Red (14 page)
“There is a chance his show is going to expand into wider syndication,” Halloran explained. “He has an offer to move it to Hollywood.”
“Hollywood?” I echoed. “He’s going to the Ordinary TV networks?”
“Most assuredly.” Halloran’s smile widened. “With the right financial backing.”
“And that’s where you come in,” I deduced. “You’re footing the bill to move his operations to California.”
Halloran’s eyes glistened with greed. “Not only that, but I will be the main corporate sponsor of the show.”
“Free advertising.”
“Indeed.”
It all sounded like it was on the level, but there was still something about the whole thing that didn’t sit well with me. “And that’s it?” I asked, still fishing for information. “That’s the extent of your business relationship?”
An appreciative smile spread across Halloran’s face. “You know me too well, Enforcer. Caliban is to open a new steak house here in Chicago called, appropriately, Caliban’s. I anticipate that the popularity of his television show in the local media—which is rivaled only by that of your dear Gran’s—will make it an instant success. Add in the potential for opening locations in LA and New York after his show hits the major cable networks, and I will profit quite handsomely for my initial investment.”
Now came the million-dollar question. “So where does Sebille Fenwick fit in to this equation? What was she doing at the warehouse earlier today?”
Halloran’s smile evaporated, replaced by a furious scowl. “That meddling bitch doesn’t know when to mind her own business,” he spat, his mask of suavity slipping briefly. “She presumes to know business better than I do?”
“Not a fan of hers, I take it,” I drawled.
Halloran launched to his feet and began to pace around the office, his hands clasped behind his back. “She thinks Caliban walks on water,” he grumbled. “I admit the man has immense talent, but he can’t possibly run his businesses here while he is filming in California.”
“And you’ve offered to run things for him?” I guessed.
Halloran gave me a look that clearly indicated the stupidity of my question. “I haven’t the time to deal with that kind of minutia. I insisted that Caliban hire another very talented chef to run the steak house.” Here Halloran paused in his pacing and offered me a sadistic grin. “In fact, I believe you know him, my dear. He’s an old friend, as I understand it—Seth Wolf. Your infamous first lover, yes?”
My blood turned to ice water in my veins. I stared dumbly at Halloran, which he found immensely amusing.
“Didn’t know your former flames were going into business together, did you?” he taunted.
“It’s not like I hang out with them much these days,” I managed to croak.
Halloran circled around to the back of my chair and bent down until his lips were near my ear. “We never quite get over our first love, do we? Our first heartbreak? Of course, yours was even more tragic than most—being abandoned and ruined at such a tender age. How ironic that he should end up working with Todd Caliban. I imagine they will have a great deal to talk about.”
I ground my teeth together so hard I felt my molars creak with the strain. With about as much dignity as I could manage, I rose to my feet and faced Halloran, offering him a strained smile. “Thank you very much for chatting with me, Sandman,” I said politely. “It’s been a pleasure as always.”
Halloran’s smug chuckle was almost more than I could bear. I clenched my fists at my sides to keep from popping him in the mouth. Fortunately for Halloran, there was a knock on the office door.
“Enter!” he called.
The man who’d jumped me at the warehouse—Aloysius—entered and handed Halloran my cell phone and gun. “The phone’s been ringing off the hook,” he complained. Then he turned to me and said, “I like your ring tone.”
I frowned at what I guessed was some kind of apology and replied, “Uh, thanks.” As soon as Aloysius was gone, I held out my hand to Halloran. “I’ll take those now.”
He handed them over without comment, then gestured toward the door. “Shall I show you out?”
“If you would be so kind,” I ground out, forcing a smile.
We entered the labyrinth of hallways once more and eventually ended up in a cavernous foyer complete with marble floors and crystal chandeliers. At the other end was a set of doors twelve feet high, actual doormen standing sentinel at either side, waiting to perform their duties. As Halloran and I approached, they snapped to attention and rushed forward.
“Enforcer Little is leaving now,” Halloran announced. He then turned to me and inclined his head. Had the gesture come from someone I actually liked and respected, I would have felt honored by the little bow. But from Halloran, it just cemented my disgust for the slime hidden beneath his smarmy veneer.
