I don’t budge and cross my arms, staring him down. “Can’t I answer your questions here?”
“Not when the lieutenant wants you brought in.”
“Well, isn’t that just peachy,” I mutter.
“Let’s go,” he snaps.
Here I thought getting demoted was bad. Things are definitely not looking up for me despite Amarok being captured.
With a sigh, I gesture for Rex to lead the way. I lock up behind us, and the entire ride over to the station is depressing and haunting. The car interior feels so small and crammed it reminds me of a tomb.
Rex parks and scurries around to open my door. He’s escorting me inside.
Man do I feel like a criminal, and not a smooth one either. At least he hasn’t put those cuffs on me.
Yet.
Inside the station is a flurry of activity. It reminds me of when Travis had gone missing. Two cops in the span of weeks. It’s enough to put anyone on edge.
Rex stands tall, as proud as a peacock as he forces me into the lieutenant’s office. Without a word, he backs out of the room and shuts the door.
The lieutenant’s red face reveals how furious he is already.
So not good.
“Sir, I—“
“Rex debriefed me, told me everything you told him. You think you can get away with hindering an investigation—“
“There was no investigation. The animal attacks were given to rookies who thought PETA should handle it. I did a little digging, yes. I’ll admit that maybe I was wrong. I should’ve told you what I discovered, but I did it to keep everyone safe.”
“You’re reckless. You’re dangerous. You’re a liability.” The lieutenant runs a beefy hand down his face. “Kat’s gonna kill me if I keep forgetting my blood pressure pills,” he mutters.
I suppress a grin. Kat the nurse seems to be making quite an impression on him.
“You used to be a good cop. A damn fine one,” he continues. He lays his palms on his desk, stands, leaning forward. “Not anymore. What happened, Tempest? You think that because vamps are real that you can—“
“Vamps and wolves,” I supply. “Werewolves.”
He gapes at me. “Do you really think interrupting me is a good idea?”
“No, sir. Sorry, sir.” I stiffen and stand at attention.
Am I going to be suspended again? That’s even worse than being demoted. I don’t know if I can handle the guilt and embarrassment I’ll suffer if I have to go badge-less again.
“You’re a threat to us. Honestly, looking at you right now disgusts me. Do you realize what you’re doing? You’re alienating yourself from everyone in the department. Have you lost your mind? Have you turned rogue?”
“Sir, my chief objection has always been to keep everyone safe. Not just the people of Bethlehem. The cops and detectives too. I stand by what I did. If given the chance to go back and change things, I wouldn’t change anything.”
I swallow hard, trying to ignore my fear over Diego. Maybe I would’ve changed involving him as much as I did.
“What are you afraid of?” the lieutenant demands. “I see it in your eyes. Is it Garcia? Do you know where he is, what’s going on with him?”
“I don’t know where he is. I wish I did.”
The lieutenant curls his fingers into tight fists. “I’m this close to suspending you again, Tempest. Get your head out of your ass. Cops have partners for a reason. You aren’t supposed to go it alone.”
“I know.”
“He won’t talk,” he says abruptly.
My brows furrow with confusion. “Amarok?”
“Yes. Without proof that he can change into a wolf like you say he can, I don’t know how long we can hold him. We transported the cage with him in it to a safe location, but if word gets out about it… Lawyers will have a field day with this.” The resentment in his voice is palpable.
“But I saw him. My word—“
“The word of a detective who has recently been suspended and since demoted is not going to paint a pretty picture for us,” he says, disgusted.
My cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’ve really screwed up, haven’t I?”
“Yes.”
“If I told you right away about the werewolves, would you have believed me? You didn’t with the vamps!” I protest, hurt and humiliated.
“You were right about the vampires. I think we would have been more open to your warning about werewolves,” he says coolly. “Now we’ll never know.”
“Can I talk to Amarok?” I ask, convinced he’ll turn me down.
“You and I will have a little chat with him. Then you’re going to help find Garcia.”
