Hot Demon Nights (5 page)

Blaise shook his head. “Take a breath. If we’re in this together for more than just getting you off, then it’s not happening until you’re good and ready to admit you want me. And you should know right now, I’m not just looking for one time.”

My vision focused on his tanned chest and the ripple of muscles he wasn’t going to let me explore with my tongue. We’d had fun before, why couldn’t we do that again? Why did he have to make this all or nothing?

“You can tease me with images of your tongue running across my skin, but I’m serious. Until you can admit to me and to yourself that you want me—want something
real
with me—we won’t be making love.” He kissed my lips and set me on my feet.

My knees shook so badly, I almost fell. What was wrong with me? I drew on all the anger I’d felt over being treated like a hooker on the Chicago police force, trying to stir up enough rage to flatten the demon with some pithy remark, only my brain remained befuddled, my tongue tied.

I took a deep breath and dragged my jacket over my shoulders. “Let’s go to the station.”

“Good idea. I want to see that footage they confiscated from the security cameras at Felding’s apartment building.”

“Me too.” And being around other people would automatically force me to focus on the investigation and not my partner. Safety in numbers was one of the self-protection techniques I employed when I felt overwhelmed.

As we stepped out of my apartment, drizzle cooled my cheeks and guaranteed we wouldn’t get a taxi anytime soon. We walked the blocks to the precinct where we found Detective Thomas in a cubicle reviewing the footage.

“Glad you two got here. I could use your take on this.” He nodded toward the young cop manning the mouse. “Let it play.” After a second, Thomas jabbed his finger at the corner of the monitor. “See that?” A blurry image of the sidewalk outside the apartment building could just barely be made out. At the edge of the screen, light glanced off something metal and shiny. A vehicle door.

“Now, watch closely.” Thomas leaned closer, squinting at the screen.

Light from the entrance to the apartment building flashed off the smoothly polished door as it opened and a body stumbled out.

At the same time, Mrs. Felding’s limousine pulled up to the curb and the driver hopped out to open her door.

The creature from the mystery vehicle groaned something that sounded like
Where is it?
and lurched into Mrs. Felding, his hands wrapping around her throat.

For a brief second, the creature’s face came into full view—hollow-eyed with grayish-blue skin, and a face contorted into what appeared to be an angry grimace.

“Did you see it?” Thomas asked.

“The zombie, yes.” I nodded.

“No, the vehicle he got out of.” Thomas faced us, hands on his hips. “Someone is setting these creatures up to attack individuals.”

“What about the first two?” Blaise asked. “They only attacked homeless men.”

“Yeah, but the latest two seem to be targeting individuals.” Thomas scratched his chin. “I wish I had footage of the attack in your apartment building, Danske. I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts whoever let that zombie loose outside Felding’s building led your zombie to the apartment above yours.”

“I agree.” Blaise told Detective Thomas what we’d discovered online. “Why would someone want to hurt those women?” Blaise asked.

“There has to be another connection.” I paced across the floor, my head down…thinking.

“Did you see the markings on the side of that van?” Thomas asked. “Back it up again.”

The cop backed the video up to where the light flashed on the van door as it slid open. White letters whipped by with a symbol that resembled a human wrapped in a cocoon.

“F&L Inc.,” Blaise stated. “And that’s the logo for Felding and Lebowitz.”

My breath caught in my throat. How did he see that without slowing the video down? I met his gaze. Oh, yeah, super speed, strength—and stamina—were this demon’s skills. “Someone from Felding’s own plant set this up?”

“I’ll check for any reports of stolen vehicles from the F&L motor pool.” Thomas lifted a desk phone. “I need you two at the F&L corporate building asking questions.”

I was already struggling into the sleeves of my jacket, as I headed for the door. “Going.”

Blaise grabbed my collar and helped me, his fingers resting on my shoulders. “Forgetting someone?”

