Under Devil's Snare (Under Series Book 2)

by S. Y. Thompson

  “There you are. What the hell was that? Are you trying to join Ms. Grayson in your own semi-private room? You could have gotten yourself killed jumping out of the car like that.”

  Jamison’s attention swiveled to the sheriff and she noticed Macke clipping her cell phone to her belt. Rather than respond to the comments she asked, “Who were you talking to?”

  “Hex. She’s going to have someone check out the car to make sure it wasn’t tampered with.”

  “I’m glad someone can get hold of her. I haven’t heard from Hex in days.” Jamison realized she sounded petty but couldn’t seem to stop.

  “It’s called investigating a homicide. You might have heard of it. I’m sure you’ll hear from her—we’ll hear from her—if she finds anything pertinent.”

  “You have a lot of faith in someone you’ve never met before, Sheriff.”

  Sam shrugged. “I don’t know about faith, but I do get the feeling that Hex is a professional and that she just might be good at her work.”

  “That’s all well and good but we’re running out of time. Her professionalism isn’t going to do us a lot of good when we have another body on our hands.”

  “And what have you been doing all this time, Kessler?” Macke asked, her tone suddenly angry. “I don’t see you finding any suspects, or is that what you brought the Park Police in for? So they could do your job for you?”

  “Don’t you dare turn this around on me. I’ve been working almost twenty-four hours a day since this whole nightmare began. Without any forensic evidence to go on—”

  Macke held up her hands in surrender. “Yeah, yeah. Okay. Look, this is no one’s fault. We’re all frustrated and this accident with your girlfriend doesn’t help matters any.”

  “If it is an accident,” Jamison muttered.

  “Exactly. Look, I know you’re needed here right now. Why don’t Hex and I check things out with the car and take a look around the accident site? I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

  Curious about why Sam was in such a hurry to get out of the hospital Jamison asked, “You’re not going to wait to see how Lee is?”

  Macke rubbed a hand across the back of her neck, looking extremely uncomfortable. Reluctantly, she admitted, “I hate hospitals, especially this one. I’ll feel better if I’m doing something proactive, but keep me informed. All right?”

  “I will, and Sam? Thanks for looking into this for us. I don’t really believe it was anything but a senseless accident, but I’ll feel better knowing for sure.”

  Macke smiled and Jamison realized it was the first time she could remember her doing so in all the time she’d known her. “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever called me Sam.”

  The sheriff coasted away and Jamison was alone. She had forgotten that Sheriff Macke’s partner died in this hospital a few years ago. Cancer: a long, debilitating ravishment of the body. Jamison didn’t know if it was worse to lose someone you loved suddenly or to watch as the person who held your soul slowly waste away before your eyes. It took real courage to put a smile on every day and pretend everything was all right when you knew that it really wasn’t. Her respect for Sam Macke went up another notch.

  Jamison prayed they wouldn’t find anything wrong with the Mercedes. She wanted to think Lee was safe, that no one wanted to harm her partner. In fact, Jamison couldn’t think of anyone with a motive. Lee had lived in Harmon for over a year and got along great with everyone. If someone was after her, it had to be related to her past. But who would wait this long to try and settle a score?

  With no answers in sight, Jamison went in search of a coffee machine. It would probably be a long time before she heard anything about Lee’s condition. Jamison spent the better part of two hours pacing the hospital corridors and thumbing through out of date magazines in the waiting room. Jeanie called once to find out what had sent her boss hustling out of the office. Other than the one phone call, Jamison had nothing to do but sit and fret.

  The usual bustle of a busy hospital continued on around her. Orderlies, nurses and other hospital personnel moved around her without seeming to notice she was even there. Jamison began to think everyone, including her mother, had forgotten that she awaited information concerning her partner. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. Jamison pushed out of the hard plastic chair and headed for the nurse’s station.

  “Excuse me.” She spoke to the small brunette nurse behind the counter. The young woman turned toward her, but Jamison didn’t have the opportunity to ask about Lee.

