He got right to the point. “Can you spare a couple test kits?”
“What are you testing for?” That look of scientific curiosity flickered across her features.
“BST.” He stepped closer. Her fingers tightened around the handle of the scissors. He didn’t care to contemplate whether or not she was aware of her response.
“Are you taking it?”
“Are you crazy?”
Perry raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She laid her other hand on the table and stared across at him.
“Please, Perry.” He glanced around the room, but didn’t see any of the kits lying around. He wouldn’t leave until she handed one over.
He tried another approach. “I think someone I care about has been given BST. C’mon, help me out. For old time’s sake?”
The idea of Stone using Nicole made his blood boil. He thrust his hands into his pockets for the lack of anything better to do with them. He wanted to tear the bastard to bits.
“Sounds like you already know.”
“Yeah, but I need proof. The guy who gave it to her lied. She thinks its wolfsbane.”
Perry moved around the stainless steel table. She gripped the cord that hung from the blinds and gave it a gentle tug. They unfurled to block them from the view of the others.
“There’ve been rumors about you,” Perry spoke in an unsure voice and glanced at the door.
He raised a brow. “Yeah well, you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
“There’s evidence.” She glanced at the file cabinets. “But I don’t trust it.”
“Good. Why?”
“It’s too convenient.” Perry thrust her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. “Besides, you used to be a cop. You know the procedures and I can't imagine you leaving anything incriminating behind."
Coming from Perry, that was a compliment.
"Can I trust you?” She looked at him, really looked at him. “I mean, really trust you?”
“You know me, Perry. We used to work together.”
She pushed the glasses up her nose and studied him a moment. “That was years ago.”
“And you didn’t know I was Lycan.”
Her eyes were downcast. “That’s pretty biased, isn’t it?”
Brody took a step toward her. “Are you going to help me or not?”
“I could get in a lot of trouble for this.” Perry bit her bottom lip and pulled a drawer open. She withdrew a plastic baggie, three empty vials and a bottle of liquid with a dropper on top. She tossed them into the baggie and thrust it at him. “Do you remember how to use it?”
He pocketed the supplies. “Yeah, I remember.”
She glanced at the door. “Don’t come back, Brody. I can’t help you anymore. If anyone finds out, I could lose my job.”
Brody walked down the hallway that would lead him to Vasquez’s desk. The linoleum floor was yellowed with age. The edges closest to the wall had begun to curl. The same tired photos hung on the wall. Most were of men in uniform who had received awards. A few were group shots or a memorial for one of the fallen.
He rounded the corner. His ex-partner looked up from the papers spread across her desk.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Vasquez’s expression revealed nothing.
Brody sank into the chair across from her. “I need your help.”
“We’re not having this conversation.” Her expression looked somewhat bored. She tapped a pen against the edge of the desk.
“Just listen." He’d probably have better luck if he talked to the wall.
Vasquez’s mouth was set in a grim frown. She had yet to cut him off, so he forged on. “Something big is brewing tomorrow night.”
Vasquez grimaced and her shoulders slumped.
“Stone is going to fight the pack leader.”
“Last time I checked, it wasn’t against the law.” She rolled her eyes. “Each year the current leader can be challenged while the rest of the pack fornicates in the bushes. We’ve emptied the beach, so what’s the problem?”
He cleared his throat, irritated that she’d made Lycanthropes sound like a bunch of hedonistic animals. “There’s more to it than that. It’s a way of determining the pack hierarchy. Some even choose their mates.”
“That’s what I said.”
“I meant the one they’ll spend their life with.”
Her features darkened. “Call it what you will, but I know there’s a lot of screwing going on. Who do you think gets to clean up the mess? Weren’t you ever curious about the hair, the bloody scraps, and parts? How about the trashed fences and houses? Don’t forget about the nasty puddles of pink slop that’s left each time one of you changes.”
“Vasquez…” Brody didn’t have time for this nonsense.
