Viper (26 page)

The ride home from Bookings had been chilly, but Cara had used Kane’s body for warmth and she hadn’t minded the trip at all. There was a lot to be said for riding on the back of a motorcycle. Nothing like the freedom or the closeness. Maybe she’d start taking more trips with him. Cara almost chuckled, wondering what Kane would have to say about that. After all, he normally traveled solo.

She turned, walking backwards toward his room, unbuttoning her blouse as she went, earning her a low growl. The look in his now obsidian gaze, told her she had as much effect on him as he did she.

“Keep that up and you won’t be making it to work today at all,” he said, catching her by the wrist and pulling her flush against him. He kissed her soundly, probably in hopes of changing her mind. Cara melded into him, loving the feel of his heated skin against hers. If only they had time to indulge themselves. Instead, she had to hit the S.O. and contend with Robbie Melchor.

“Sorry, fang boy. No time,” she said, pulling reluctantly away.

“So why do we need to go to your place?”

“Because I need another change of clothes if I’m to stay here tonight.”

“You aren’t going to need clothes, Mia Bella.” One large palm encased one of her breasts, pebbling the nipple. “I plan to keep you out of them.”

“Am I missing something?” came from the side of the clubhouse, startling her.

If her cheeks hadn’t been red before, they certainly were now. She had thought the two of them alone.
Oh Lord, please open the floor and let it swallow me whole.
Kane’s senses were far too acute not to have known that his brother was in the shadows of the room. She’d kill him later for not letting her in on the fact they had a witness. The amused look on Kane’s face told her he didn’t even feel guilty for playing her. Cara quickly slipped the buttons back into their moorings while sticking out her tongue at him.

Kaleb stepped from the darkened corner, his face heavily shadowed from whiskers, appearing as though he hadn’t slept in days. He also didn’t appear too impressed by their provocative play. Quite the opposite, in fact. His lips turned down and a muscle ticked in the hollow of his cheeks.

Bare to the waist, his build was muscular like Kane’s, though not overly so. Tattoos covered more expanse of his bare skin than his brother’s, giving him the edgier appearance. Kane sported two tattoos: the tribal covering his shoulder to his elbow and the Sons of Sangue skull, with two red-tipped fangs, taking up most of the real estate on his back, mimicking the skull on the back of the club’s motorcycle vests. Though not opposed to a little skin art, she preferred Kane’s cleaner look.

Kaleb glared at Cara, not hiding the animosity he held for her. His nearly black eyes brimmed with dislike. “Last I checked, Detective Brahnam was hell bent on arresting you, Viper. Something happen to change that?”

Having had enough of his censure, Cara placed her hands on her hips and faced him head on. “I was never hell bent on finding him guilty. I only suspected the Sons. It’s my job to follow all leads when it comes to solving a case. This one being no different.”

“And now?”

“He’s not my pick of suspects, though at the moment, we don’t have any others. Now that the state has arrived, I’ll need to find a way to convince them he’s innocent. Not like I can let them in on this ancient vampire creating havoc in Pleasant.”

“Would you two stop talking about me as though I’m not in the room.”

Kaleb continued to stare at Cara, as though weighing her admission. He steeled his jaw, then turned to Kane without giving her reply the courtesy of a response.

“Suzi’s missing.”

“What? Weren’t you supposed to be watching her?” Kane roared.

“Don’t pin this on me, brother. You’re the one who didn’t come home. And last I checked, I didn’t sign up to be a babysitter to your women, nor did you ask me to.”

“I assumed you’d keep her safe, knowing full well she could be in danger. Why the hell didn’t you call me?”

“I thought I could find her,” Kaleb’s voice rose to match his brother’s. “I didn’t.”

The two stood toe-to-toe, each face could have been carved in stone. Cara would have stood between them if worried they might come to blows, but she doubted Kane would raise a hand to his brother over a missing donor. Besides, by the look of things, Kaleb was more worried about the missing Suzi than Kane was. As a matter of fact, he looked damn near sick with it. Cara realized his anger was nothing more than a front to hide his fears.