  “Jamison.”

  She turned to see that her mother had come up soundlessly behind her. Darlene appeared exhausted and her expression hinted at suppressed strain. Jamison instantly assumed the worst. She felt the blood drain from her face.

  “Mom, is she...?”

  Darlene held up a hand to stop Jamison before she panicked completely. “She’ll be fine.” She glanced around the area and her gaze stopped on the nurse with whom Jamison had almost spoken. “Walk with me.”

  She led the way to her office without giving Jamison the opportunity to refuse. Her behavior had Jamison concerned but she followed without argument. That all changed as soon as Darlene closed the door and shut out any potential prying eyes or eavesdroppers.

  “Spill it. I assume you’re being so cryptic because Lee’s condition is directly related to her Panthera abilities.”

  Darlene settled behind her desk and raised her eyebrow suggestively until Jamison huffed and sat in the chair placed in front of the desk. Being patient wasn’t high on her list of priorities.

  “Of course the two are related. You can’t exactly separate her jaguar nature. You need to know that Lee will be fine in a day or two. That wouldn’t be the case if she were fully human. If she wasn’t one of us, she’d likely be dead.”

  Jamison swallowed hard and nodded.

  “She took some pretty good knocks on the noggin and has a mild concussion. Something struck her at the base of the skull during the crash, probably a tree branch, and it looks like she smacked face first into the steering wheel before the airbags deployed.”

  “It looked like her nose was broken.”

  “It was,” Darlene confirmed. “I reset her nose and stitched up the laceration. The sutures will need to come out next week. We didn’t find any internal injuries or broken bones, thankfully. It’s pretty amazing, even for our kind, that things weren’t worse.”

  “The top was down on Lee’s convertible, but she had her seatbelt on. I had to cut it off with a knife because it was jammed. If she hadn’t been wearing it, Lee would have been thrown from the car. She might have died.”

  “Or she might have shifted when thrown and been able to walk away without any repercussions.”

  Jamison shook her head. “Maybe, but I’m not sure she can change that fast yet. It’s not instinctive for her. Still, as much as I don’t like her being hurt it’s probably better that it worked out this way.”

  “Ah, now you’re thinking like an elder.”

  Darlene smiled, clearly pleased, but Jamison grimaced in response. Lee was more important to her than anything or anyone and she didn’t like that her mother, of all people, assumed Jamison placed the Panthera first. “I’m just being logical. Lee was lucky that she wasn’t more badly hurt but if she’d escaped that crash unscathed there would be a lot of uncomfortable questions.”

  “You’re thinking of the Park Police people that are here to help you solve those murders.”

  “Precisely. Hex and her team are pretty sharp.”

  “Do you think they pose a threat to us?”

  Jamison felt her blood run cold. “No, and I don’t want you assigning some hunter to follow her around. If she detected anything like that, you’d be telling her that there was something more in Harmon to investigate besides the killings.”

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  “What, that you had Aaron Dalton interfere with my investigation last year and a
lmost got Lee killed?”

  “It wasn’t like that, Jamison.”

  “It was exactly like that, Caber,” Jamison asserted angrily, deliberately calling her mother by her title as leader of the Panthera Council of Elders. “Well, I’m an elder now and I’m telling you that you will not take action against Hex.”

  Darlene stood up so fast that her chair rolled backward and struck the wall with a bang. “You forget your place, Jamison. You may be my daughter, but you are a junior council member and have no right to give orders.”

  “I don’t intend to, but I know how human law enforcement officers operate and I’m telling you that it would be a big mistake. Of course, if you want to take the risk of letting Hex find out about us and reveal that information to the world at large, that’s your decision.”

  Darlene scooted out from behind her desk and strode past Jamison, pacing across her office. In aggravation, she ran a hand through her thick dark hair. When she turned back, she had her emotions firmly under control. “Fine, for now. But if I think for one minute that Detective Hex suspects anything about our people’s abilities, I will have her followed.”