“Once Diego is found, will I be reinstated?” I ask eagerly.
“Don’t push your luck.”
Chapter 35
With resentment and hostility propelling me forward, I jump out of the lieutenant’s car. Immediately, I rush over to the cage tucked away inside a large, mostly empty warehouse. Several officers are guarding the cage, and I’m not surprised to see that Amarok hasn’t tried to break through.
Is he as strong as a human as he is when in wolf form? If so, he would be able to snap that thinned bar. He would be able to snap the necks of the officers. He could be off and free right now.
But he’s not.
Why?
What game is he playing?
Suspicious, I stalk toward him. The lieutenant follows at a near distance and motions the officers to fall back.
Amarok is actually a decently handsome man. His hair is as dark as his fur, his eyes the same in both forms. He’s built like a power lifter as if he could bend the bars apart himself. He’s wearing dark jeans and a black shirt that don’t fit him perfectly. Maybe he was given the clothes.
“Hello, Amarok. Is it all right if I call you that?” I ask as if happy to talk to him. “Or can I call you Mark? Mark rolls off the tongue a lot easier.”
Amarok stands, holding onto two bars, one of which is the weak one.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the lieutenant’s hand shift toward his side. Good. I feel threatened by the movement. I hate feeling so on edge. Guess that’s my life now, though.
“So, Mark,” I continue, “we have a bit of a problem. You see, I know you’ve killed a lot of people. I know you killed a vamp.”
His lips twist into a smirk. You know all about killing vampires, don’t you?
The alien thought in my head brings a severe migraine. I wince from the pain and try to focus on the words themselves, but I’m too curious. What is this? Can he talk telepathically?
I glance at the lieutenant. He remains in position, glaring at Amarok and at me. He didn’t hear the voice.
No. Just you. Amarok grins slightly, provoking a frown from me.
I’m so not ready to try and talk to him in my mind. Way too freaky. Instead, I say, “I’ve never killed a vamp. I’m not a killer.”
The lieutenant furrows his brows slightly. Maybe he’s wondering why I’m going this route. It kinda flows from my line of questioning.
Starving those vampires much longer would’ve killed them.
I gulp. Although I suspected as much, I hadn’t been certain of that. Actually, that surprises me. Vamps have super strength and super speed. Why does iron help them to heal but silver kill them?
“Why did you kill those people?” I demand, trying to prevent myself from being hostile.
My jaw lowers in shock as a realization hits me. Rolf says Amarok craves human flesh and drinks blood, but the people we found weren’t half eaten. They had been clawed only.
Had the wolf pack been the killers all along? Maybe Rolf stirred me wrong from the beginning.
“Don’t you know how to talk?” I demand, skeptical about everything wolf related, including Amarok. “Cat got your tongue? I wouldn’t think that wolves and cats would get along well.”
Amarok chuckles slightly.
But he still doesn’t say anything. He’s even silent in my mi
nd. His thought is an impossibly deep tone.
I rub my temple.
The lieutenant crosses over to me, his back to Amarok. “We need more than just your words on this, Tempest,” he growls threateningly.
“Yeah, I know.” I exhale my frustrations. “If I can provoke him into changing…”
“How are you going to do that?” The lieutenant narrows his eyes, his cheeks turning red. “Shooting him?”
“Just give me five minutes,” I plead. I nod toward the cameras. “You can watch. Record it.”
“We can’t hear anything from those,” he grumbles.
“Better than nothing,” I say, but I’m thinking that’s perfect.
After a moment, the lieutenant nods and motions for the others to fall back.
As soon as the warehouse door closes behind them, I smile at Amarok as if we’re close friends. “Did you like that? Being shot?”
“About as much as you would like it, I imagine.”
His spoken voice is even deeper than his mental one.
I march over to the cage and touch his forehead, where I shot him. “What happened to the bullet? Still inside your brain?”
“Are you going to continue to ask me pointless questions?”
My smile returns. “Do I annoy you?”