Kane cursed beneath his breath then turned to Cara. “Get changed. We’ll drop you at the sheriff’s office. I take it that the captain won’t need me today since he had his fun yesterday?”

“I’ll see that he doesn’t.”

“Good.” He turned back to Kaleb. “We’ll drop off Cara then go look for Suzi. First stop, K & K. We’ll enlist a few of the Sons to help. We’ll find her.”

Chapter 24

Cara stopped just outside the front office doorway, near the bank of computers lining the inner wall. Jeff Reeves was bent over, speaking with the daytime dispatch who had come in at seven, likely filling her in on the night’s events before he called it a day. He laid his hand on her shoulder and smiled, sayng something that made her giggle, then stood and turned his warm, show-stopping smile in her direction.

He paused in the doorway, crossing his arms over his chest, his stance wide, his grin even more so. “Captain Melchor is waiting in your office,” he informed her. “The man doesn’t believe in getting sleep. He’s been here since five.”

“Hernandez in there with him?”

“He called, said he’d be a few minutes late. The sheriff hasn’t come in yet either.” His face sobered. “I hope it’s okay I allowed the captain into your office.”

“No, that’s fine. He needs access to the files. He has a right to look over them.” Cara sighed heavily. Robbie wouldn’t be out of her life fast enough for her liking. “I just hope we solve this and quick so we can get Captain Melchor back to Salem.”

“I can tell by your reaction you aren’t too happy he’s here taking over your cases.”

“It’s not a problem. We’re lucky to have the state’s assistance on this one.” Cara blew off his assumption, though Jeff had hit the nail on the head. She’d have to be more careful to mask her feelings where Robbie was concerned until she could put this case behind them. She certainly didn’t want to have to offer up explanations. “I want this case solved as much as he does. What are you still doing here, anyway? I thought you had evenings yesterday, not the night shift.”

“I pulled a double.” Jeff shrugged, his smile easy.

He always seemed to be in a good mood, even if he had gotten stuck working sixteen hours. Cara thought they could all benefit from his lackadaisical attitude.

“Third shift called off. No big deal. I can use the money and I don’t have to work the next couple of days anyway. Now, though, it’s time to get some shut eye. Got a date tonight.”

“The redhead from the bar again?”

His grin turned lit up his blue eyes. Cara could tell that the dispatch had it bad for the girl. She hoped the girl knew what a great catch she was getting in Jeff.

“Pretty girl.”

“And she happens to think I’m hot, too. Don’t you go telling her any different, Detective.”

Cara laughed, holding her hands up. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Now get out of here, Romeo, and go get your beauty rest.”

Jeff moved past Cara, calling back, “See you around, Brahnam.”

Cara closed the distance between her and her office, her legs leaden and slow moving as she inched her way toward Robbie. She hoped like hell Joe moved his ass, as the less time spent alone in Robbie’s company, the better off she’d be. He glanced up as she entered the room, barely giving her any consideration as he looked back to the files he was flipping through.

“Find anything of use?”

“You mean other than the obvious, that those bikers are lying through their teeth?”

“It’s our job to prove they’re lying. Last I checked, we didn’t.” Cara couldn’t keep the censure from her tone. She despised the air space the man took up. “Everything we have is circumstantial and a whole lot of conjecture. You find something in there I didn’t?”

Robbie stood, walked to the window and looked out at the grey sky, giving Cara his back. His dress shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. Cara knew all too well that the captain kept himself in excellent shape and that the man didn’t sport an ounce of fat. He hadn’t gone soft with his promotion. Robbie was far too vain to let his physical appearance slip.

“You want to tell me where you were last night?” he asked.

Heat itched up her spine, her ire rising. He had no right keeping tabs on her, unless he seen her getting onto the back of Kane’s Fat Bob. If that were the case, she’d have a lot of explaining to do.

