Immortal Revenge (33 page)

“Thank you, Denise,” Charles said.

“Should I keep trying?”

“No, don’t call them anymore. Thank you.” He tapped another button on the phone, ending the call.

Charles clasped his hands together and leaned back in his seat. “So far, we can’t reach the Jennings. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Do you want me to have the nearest patrol drive by the orchard?” Juan asked, leaning with one hand on the doorknob.

“Sure, but tell them to stay on the main road and drive normal. Tell them not to go near the houses, but stay within a mile in case we need them.”

Juan nodded, then left. His shoes tapped in the hallway as he hurried.

Charles’s phone made a double ringing sound. He touched the keypad. “Go ahead.”

“It’s Phil. I have Stan on the line. He’s with Robert and they’re at the Mannis house.”

The volume on the speakerphone seemed so loud, Katie wondered if anyone at the end of the hall could hear the Phil.

“Put him through,” Charles said as he twisted to face Jules and Katie.

“Stan, I have Charles on the line.”

“Are you outside, Stan?” Charles asked.

“Yes. Robert is checking around the house. Property is dark. No signs of activity. The vehicle is cold.”

Charles looked at the phone. “Did you notice anything about the car?”

“All the tires are slashed.”

Charles lifted his pen and jotted on the paper, underneath his other notes.

“The door is locked. I think Robert is coming around the front.”

Jules leaned her elbow on one of the armrests and covered her mouth with her hand. She looked weary with her red eyes and downcast expression.

“All windows and the patio are secured.” Katie heard a low mumble, too low for human ears.

“He said the home is secure,” Stan said. “Shall we proceed inside?”

“Yes.”

After a short break of silence, two loud smacks echoed through the phone. “We’re heading inside,” Stan said.

“Phew, man,” said the other voice Katie had heard earlier. She suspected it was Robert.

“There is a rancid smell in the home.”

“Look,” Robert said.

“We’re finding traces of blood in the home.”

Charles scribbled on the note pad. “Where?”

“In front of the door and leading…to the kitchen.”

“Check the sink,” Charles said.

Stan repeated the words.

“I found something, but this can’t be the source of the odor,” Robert said in a low voice.

Katie doubted Charles could hear the soft mumbling of his officer, but she could hear him fine. Vampire hearing had its benefits.

“Find anything?” Charles asked.

“It appears we have two fingers in a plastic container.”

Charles looked from Jules to Katie and nodded. “I need you to search the rest of the house.”

Katie heard Stan relay the information to his partner. Robert continued cursing at the awful smell. She almost chuckled, but the serious situation called for zero humor.

“We’re heading down the hall,” Stan said.

“Sir?” Katie heard Juan’s voice behind her.

Charles lifted one finger, signaling to him to hold off on whatever he had to say. Silence lasted while the men moved from one room to the next. Katie heard Richard’s soft voice as he reported his findings to Stan. So far, Katie’s plan was working out the way she had designed it.

“The rooms on the left appear undisturbed, but the master suite is a mess,” Stan said.

“Jesus!” Robert said loud enough Charles turned his attention to the phone.

“What is it?” Charles asked.

“We found the source of the odor. There is a dog hanging from the shower faucet. It appears someone split it open and the guts have fallen out.”

Jules made a gagging sound. Her skin paled as if she were about to vomit. She pressed her hand tightly over her mouth.

“Do you need to go?” Katie asked softly.

Jules shook her head.

“All right. Call a forensics team and stay there until they arrive. If you find anything else, call me.”

“Yes, sir,” Stan replied.

Charles hit button on his phone, then met Juan’s gaze.

“Officer Williams drove by the orchard. He said it was dark. He didn’t see anything suspicious.”

“I need you to call everyone we have on staff. Set up a meeting here in the next half hour to forty-five minutes. We’re working on a tip. The lives of the Jennings and Julie’s boyfriend, Joe, might be in danger. We have to go in before midnight.”

“I’m on it,” Juan said before he disappeared.

“Jules, Katie–”

“If you don’t mind, we’d like to leave. We’re staying at the Fairfield if you need us. I can call you after midnight for an update.”

“You’re welcome to stay. I have enough officers here to keep you company.”

Jules snatched her purse, then stood quickly. Although some color had returned to her, she didn’t look well. Staying in the station wouldn’t ease her anxiety, upset stomach, or aching heart.

Katie rose. “We’ll be fine.”

“Can I get your phone numbers?” Charles asked.

Katie rambled off Jules’s digits, then explain she’d accidently destroyed her phone and hadn’t replaced it yet. After Charles finished writing, he stood and then followed Jules and Katie to the door.

“We can find our way out.” Katie paused at the door next to Charles’s office and lightly knocked on it.

Riker swung the door open. A large rush of air to prompted strands of Katie’s hair to twitch.

“I’ve been waiting.” He directed his glowing eyes to Charles. “I was not here.”

Katie decided she’d spent enough time in the police station. “Come on.” She tugged on Jules’s arm and headed down the hall.

Anxiety stirred within Katie. While she held confidence in her plan, she knew chaos would ensue at the orchard and at the station in the very near future. The lives of officers were in danger, just as Joe and the Jennings’s lives. Not to mention, she was about to seriously piss off two vampires. She hoped she saved more lives than damning them. Soon enough, she’d find out if she made a grave error.