“I’ll be seeing you, Halloran.” I lifted a hand in farewell as I headed out the door, making sure that I used all five fingers. As much as I would have loved to express my sincere gratitude for my stay at Chez Sandman, there was a hungry she-tiger lurking around, and I wasn’t in a hurry to end up as dinner.
I was stepping over the threshold when I snapped my fingers, ready to make my parting shot with the one other question that had been plaguing me. “By the way, Halloran,” I drawled, “what did Aloysius give Sebille?”
Halloran’s brows twitched ever so slightly. “I beg your pardon?”
“In the alley outside the warehouse. I saw him slip something to her—a small package.”
Halloran blinked at me, then gave me a tight smile. “Merely a gift for Caliban, I presume.”
“A gift,” I repeated, my skepticism bleeding into my tone.
“Precisely.”
“You presume? You don’t know?”
“Good day, Enforcer Little.”
“Guess our conversation’s over, then?” I taunted. “Well, don’t worry, Sandman. We’ll chat again.”
“I shall count the hours until we meet again,” he sneered.
The minute I stepped onto the porch, the front door slammed behind me, the hollow boom echoing in the twilight. “Wow,” I muttered. “Try not to miss me.”
Interesting that Halloran hadn’t known about the package. Made me wonder what kind of come-to-Jesus meeting Aloysius was in for. Oh well, not my problem.
However, trying to get back home with no mode of transportation
was
my problem. I rubbed my wrist again and glanced around, trying to get my bearings.
was
my problem. I rubbed my wrist again and glanced around, trying to get my bearings.
Where the hell was I anyway?
I assumed I was still somewhere near Chicago, but I couldn’t even really be sure. Groaning at my fabulous good fortune, I took a look at the call log on my phone to see what I’d missed thanks to my unexpected time warp. Twenty missed calls. Damn. No wonder Aloysius was pissed. I’d be annoyed, too.
I paged through them quickly. The first several were from Nate spaced fifteen minutes apart. One from Elizabeth. Two from Nicky. One from Vlad. One from Gran. One from headquarters. Five more from Nate—the last one was only ten minutes ago. At 6:14!
I groaned again.
Great
. The whole day was shot, thanks to my little adventure. But at least it wasn’t a total loss. We had Hamelin’s computer in our possession, which might yield some answers about why he’d killed himself. And the bit about Halloran’s connection to Caliban was certainly an interesting development.
Great
. The whole day was shot, thanks to my little adventure. But at least it wasn’t a total loss. We had Hamelin’s computer in our possession, which might yield some answers about why he’d killed himself. And the bit about Halloran’s connection to Caliban was certainly an interesting development.
With a sigh, I hit speed dial. The phone had barely connected when I heard Nate’s relieved voice. “Thank God!” he said in a rush. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? We’ve got a lock on your coordinates. I’ve got six agents with me—we’ll be there in ten minutes, but if you need me right now, I’ll pull over and vaporize to where you are.”
“You can call off the cavalry,” I told him. “Aloysius thought I was a burglar and knocked me out.”
“Aloysius?”
“Muscley guy at the loading docks with Sebille,” I explained. “Halloran brought me to his estate to sleep it off.”
“Are you okay?”
“Just tired,” I realized. “And my head’s killing me. But I found out some information you might find interesting. Go ahead and send the rest of the guys back to HQ. I’ll start walking toward the main road—you can pick me up there.”
“Are you sure?” Nate asked, sounding hesitant.
I jogged down the steps and started walking down the narrow paved road leading away from the house. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll just see you soon.”
I pocketed my phone and stumbled along the road, surprised at how dizzy I was. I hadn’t felt strange at Halloran’s house, but the longer I walked, the worse I felt.
A concussion? Great. Just what I needed.
I looked around, trying to find a place where I could sit down for a minute, but there was nothing along the private drive except for the darkening woods. Nothing to do but keep walking, so I forced my feet to move. Unfortunately, the contusion on my head had other plans. The road pitched and rolled, throwing me off balance. Unable to combat the vertigo, I stumbled and fell, hitting the ground hard with my shoulder.