“That’s not any of your business, Captain.”

“Your car was in the parking lot all night.”

“Last I knew, that wasn’t a crime.”

He turned, leveling her with a look of pure malice. Lord, how the hell had she ever found him attractive? His icy blue gaze held no warmth or compassion, his lips but a hard line. Robbie Melchor could turn on the charm and was as handsome as any runway model. But beneath the surface, Cara knew the ugliness first hand.

“Who are you fucking these days, Cara? Your partner?”

“What?” Her brows knit together. “You disgusting pig. Joe is happily married.”

“Who seems to think a lot of you.”

“We’re partners. That’s what partners do. We have each other’s back. Not to mention, he’s a co-worker.”

“Didn’t stop you before.”

“You cured me of that.”

“I’m no longer your superior. So what’s your evening—”

“Oh, hell no! Not in this lifetime, Melchor,” she said before he winked at her, letting her know it was a jest she had stupidly bought into. He had always loved to get beneath her skin.

“Did I miss something?” Joe asked as he walked through the office door, perfect timing.

Cara wanted to kiss him for saving her from continuing that line of conversation. “Nothing, we were just discussing the case.”

The look on Joe’s face as he glanced at them both said he didn’t believe her, but thankfully he let it drop. “So what’s on today’s agenda?”

Robbie clenched his jaw, clearly not as happy at Joe’s arrival as she had been. He grabbed a thin file on the table and held it out to her partner.

“This is all we have on the rest of the Sons? You think you two might have thought to bring them each in for an interview.”

Joe took the file from him and leafed quickly through it. It held very little. Cara hadn’t wanted to believe any of the Sons were involved. Besides, the sheriff frowned on accusing them of anything without substantial evidence. And until now Cara didn’t have enough to bring them in and potentially damage that relationship with the sheriff.

“I think it’s about time we bring them in, one-by-one. Call them, Hernandez. Invite them in for a chit chat. I want to see every one of them this afternoon.”

“And Kane Tepes?” Joe asked.

“No, I believe I heard enough from him yesterday.”

* * *

Cara exited her Charger, and pointed the key fob at the doors. The lights blinked and the horn beeped twice. She pocketed the remote, then pulled her coat more closely about her, warding off the evening chill. Funny how she hadn’t minded the cold at three in the morning on her way into work, not when she had been huddled behind Kane on his Harley. She picked up the pace, in a hurry to get inside and away from the brisk wind.

Spending the day interviewing several of the Sons of Sangue certainly hadn’t earned her any brownie points with the MC. Robbie had made sure they talked to each and every one of them, with the exception of Kaleb whom they hadn’t been able to reach. Cara had a strong feeling Kaleb was ignoring their request out of spite and they couldn’t force him to come in for the interview. But Kane had been correct. The Sons would never give him the okay to turn her or to allow them to mate. The club members had made themselves perfectly clear how they felt about her. She might as well have had leprosy.

With a heavy sigh she huddled farther into her coat. What the hell had she been thinking anyway? Just the thought of ingesting blood sent her stomach roiling. She certainly wouldn’t make an exemplary vampire. Spending time with Kane would have to be enough ... at least for the time being. Who knew how long before he tired of her. Too late to tell her heart to stay the hell out of it. Just the thought of letting go of him stole the breath from her chest. No, when Kane walked away, she’d be crushed and left broken-hearted. Funny how she had tried her best to avoid relationships at all costs, only to stumble head first into the first hot as sin vampire she met. Not to mention he certainly knew how to please a woman. Cara grew warm at the remembrance. No doubt she’d want to get him horizontal again first chance she got.

Cara ducked her head, a smile curving her cheeks, and headed for the front of the nursing home. Pulling open the outside door, Cara stepped inside the vestibule just as her phone jangled. She dug into her coat pocket, pulled out the cell, and looked at the name of the caller.

Suzi.

