Caretaker

by Laken Cane

  I clutched my stomach as it tightened, and my voice was strained when I replied. “I would do anything.”

  “Would you feed me?”

  I hesitated. “Yes,” I whispered. “Amias, can you—”

  But the vampire fled and left me staring into empty shadows, wondering if it were possible. Could he free Angus?

  And if the answer to that was yes, then I’d just willingly sold myself to the master.

  Chapter Two

  Captain Frank Crawford called me at eleven a.m. the next morning, hours before I would normally have left my bed. Or my closet floor, as was more often the case.

  “I have a job for you, Trinity,” he said.

  I rubbed my eyes. “Yes?”

  “You don’t sound very enthusiastic.”

  I sighed. “I was asleep. What’s the job?”

  “A man’s wife disappeared last night. I told him about you—that you can track humans as well as vampires. Don’t worry,” he said, as I drew a breath to berate him, “I swore him to secrecy. Not that your gift is going to remain a secret for long.”

  “It’s working for me so far. I’d be overwhelmed if people knew.”

  “I’m aware of that,” he said, a bit dryly. “But you’ll want to take this case.”

  I yawned, then sat up and glared at the empty water bottle on my nightstand. “Why? Is he offering a million dollars for his wife’s return?”

  He hesitated. “It’s Lewis Bennett’s wife.”

  I stared unseeingly at the opposite wall, my heart beginning to pound. “The judge? The one who sent Angus to prison?”

  “Yes.”

  “That bastard won’t even talk to me. Now he wants to hire me?”

  “You’re missing the point, Trinity.”

  I climbed out of bed and strode to the closet, suddenly wide awake. “I’m not missing anything. I’m just saying. He’ll have to listen to me now, won’t he?” I grabbed some clothes and hurried to the bathroom. “He can keep his money. I want Angus released. That’s the deal. I find his missing wife, and he releases Angus. Tell him.”

  “You’ll tell him yourself. He wants to meet with you at his house, one o’clock. You know where he lives.” Again the dry note sneaked into his tone.

  Yes, I knew where the judge lived. The first few weeks after Angus had been sent away I’d haunted the street in front of Bennett’s huge, fenced home, waiting for him to come out so I could accost him.

  He’d finally called the cops and had me put in jail for a night, and told me—the only time he’d condescended to speak to me—that if I bothered him again, he’d keep Angus in Byrd Penitentiary for an extra five years.

  I’d left him alone.

  And now he needed me.

  I was too anxious to even think about breakfast or coffee, so after I showered and dressed I rushed downstairs, avoiding the various and many people in Angus’s huge house, and climbed into my car.

  Twelve minutes later I was parked across from the entrance gates that kept the riffraff off the judge’s property, jumping out of my skin.

  There was still an hour and fifteen minutes before the appointment, but I’d been much too keyed up to sit in the house waiting.

  I climbed out of my car and paced the street, then walked to a convenience store two blocks over and picked up some gum. Time crawled.

  Fifteen minutes before my appointment I leaned against the car and stared at the gates, hoping the judge would open them and let me in early. I turned when a car pulled up behind mine.

  “Captain,” I said, surprised.

  He beckoned through the windshield. “Get in, Sinclair. I’ll take you inside.”

  I didn’t waste time getting into his car. “You didn’t tell me you were going to be here.”

  He pulled up to the gates and poked at the numbers on the panel, and the gates began to open almost immediately.

  “Are you kidding me?” I said. “You have the code to get inside these gates.”

  He didn’t look at me as he drove us through. “Of course. So does the fire department, his attorneys, a couple of his friends, and some of his family.” Finally, he glanced at me and raised an eyebrow at my glare. “You can’t really be upset.”

  “I am upset. Not because you didn’t give me the code, but because you didn’t help me convince the judge—who you obviously know well—to go easier on Angus.”

  “Angus Stark committed a serious crime and was given only five years, Trinity. Those people have too much power. We wouldn’t have a chance if they didn’t fear ours. And you can thank me and some very influential people for convincing Bennett to give him such a lenient sentence.” He shot a glare my way. “You should offer the judge a heartfelt thanks for that. He could have left Stark in there until he died.”

