ShiftingHeat

by Lynne Connolly

  “Cathy? Answer me!”

  She forced a smile. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes gleamed with a look he knew. Fanaticism. “Why are you with her? You don’t think she’ll convert you, do you?”

  He shook his head. “I’m falling in love with her.” He lied. He was already there.

  “She’ll take you and use you and abandon you.” Her voice was thready and he had to put his ear almost against her mouth to hear what she was saying.

  “Is that what happened to you? Someone used you?”

  The hammering at the door started. He ignored it.

  She shifted but he held her down, flattening his hand against her stomach, trying not to hurt her any more. He’d shot her in the shoulder and the lungs. They might save her yet. “Stay still.”

  “I wanted it, but he used me. Said he’d convert me and never did.”

  He remembered the vampire, Sergiu, talking about acolytes. “Was it the vampire? Did you become a donor?”

  Her lip curled in a sneer. “That idiot. His name is Harry Johnson. He’s no more a vampire than I am.”

  Andros thought she might be mistaken in that, but now wasn’t exactly the time to question her word. “So who?” What an idiot for not realizing sooner. “Harken Nordheim.”

  She gave him a coy smile, gruesome considering her position and the fact that blood decorated her features. “Some of us got to where Faye wanted to with Harken.”

  He couldn’t feel sorry for her. She’d tried to kill Faye. “How did you know where to find her?”

  “Been trailing her for years. He knew who she was. Told us.”

  “Who? Harken?”

  She closed her mouth, stared at him. Grinned. Took a breath and said, “Him and his friend.” She blinked provocatively, then gasped. When she coughed, a flood of gore streamed out of her mouth.

  He did what he could within his limited knowledge of first aid and stepped back when, a moment later, the paramedics arrived. But they’d carry her out in a body bag.

  Ann arrived, for once not immaculate, not perfect, but in sweats, her hair rumpled, without makeup. Strange how a mind in shock noticed things like that. She forced Andros to go downstairs and sit until the cops arrived.

  And of course it had to be Detectives Abrahams and Holstadt. They were rumpled and disgruntled, but knowing the crazy hours detectives sometimes worked, they could have been up all night. Sartorial elegance and perfect manners would be the last thing on their minds, especially in these circumstances.

  It was getting on toward four a.m. now, and Andros was feeling the effects of a long night that had started so well and ended so disastrously. As the adrenaline rush melted away, his eyelids drooped and pain spread over his body. A pain he recognized. Even though it was artificially induced, it felt real enough. So when the detective started rattling out questions, he groaned and asked for his pills before he realized they would only make him worse. He already had his crutches, propped by the side of his chair.

  The reality of what had happened started to get to him. He saw the tremor in his hand, recognized the cause was more than the drugs. They’d put it down to his condition. Correction—two people in this room would know. Ann Reynolds and Faye McCaulay. Two women who knew him almost as well as he knew himself. He’d protected her and, ill or not, crippled or not, he could do it.

  Pride warmed his heart. Even in this condition, he’d taken care of her.

  He answered the questions numbly. The detectives probably knew they were being given the runaround, but there was little they could do. Not with Ann there, not with Faye using her psi to confuse them. He felt the tingle and recognized it as hers. He was so proud of her.

  Ann turned around, her back to the window, in full defiance of anyone out there with a weapon who might still bear a grudge. She put her hands on her hips. “Tell them, Andros. Just tell them.”

  The paramedics had gone, bearing the bodies of Cathy and her yet-to-be-identified male accomplice. Andros frowned up at Ann. “Everything?”

  “They’ll have to know. We’re trying to be as open as we can. If we can’t trust New York’s finest, what can we do?”

  Andros had caught the swift exchange between Faye and Ann, to the effect that Faye had read the cops and they appeared genuinely straight. Or as straight as they could be, given their jobs and what they had to face every day. New York had as much of the jungle about it as anything in the depths of undiscovered Africa or South America. And was far more dangerous.