“Damn it,” I muttered, trying to force myself to my feet but pitching forward onto my elbows in an undignified sprawl.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds and took several slow breaths, trying to pull it together so that I could try again. If I stayed there on the ground, Nate might drive right past me—or worse, run me over. Dressed all in black as I was, it would be kind of hard to see me against the asphalt in the waning light. I finally struggled to my knees and reached into my pocket to fish out my phone again when a low growl made me freeze.
My heart pounded as I listened, trying to pinpoint the sound. I swallowed hard, slowly surveying the woods surrounding me, but I couldn’t make out anything except the silhouettes of trees among the thick shadows. Growing increasingly uneasy, I pulled out my Glock and ejected the clip.
Empty.
Aloysius must have taken the bullets when he had the gun in his possession.
Empty.
Aloysius must have taken the bullets when he had the gun in his possession.
I mumbled a juicy curse, then, newly motivated, I struggled again to regain my footing. I was just straightening when a branch snapped behind me, making me jump and swivel toward the sound. Ten yards away, a glowing pair of green eyes glared back at me. A low growl drifted toward me again, raising the hairs on my arms.
I slowly backed away, never taking my eyes off those of my feral stalker. “Is that you, Sophia?” I asked softly, my voice trembling. “I’m leaving. See? You don’t have to worry about me. I promise.”
The creature moved parallel to me, making sure I knew it was still there with every step. Then the glowing eyes dropped lower as the creature prepared to pounce.
I let out a choked, shaky breath. “Oh, shit.”
Chapter 18
I’d always imagined that I’d come up with something clever and pithy when it came to my last words, but as I stood there staring at those horrifying eyes, I settled for a little startled profanity.
How embarrassing.
But even more humiliating than my wit abandoning me was my complete and total paralysis. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe. I was going to be slaughtered without even attempting to fight back. How the hell did that happen? Either I was more banged up than I’d thought, or some other force was controlling me—something far beyond fear and panic.
What had been a low growl now turned into a deep rumbling snarl. Then the underbrush seemed to explode with the crackling rustle of something powerful and massive and deadly bounding forward. Time seemed to slow as the beast burst from the cover of foliage. I caught the gleam of ferocious teeth in the moonlight as a horrific roar assaulted my ears, filling me with terror.
Just then high beam headlights split the darkness, illuminating the road and the woods surrounding it. As Nate’s car came to a screeching halt, the beast abruptly shifted direction, retreating in a blur of motion so swift my mind could barely process what had transpired. The creature howled in frustration and crashed through the underbrush, seeking cover from the sudden intrusion. As soon as it disappeared, my breath came rushing back to me in a gasp.
“Red, you okay?” Nate asked, slipping an arm around my waist to support me and hurriedly looking me over.
“Get in the car,” I ordered, looking around frantically. The beast had been scared off by Nate’s arrival, but I had a feeling it was only a temporary withdrawal. It’d be back.
“But—”
“Get in the car!”
Without another word, Nate hurried me into the car, then climbed in behind the wheel.
“Let’s go,” I told him, still monitoring the woods for any sign of movement.
Nate put the car in gear and turned it back toward the main road. He was just accelerating when a tremendous impact against my door sent me flying toward him. I cried out in a combination of horror and pain as my head hit his shoulder.
“What the fuck is that?” Nate yelled, trying to keep control of the car.
“Just go!” I screamed, looking toward the shattered window and the gaping hole that was now there. “Go, go, go,
go
!”
go
!”
This time Nate didn’t ask any questions. He slammed his foot down on the accelerator, tires squealing in protest. We took the winding private road in what I imagined was record time, barely hanging on to some of the hairpin turns as the car slid on gravel and skidded toward a wide ditch between the road and the trees. In a final burst of speed, we broke free of the wooded road and found ourselves on a main highway, still traveling at breakneck speed. We were at least two miles down the highway before Nate let up at all on the accelerator.
The cold wind buffeted my face, stinging and numbing my skin to the point that I didn’t realize I was bleeding until Nate reached into his pocket and held out a handkerchief.
“Put that on your forehead,” he ordered, his hand shaking as he thrust the folded cotton cloth toward me.
Dazed, I nodded and pressed the thin material to a random spot that seemed sorer than the rest. His face pale and drawn, Nate glanced at me, then adjusted my hand, pressing the handkerchief against the wound more effectively.