Chapter Five

I
stepped outside the precinct. “I’d hoped you’d grow bored with this investigation and leave me to it.” Another lie. I figured if I kept telling myself I didn’t want his company, and didn’t want him, it would make it true. That was my plan of attack where my feelings for Blaise Michaels was concerned. Lying to myself and denial all the way. Okay, fine—I could admit that I was attracted to him. But he wanted more than I was willing to give. Maybe even more than I was
able
to give. I’d never had a successful relationship before, and I certainly wasn’t in the mood for one now. Involvement led to disappointment, which led to heartache. I’d vowed long ago not to have a heart where men were concerned, and Chicago had only cemented that vow.

“Keep telling yourself that. It doesn’t work.” He patted my back. “When two people are meant to be together, it happens despite your attempts to stop it.”

I stood at the curb, waving as cab after cab drove by me, empty but not stopping.

Blaise stepped around me and out into traffic. A cab driver slammed on his brakes and barely stopped in time to keep from hitting him. He flipped the demon a finger and inched forward.

Blaise gave him the stink eye, daring him to hit him. Then he smiled that full, you-can’t-resist-a-demon grin and the cab driver’s brow furrowed in confusion.

“You’re manipulating his mind, aren’t you?”

Blaise shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that.” He opened the door and held it for me as I slid across the seat.

As soon as he got in beside me, I faced him. “Have you done that with me?” I poked a finger into his chest, barely able to ignore the electrical charge that raced up my arm and into my chest. “Because if you even so much as push one thought into my mind, I’ll figure out what it takes to kill a demon and squash you like a bug.”

He grabbed my finger and sucked it into his warm, wet mouth, “Umm.” When he pulled my finger free, he tipped my chin. “Not only are you beautiful when you’re angry, you’re also very tasty. So tempting.”

My body quivered, my knees shaking. “Don’t call me beautiful.”

Instead of replying, he kissed me, pressing his lips into mine, his tongue sweeping past my teeth to slip along the length of mine. When he broke it off, he smiled down into my eyes. “You are a beautiful woman. It’s a gift, not a fault.”

“Not in my line of work. People assume there isn’t a brain to go along with the looks.” I scrubbed the back of my hand across my mouth, my lips still tingling from his invasion. I wanted so much more, but I refused to ask for it, considering the strings that would come attached. If I gave in to Blaise, what did that make me? Weak? Needy?

“You’re anything but weak. And what’s wrong with needing someone else in your life?” Blaise caressed my cheek with his palm.

I ground my teeth together to keep from turning my face into his hand and touching his skin with my lips. I couldn’t let a demon turn my head. I was in this job to prove myself as a valuable member of the detective force—a contributing part of the PIT crew’s efforts to keep the streets safe for humans and paranorms. I’d thought I enjoyed being a street cop, but now that I’d been investigating, I had to admit I kind of liked it. It was like solving—

“—a puzzle,” Blaise completed my thought.

“I find that extremely annoying.”

“I find you endearing.” He leaned back against the seat, a smile on his lips. “Are you ready to admit you want to be with me?”

“Not in this lifetime.” I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to look at him. It was hard enough to concentrate when I was this close to him. I had been in the habit of going months without sex and never missing it. Since I’d met Blaise, I was in a constant state of arousal with no end in sight.

“Just say the word, and I’ll relieve your frustration.” He waved his hand as though he wielded a magic wand that could erase all my sexual angst.

“I hate you.” I stared out the window. “When this investigation is over, I’m requesting a different partner.”

“Can’t stand the heat, sweetheart?”

“I can’t stand the bullshit.” Oh, he had me all right. But like hell was I going to admit it.

The taxi pulled up outside an impressive ten-story building of steel and glass with a huge F&L logo on a sign affixed to the top corner.

“Any chance they have a night crew on duty?” I glanced toward the lit entrance. “Otherwise this could be a waste of time and taxi fare.”

“I called ahead. They have a nightshift and supervisor on duty. Apparently some of the experiments have to be monitored twenty-four-seven.”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to speak to both shifts. Just means we’ll have to make another trip out here in the morning.” I shoved the door to the taxi open and stepped out. My stomach let out a low growl.

“Hungry?”