  “What influential people?” I asked, not mollified in the least. I knew Angus had gotten off a lot easier than most supernats would have, but they’d beaten him so badly they’d nearly killed him. He’d paid with his blood. They hadn’t needed to stick him in prison as well.

  “The supernaturals aren’t totally without human allies.” He didn’t stop in front of the house but pulled on around to the side before parking in a large lot. “We’re here.”

  I got out and slammed my door shut, staring up at the judge’s enormous house. “Wow,” I murmured. “I wasn’t aware judges made so much money.”

  The captain only shrugged and walked with me to a somewhat small, recessed door, which was opened by a man in a black suit before either of us could ring the bell.

  “Captain,” the man said, inviting us into a rather small room that held the strong scent of coffee which covered, barely, the more muted scent of onions. There were half a dozen lockers against one wall, a few scattered tables, and a desk atop which sat three computer monitors. There were two other doors in the room, but no windows.

  “Andy. How’s the family?”

  “Doing well,” Andy said. “Thanks for asking.”

  Andy ran his cold, practiced stare over me from head to toe. “I’ll have to check you for weapons,” he told me, politely.

  I glanced at the captain, frowning. “I have my blade, and he’s not getting it.”

  Frank sighed. “Trinity, why did you bring a weapon into the judge’s home?”

  Heat climbed my face. “I’m a hunter. She goes everywhere with me.”

  “I’ll take good care of it,” Andy promised. “You’ll get it back when you leave.”

  And he waited, perfectly aware, as was the captain, that I’d have done anything to see the judge. I shouldn’t have brought the sword, but my mind had been only on the sweet hope that maybe, just maybe, I’d be getting Angus out of prison.

  At the very least, I’d finally get to visit him. None of us had been permitted into Byrd Penitentiary, or the Byrdcage, as the Red Valley Supernatural Detention Center was not so affectionately known.

  I’d ferried across to the island many, many times since Angus had been taken. I just hadn’t been allowed inside the gates of the actual prison.

  So finally, I reluctantly handed Silverlight over to the butler slash bodyguard, who stared down at the beautiful hilt a little too eagerly for my liking. She was shrunken and sleeping and rather innocuous looking, and if people hadn’t seen her in action they would never have believed she could turn into sharp silver lightning at the merest hint of vampire.

  Sometimes she didn’t even need a vampire to expand—only danger. When she and I had been getting to know each other, she’d expanded when there’d been a sudden spike in my fear. That didn’t happen anymore.

  “She won’t respond to you,” I told him, angry at him for touching her.

  I hadn’t been able to keep the secret of Silverlight for long. Too many people saw me fight. Too many cameras watched the city.

  “I’ll put it in the safe, Ms. Sinclair. And we still need to search you.”

  “Fine,” I muttered and stood still as another man appeared and patted me down while Frank and Andy
watched.

  “She’s clean,” the new guy said, then turned on his heel and left without another word.

  “Michele will take you to see Mr. Bennett,” Andy said, and as he carried Silverlight through a tiny doorway I hadn’t even noticed, a tall woman appeared, and smilingly urged us to follow her.

  Michele led us down a long hallway, then hit a button on the wall, which opened a set of double doors at the end.

  We walked down yet another hallway, then finally she ushered us into a large sitting room.

  It was spacious, airy, and beautifully decorated, but somehow cold and uncomfortable, without the slightest lived-in feeling.

  “Please sit,” Michele said. “May I offer you some refreshments?”

  “Nothing, thanks, Michele,” Frank said.

  “Mr. Bennett will be right in,” she said, then left the room.

  Judge Bennett walked in two minutes later. He completely ignored me as he shook Frank’s hand and exchanged innocuous pleasantries that I barely heard.

  Frank sat down on the sofa beside me, and the judge took the uncomfortable looking chair across from us. And finally, he looked at me.

  I stared calmly back at him, though I was anything but calm. My insides quivered and twisted into painful knots, and it was all I could do not to jump to my feet and pace the floor.

