Annie And The Cowboy (Western Night Series 3) (63 page)

Running through the hallway as fast as she could, Charlotte pulled out her now functional cell phone before immediately dialing her partner’s number. Just as she was about to call the elevator up, a familiar, rough voice echoed from the other side.

“Charlotte? What’s going on?”

“We’ve been had, Dan. Or at least that’s what they tried to do,” the sizeable woman panted as she rapid-fired the words “They swapped cars in the hotel so you wouldn’t see them leave. Probably rented some of the limos they offer down by the garage. There’s a bunch of confused escorts back in their penthouse. Send someone to get them. I’m going down to the reception. Meet me there!”

“Deal. Race you.”

Funny,
she wanted to say, but her partner hung up just as the elevator opened its doors before her. Relishing the opportunity to breathe without talking, Charlotte passed through and punched “Ground floor” on the control board. Barely making any sound at all, the machine went down.

The lift was fast, but to Charlotte the ride seemed more similar to an eternity. When the thing finally opened, the detective immediately ran straight toward the reception as fast as it possible.

“You’re spilling out.” the policewoman’s partner greeted her as soon as she entered his sight. Before them, a concerned looking clerk clenched a cellphone, apparently talking to someone important.

The cars’ GPS,
Charlotte wanted to say, but all that came out was a “Well you’re short.” Instead of responding, he merely turned his head toward the man before them.

“Yes, sir,” the receptionist spoke into the phone, repeating it several more times before finally being allowed to hang up. “The manager has just authorized me to give you access to our automobiles’ GPS data, officer,” he said, scanning the female detective’s curves several times before managing to avert his eyes.

Good partners think alike,
Charlotte thought as the receptionist handed the data to Daniel.

“Great. Let me know if anyone of those particular patrons contact you in any way. Got it?”

“Naturally, officer.”

In a hurried pace, the two detectives turned around and exited the hotel before entering the first car that was parked outside. Two more pursuit vehicles stood ready right behind it, awaiting the pair’s order to begin the chase.

Still breathing quickly, Charlotte took the driver’s seat, while Daniel read the automobile’s navigation screen from the co-driver’s position.

“37
th
Avenue, Bronx,” Daniel said. In response, his lovely partner immediately stepped onto the gas pedal, causing the automobile to roar forward violently. The other two vehicles immediately followed suit.

“They aren’t moving,” he continued, giving off as little emotion as he always did.

Don’t tell me they’re dead, damn it!
Charlotte thought as she rammed the pedal down as hard as was possible, making the car scream like a wounded beast. Not saying a word, her partner merely took his revolver out, individually checking every single bullet before letting it slide back into its casing.

“Tell me when they move,” Charlotte exclaimed, eyes on the road.

“Sure thing,” Daniel responded.

He was silent for the rest of the way.

By the time they found the cars, it was already too late. The building they’ve been parked against was burning, and contained within were the charred bodies of all seven foreigners. Expectedly, footprints of the assumed Cinder disappeared even before he left the building, as if he had vanished into thin air.

Nice suicide, Will,
Charlotte thought as she sipped on a chocolate milkshake while the coroner’s team bagged one of the bodies in front of her.
You’ve managed to screw all of us. Congratulations.

The Chief stood right next to her, alternating his disapproving gazes between the two partners.
Our first failed op.All our effort, gone up in smoke.Literally.

“Go home,” the Chief finally spoke to them. “You won’t be of any use to us here anymore. This is bag-work”

The policewoman was about to speak in protest, but decided not to.
He’s right, this is a disaster.
Turning around, she gestured for Dan to follow, before they both took their places in the vehicle and drove away in silence.

The way back was long and unpleasant, at least as far as Charlotte was concerned. Daniel showed zero signs of concern or discomfort, which was normal for him. Discreetly sneaking a short look at him, the policewoman tried to paint a picture of her partner’s personality, and failed miserably. He had no family, no vice, and never appeared at any social gatherings. It was as if he was a monk of the religion of Law. This was not the first time she noticed this distinct lack of humanity, but right now it gave her the creeps.

After stopping by the precinct to exchange her pursuit car for the one she normally drives, Charlotte offered her partner a ride home, which he refused as usual.
Whatever, Dan, s
he thought as the man slowly disappeared in her rearview mirror. 
You can soak in as much filth as you want. I myself plan on taking a shower.

                                                                                    ***

Home, sweet home.
Breathing in the familiar scent of her apartment, Charlotte could feel herself relax after as little as stepping inside.
I’ve been waiting for you all day long,
the detective thought, taking long strides toward her bathroom while peeling off layers of clothing with each step. By the time she passed and closed the door, all that remained on her person was a matching set of a snug-fitting bra and panties, along with the still-tightened waist cincher.

Yesssss…
The relief Charlotte experienced after removing that restricting thing could not be put into words. Elated, she checked out into her reflection, rubbing one hand over her soft abdomen.
This baby was born to be free,
she thought for a moment, before proceeding to unfasten her bra.
And so were these.
The two gigantic orbs rolled out, released from their cages, jiggling sensually with every move she made.

And now for you.
Grabbing the sides of her crimson panties, Charlotte didn’t even try to contain the slight moan that left her lips when the silky fabric was forcefully pulled out of her moist nether region.
Car chases always make me wet,
she reminded herself of what she already knew.
But you’ll have to wait until after the shower, naughty girl!