“Right there,” he said. “Keep it on there until I can get you to the hospital.”
Again, I nodded, not able to form a coherent argument against going to the hospital and not sure if I should try. “It was going to kill me,” I stammered, edging closer to Nate in an effort to stop the violent shivers shattering my body. “Rip me to shreds. Tear me apart. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t move. What the hell happened to me?”
Nate put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “It’s all right now. It’s all over. I’ve got you.”
I put my head down against his chest and curled into him, trying to hold on to consciousness. And failing.
When I awoke, I was lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by darkness and the soft beeping and whirring of various monitors and machines. I had an IV in my arm and electrodes taped to my chest, monitoring my heartbeat. Moonlight shone in through the slats of the venetian blinds, cluing me in that it was still night, but the sliver of moon was high, so several hours obviously had passed since the attack.
I closed my eyes again and tried to ignore the pounding in my head, but a rustling in the far corner brought me wide awake. The heart monitor went crazy as my body tensed in preparation to take on whatever was lurking in the shadows. But then I realized the form in the darkness was that of a man—not a beast preparing to strike.
I let out a relieved breath and sank back into the pillows. “Nate?”
The shadows shifted as the man stepped forward into the moonlight. “Regrettably, no. Detective Grimm had to step out for a moment.”
I frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“You missed our date,” Vlad replied, coming to the bed to take my hand in his. “Obviously for good reason.”
He was smiling at me, but within that smile there was something else. Concern. And, if I wasn’t mistaken, anger. No, not just anger. Rage—barely restrained and lying just beneath the surface.
“How did you find out?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“When you did not call, I made some calls of my own,” he explained. “Eventually, I reached your dear Gran. She told me you had been attacked and were in the hospital. I came as soon as night fell.”
My brows came together and I glanced toward the window. “Are you becoming more sensitive to light? You’ve never had trouble except on really sunny days.”
Vlad smoothed my hair back with a gentle hand, careful not to disturb the bandage on my forehead. “Today was quite beautiful, my little love,” he said. “Unseasonably warm, in fact. It’s a shame you had to miss it.”
I shook my head in confusion. “How long have I been here?”
“Just twenty-eight hours.”
“Twenty-eight hours?” I cried, trying to sit up.
Vlad pressed me back down against the pillow. “Do not sit up so quickly,” he admonished. “You suffered quite an injury—two injuries in fact. You needed time to mend.”
I closed my eyes. Twenty-eight hours. I’d missed an entire day that I could have been out trying to track down the murderer, get to the bottom of Dave’s suicide, arrest that bastard Halloran’s psycho girlfriend for attacking me. . . .
“Where’s Nate?” I asked, my eyes snapping open. “I need to talk to him.”
I heard Vlad expel an irritated breath, but when he answered his voice was even. “He left three hours ago to tend to a call. I imagine he will return when he is finished. I was very nearly ready to murder someone myself to get him away from your bedside.”
I gave Vlad a sharp look that made him chuckle.
“I jest, little one,” he assured me. “I promised you that I would never again bloody my hands with the death of another, and I have kept that promise.”
I closed my eyes again, too tired to keep them open for long. “I need to get back to work.”
I could tell Vlad was grinning with amusement when he said, “Clearly.”
Unfortunately, he had a point. My head was pounding and I was obviously still weak and out of it from whatever glorious painkillers the docs had me on. “Maybe I’ll rest a little longer.”
Vlad bent and pressed a kiss to my hair. “I think that wise. Shall we reschedule our dinner?”
I nodded, already drifting back to sleep. “Tomorrow?”
“I shall depend upon it.”
I heard the hospital room door open and shut and thought Vlad had left until I heard Nate’s angry voice demand, “What the hell are you doing here?”
So much for sleeping.
I heaved a sigh before opening my eyes so that I could play referee.
Vlad lifted my hand and pressed a delicate kiss to my palm. “I merely came to visit my darling Red,” he murmured as his lips brushed against my skin.
“Well, you’ve visited,” Nate snapped, “so get out.”
Vlad’s hand reflexively tightened around my fingertips. “I do not believe that is up to you, Detective Grimm.”