“Then there’s the maimed, dead, or missing. Not to mention the poor bastards who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. What about the lookie-loos who get hurt because they’re too stupid to get out of the way? What do we do with them? They don’t fall into an easy category to deal with. If we try to prosecute, the suspect gets off on some Lycan related bullshit. It’s like the one night a year you guys can do what you wish, with almost no consequences.”
“We do pay a price. It’s also a night for revenge. That’s what I’m trying to make you understand.”
She leaned back in the chair. Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths meant to calm and relax. “What are you talking about?”
“Sean Stone. Think about it, Vasquez. If he’s the one bringing drugs into the city, he’ll be unstoppable with the support of the pack.”
“You sound like you’re afraid of him.”
He took a moment to mull over his answer. “I’m not afraid of Sean Stone.”
Vasquez studied him for a moment. “And just what do you want me to do? It’s a Lycan matter. My hands are tied.”
He rested his elbow on the edge of the desk and dropped his head into his hand. “You mean you won’t do anything about it. I guess it’s up to me. Again.”
Vasquez pushed away from the desk. Her chair rolled back a couple inches. “Is that a threat toward Sean Stone?”
Brody smacked his fist against his thigh. Vasquez jumped and the detective a few desks over also took notice. A fat cop with a bushy mustache stopped writing and stared at them, curiosity written all over his round face.
“C’mon, Eva, you know me. I’m not that stupid.” The truth was, he’d been nothing but that since he got involved with Amy Dahl’s case.
This reminded him that she hadn’t shared any information in a while. “What about the semen found in Amy's apartment? Did anything good come back on that?”
“The sample was inconclusive.” Vasquez’s dark eyes were trained on his face. “You know I’m not allowed to discuss ongoing cases with a suspect.”
He knew, but ignored the reminder. Also, he didn’t appreciate the insinuation. “You know I had nothing to do with that.”
“You were in her apartment. You even admitted to being in the bedroom and coaxing a confession from her. I bet she told you whatever you wanted to hear, didn’t she?”
He gritted his teeth. “What about the gun used on Hank Alvarez? Did you get anything back on it?”
“Nothing. There are no reports of stolen property that match. And ballistics couldn’t match it to any other shootings.”
“What about Jimbo? Did you talk to Tony and Aaron? Have you brought them in?”
Vasquez’s expression soured. “I will not discuss this case with you. Please leave now, Brody. Leave, or I’ll have you removed.”
“What about Nicole?” God damn it, why was Vasquez treating him like a common criminal? She had to know he wasn’t good for any of this.
Vasquez looked pissed now. “What about her?”
“Haven’t you been listening? She’s in danger. Stone hired Aaron James to stalk her and he’s getting violent.”
“She and Aaron James are married. He has every right to find her and patch up t
heir relationship. I’ve already had this conversation with Molly McNeely.”
“That’s not what he’s here for. He and Tony tried to kill Nicole on the beach a few nights ago.”
“If that’s true, why hasn’t Ms. Riley come in and filed her own complaint? It makes perfect sense you know? McNeely is jealous and you’re just a lovesick dumbass.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “You seem to know an awful lot about the situation. About her. How’d you come by all this information? Are you stalking her too? Are you that desperate, Brody?”
His ex-partner stood and brushed at a wrinkle on the thigh of her dress pants. She slung her purse over her shoulder and moved toward the exit. Brody hurried around the end of her desk.
“Vasquez, wait up.”
She didn’t look back, but walked at a faster pace. A couple uniforms and the same fat detective watched them leave. Once they were in the hallway, Brody caught up to her.
He gripped her arm.
Her dark eyes narrowed and she jerked her sleeve away. “Damn it, Brody, give it up. I don’t have any answers for you!”
“I don’t buy it. Something had to come back from forensics to lead you guys in the right direction. You know I’m not good for any of this.”
