Wolves Don't Cry (Otherworld Crime Unit Book 2) Page 16

  As they walked to the elevators, Caine glanced at Jace. "What do you think?"

  "I think Mistress Jannali is not your typical vampiress."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "I couldn't smell anything from her. Nothing. Not even when she got angry."

  The elevator door chimed and opened. They walked on. Caine pushed the parkade button. "Trust me, she wasn't angry. I've seen angry, and that wasn't even close to being it."

  "I don't know. There was something off about this whole meeting."

  "I agree. Like a little show me yours I'll show you mine."

  Jace shivered again. A cold sense of dread surged over him like a shadow casting across the ground. "Yeah, and I don't think we got to see hers at all."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  When Tala returned to the police station there was a message waiting for her at the front desk.

  It read: I have the last season of X-Files on DVD if you want to watch it. R

  Shaking her head, Tala headed down to the lab. Rick wasn't really any good at this undercover stuff. She'd tell him to back off and stop with the super-secret snooping around. He was just going to get himself fired.

  After a few long hours of thinking time, she came to the conclusion that she didn't want to get involved anymore. It was risking too much. Her job for one. And her way of life. She didn't want to sacrifice either. At least that's what she kept telling herself.

  She found Rick in his lab, dancing around to a Justin Timberlake song. He spotted her after a rather impressive spin around on his right foot and grabbing of his groin.

  "I see you got my note," he said. "Pretty clever picking The X-Files, don't you think?"

  She shook her head. "Not really. I bet everyone that read this message knew exactly what you're talking about. It's not really a big secret anymore, Rick."

  He shrugged. "Anyway. I found out that the third murder is very similar to the Kipfer one. The victim was found strung upside down, this time in a secluded park. Her throat was slashed, blood gone, and the same symbols written in blood on her chest. No witnesses. She was found by a late night jogger." He frowned. "Who jogs at night?"

  "Drugs?"

  He nodded. "Yup, the same. MDMA."

  "Was she raped?"

  "No evidence of it. No semen present."

  Tala sighed and rubbed two fingers over the bridge of her nose. A headache was threatening to explode behind her eyes. "Okay, thanks, Rick, for the info. But no more. Don't risk your job for this. We are not undercover agents for the OCU."

  He smiled appearing wistful. "If only."

  "I've got to get back to work." She walked to the door. "I'll see you around."

  "Oh, you might be interested to know that the sheriff doesn't know what to do."

  "Doesn't surprise me," she muttered.

  "And Captain Morales is trying to convince him to bring back Mr. Jericho and the rest of the OCU."

  Now that did surprise her.

  She waved at Rick and left. Walking down the hall, she pondered the information he gave her. She wasn't surprised that the evidence was the same. After all she'd learned since Jace and his team had arrived, nothing much surprised her. The murders were linked, that much was obvious. They needed to track down Darryl Rockland. She was certain he would lead them to the killer.

  She bumped into another person walking the opposite way and it knocked her from her thoughts. Tala apologized and kept on her way, but then she glanced up and realized she had walked all the way to the sheriff's office.

  The door was closed, but she could hear raised voices behind the wood. One of them was the sheriff's, and the other belonged to Hector.

  She wanted to press her ear to the door to hear the whole conversation. But then she realized that she didn't have to do that. If she concentrated hard enough, she could hear everything going on in the neighboring offices.

  Sitting in one of the benches along the wall, Tala turned her head just enough so she could literally tune into the sheriff's office.

  "Let me bring back Caine on this, sheriff," Hector said.

  "No. I will not have those people here again in my lab, or in my city. They are much too dangerous."

  "The dangerous thing to do here is not to involve them. They know more about what's killing these women than we will ever know."

  "Darryl Rockland is our murderer, Hector."

  "I think you're wrong. He's involved certainly, but I don't think he's our killer."

  "I do. The Kipfers want someone to pay for their daughter's murder, and I'm going to make sure that they get that compensation when we catch Rockland."