“She’s my partner,” Nate ground out, spreading his legs and hunching his shoulders, readying for trouble. “I’ll be the one to take care of her.”
Vlad blinked at him, unfazed. “As you did last night?” he baited. “Well done, Detective Grimm. With your brand of care, she’ll be dead in no time.”
Nate lunged forward, grabbing Vlad by the lapels and shoving him against the wall hard enough to rattle the window. Vlad bared his fangs and hissed, returning the attack by grabbing Nate’s throat in his hand and squeezing. Nate stepped off and flung Vlad away, breaking his hold and sending the vampire sprawling into a chair. But Vlad wasn’t down for long. He sprang to his feet, ready to engage once more.
“Hey!” I yelled, forcing myself to sit up, but they ignored me and began to circle one another warily in the cramped hospital room. I cursed under my breath and stuck my fingers in my mouth, blowing out a shrill whistle that brought their heads up instantly.
“In case you Neanderthals hadn’t noticed, ‘she’ is right here! And I think ‘she’ can decide who she wants hanging around! Right now, I’m about to kick both your stupid asses out of the hospital, which would really piss me off because my head is killing me, and I’d really rather not exert the effort. So knock it the hell off!”
Both men straightened from their attack stances and had the decency to look contrite for acting like idiots. Nate cast a guarded glance toward Vlad, who was nonchalantly smoothing his clothing as if nothing had just occurred.
“Sorry, Red,” Nate muttered.
Vlad gave me a curt bow. “You are quite right, Red—we behaved very childishly, indeed. My apologies as well.”
Satisfied that they weren’t about to go at it again and rip each other’s throats out, I settled back against the pillows. “Vlad, I will call you tomorrow and reschedule. Thank you for your concern—your visit means a lot to me.”
Recognizing a dismissal when he heard one, Vlad offered another bow to me and swept elegantly from the room, pointedly ignoring Nate as he did so. Nate’s acidic glare as he watched Vlad leave could have burned a hole in the door, but when he turned back to me, his expression had softened.
“How’re you feeling—aside from the head pounding?”
“I’ve had better days,” I grumbled. “Did Gran make it home okay? She tried calling while I was at Halloran’s, but I haven’t checked my voice mail.”
“She’s safe and sound back at home,” Nate assured me. “Nicky sent one of his guys over—Eddie Fox.”
I blinked in disbelief. “Eddie’s the best,” I said, surprised to hear that the man Nicky had sent to watch over Gran was not just one of his best men—he was his own bodyguard. “Nicky’s a good friend.”
I watched Nate for a moment as he went about the room tidying up from his and Vlad’s play date. When he glanced up and caught me staring, I asked, “So, how are
you
?”
you
?”
Nate shrugged. “I’m good. A few bumps and bruises thanks to our thrilling adventure, but nothing that won’t heal.”
I held out a hand to him, suddenly needing to feel him near me. “Nate?”
He eagerly stepped forward and took hold of my extended hand with both of his. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said, pulling his arm even closer and tucking my free hand under his bicep so that I could lean against his shoulder. “I just wanted to say thank you.”
I felt him heave a frustrated sigh. “For what? Almost showing up too late to help you? If I’d been just thirty seconds later—”
“You weren’t,” I interrupted, lifting my eyes to his. “I’m fine. But I want that bitch arrested.”
Nate frowned at me in confusion. “Which bitch?”
“Halloran’s girlfriend,” I hissed. “I almost got killed because his pretty little pussy didn’t like me.”
Nate’s thumb smoothed across the back of my hand. “I’m not so sure his girlfriend is to blame.”
“Why’s that?” I asked, not liking the shadows accumulating around his face. They reminded me of gathering storm clouds—the kind that brought down the wrath of the heavens upon those too foolish to get the hell out of the way.
“The call that took me from the hospital a few hours ago—it was out at Halloran’s estate. His doormen were mauled almost beyond recognition trying to keep something out of the house. And Sophia was seriously injured trying to protect Halloran from the same creature. They brought her in while I was collecting the doormen. She’s down the hall.”
“What does our murderer want with Halloran?” I questioned. “If he was specifically targeted, that kind of blows my wrong place, wrong time theory.”
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