“I should have killed you,” he says idly as if he’s indifferent to whether I live or die. Doesn’t he feel any emotions?
“Why didn’t you?” I ask. I’m not worried, even with the almost broken bar. For once, I have the upper hand.
Even so, I still feel like I’m missing a lot of the puzzle.
Amarok doesn’t answer.
“Does it have anything to do with why the vamps won’t kill me?” I ask.
He runs his tongue along his teeth.
Anger and disgust roll through me. Whether or not he ate all of his victims or not, I’m still inclined to believe Rolf over Amarok.
“You may be old, but you still feel pain, I bet.” I whip out my gun and pump him full of three silver bullets.
His body jerks slightly as each bullet hits him, but that’s the only reaction he gives.
My eyes widen with dismay and frustration. “Show yourself. Reveal your wolf.”
“I don’t listen to orders.”
“Fine. Don’t change.” I wave my gun, but then I smile.
His ear. The one is imperfect, healed but not completely.
The dagger.
If I can find it, I’ll be able to kill him.
“The vamps almost died because we denied them blood. We’re going to deny you blood and flesh. For as long as it takes.”
“Until you kill me?” He doesn’t seem worried or frightened. All in all, he’s completely apathetic.
“Until you talk or shift.” I cross my arms. “You were discovered each time, weren’t you? That’s why you didn’t eat your victims.”
The image of Frank Ivy’s body comes to mine. He’d been gored more than Xandrie. If I hadn’t come along then, Amarok would’ve eaten him. I’m sure of it.
“You think you know everything.” Amarok crosses his arms.
“I know about Yesenia,” I say, hoping to provoke a response.
Amarok yawns.
“Spirit of the Wolf, huh? That’s what you are? Can you go for long stretches without transforming? We’re patient. Remember those vamps?”
Still no response.
Frustrated and angry, I blurt out, “I’ll find that dagger, and next time, I won’t—“
“You won’t find it,” he says without an ounce of worry in his tone.
Did he destroy it? That’s my biggest fear. As far as I know, only the one bone dagger was made. Without it, we don’t have a hope and a prayer of killing him.
“Even if you do, by chance, you won’t use it on me.” His grin is terrible and frightening.
“And just why wouldn’t I?” I ask suspiciously.
“Because one day soon, you’re going to let me out of here.”
Chapter 36
The lieutenant doesn’t want to give me any more time.
Doesn’t matter. I ignore him, completely disrespectful, and demand, “Do you know where Diego Garcia is?”
My breathing hitches. I’m almost paralyzed by fear. Amarok didn’t have anything to do with Diego’s disappearance. He couldn’t have.
Right?
“It’s a dog eat dog world,” he says calmly.
“You mean wolf eat wolf,” I snap, disgusted. “Why don’t you just eat wolves and leave us humans alone?”
He raises his thick eyebrows.
“Enough.” The lieutenant shoves me back and takes my spot. “My turn.”
I tuck my gun away.
“Leave,” Reynolds tosses over his shoulder.
Aghast, I gape at him. He can’t be serious.
When I don’t move, he turns around. His glower is severe, but it’s the look in his eyes that make me comply.
He’s freaked out. Not frightened, but overwhelmed. I don’t blame him. This all is crazy. Vamps, wolves, Amarok… And potentially more if Blake Damon wasn’t being facetious.
Head down, disappointed but understanding, I leave. Of course, I don’t head home. I seek out and comb over all of Amarok’s kills, trying to find other caves or hiding spots, any missed clues. All I turn up is a big pile of disappointment.
Back to our battle scene, I search for his main dwelling. There has to be a cave somewhere! My stomach pains worsen as I continue to search. My eyes grow dry. My body shivers from the cold. It doesn’t matter. None of that matters.
The sudden blare of my cell jerks me out of my trance. I fumble to pull it out of my pocket. Travis.
“Did you find him?” I ask, hopeful.
“Not yet. Any luck yourself?”
I can’t bring myself to answer. The roof of my mouth itches, and my tongue feels like it’s taking up too much room.