Vasquez lashed out and shoved him against the wall. Her pink nails grasped the front of his shirt. She spoke through gritted teeth. “You’re our only suspect, Brody! You were in Amy’s apartment. You talked to Hank and he ate a bullet afterward. It was your hair and shoe we found at Ira’s place. We found you in Jimbo’s pawn shop. How the hell do you explain all of that?”
He didn’t dare touch her, not even to remove her fingers from his collar. His arms remained at his sides. Beyond the hallway, footsteps drew closer to investigate their raised voices.
She threw up a hand to staunch any comment he might have formulated. She leaned forward, her face inches from his. “Don’t incriminate yourself any further. If you’re ready to confess, bring your lawyer. Otherwise, we’re through until I decide to haul your ass in again.”
He knew all about this kind of intimidation. He’d done it to shifty characters on many occasions. That fact that she attempted it on him, like he was one of the miscreants, pissed him off. “For fuck’s sake, Vasquez, you can’t be serious.”
She ignored his response and said, “If you decide to skip town, don’t bother telling me where you’re going.”
He gritted his teeth and glared at her. There was nothing he could say right now that wouldn’t make matters worse. Brody twisted away then slunk down the narrow hall. He burst through the doors, into the dwindling sunlight.
****
Brody had driven past Nicole’s apartment complex twice before he gathered enough courage to stop. Yes, he’d lied and planned on using her to get to Sean, but that was before he really got to know her. Somewhere along the way, he’d fallen in love with her.
He knocked on Nicole’s door and struggled to find the right words to say. Nothing sounded right and he wasn’t very good at apologies.
Brody tried to curb his disappointment when Molly’s bright red curls filled the doorway.
“She isn’t here.” Molly looked past him, out into the courtyard. Perhaps she couldn’t bear the sight of him either.
“I need to see her.”
Molly’s expression was pinched. Her eyes and nose were red, an indication that she’d been crying.
“Just go away.” She swiped at her cheeks and groaned.
Brody stared at her and ran through the possibilities in his mind. None of them were good.
Molly hiccupped on a sob. “Nicky didn’t come home last night. When she got here this morning, she went straight to bed after she showered. About an hour later, she started screaming.”
Brody stepped into the apartment and gripped Molly’s shoulders. “What happened?”
“She…” Her voice caught on a sob and she looked away again. Her body shuddered in response to the memory.
“What is it, Molly?” Dread filled him. “What happened?”
“She looked like hell.” She gazed up at him and bit her bottom lip. A scarlet flush darkened her cheeks. “She didn’t want to talk about it, but she had scrapes and bruises. It looked like someone beat the shit out of her. There were marks on her throat, Brody.”
Soft sobs shook Molly’s frame. “She left in a hurry this morning. She said she had to get away to clear her head. She hasn’t come back yet and she won’t answer her phone.”
His pulse thrummed. He was close to losing the control he so desperately clung to. His heart twisted and a wave of emotion flowed over him. He removed his hands from her shoulders. “I’ll find her. Do you think she’s at Stone’s?”
She swiped at her eyes with the back of a hand and shook her head. “That's where she came from.”
Brody strode toward the door, murder on his mind.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Someone should be here in case she comes back.”
Molly followed him onto the stairs. “She’s like a sister to me. I can’t wait around and do nothing.”
He dragged in a calming breath. “Tonight's the full moon, Molly. Everyone is agitated and anxious, including Nicole. You'd better sit this one out.”
Molly paled, but nodded in understanding.
“Call me the moment she shows up.”
Brody thundered down the stairs. He dropped into his car with a sense of determination and hope. The secrecy that surrounded Nicole and her actions worried him. If he could find her, he’d help her set things right. And if Stone had hurt her, god help him.
It was a gamble, but he decided to swing by Stone’s house. Nicole might have gone there in search of him if she needed help. He took the long way home which meant he had to pass Bitter Black. Nicole’s car was not parked there. He also cruised past Stone’s sprawling estate. She was not there. Stone wasn’t either, for that matter.