  "You're making a huge mistake, sheriff."

  Tala could hear the sheriff's angry intake of air.

  "You're treading on shaky ground, Hector. Push me and I will push back. And I don't think you'll like where you'll end up."

  Another minute ticked by, then the door to the office opened and Hector stomped out. He slammed the sheriff's door behind him and looked at Tala. She jumped to her feet.

  He marched over to her. "What are you doing here?"

  "Ah, waiting for you?"

  He smiled. "Good. I was hoping I'd see you. Walk with me." Turning, he moved down the hallway to the elevators. She matched him stride for stride.

  "Where are we going?"

  "To meet our team. Our real team. We have a killer to catch. And I have no faith in the sheriff to catch the right one."

  "I won't do it," Lyra said.

  Jace glanced at Caine, who was sitting behind his desk, and shrugged. He knew that Lyra would argue. He would've been surprised if she had agreed.

  "Lyra, we need this. It's important," Caine stressed.

  "You are asking me to go against my morals, Chief."

  "I know that, and I'm sorry. But it is really the only way that we can get back into San Antonio and solve this case. If we don't, more people will die, I have no doubt about that."

  Jace watched Lyra as she fidgeted in her chair. He could almost see the wheels turning in her thick skull.

  "Damn it, Lyra, just ask her. It's not as if she's using her powers."

  Lyra swiveled around and glared at Jace. "I'd watch what you say about Gran. You know better than most what happens when you make her angry."

  He did know. To this day, he still got the shakes when he came near cemeteries. Visions of zombies danced in his head even now. But he'd risk that to get a chance to follow a lead and have another opportunity to catch a killer.

  "Ask her," Jace demanded.

  She huffed. "Fine."

  Caine stood. "Thank you." He rounded the desk and offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her to a stand. "I owe you one."

  She smiled smugly. "Yes, you do. There's a seminar in Nouveau-Monde France I want to attend."

  "You got it."

  "And I want a two thousand dollar bonus when I go so I can do some shopping."

  Caine smiled. "It's yours."

  "Hey, what do I get for all my work on this case?" Jace asked.

  "My undying gratitude, as always, Jace." Caine moved toward the door of his office. As he exited, Jace and Lyra followed. "Okay, let's move out. The car will be waiting for you at the east checkpoint."

  Jace grabbed his arm. "You're not going?"

  "It's best I stay. Laal will become suspicious if I'm gone."

  They walked through the lab, grabbed an elevator to the parking garage. Caine unlocked the door to one of the SUV's and tossed Jace the keys.

  "You drive to the checkpoint, Lyra does the spell, and the two of you jump the fence and make a run for it. I've been assured the car will be there a mile out on I-35."

  "And if it's not there?"

  "Then you run like the wind back to the checkpoint before the spell wears off and hope like hell that the guards aren't armed will silver bullets," Caine remarked as he patted Jace on the shoulder.

  Despite the dire circumstances, Jace laughed. He couldn't help it. His adrenaline was running so h
igh he felt like he needed to do something or he'd explode. Better now than when he was jumping the fence at checkpoint east.

  Jace got into the vehicle, started it, and rolled down the window. He held his hand out to Caine. The chief took it. "We'll be back."

  "I have no doubt." Leaning into the window, Caine said. "Lyra, take care of him."

  She smiled and tipped her head. "Of course, don't I always?"

  It took them a little over twenty minutes to drive out of town to the checkpoint. As the lights of the government building came into view, Jace cut the headlights and coasted to a stop along the road.

  He glanced at Lyra. "Are you ready?"

  She nodded. Closing her eyes, she set her hands, palms down on her thighs and began to hum. Within seconds, her hums turned to murmurs. Then her murmurs turned to words that Jace couldn't decipher.

  Another minute passed. Jace wasn't sure if what she was doing was going to work. But then a soft blue glow appeared above Lyra's head. As Jace watched the glow brighten, he swore he saw the haggard face of an old woman with flowing gray hair. She was glaring at him.

