stuck it deep into his forearm, and sliced back until he drew blood.
Sidney grimaced. Blood dripped down Mason’s arm
and splashed onto the floor.
“‘If it bleeds, then it can die,’ the mortals like to say, eh, heroes?” Mason held his forearm out. The nasty gash closed itself together, and the shaved hairs grew back. “And that’s true in most cases.”
Sidney glanced at Smoke.
His eyes were on hers, and he said, “I’ve always wanted to be a matador.”
“Yeah, me too,” she added. “Do we get to wear those funny hats?”
“No,” Mason said, “but you will be seeing a lot of red.” In a lightning-swift move, he jammed the blade to the hilt into the soldier’s chest. Chuk!
“Urk!” The man in the pea coat sagged to the floor, eyes wide and gasping for breath.
“Take this mess out of here,” said Double Dee.
Two men rushed over, hooked the dying man under the arms, and bore him out of the room.
Sidney’s nerves were on fire. She shifted on her knees. Eyed the exits of the room. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea after all.
CHAPTER 28
“This is interesting.” Mason had fished a gun magazine out of the duffel bag and was eyeing it. He plucked a bullet with a red tip out and cocked his head. “Humph. Looks to be a little more than a tracer. What does it do?”
Sidney pulled her tongue off of the roof of her mouth and tried to speak. She was on a roller coaster of mixed emotions, fear and anger intermingled. Sweat dripped into her eyes. She wiped it with her shoulder. Be brave. Be bold. Do it for your family. “It kills people. And animals.”
“Oh, I see.” He slapped the magazine into the gun and handed it over to Double Dee. “Show me.”
Double Dee charged the weapon’s slide and took aim at Smoke. “It’s gonna leave a mess,” she said.
“Good, I like messes.”
“Double Dee?” Sidney interrupted with a sneer, “What kind of stupid name is that?” She glanced at the woman’s chest. She couldn’t stop the words from coming. “Did you have a reduction and forget to change your stripper name?”
“You’ve got a pretty big mouth for a woman whose boyfriend is about to get shot in the head.” Double Dee recharged the weapon’s slide. “Anything else, Agent Shaw?”
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files Collector's Set: Books 1-10: Urban Fantasy Shifter Series Page 38
