Embraced by Darkness (18 page)

I tucked the folder under my arm and helped myself to coffee. “He didn’t notice anything unusual there?”

“No.” Jack hesitated. “Are you sure this thing you’re sensing at the crime scenes isn’t a vampire?”

I shook my head. “It’s not a vamp. A vamp couldn’t get close enough to the scene, not without Cole and his team sensing him.” Because a shifter’s senses were every bit as keen as a werewolf’s. “It doesn’t even feel like a soul.”

“It’s not like you’ve had a whole lot of experience with souls yet.”

And if I had my way, that lack would continue. But this was one instance where I was never likely to get my way. “When I feel souls, I feel the chill of death or whatever the hell the afterlife is before they appear. With this other thing, all I feel is evil. It needs to kill, it hungers to kill, and then it hangs about afterward to gloat in the destruction it causes.”

“So it could well be a soul—just one so warped in what it has become that’s all you’re sensing.”

“Maybe.” I sipped my coffee, then said, “But how the hell does a soul kill?”

“I don’t know. I’ll ask our magi division and see if they know.”

I nodded. A few months ago I hadn’t even known the Directorate had a division that dealt with magic, spirits, and whatnot. It often made me wonder what other divisions we had that I knew nothing about.

“I don’t suppose anyone else has talked to the sister yet?”

“No. She’s still under sedation.” He hesitated. “Why?”

I shrugged. “I was just curious as to whether our second victim had recently been unfaithful.”

Jack raised his eyebrows. “You think unfaithfulness is the key to both murders?”

“It’s certainly a possibility.” I told him about my visits to Nonpareil and Dia. “If unfaithfulness is the key, then we have our link. And our murderer. But he’s going to be damnably hard to track down.”

“Especially if he’s a spirit rather than flesh.”

Very true. I walked over to my desk and sat down. “I’m going to do a global search for any past murders resembling our current two. Dia suggested these aren’t his first kills, so maybe we’ll get lucky. Has Cole given any indication of what killed the second husband?”

“It’s looking like a heart attack, same as the first guy.”

“Which doesn’t make sense, you know. Neither man was heart attack material.”

“Given the exertion they underwent, and the shock to their bodies, it’s not surprising their hearts gave out.” He tossed his plastic coffee cup into the trash. “Kade and Iktar should be finished training next week.”

I couldn’t help a smile. Having Kade at close quarters would make this dreary old conference room that much more exciting. Although Jack’s ethics of not mixing work and pleasure could prove problematic. Especially since Kade was too delicious for my own good. “You still planning to use Iktar in the day division?”

“We’ll probably float him, depending on situational requirements. They’ll both be officially on deck in two weeks.”

“So you’ve given them a whole week off? You’re all heart, boss.”

“Given our workload,” he said grimly, “they’re damn lucky to get that. Tell Rhoan I want to see him as soon as he gets back.”

He walked out. I signed into the system, then set about tracking down police reports. As I expected, it was a long, arduous process, and I was still there four hours later when Rhoan finally traipsed in.

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed a hand across my eyes. “Boss wants to see you.”

“Jack can wait. I need something to drink.” He raised a plastic coffee cup in question. I nodded. And noted that he was covered in dirt and cobwebs, and looking more than a little raw around the edges.

“You catch your vampire?”

“Yeah. Bastard put up a hell of a fight, though.”

“I thought he was only a youngster?”

“Even a young vampire can be bloody strong.” He poured the coffees, then handed me one. “This one had help. Bitch scratched me.”

He twisted his neck and showed me his battle scars—three deep but healing lines gouged into his skin. “Nasty. What happened to the bitch?”

“Her ass is now in jail. Assaulting a guardian and all that.”

“Ah. A human.”

“A
stupid
human, who will spend several years in jail for said stupidity.” He plonked down on the edge of my desk. “How goes the hunt for the bastard’s missing daughter?”

“Slowly. I talked to her lover today, and discovered Adrienne had uncovered a possible story at the nightclub.”

“Nothing to do with the entertainment piece, I gather?”

“Nothing at all. I’m going there to have a look around tonight.”

“Liander wants to take me to the premiere of his latest movie tonight.”

I raised my eyebrows. “My, my, my.”

“Indeed.” He screwed up his nose. “Suits and attention are not my style.”

“Since when? You love attention
and
dressing up. It’s just that by going as his date, you’re making it truly official.”

“There
is
that.”

“And you’re still afraid to make it official, despite the fact that you’ve all but committed to him.”

“Only outside working hours.”

“That’s all he’s ever asked, Rhoan.”

“I know.” He sighed. “But I like the anonymity of what we share now. I don’t want to have my picture in all the trade and gossip mags. It would make my job here harder.”

“Have you explained this to him?” I held up my hand before he could answer. “Of course you haven’t. That would be the sensible thing, and you don’t do sensible in relationships.”

“Now, there’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

“I haven’t committed to anyone.”

“No, but you have a good man who wants to commit and see just where the relationship goes.”

“The difference between me and Kellen and you and Liander is the fact I
do
talk to Kellen. Besides, it’s only in recent months we could truly be considered mates. You and Liander have been mates forever,
and
you admit you love him.”

“None of which excuses the fact that you won’t do the sensible and commit to Kellen—not even for a month or so.”

I gave him a look. “This isn’t about me. This is about you. Go home and talk to Liander. Be honest with him.”

He took a sip of coffee. “I’ll talk if you do.”

“Deal.”

“I’ll check with Kellen, you know.”