  His body shook as tendrils of magic wrapped around his form, wriggling and squirming over his skin. The sensation nearly made him gag. Soon the whole vehicle was alit with the blue light.

  Jace felt smothered. He couldn't breathe. Gran was trying to kill him, he was certain. She obviously didn't like to be made fun of. Reaching out, he grabbed onto Lyra's arm to stop her from completing the spell. It was too much. They'd find another way.

  But then the light disappeared. And they were shrouded in darkness.

  Jace had superior night vision but when he scanned the vehicle he couldn't see Lyra anywhere. Panic surged through him.

  "Lyra?" He opened his car door and was about to step out, when something covered his hand. Jerking, he pulled from the touch.

  "It's me, idiot."

  Jace stared at the passenger seat. "Lyra?"

  "Yes," she hissed. "It's an invisibility spell. What did you expect?"

  "I don't know. I guess I expected to still see you."

  "Well you can't. Just like I can't see you." Her car door opened, and then shut.

  Jace slid out of the SUV and came around to the front. He could hear footsteps coming near him. He could also smell Lyra's floral scent.

  He reached out and grabbed her hand. "We go together, then."

  "Fine."

  He pulled her to him, reached down, picked her up by the legs and hefted her over a shoulder. She was a tiny little thing, her weight insignificant.

  She shrieked and started kicking. "What are you doing?"

  "Shh, they'll hear you. I'm faster and stronger than you. It'll go a lot quicker if I just carry you over."

  Her movements stilled and he heard her sigh. "Fine. I'm tired anyway. The spell wore me out." She slapped him on the butt. "Just don't drop me."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Climbing the fence with Lyra over his shoulder took some strength and agility, but Jace was up and over within five minutes despite Lyra's muffled protests.

  He ran full out along the side of I-35, prepared to jump into the ditch with any approaching headlights. Luckily, he didn't see any. After about a mile, there was an unmarked nondescript sedan parked along the left side. It had to be their car. Thank you, Hector.

  "Our car's coming up," he whispered to Lyra.

  "Then can you let me down, please?"

  Stopping, Jace set Lyra on her feet. Well he hoped it was on his feet, since he couldn't see her. And together they jogged the last little bit to the waiting vehicle.

  When they approached, Jace could see one figure inside. Hector sat in the driver's seat, waiting. In the back of his mind, he had been secretly hoping that Tala would be there waiting for him, too. Disappointment squeezed his heart.

  Jace jogged alongside the passenger side and opened the back door. Hector turned in his seat, a startled look on his face. When the other back door opened, too, he jumped again.

  "It's Jace and Lyra."

  Hector laughed. "Damn. When Caine said you'd be invisible I thought he meant figuratively. You know black clothing, camo face paint. Not invisible."

  "Well, that's the beauty of us. You never know what's going to happen," Jace remarked.

  Hector started the car. "How long will the spell last?"

  "Another half hour, tops," Lyra answered.

  "Good. Because it's getting freaky talking to the air."

  As Hector drove them back into San Antonio, he filled them in on the last murder and the hunt for Darryl Rockland. It was as if Darryl had vanished.

  Jace informed Hector about what they had discovered on the security tape and ultimately what gave them the idea for the invisibility spell to get the out of Necropolis.

  What he really wanted to ask was about Tala. Jace needed to know that she was okay. No matter what happened, he would find the time to go see her. And hopefully convince her to return to Necropolis with him. This time, he refused to leave without her.

  By the time Hector parked the car downtown, it was nearing 11:00 p.m. and the spell had worn off.

  They got out of the vehicle and made their way down to the promenade along the San Antonio River, called the Riverwalk. It was crowded and noisy as entertainment seekers lined the stone walkways to gain access to the various bars and restaurants that occupied the area.

  "The place we're going is called Howl at the Moon. It's a very popular piano bar. I myself have enjoyed a few nights out there. The wife loves it." He smiled then pointed to a building on the corner, with a large blue and yellow sign down the side.