Hips swaying, the off-duty policewoman slowly moved toward the shower cabin. A split second away from stepping in, her amusement quickly turned to shock as the bathroom door suddenly opened, revealing a naked, masculine figure. For a moment, Charlotte considered tackling the intruder, but that plan quickly lost all viability when she noticed that the man held her gun in one hand and the smoldering remains of what used to be her cellphone in the other.

Cinder,
she realized immediately.
A perfect end to a perfect day.

The man was almost inhumanly attractive. His tall, lean body was of a paler shade, with every muscle clearly visible in its place. A slightly elongated oval face, framed by longish locks of black hair peered into her with a pair of intensely green eyes. After letting the ruined chunks of Charlotte’s cellphone fall onto the ground, Cinder took a step backward, gesturing to the detective to follow him into the living room.

Weighting her options, the policewoman decided to comply.
He burns things and has a gun. Is there any way for this to get any worse?

After making sure that Charlotte was properly seated in the comfiest chair in the apartment, the intruder pulled out another seat and took it himself, lowering the pistol onto a nearly table. The distance between the two of them now measured well over nine feet, with an interposing object in-between. Any chance the policewoman had of re-arming herself was nonexistent.

“I take it that you know who I am,” the man finally spoke, practically caressing the detective’s ear canals with his silky baritone.

“You’re the asshole who’s burning the Germans,” Charlotte practically spat the answer out, refusing to acknowledge the tone of the intruder’s voice.

“A good description as any other,” the man widened his smile even more while giving the policewoman’s assets a short scan. “But essentially incomplete. Tell me, detective Giddens, did you ever stop to ask yourself
how
exactly did I kill all those men? Even more importantly, do you wish to know
why
I’ve done it?”

No way around it,
Charlotte heard her instincts say to her.
Might as well hear what he has to say. Maybe it’ll buy me some time.

“I’m burning for it.”
Certain death, here I come.

“I’d go as far as to say that you’re
simply melting
for it,” Cinder responded, his stare focused somewhere between the detective’s legs.

“Are you going to spill the beans or stare at my crotch?” Charlotte remarked angrily.
I’ve spent most of the day getting my assets checked out. Why would the night be any different?

“One does not exclude the other, my dear detective. Regardless, I am going to tell you…” Having paused for a second, the intruder stared right into Charlotte’s eyes before finishing his sentence “Absolutely everything.”

“Then get on with it already. I’m waiting.”

Still chuckling, Cinder scanned Charlotte from head to toe once more as if to prove a point, before finally opening his mouth again.

“What would you say if I told you I was a descendant of a fire-breathing dragon?” His previously roaming gaze now stabilized at the detective’s eyes, the intruder obviously expected an answer.

“I’d say you were either insane or messing with me,” Charlotte responded, visibly annoyed with the way this was going. “Although from what I’ve seen you’re most likely both.”

Laughing out loud, the killer stood up, lifting a decorative bowl from the table with one hand. While taking a deep breath, he gestured to the policewoman to pay close attention. What happened next shocked Charlotte more than anything she’s ever seen in her life. A gout of white flame, bright enough to make the eyes hurt, burst out from the man’s exhaling mouth, engulfing both his hand and the bowl. This blazing spectacle lasted barely a second, but by the time the intruder stopped breathing fire, the object had been burnt to a crisp.

Clenching his completely unharmed right hand, Cinder allowed the smoldering dust to creep between his fingers. Slowly, he lowered his gaze down toward the detective, displaying an expression of extreme pride. “Hot enough for you?”

Eyes wide and mouth agape, Charlotte could do little more than stare. She had been aware that Cinder was capable of something strange, but
this
?
No.
she ended that train of thought before it was ready to leave the station, managing to regain some of her composure in the process.
This has got to be a trick of some sort.

“Where’s the projector and how’d you get it into my apartment?” the detective answered, aware that her attempt at acting unimpressed was not all that convincing.

Completely ignoring her retort, Cinder merely continued his story. “About my ancestors, I am afraid I know very little. Dragon slayers exterminated the lot of them at least half a millennium ago. I know I’ve been born with virtualy impregnable skin, imperviousness to heat, and the ability to produce it in large quantities. I can do a few other things, but that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is that I have riches. Vast riches. Dragons are not portrayed as sleeping on piles of gold for no reason. What matters even more is that somehow, the slayers have found out about me, and they keep coming to take my life and money. Understand?”

Circling the room with her eyes, Charlotte was still trying to find the hidden camera. Caught in this search as she was, it took her several seconds to realize that her answer was required. “I understand. I also believe that you think that your story is true.”

Taking another deep breath, Cinder stopped smiling for a moment. “You really think that I’m crazy? After what I’ve shown you?” An awkward silence followed, during which Charlotte was still trying to find the some sort of hidden device. Projector, recorder, anything would do.

“At least you’re brave,” the intruder finally said, donning his sincere looking smile again. “But this is no joke. The men you’ve been finding dead are slayers. Hunters. And they’ve discovered my location. I tried moving around the city but someone keeps squealing about me, which could mean only one thing. There’s a wanted poster with my description somewhere in New York’s shadier parts, and I’ll be found wherever I go. That is why I will leave town tonight.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“You are, Charlotte,” he stopped talking, allowing the detective to take in what he just said.

“Excuse me?” the detective answered, visibly surprised, but admittedly intrigued.

“Ever since the first time I’ve successfully defended myself against the slayers’ attack, you’ve been on my tail. I remember looking at you from up above that time, and every other time. You’ve been fascinating to me from the get-go. A strong, capable woman, beautiful in her own unique way, and unrelentingly dedicated to her work. That’s you.”