Cara slid the lock screen and placed the phone next to her ear. “Suzi? Are you all right? Where the hell are you?”

“Well, hello to you, too.”

“I think since you pulled a disappearing act, I have a right to be a little worried.”

Silence greeted her. For a second she feared Suzi might have ended the call. Cara even pulled the phone away from her ear and glanced at the screen to make sure they hadn’t disconnected.

Replacing it, she asked, “You’re okay, aren’t you?”

“I’m fine. I needed to get away, but I felt like I owed you an explanation. I mean, you just apologized for the way you left town and now I’m the one walking away.”

“Where are you? I can come get you.”

“No, Cara. This time, I’m the one who needs some time. I’m going to stay with a friend for a bit.”

“Here? In Pleasant?”

“No, though for now I think it’s best to keep my location to myself.”

“Why? Talk to me, Suzi. What happened? Did Kaleb—”

“No,” Suzi said quickly and sniffled.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “Look, I didn’t want you or Kane to worry with that crazy ass ancient running loose. Can you let Kane know I’m fine?”

“And Kaleb?”

“He won’t care.”

“I wouldn’t—”

“Cara, please, just let Kane know.”

“Of course. Will you stay in touch?”

“You have my number, Cara. Don’t give it to anyone, not even Kane. I need some time. And the last person I want to see is Kaleb. I don’t trust Kane not to give the number to his brother.”

“I can respect that. After all, I know the feeling a little too well.”

“Take care of yourself, Cara.”

A lump formed in her throat. Who was she going to share her own turn of events with?

“Thanks, Suzi. You take care of yourself, too. And call me,” she added quickly.

“Goodbye, Cara,” Suzi said and the cell went silent in her hand.

Cara pocketed it as her chest tightened. At least Suzi had thought to call her instead of pulling a disappearing act as she had ten years back. She didn’t deserve Suzi’s consideration, but was thankful for it nonetheless. Pulling on the handle to the second entrance door, Cara headed down the tiled floor leading to her grandfather’s room. Obviously, whatever had happened between Suzi and Kaleb while Kane and she were on the road led to her hasty exit. She doubted Kaleb would be forthcoming about it, so questioning him would be pointless.

Cara smiled at an older woman in a wheelchair sitting by the central desk, before turning the corner and continuing down the corridor to her grandfather’s room. This late, not many roamed the hallways, as the staff busied themselves getting the residents ready for bed. Just outside the doorway, Cara pulled out her phone and tapped a quick message to Kane, telling him she would be done within the hour and that he could meet her at her house when she finished up. Leaning a shoulder against the doorjamb, she watched her grandfather.

He sat in a recliner, facing the window. His hearing wasn’t what it used to be, so he hadn’t even heard her arrival. Her soft soles made little noise as she crossed the distance between them. He seemed content to watch the birds and any other activity outside. His room faced Main Street, likely giving him plenty to gossip about with the nurses and aides as he watched people coming and going from several of the downtown businesses. Nothing probably went down without his knowing. Cara was looking through the field at Tom’s Deli when she realized that it was possible her grandfather had seen the primordial.

“Grandfather?” She laid her hand on his shoulder, careful not to startle him. Cara leaned down and bussed his cheek. “How’re you doing?”

He placed his weathered hand atop hers and smiled. “Having a great day, dear. You?”

Cara pulled a black padded folding chair beside his recliner and looked out the window with him. He had a clear view of Tom’s Deli, only one street away.

“You watch the deli, Grandpa?”

“When I’m not in therapy or playing cards. Not much else going on around here.”

“A few nights ago … last Thursday, did you happen to see a man outside talking on a cell?”

“Lordy, girl, you’re asking a lot of me to remember a few nights back, let alone yesterday.”

“Nonsense, Grandpa. Your mind is sharp as a tack.”

“What’s this person supposed to look like?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping you could help me with that.”

He cackled. “I doubt I’m going to be much help if you don’t even know who you’re looking for.”