Chapter Twenty-one
Nicole gripped the stair railing and prepared herself for what would come. She knew Sean would be angry and the idea of him losing control worried her. She’d thought about bringing Molly, someone to bear witness after what happened last night, but couldn’t put her friend in that kind of danger.
She spied Aaron’s oily head of hair. He was bent over the pinball machine, swearing at the game for cheating him. She quietly slipped past the employee lounge without him noticing.
Nicole hesitated outside Sean’s door. He spoke to someone in a low, threatening tone. Great, he was already worked up and now she had to face him with more bad news.
She smoothed a hand down the thigh of her jeans and straightened the hem of her light pink blouse. It was better to just get it over with, she decided. She raised her hand to knock on the door.
The men stopped speaking. Sean cleared his throat. “Who’s there?”
Nicole used a hesitant finger to push the door wide. A brown-skinned man with shoulder length black hair turned to stare at her. He looked relieved by the interruption. Sean stood and the man sprung out of the chair.
Sean moved around the end of his desk. Nicole wanted to turn and bolt down the stairs and she was certain he could see it in her eyes. Instead, she summoned all her courage and took a step into the office.
“Now isn’t a good time, Angel.” His smile seemed forced.
Sean was the perfect gentleman this afternoon, but Nicole knew the truth. Now she knew what kind of monster he really was. His deception didn’t work on her anymore. She wouldn’t have bothered with the resignation, but felt the need to face him despite her fear. The crumpled piece of paper looked stark and solid in her hand. She thrust it at him. “That’s okay, I just wanted to give you this.”
His eyes drifted across every scratch and bruise. He lowered his gaze to the document she held. “What’s this?”
It had taken a couple attempts before the words came out. “My resignation.”
Sean’s eyes darkened and an odd grimace shadowed his featur
es. Nicole stood her ground. The other man cast an uncomfortable glance at both of them.
Sean said, “No, I won’t accept it. Don’t do this to me, Angel. I need you.”
“You don’t have a choice, Mr. Stone.” Nicole thrust the paper at him again. “I quit.”
“I’m sorry about last night.” His voice faltered, but he still looked calm and collected. “I lost control. It’ll never happen again.”
She continued to hold the paper out to him.
He turned toward the visitor and growled, “Get out, Dave. The discussion is over.”
The man beat a hasty retreat past them. His hard-soled boots clanged against the metal as he descended the stairs at a breakneck speed.
Apprehension crawled down Nicole’s spine now that she was all alone with Sean. She cast a glance at the stairwell, wishing he’d just take the damn paper so she could leave.
His fingers closed over her wrist and he pulled her toward him. The sheet crinkled between their bodies. Sean wouldn’t allow her to pull away. His grip was still gentle, but firm. His other hand caressed her cheek. He backed her against the door. The memory of their last encounter surfaced in her mind as a shudder raced down her spine.
His mouth closed over hers for a moment, but she refused to allow him entrance. Nicole turned her head and forced him to kiss her cheek instead.
“Let go of me, Sean.” Anger and repulsion churned within her. She jerked her arm away. Her fingers groped for the doorknob, but he pressed a hand against the door to keep her from opening it.
“I’m sorry, Angel. I’ll make things better, I promise. Let me make it up to you.” He gripped her shoulder and forced her to face him again. “Name it, I’ll do it.”
Nicole gritted her teeth. This kind of groveling sickened her. Aaron had used the same crap when he had hit her or verbally assaulted her. And every time, it had worked. Nicole wasn’t so young or naïve these days. She shoved Sean away, but he held tight to her arm.
“What you did was inexcusable.” The sensation of cold fingers tickled down her back. Her expression tightened and her teeth exploded with pain. She gripped his jacket front instead of worrying about whether or not she’d change. “You tried to kill me!”
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