“You used to find him annoying,” Travis says. “Complained about him thinking himself God’s gift to women.”
“That doesn’t mean I want him to be…” I can’t finish that statement.
“I know. Terrible joke. Keep me posted, okay?”
“Will do.”
I’m about to disconnect when he adds, “Stay safe yourself. There’s been so much… weirdness going on lately.”
Weirdness that I’m connected to somehow.
I nod even though he can’t see me. “You be careful too.”
My eyes close, and I inhale deeply. The wind shifts, lifting snowflakes from the ground and splattering them against my cheeks and nose.
Eyes still closed, I turn to the left and smell something rancid. My stomach churns. Walking carefully through the snow, using my nose to guide me, I uncover a large tree. The stench comes from a squirrel’s hole. Inside is a pound of flesh.
I call it in and watch, terrified and overwhelmed as the forensic team takes a sample. They’ll rush the DNA testing to see if it’s a match to Diego.
At least I give my statement here than at the station. Even better, I give it to Frank, Diego’s old partner, rather than Rex or the lieutenant.
Once the cops and CSI pack up and leave, I’m all alone, isolated, trying desperately to keep my emotions in check. I’m furious at Amarok. I’m worried for Diego.
And I hate myself that I may be the reason why he’s in trouble.
If he’s even alive.
Despair and doubt threaten to consume me, but I brush them off. If the hole here is from Amarok, then maybe his main hideout isn’t nearby after all. Unless he left it here as a clue on purpose. He’s so old. He’s built his empire on fear, but he’s definitely intelligent. He’s toying with us. He’s in control.
Maybe he even wanted to be captured for some reason.
“Rolf,” I whisper, “if you’re near, if you can hear me, I need your help.”
A howl sounds in the distance.
I resume my search. The pain in my fingers keeps me going. The agony may be nothing compared to
what Diego is experiencing… or had experienced.
When Travis disappeared because of the vamps, Ali, his then fiancée and now wife, forced me to keep a level head. I had to be strong for her so she wouldn’t fall apart. With Diego, I don’t have that same anchor.
Only recently has he become a friend. Travis is right. Before, I couldn’t stand Diego. Now, I miss his teasing, his flirting. I’m still not sure I can believe that he truly has feelings for me, but that doesn’t matter. I protect my friends, and I will save him.
If I can.
By the time dusk has fallen, I’ve reached the edge of the park. A line of houses comes into view, and I pause, calculating, wondering, hoping.
The caves are clearly for Amarok the wolf.
That doesn’t mean Amarok the man doesn’t have a home to live in.
Maybe it’s my devastating tone, but I quickly learn who owns the houses on this street. None of the names seem overly obvious, so I again use my sense of smell. The house on the corner has a slight stench to it, one that could easily be overlooked by passersby.
I knock on the door. “Hello? This is Officer Clarissa Tempest. Is anyone home?”
No answer. Not surprising.
My knuckles scrape against the door, forceful and angry.
The door creaks open. It’s not locked.
As much as I want to burst inside, guns ablazing, I hesitate and call Rex. It goes straight to voicemail. Next, I call Travis. He doesn’t answer either. Besides, he’s not my partner anyhow.
So I call up Angelo. “How quickly can you get here?”
“Actually, I’m searching for Diego a few blocks down. Be there before I can be square.”
I can’t laugh at his awful joke. Maybe I should be glad he’s not moody and depressed, but I’m too distraught myself to care.
He rolls up a minute later. “What’s going on?”
Quick as I can, my anxiety causing my words to come out on top of each other, I explain my theory.
Angelo wrinkles his nose. “We don’t have a warrant.”
“The door is open. A quick peek can’t hurt.”
“But—“
“Do you smell what I smell? It would be enough for probable cause.”
“Maybe. We should at least try to call a judge, though.”
When Wolves Howl: A Mayhem of Magic World Story (Bedlam in Bethlehem Book 2) Page 19