  So he told them right from the start. “I’m a STORM employee. I’m also a doctoral student at Speke University. So when STORM became aware of an operation based at Speke that was targeting and kidnapping Talents, then selling them illegally to unknown laboratories, I was asked to investigate. We discovered Professor Harken Nordheim was involved, but he was murdered before we could question him.”

  He caught Abrahams staring at his crutches and had to explain that too. He watched flickers of reaction cross their faces as he explained the rest but refused to react to their “go on, surprise me” challenge. How many people had they caught out that way?

  Not him. He told his story and watched them as he told it, leaving it to Faye to read them. She’d stop him if they showed any sign that they meant him no good. But he never got any message, just gentle support from her in the part of his mind they shared, deep down where nobody else could touch. He appreciated it so much, hadn’t realized how much he’d missed someone’s unstinting support. Ania still supported him, but she had a partner now, and a different life.

  So now they knew, now what?

  Ann decided that for him. “Unless you make it impossible, I want Andros to continue at the university, doing his job for STORM.”

  They meekly agreed. Ann left her station by the window and went to the door. “Nice place,” she said to Faye. “But you can’t come back here until the operation is done. Consider Andros’ apartment your home. I’ll increase your security clearance.”

  Ironic that Faye got for nothing what she’d stolen from him in the first place, but he couldn’t feel anything but glad that she could walk in of her own free will. Ann had obviously decided she was no threat to STORM.

  “I have to arrange to have the damage repaired.”

  “I’ll see to it.” Ann walked toward the door. “And since I want you both back at your posts tomorrow as if nothing had happened, you’d better come with me now.”

  Faye glanced at the cops. “Haven’t you done all you need tonight?” Andros understood. This place was her sanctum where she revealed her inner self. She’d even gone to the lengths of maintaining a fake address to keep her privacy, and now all these people knew her secret and had invaded her private space. His heart bled for her. He’d help her recreate that sense of peace and relaxation that he’d first felt when he entered if it killed him.

  Abrahams scratched his head. “I guess so. We’ll keep all this under wraps for now, but we can’t promise you more than a few days before we have to make it official.”

  “I’ll liaise with your commanding officer. No need to explain STORM’s involvement. Not yet. If necessary, we’ll arrange for an agent to come in and liaise with you, but you’re investigating a murder, right?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “Do you need to release the name of the victim right away?”

  Abrahams frowned as if puzzled. “It’s not policy to release any victim’s name until we have contacted the immediate family and informed them.”

  “Of course.” Ann and this seasoned officer understood each other. Somehow, Andros knew the officers would have some difficulty contacting Cathy’s immediate family. They were probably on their way to a surprise luxury cruise in the Mediterranean right now. Or more likely, an adventure holiday in the Arctic or up Mount Everest. That would make them even more inaccessible.

  Ann would have a few days to establish liaison with the department they worked for and bring them into the mission. Since STORM had, as yet, no off
icial standing and, if Ann had her way, would continue to be independent, officers from the various government agencies were sometimes brought in to work there. Abrahams and his colleague might find themselves seconded to STORM. Andros wondered how they’d manage with the fantastical Talents they’d find there. He suspected they’d take it in stride.

  They left soon after the officers did, promising to update Ann in their investigations. As they exited the building to climb into the SUV Ann had brought, a shadowy figure slipped out of a nearby doorway and joined Ann in the front of the car. Andros and Faye took the long backseat. Their hands came together, fingers threaded and they linked.

  A wave of exhaustion swept over Andros, but he had to rouse himself because in a few hours he’d have to go in to the university. Without looking around, Ann said, “This is Daria Szabó. She will be around to help you. She’s a virgin Sorcerer, one of the most powerful I have available. She will not be in the field with you, but in the office. Within range, or within her range. Link with her now.”