21

“Do you think they’ll show up in time?” Jules asked from the back seat.

Riker backed out of the parking spot, his neck twisted as he gazed out the back window. He shifted his eyes to Katie. His emotionless expression and sealed lips indicated he wouldn’t respond.

Taking the cue, Katie glanced at the time illuminated on the dash. Midnight was a little more than an hour away. If they finished their meeting in a half hour, then headed for the orchard, they would save lives. But if they didn’t make it by midnight, Joe would lose more fingers, possibly his life.

“I believe they will,” Katie said, hoping it would comfort Jules and give her some peace of mind. “They believed us.”

Katie wondered if Riker’s tinkering with Charles’s mind before she’d sat down to talk with the officer had encouraged his belief. Charles had asked plenty of detailed questions and written notes. He even surprised Katie with a few questions she hadn’t considered. Yet, overall she sensed the meeting was a success. Officers had recovered evidence of foul play at Jules’s house and it was enough to pursue their tip of a hostage situation. With or without Riker’s assistance, Katie’s plan was moving forward.

“Why did you tell him we were staying at the Fairfield?” Jules asked.

Katie twisted to face her. “I don’t believe anything will go wrong with my plan. However, if something should, I want to have time to get away.”

“Good idea.” Riker commented, taking his eyes briefly from the road. “But a gamble.”

Grimacing, Katie crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. She’d risked Charles calling the hotel to confirm her stay, but it was one worth taking. The police had evidence. Charles saw how emotionally upset Jules was. Therefore, the odds of Charles checking that small detail seemed slim to none.

“He has no reason to call the hotel since he has Jules’s number. Besides, I’ll check in with him later,” Katie said.

The vampire sitting behind her steering wheel remained silent. Katie watched him and wondered if he’d leave soon after she claimed her victory. Once she beheaded the two vampires, he wouldn’t need to hang around Mishawaka. His idea about her being a war leader was bunk and she’d make sure to convince him, somehow. Given their unfavorable feelings for each other, surely he’d want to take off and forget about her. She sure as hell wanted his arctic presence to disappear.

“You will need to rest during the day to keep your strength,” he said, his gaze pointed at the road.

She inhaled a deep breath. “I’ll do my best.”

The Tasmanian Devil lay two blocks ahead, the neon sign glowing brightly. Andy worked every night and would be there. He’d undoubtedly question why they wanted to listen to his police scanner. Katie hoped she’d have the chance to provide an explanation, but with Riker around, he tended to step in and take control of situations. Although having a vampire handy to tinker with minds was a benefit, a touch of guilt still pricked Katie. She preferred to fall back on mind control as last options, not first, unless it involved her losing her license for speeding. She’d have to be mindful of her driving from now on since Kyle wasn’t around to help her.

“Let me talk to Andy before you insist on his compliance,” Katie said, staring at Riker.

The vampire clenched his jaw, then turned into the Devil’s parking lot.

“Did Joe really tell you I should runaway?” Jules asked.

Katie closed her eyes for a few seconds. She’d hoped Jules wouldn’t bring up the conversation again. “Yes.” She twisted to face her friend.

Jules rubbed her hand across her cheek. She pressed her lips together. Joe’s words clearly upset her.

“I didn’t mention what he’d said because I knew it would sadden you. I’m sorry, Jules.”

She nodded. “I would’ve done the same.”

Riker took the keys out of the ignition. “Can we go now?”

Not responding, Katie slipped the seatbelt away from her, then pushed her door open. She held it while Jules climbed out of the back seat.

“If he’s alive and they take him to the hospital, I’d like to visit him,” Jules said, standing next Katie.

She nudged the door shut, then headed for the sidewalk. “During the day should be fine.”

Together, they walked around the side of the building. The lot had few spots open indicating it was another busy night at the Devil. Riker waited in front of the door with his hand wrapped around the handle. As Jules and Katie stepped closer, he opened the door.

Chattering voices and rock music greeted them as they strode into the bar. Robin, unable to miss by her blonde hair, tended the bar. Amy stood near a table with a tray under her arm and a wide grin on her face as she faced two male customers. Her gaze shifted as Katie led Jules and Riker toward the back.

“Hey!” she said a little too loudly and walked excitedly toward them. Her healed boots clacked on the hard floor with each step. “I thought you were on vacation.” She directed her gaze at Jules.

“I am.” Jules looked at Katie as if she didn’t have a clue what to say next.

“Is Andy in the back?” Katie asked.

“Yeah…” She turned her attention to Riker and smiled. “Hello.”

The tall vampire grinned for a change. His soft tinted green eyes appraised her tight red shirt and black skirt. “Hello, darling.”

Darling?

Katie shook the surprise from her head. “We’re going to talk to Andy.” She wrapped her fingers around Jules’s wrist and tugged.

On the way to the back, Katie glanced over her shoulder. Riker was standing close to Amy as she spoke to him. She brushed her hair off her shoulder and peered deeply into Riker’s eyes. What on earth was the vampire doing? Sizing up his meal?