  “And eliminated?”

  Rather than answer the question, Darlene said, “Would you like to see if Lee’s awake or do you want to continue to argue?”

  The change in topic told Jamison all she needed to know. As leader of the Harmon Panthera, Darlene Kessler would do whatever it took to protect her community. Jamison wasn’t quite as ruthless. She didn’t condone the killing of an innocent just to protect their secret and knew that was exactly why she would never be Caber. The Panthera leader had to be more in touch with their animal instinct, attuned to and prepared to annihilate any threat. Revealing their presence to the world at large was a serious danger. Humans would exterminate anything they perceived as different and shape changers were definitely that. Jamison could see how the death of one person to protect an entire culture would be acceptable but she could never condone it. She couldn’t argue against the possibility, but she could try to ensure that it never became necessary.

  “Let’s go see my girlfriend.”

  Jamison’s cell phone rang as they left her mother’s office. She recognized Sheriff Macke’s number on the display. “Kessler.”

  “This is Macke. I’m at the garage.”

  “I take it the news isn’t good?”

  “You could say that. Detective Chase brought in a third party to check over the Mercedes and he’s found something. The brake line on Ms. Grayson’s car was cut.”

  Jamison stopped. “Are you sure?”

  “Very. I don’t know if your theory about a stalker is on the mark or if it’s related to the other case, but the crash was no accident.”

  Chapter Six

  SHERIFF MACKE CLOSED her phone and slipped it into the holster, watching Hex the entire time. She couldn’t tell what the detective was thinking and that bothered her. Sam didn’t like being unable to size someone up. In her line of work, it could get her killed. Sam couldn’t help but wonder if it had been such a good idea to bring the Park Police into their investigation. So far, they hadn’t been much help and this attack against Lee Grayson had Sam’s teeth on edge.

  “That was nice of you to send a deputy over to keep an eye on Grayson.”

  Sam shrugged. “She won’t be there until tomorrow morning, but I doubt Kessler will leave her partner alone tonight anyway after what we’ve found. Even then, I can’t provide protection for more than twenty-four hours. We just don’t have the manpower for that kind of operation.”

  She kept it to herself that Ranger Kessler and her kind would keep an eye on Grayson after that anyway. Sam had never been one to tell someone else’s secrets and this was a big one. As much as she didn’t care for Panthera, they were still members of her community. She didn’t know Hex very well and letting her in on the shape changers’ unique gifts could be a fiasco. Sam had enough disasters on her hands lately without senselessly inviting more trouble.

  Jack Chase and Leann Seaver ambled up, interrupting the conversation. Chase looked like he hadn’t slept in a week and Sam noticed the dark stubble he sported on his cheeks. His normally pristine suit appeared rumpled and his shoes were scuffed. Seaver looked better. Her clothes freshly laundered and perfectly tailored, she presented the image of a consummate professional. Only the dark circles under her eyes hinted at her lack of sleep. Sam doubted she would have noticed had she not been trained in such attention to detail.

  “What have you got?” Hex asked.

  Chase shook his head. “Nothing much right now. We know someone cut the line with a smooth blade because there aren’t any jagged edges, but leaking brake fluid contaminated any trace. Leann and I want to stay here and process the car ourselves for any fingerprints that don’t belong.”

  “You don’t trust the crime scene technicians?” Sam asked.

  “It’s not that we don’t trust them,” Seaver responded. “It’s just that we have better equipment and we can run anything we find through the national databases more quickly.”

  “All right, I’m certainly not above taking advantage of any resources available, but you’ll need elimination prints from Ranger Kessler and Lee Grayson.”

  “Not a problem,” Hex interjected. “Kessler is a federal employee and Ms. Grayson’s been fingerprinted for a passport. They’re both in the system.”

  “It sounds like you’ve got everything under control. In that case, I think I’ll call it a night. You two might want to get some sleep though. You both look like hell,” Sam observed.