  “Your Honor,” I said, instead.

  “Ms. Sinclair.” He was a tall, thin, clean-cut man, unremarkably plain, brown eyes, thin lips, not handsome, not ugly. Power swirled around him. Not supernatural power, but power that came from commanding the lives of others—both human and nonhuman.

  I believed it had gone to his head.

  The captain cleared his throat in the ensuing silence. “I let Trinity know about Madalyn.”

  When Crawford said the missing woman’s name, emotion whirled suddenly and vividly in the judge’s eyes, and his face came to life. For a few seconds, until he controlled himself, his face was transformed into something interesting and attractive.

  Hmmm…

  Lewis Bennett was crazy about his wife.

  I smiled, and finally, I relaxed. I sat back and crossed my legs. Lewis Bennett was just a man in love with a woman. I could handle that. “Let’s not waste time, Judge. The longer she’s missing, the harder it’ll be to find her alive.”

  Again emotion blazed in his eyes, but that time, it was from anger.

  “Trinity,” the captain barked. “You don’t need to—”

  “What? I don’t need to be honest? I’m sure the judge has people tiptoeing around him all day long. I don’t have time for games or ego stroking.” I lifted my chin and stared Bennett down. “Tell me what I need to know.”

  He curled his lip. “I have not decided to hire you.” He leaned forward, as though he thought I might be intimidated. “You aren’t the type of person with whom I normally associate.”

  I swallowed hard and hoped he couldn’t read the doubt in my eyes. I could not blow this. I could not. “I don’t care for you, either. But you’ll give me the job anyway, and I’ll take it.”

  “Why should I give you the job, Ms. Sinclair?”

  “Because you love your wife more than you hate me.” I let him consider that for a moment, then it was my turn to lean forward. “But I’m curious. Why do you dislike me, Judge?” I knew why, but I wanted to hear him say it.

  I didn’t have to twist his arm. “Because you’re a traitor to your own kind.”

  Frank climbed to his feet. “Lewis, she’s not a traitor to anybody. She hunts vampires, for God’s sake. You know what she’s done.”

  I only smiled. “Come on, Captain. You can’t be surprised. You had to know the good judge was a—”

  “Careful.” Bennett left his chair to stand beside Crawford and both of them stared down at me as though not quite sure what to do.

  “Look,” I said. “You want your wife. I’m nearly certain I can give her to you. And I’m also nearly certain you know what I want in return.”

  He pointed his finger at me and jabbed the air. “I will not release Angus Stark! If it’d been up to me he’d have stayed there until he rotted.”

  At last, I stood. “Here’s my offer. I’m going to look for her, and for that, I want visitation rights to the Byrdcage. If I find her alive, I want Angus Stark released. If I find her dead…” I hesitated, then continued. “Then that’s your fault for being a bigoted fool and wasting precious time.”

  I thought he might hit me. Frank must have believed it was a possibility too, because he took a step toward me, his hand up. “Lewis. Give her what she wants and let her bring Madalyn home.”

  The judge sank down into his chair and buried his head in his hands. Finally, he looked up at us, his eyes watering and the lines on his face a little deeper. “Michele!”

  She entered at once, as though she’d been hovering outside the door. She strode to us, then dropped a small bag into the judge’s waiting hand.

  He opened it slowly and pulled out a thin, silky pillowcase. He held it to his own nose, briefly, before handing it to me. “She slept on this before she disappeared.” His voice roughened. “I can still smell her on it.”

  I took the item, then gave him a nod. “I’ll find her.”

  “You’d better,” he snarled, and he didn’t care that there were witnesses, that a cop stood right beside him. “If you don’t bring her home, I’ll make sure you suffer for the rest of your pathetic life.”

  I flinched beneath all his rage, but I understood it. He was terrified, and I was there. “I’ll bring her home.” I clenched the pillowcase in my hand. “Judge…”

  “Yes, yes.” His voice was suddenly tired, and it didn’t hold a lot of hope. He wanted to believe I could do what the police could not. He wanted to believe I could give him back his love. But there in his voice was the truth. He didn’t believe it. “I will have visitor passes created for you and two of your guards. You wouldn’t come back out if you went into the Byrdcage alone.”