“Ditto, bro.”

He grinned and rose. “I foresee busy phone lines in our apartment tomorrow. That is, if you’re intending to come home tonight.”

“Got to. I need fresh clothes.” I hesitated, half thinking about mentioning the car incident, then deciding against it. He’d only get all fussy and protective, and right now I didn’t feel up to handling that.

Of course, he’d be a very unhappy little werewolf when he
did
find out—and I had no doubt he would. Eventually. We might not share the telepathy of twins, but we could often sense when the other was in danger. If the bastard behind these attempts had a serious go, Rhoan would know about it.

So I simply added, “Hope we’ve got hazelnut.”

“Yep. I went shopping yesterday.”

“You’re going to make Liander such a good little housewife one day.”

He snorted. “Given your refusal to shop, the same will never be said of you.”

I grinned. “When someone else will do it, why bother?”

“Lazy cow.”

“Bitch,” I corrected. “The cow is down the hall in the liaisons’ office.”

He shook his head and headed out the door. I sipped the bitter coffee and got back to the business of reading files.

Another hour, and the search results were through. It turned out there were more than twenty murders in the last ten years that bore similarities to our current ones. I hit print, then drained the cold dregs of coffee from my cup and rose. Once I’d collected the printouts, I dumped them on my desk and headed out. Enough was enough for one day. My eyes already felt dry and gritty. I needed to get some sleep if I was intending to go out tonight.

As I caught the elevator back up to the parking lot, I dragged my cell phone out and rang Kellen.

“Riley,” he answered warmly. “Wasn’t expecting to hear from you for another couple of hours.”

Just hearing his voice had me smiling. “You feel like checking out a new club tonight?”

He paused a beat. “Given your love for the old clubs, I’m gathering this is work related?”

“Yeah. I’ve got to check out Mirror Image, and thought you’d like to come along.”

“If you’re intending to fuck others, it’s probably better if I don’t. I’ve staked my claim, Riley, even if you haven’t yet agreed, and I
will
fight for what is mine.”

“The fact that you’d even think I’d do something like that shows how little you really know me.”

“Riley, you’re the one that keeps telling me you’re a free agent.”

“Yeah, but—”

“No buts. Free agents go where they please, do whom they please. But I will not stand apart and watch it.”

“I’m not asking you to. And I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m just going to look, nothing more.”
No need to get all jealous and antsy
, I thought silently.

Even if knowing that he was made my hormones get all dizzy and excited. Not that my hormones ever needed much prompting.

“Fine, then,” he said.

“I’ll pick you up at eleven.”

“Great.”

That didn’t sound entirely convincing. With a silent shrug at the peculiarities of men, I hung up and went home.

But the peaceful slumber I was hoping for didn’t materialize. When I got home, Blake was waiting for me.

“What the fuck have you been doing?” he said, voice filled with an anger that would have cowed the sensible.

I dumped my keys and handbag on the sofa, then continued on to the kitchen. I had a bad feeling I was going to need a beer. “What I’ve been doing is none of your goddamn business.”

Not the wisest comment in the world, as evidenced by the explosion of anger that suddenly filled the room.

“I am your pack leader,” he bellowed. “You will show me some respect.”

I grabbed a beer, pulled the tab, and took several gulps. Then I said, flatly and softly, “You and the pack can go to hell as far as I’m concerned. I’m helping because you threatened my mother, not because I want to or need to. And if you don’t like it, then fuck off and find someone else to help you.”

His fists clenched, and part of me was suddenly glad he was neither real nor here. I remembered the feel of those fists. I might be able to defend myself against them now, but part of me still feared them.

“My granddaughter is
dead
.” His voice was low and venomous. “And you strut around here drinking beer and throwing attitude. She’s
dead
.”

Jodie had already told me that, but regret washed through me anyway. Not so much because Adrienne
was
, beyond a doubt, dead, or because this monster and his kin so grieved for her. The regret was for Jodie, who had so obviously built her world around Adrienne and who now had nothing. “And this is my fault because…?”

“Because you were
supposed
to find her.”

“Even a guardian can’t work miracles.” I took another sip of beer, then leaned a hip on the doorframe and added, “Besides, you’re the one with the psi-skills. Why haven’t you done anything to find her?”

“Because Adrienne’s mind-blind, and therefore a dead zone for me.”

In life and now in death, I thought grimly. But at least it explained why he was harassing me rather than Rhoan. He might not be able to read my thoughts thanks to the strength of my shields, but he could still sense me. “So if Adrienne was mind-blind, did that mean she didn’t have the family trait of clairvoyance?” And why would Dia and Jodie say otherwise?

“Oh, she had it. In fact, she was probably stronger than most of us.”

“How, if she was mind-blind?”

He shrugged. “I’m no expert. Her talent wasn’t strictly clairvoyance, though. She wasn’t intuitive and didn’t dream, but she could touch people and see things. Sometimes past, sometimes future, but always about that person.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t try to harness a talent like that for the pack’s benefit.”

It was sarcastically said, but for once, Blake didn’t seem to notice. “We tried. She wasn’t obliging.”

Good for her.

“So what are you going to do about Adrienne?” he continued.

“Same thing I’m going to do for the other three who have disappeared—try to find whoever is responsible.”

“Trying is not good enough.”

“Well, it’ll have to be.” I paused. “Where did you get that picture of the man that was in the files you sent?”

“Found it on her desk.”

“At home?”

“Yes.” He frowned. “Why is this important? Have you found out who he was?”