“Past hungry.” I sighed. “Well, let’s get this over with and then get to a diner before I keel over.”

The guard on duty jerked to attention when I flashed my detective badge. “We’d like to talk to the supervisor in charge of company vehicles.”

A few minutes later, a man appeared in a mechanic’s jumpsuit, his hair standing on end, rubbing grease off his hands onto a dull red shop towel. He frowned at our display of badges. “What’s up?”

“We need to see your vehicle log. Also, have you had any unusual incidents involving any of the F&L company vans?”

“I can show you the logs, but if you want to know about unusual incidents, I had one of my vans stolen during the day shift while out on a delivery. The driver parked it beside a building, locked it and went in. When he came back out the vehicle was gone.”

“Was it a black van?” Blaise asked.

“As a matter of fact, yes.” The supervisor stuffed the hand towel in his back pocket. “Why?”

“We think it was used in an attack earlier.” I turned toward guard at the desk. “Is there anyone here who had a lot of contact with Mr. Felding?”

“The only people who saw Mr. Felding on a regular basis were his secretary, accountant and the scientists in the research department.”

“Any of those people happen to be here now?” I asked.

“One of the scientists on the night shift.” He glanced down at his computer screen. “Want me to call him up?”

“Can we go to where he is?”

“Sorry.” The guard shook his head. “Not without proper clearance or a search warrant.”

I was more than curious now as to what they produced at the F&L corporation. “Then we’d like to talk to your scientist out here, please.”

While we waited, I leaned toward Blaise. “Can you read anyone’s mind?”

“Not actually. Yours seems to be the only one I have a direct link into.”

“How did you make the taxi driver agree to take us?”

“I can occasionally push a thought into someone’s mind, but it depends on the individual, and how strong-willed he is.”

A man in a white lab coat exited the elevator, peering anxiously through thick glasses. “The guard said it was an emergency?”

“Not so much. But we do have questions.” I leaned close to read the man’s plastic name badge. “Dr. Henke.”

“Call me Morton.” He glanced from me to Blaise and back to me. “Do I need to speak to our corporate attorney first?”

“I don’t know, do you feel the need?” Blaise asked.

“I just don’t know how much I can reveal about the experiments I’m handling.”

I laid a hand on Henke’s arm and gave him my best
trust me
smile. “We want to ask you questions about Mr. Felding and the people he came into contact with.”

“Oh, okay.” The man sighed. “Not that I know much. Mr. Felding, God rest his soul, was very involved in the status of our experiments. I don’t know much more than what I saw in the lab. He spent the majority of his time in the corporate offices upstairs.”

“Based on what you knew or saw, did Mr. Felding appear to have any enemies who’d want to see him or his company fail? Did he make anyone angry?”

Morton frowned, his eyes blurry behind the thick glasses. “No. Well, there was the argument he had with Victor Stewart over the time it was taking to complete a barrage of tests needed to validate a particular experiment. Victor didn’t like that he was being pushed to finish a test that needed a specific amount of time to validate. He and Mr. Felding had words in front of the staff. Then Mr. Felding took him aside. When Victor came back, he wasn’t happy. But he’s been a scientist at F&L for at least ten years. I don’t think he’d have done anything to jeopardize the company or Mr. Felding.”

“Where can we find Dr. Stewart?”

“He works the day shift. He’s probably at his home, sleeping.”

“Anyone else that you know of who might have a beef with the company or Mr. Felding?”

“Do you think someone killed Mr. Felding? I thought he died of a heart attack. His body has been preserved in the cryogenic deep freeze here on the premises at his own request.”

I blinked. “Mr. Felding’s body is in a cryogenic stasis? Here?”

“Why, yes.” Mr. Henke’s eyes widened. “Oh, dear. I don’t think I was supposed to disclose that information. We do offer cryogenic preservation to many of our clients, though it’s quite costly and a client has to be carefully monitored in death to make the transition. In effect, the brain is infused with a special chemical combination to preserve the brain for later reanimation with all neural functionality and memories intact, should medical technology advance to such a state as to make it plausible.”