  And standing out front near a tree was Tala.

  Jace's heart sped up at the sight of her long legs wrapped in faded denim and the little t-shirt and leather jacket she wore. Her hair was unbound and floated around her with the slight breeze.

  She smiled when she spotted them, and Jace thought his stomach was going to rush into this throat. He wondered if it would always be this way when he saw her. A feeling of elation and excitement. He sure as hell hoped so.

  Lyra elbowed him in the ribs, knocking him from his revere. "Man, you got it bad."

  "What are you talking about?" he growled.

  "Just don't let it cloud your judgment."

  Jace didn't have time to respond as they approached Tala. Her scent floated over him. It tickled his senses and stimulated other parts of his body.

  "Good to see you, both," she said when they stepped up to her at the tree. Her gaze lingered on Jace.

  He wanted to cross the short distance and gather her in his arms, pressing his nose into the silk of her hair. The sensation to do so was so intense Jace had to dig his nails into his palms to stop them from reaching for her.

  "How long have you been here?" Hector asked.

  "A half hour here out front. But for an hour I watched the place from over there." She pointed to a bench situated right along the riverbank. "I haven't seen Darryl or any tall single males going into the establishment."

  "It's possible our new suspect works here or at least has been here in the last week or so," Jace said. "We should definitely go in and have a look around."

  "Why don't we split up," Hector suggested. "Two of us go in; two of us wait out here. Tala and I both have radios."

  "Good idea." Lyra grabbed Hector's hand. "Let's go."

  Before Jace could protest, Lyra and Hector were at the door to the bar and going in. Suddenly nervous, he glanced at Tala. She, too, seemed jittery. They were like damn teenagers and not two grown professionals doing their jobs.

  "We should go sit over there." Jace motioned toward the bench Tala had pointed out earlier. "We'll pretend we're just out for a night stroll. On a date, like."

  Nodding, she led him to the bench and sat. Jace sat beside her and put his foot up on his knee. Nerves sang through him as did adrenaline. He was ready, willing and able to get this guy. But a part of him was reluctant to finish the case. Because then he'd have to le
ave again. Now that he was with Tala, Jace never wanted to leave her side.

  And he was going to tell her.

  Keeping in line with the roles they were playing, Jace put his arm around her. As if leaning down to kiss her, he nestled in next to her ear. "Tala, there's something I need to tell you," he started.

  Before he could continue, Tala wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, nuzzling into his neck. "Suspect at three o'clock."

  "What?"

  "I said, I spotted the suspect at three o'clock."

  Turning his head slightly, not wanting to leave the warmth of Tala's embrace, Jace watched as Darryl Rockland strolled past Howl at the Moon and went around the corner.

  Tala released her hold on him, and slid the radio out of her jacket pocket. "Suspect Rockland has been spotted. Heading east on Crockett Street."

  The radio crackled. "Hold tight. We'll be there in two minutes."

  Jace jumped to his feet. "This guy will be gone in two minutes." He walked toward the club. When he got to the door, he put his back to the wall and leaned around the corner. He saw Darryl duck into another building not far from where he was.

  When Hector and Lyra met up with him and Tala, Jace said, "He went into another building about a block up."

  "What's the plan?" Hector asked.

  "This guy's a runner. He'll take off the second he gets wind of us."

  "Then let's stay down wind," Tala said as she took point to lead them down the street.

  Jace grabbed her arm. "Let me go first. I can track him easier."

  She was about to protest, but her gaze flicked to Hector. He was staring at her probably wondering why she would argue.

  Nodding, she took a position behind him; Lyra and Hector followed Tala.

  Lifting his nose, Jace scented the air. Almost immediately he picked up Darryl's odor. It was acidic, like vinegar. After he walked a block, the smell became stronger, concentrated. Turning, Jace faced an older brick building with storefronts. But above those were floors of large windows. Apartments above the stores?