  Seaver and Chase shared a smile of commiseration, but didn’t say anything. They turned away to begin work and Sam realized Deputy Gomez’s shift had ended four hours ago. The man sat on a stool at the rear of the garage, but he was alert. He noticed Macke watching him and sat up straight.

  “James, go home. I don’t think the federal agents need you to babysit. Once they finish up, it won’t matter if anyone touches the car.”

  It wasn’t much of a threat anyway, Sam thought. Regardless of Kessler’s thoughts on the subject, Sam felt pretty sure the same suspect involved in the murders was behind this attack. That individual tended to leave very little forensic evidence behind and had yet to show a penchant for returning to the scene of the crime. She didn’t think this time would be any different.

  “Thanks, Sheriff Macke. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Sam nodded and headed for the door. It had been a long day and she was very aware that things weren’t going to calm down any time soon. Already, eleven days had passed since the last murder victim and her heart twisted to think there might soon be another. Sometimes she envied the Panthera their abilities. At least then she could change into an animal form and vent some of her frustration by running through the forest, ripping into trees and turf. For the first time that she could remember, Sam actually disliked them less.

  “Hang on,” Hex stopped her. “Can you give me a ride to the Harmon Arms? I rode over with Chase and Seaver.”

  Stifling her sigh, Sam nodded. All she wanted was a shower and her bed, but she couldn’t let Hex walk two miles in the dark to the bed and breakfast. Six o’clock wasn’t very late, but the sun set early this time of year. She zipped her jacket and stepped out into the chilly night air, aware of Hex following close behind.

  Detective Hex spoke as they drove. “Listen, would it be all right if we grab a bite to eat before you drop me off? I’d like to talk about everything that’s been going on, maybe compare notes, and I’d rather not risk a hypoglycemic reaction while we do.”

  “What about Kessler and your team? Shouldn’t we wait until everyone’s together?”

  “Nah, it’s not like this is official.” Hex bounced her knee up and down and gazed out her side window so that Sam couldn’t see her face. “We don’t have any real clues. There are just some things that don’t make sense to me and I need a second opinion.”

  Sam felt the first throb of a headache behind her left
eye. In a way, she felt like they were conspiring behind Kessler’s back but that was just an excuse. Having dinner with Hex went beyond the scope of what Sam considered professional interaction. Something she avoided. Yet, she couldn’t say no. Hex was right when she said they had nothing pointing to the killer. If a brainstorming session could generate a breakthrough then she could miss a few more hours of sleep.

  Her decision made, Sam turned right onto a road leading away from Harmon Arms Bed and Breakfast and out of town. Sam drove south on Highway 30 and had passed Meacham Lake before her companion spoke.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Clear Lake. It’s a little town about ten minutes from here.”

  “Clear Lake’s not a town,” Hex disagreed. “It’s more of a hamlet.”

  Sam smiled at the disdain. “I see you’ve heard of it.”

  “Saw it on a map. I haven’t been there, but I’m familiar with the area because of the case.”

  “Right, know your surroundings,” Macke said. “Officer basic training survival skills. Well, don’t worry. There’s this little pub in Clear Lake that makes the best chili dogs you’ve ever had.”

  “Do they have steak? I could go for a nice, juicy porterhouse.”

  Sam’s eyes darted to Hex, but couldn’t really make out her features in the darkness. She over-corrected a little and had to jerk the vehicle back into the proper lane. Frowning hard, Sam tried to keep her attention on the road.

  “What? Did I say something wrong?”

  Unable to explain that Hex’s remark sounded like one a Panthera would make, Sam kept quiet. Sometimes it felt like she held more secrets than Pandora’s box and all it did was make her job even harder. Unfortunately, there was no way Hex would ever understand. Hell, most of the time Sam didn’t understand. They finished the ride in silence. She sighed tiredly as they pulled into the Red Robber’s parking lot. Sam parked near the rear of the lot under a streetlamp. This area wasn’t crowded, but a few cars sat lined up in front of the pub’s entrance. From a distance, they could hear people laughing and talking.