  “And if I bring her back alive,” I said, “you’ll give me Angus Stark.”

  He rested his head on the back of the chair and stared up at me. “If you don’t bring her back alive, Ms. Sinclair, I will make sure Stark suffers before I have him put down like the dangerous, rabid animal he is.”

  Chapter Three

  My hands were shaking as I clutched the steering wheel and stared down at the passes in my lap. Judge Lewis Bennett had been difficult to deal with, but I’d gotten what I needed.

  For all I knew, Mrs. Bennett had taken the opportunity to escape her husband—and I couldn’t blame her. But that didn’t matter to me. If I had to chase her across a dozen states to bring her back, she was coming back.

  I couldn’t consider that she might have been taken and murdered.

  Captain Crawford tapped his horn in farewell as he passed me. He’d driven me back to my car, and the only thing he’d said was that I should be careful when I went to visit Angus.

  On the way home, I called Rhys Graver.

  He answered immediately. “Hello, Trinity. How did it go with the judge?”

  “He was harsh but I have permission to visit Angus. I also have two extra passes to the Byrdcage. Will you be one of my backups?”

  He hesitated. “I would if I could.”

  I frowned, a little irritated. “Why can’t you?”

  “I don’t want to end up in a cell beside Angus.”

  “Shit.” I slapped the steering wheel. “I forgot you’re not human. But you’ll have a pass from the judge. It’s not like they’re going to test you. And I’m willing to bet you have a dozen fake IDs in case they check the registry.”

  “It’s not possible, Trinity. I’m sorry.”

  I understood, I did. I was so eager to see Angus that I was being careless with Rhys’s life. “I’m sorry, Rhys. I shouldn’t have pushed.”

  “You’ll be taking Shane?” he asked.

  “Yes. If he’ll agree to go.”

  “He will. And I
will call a buddy to go in my place. He’s cool, even though he’s human.”

  “Hey,” I said. “I’m human.”

  “So you are.” There was a smile in his voice, but then abruptly, he became serious. “You know it’s just a matter of time before they force you to register, don’t you?”

  I snorted. “I’m human, and I kill vampires. They’re not forcing me to do anything.” I shrugged off the vague uneasiness I felt at his words.

  He let it go. “Go home, Trinity. I’ll call my friend to meet you there. Also…” He hesitated.

  “What is it, Rhys?”

  “I’ve left a small gift on your nightstand. I’d like you to wear it when you go to Byrd Island. Will you do that for me?”

  I frowned. “Thank you. That’s so kind. What is it?”

  “It’s a piece of jewelry that’s very special to me. It belonged to my great-grandmother, who swore by its protective qualities. Promise me you’ll wear it.”

  His voice became low and quiet, and something about it made my mouth dry. And it also made me want to agree with anything he asked. I cleared my throat. “I promise.”

  “Thank you, Trinity.” He hung up.

  My next call was to Shane, but I had to leave a message when he didn’t answer. I couldn’t wait around—there was no time. I needed to search for Madalyn, but first, I had to see Angus.

  If law enforcement found her before I did, Angus would stay inside the Byrdcage. I couldn’t let that happen.

  Angus’s life depended on me being the one to bring her home.

  So I sped to his house—where I continued to stay, despite my resolve to move out—to prepare for the trip to Byrd Island. It’d take me a little over an hour to drive there, and though I had a special pass, I wasn’t sure what the prison’s policy was on visitation. They might give me a couple of hours, or they might give me fifteen minutes.

  I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and drove a little faster. After six long months, I would finally get to see Angus. I was eager to see him, but I was scared to death to see what six months in the Byrdcage had done to him.

  Some of Angus’s children were waiting when I slammed into the house. They had lined up in the entryway, silent and hopeful. The littlest ones held hands, their eyes huge, and as soon as they saw me, one of them began to cry. That set off the rest of them.