“Reanimation?” I stepped forward. “Have any of your scientists been working on experiments in reanimation?”

“But of course. It has been one of our main focuses…” Henke sighed. “Until recently.”

“What do you mean?”

“All work stopped when Mr. Felding died. And after the company’s recent financial problems, the board of directors decided it would be best to continue with the more reliable revenue stream of new drug research and development, instead of spending time and money on dead people. They just couldn’t understand the amazing advancements we have made and could make, if they’d allowed us to proceed.”

“What kind of advancements?”

The scientist’s eyes opened wide and he smiled. “Why, in reviving dead people.”

A cold flicker of dread inched down my spine, sending shivers rippling across my skin. Was
this
the source of the zombies roaming New York? “Dr. Henke, are you currently experimenting on human bodies?” I held my breath, awaiting the answer.

Morton laughed. “No, of course not. We haven’t brought the research that far along. So far we’ve only been able to revive rats. We’d hoped to move on to cats, then pigs within the next couple of weeks. Until…”

“The board shut you down.” I nodded.

Blaise spoke up. “Are there any other scientists with as much knowledge and insight into the experiments that have been going on with the rats?”

With a nod, Henke glanced toward the door he’d emerged from as if he could see the others waiting inside. “A good half dozen. We work in shifts to monitor the status of our experiments around the clock. Not that we’re still experimenting with reanimation.”

“Could we get a list of those scientists?” Blaise asked.

“And their addresses,” I added.

“I can tell you their names. As for addresses, you’ll have to talk to someone in HR during business hours.”

“Names will do for a start.” I handed him the notepad I carried in my pocket and he jotted down six names.

“Thank you, Dr. Henke.” I took the notepad from him and stuffed it into the pocket of my jacket. “You’ve been a big help.”

“Anytime. I needed the break.” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and smiled. “Sure beats long lonely nights of experiments.”

Blaise nodded. “Glad we could help.”

As Henke returned to the elevator and disappeared into the bowels of the F&L building, I asked the guard to call a cab to pick us up.

In the meantime, I preferred to wait outside. The thought of live—or not so live—animal experiments taking place somewhere in the building gave me a hyper sense of the heebie-jeebies. The place smelled so much of alcohol, disinfectant and something else that wasn’t quite right. Maybe it was the chemicals they used on the dead people they stored.

Blaise stood beside me on the curb as we waited for the taxi to show. “We’re going to visit Victor Stewart, aren’t we?”

I snorted. “You’re the mind reader.”

“Don’t you think a little rest would help? You humans don’t operate well without food and sleep.”

“If our man Stewart is reanimating dead people, he’s setting them loose at night. We can’t wait for the next attack.”

“I can’t imagine him having the time to work on more than one a night. He’s loosed his latest already. He has to sleep as well. If we wait until morning, we might have a better chance of catching him with the goods and it will give our guys back at the station time to pull up a valid address on him.”

Damn. The demon was probably right. So far, I’d been running on adrenaline alone. If I slowed down at all, I’d probably keel over from hunger and sleep deprivation. “Okay, we stop for food and sleep.”

“Good. I know a great twenty-four-hour diner that makes a quiche to die for.”

I groaned. “Please, no more dead jokes. I’m about dead on my feet.” As soon as the words left my lips, I couldn’t help the chuckle rising up my throat.

The taxi chose that moment to slide up against the curb.

Blaise held the door while I slid inside and across the seat to give him room.

Alone in the back seat with Blaise, I leaned my head back, hoping to keep conversation to a minimum. My plan worked all too well. I was asleep in seconds, empty stomach and all.

Not until the cab pulled to a stop and Blaise opened the door did I realize we’d gone all the way back to my apartment building in Manhattan.

“I thought we were stopping for food?” My stomach growled.

“The Chinese place around the corner delivers twenty-four hours a day, if my memory serves me.” Blaise held his hand out. “Your key.”

I dug in my pocket and pulled it out, reluctant to hand it over to him. “I can make it to my apartment on my own. Thank you for bringing me.”