  All they could see of her was one long, dark plait, falling down Daria’s back. When they hesitated, Daria turned around in her seat. “You see, quite ordinary. Please do as Ann says.” She had a tinge of a middle European accent. She possessed sharp features and fathomless dark eyes, or maybe that was because of the uncertain light. Although New York had illumination to spare, a shadow seemed to wreathe around this woman.

  One look into her eyes and Andros knew he had no chance of fighting this, even had he wanted to. He leaned his head back against the head rest and relaxed.

  Her presence in his mind came as warm and reassuring. He expected that. He’d met more Sorcerers in the past year than he cared to remember. They’d put him through a crash course in controlling his psi, and the more the better, it seemed. He’d learned a little from most and a fuck of a lot from Chase Maynord. But Chase was his friend and, unfortunately, absent right now. This woman had an edge he’d never encountered before in a Sorcerer. Danger, power, excitement—something. Something scary and otherworldly.

  He didn’t have to like it. “I’m there.” She’d created a communication channel. A way she could contact him and he could reach her, deep down and exclusively theirs. Like the one he shared with Faye, but without the emotional punch. She could use him as a channel too, to alter and influence people. Persuade them, right up to the level of compulsion, which was banned.

  He squeezed Faye’s hand, sent her friendship and understanding. She opened her eyes. “Me too.” Then she turned her head and met his gaze. They smiled. Simple friendship between lovers. Another new experience for him.

  Chapter Ten

  With long-nosed pliers in hand and his head half inside a high-end computer case, Andros felt at peace. Like a monk meditating or a scholar poring over an ancient tome, he communed with the object of his desire, making the interior beautiful and neat. The new keyboard could be a great step forward or it could tank, but it needed some internal adjustments before he could try it out. Either way, right this moment, he was content. He thought of nothing else except the clips he was carefully fitting. Maybe this was what philosophers meant by living in the now. He didn’t have to consider yesterday, or tomorrow or any other fucking thing.

  He finished fitting the piece and backed up to admire his work but smacked his head on the bench above him. He slumped back, feeling the pain in his legs, pain he’d forgotten temporarily. And swore, long and loud. “Fucking goddam fuck!”

  Clapping his hand to his head, he glared at his crutches, turning his head to avoid the obstruction when he got to his feet.

  “Ah fuck!”

  At first he thought the voice was some kind of weird echo, a lighter response reflected back at him, but he saw a flash of bright-blonde hair, a shining sheet of golden strands. He’d seen hair like that before somewhere. Frowning, he called out. “Hey! Did you want something?”

  The female figure in the doorway sighed. Her shoulders lifted and fell in a resigned shrug. Then she turned around. “I thought there was nobody in here. And I wanted my watch back. I knew I should have scanned first.” She sighed and he cried out as a surge of power went through his head and flashed through his body. “Go to sleep, Andros,” were the last words he heard.

  Faye stared at the stack of essays before her that she still had to grade. Measure for Measure hadn’t inspired her students to new flights of elegant argument. And how could she concentrate on this pile of—?

  She almost welcomed her new cell phone ringing. She checked the caller. Ann Reynolds. “Yes?”

  “Faye, can you speak freely?”

  “Sure.”

  “I need you to come down to STORM. Right away, please.”

  Surely she hadn’t caught a tremor in Ann’s tone? No, that couldn’t be possible.

  “Should I pick up Andros?”

  “If you would.”

  All the way to Andros’ lab, she worried. She’d never heard that tone in Ann’s voice before, had always found her totally in control, never fazed. It had to take a lot to worry her.

  Andros wasn’t there. But he’d definitely been there, the open computer case and the unfastened cables attested to that. She felt his presence, a lingering essence, much like a whiff of cologne after its owner had left. She wanted to stay to enjoy it, to wait for him, but he’d probably taken an early lunch. Maybe he was on his way to find her. She smiled and pulled out her cell. After texting him a message to say she was leaving early and she’d see him at home, “home” in this case being code for STORM, she left, toting her briefcase full of essays.

  She took the subway uptown to the STORM offices, having left her car in the parking garage near her apartment. Representatives of the police and STORM were keeping an eye on the place and Ann had made good on her promise to have the broken window repaired. Perhaps they’d deal with Mr. Smith’s heating problems too.

  They’d put it out that her place had been the target of a breakin. Some lowlife looking for some fast cash. She still didn’t know the identity of the man with Cathy. Perhaps that was why Ann wanted her. She’d find out more soon.

  Watching the stations pass by, she reflected how much her life had changed recently and how little she regretted it. While she didn’t think she’d make a good STORM agent, it had become clear recently that teaching was no longer giving her the job satisfaction she wanted. Time to go back to finance, maybe, try to help clear up the mess of the recent financial slump. Someone had to start tackling it, and she’d had a few ideas recently that might help.

  She tried to contact Andros telepathically a couple of times, but either he wasn’t listening or her psi didn’t work properly here, underground. The subway wasn’t the most romantic place in the world, especially traveling solo, but reflecting back on the turbulent recent past, she knew for sure that she’d fallen in love with Andros. Realized it for good and certain when they’d linked minds making love for the second time. She still didn’t know if he loved her, but it couldn’t affect her feelings for him, because they came from the heart. Not the reasoning brain. Idiotic, but he’d taught her so much. He’d showed her how to live, just live, and damn the consequences. Whatever the outcome of this, she’d never, ever regret meeting him and giving him her heart. When this mission ended, she’d suggest going away for a while. Just the two of them, somewhere hot and private where they could fly and love and be themselves.

  Lost in the seductive dream, she nearly missed her stop, but she saw it just in time and bolted off the train.

  A small group of people stood outside, paparazzi and tourists looking for some action, perhaps a dragon flying off the roof or a vampire ripping into a vein. Hardly likely at this time of day, but they could hope. They let her pass with hardly a glance.

  Strange to stride through the entrance at STORM and show her security card. The receptionist checked her name and told her where to go, just like at a regular office. Less regular was the psychic scan she felt as she entered the elevator. Nobody stopped her, n
obody remarked on her presence. She marveled at her naiveté at the beginning of her adventure in thinking that retrieving the professor was just a matter of stealing an ankle bracelet.

  The elevator doors opened and she found the conference room. A small one, occupied only by Ann Reynolds, Nick and Daria. To her disappointment, Andros hadn’t arrived yet. But Faye wasn’t worried, not until she took her place and felt the tension.

  Ann didn’t prevaricate. “I’ve received some results that put a new light on what’s been happening at the university.” She had a slim folder in front of her but she didn’t refer to it. Didn’t even open it. “I called you in as soon as I knew but I haven’t heard from Andros yet.”

  Apprehension snapped inside her, tightened her stomach muscles. She opened her mind to him, called to him telepathically. Nothing. Maybe he was in a blind spot, maybe too engrossed in what he was doing to listen, maybe… She fought down her panic. She forced herself to concentrate on what Ann was saying.

  “I investigated the professor and learned of some connections I hadn’t known of before. I put people on to it and had it confirmed. I knew we had a strong unit of kidnappers here over the last few months, but they’ve been clever. Nordheim was our first real lead. Now we have another.” Her mouth firmed and her eyes flashed fire.

  Faye hadn’t known Ann Reynolds could be furious before. She’d seen cold anger, but not the kind of red fury that made a dragon like herself spit fire. She’d considered Ann controlled and in charge all the time, but now nobody could have mistaken the ire in her face, the tremble in her voice. “Here. All the time. Here. We’ve been betrayed, people. Big-time. By somebody very clever and very controlled. A typical psychopath, in fact. I should have seen it earlier, but Sorcerers sometimes show those characteristics. The cold calculation, the unconcern with human values.” She swore and broke off.

  Comprehension flashed through Faye’s mind. “Serena?” It didn’t make sense. Nordheim had killed Serena. Why would he do that if she were working with him? Who else?