Desires Unleashed (40 page)

“Don't worry, this one's on me,” Matthew said.

“Naw, I got it. You'll have lunch, deal?” Warren asked. Matthew smiled and nodded. Warren paid the bill and they left the restaurant, headed for the hospital. They hoped their witness was wide awake and able to answer some questions. They made it back to the hospital, going directly to the room their witness was in. There was a uniformed S.U.I.T. officer outside of the door. Warren had called the station and requested one when they had brought him in. They flashed their badges and the officer nodded, stepping aside, allowing both detectives to walk in. Warren looked at the patient in the little narrow bed. The white sheets were pulled up to his chest. His eyes were opened but he looked confused, he didn't recognize the two officers.

Warren walked to one side of his bed as Matthew leaned on the foot of the bed. Warren introduced them. “We're the two detectives that rescued you last night and brought you here. Tell us, do you remember anything about what happened to you? I know this may be difficult, but we need any information that you are able to give us,” Warren said compassionately. The male survivor looked at both cops, he took a deep breath and nodded.

“My name is William Banner. I work at the
Discount Alley
on seventy-ninth street. I had to close up three nights ago and that's when they got me. They put a blindfold on me and threw me in the trunk of a car. The trunk smelled terrible, like something had died in there. I remembered thinking that I was going to die. I could hear them laughing from inside the trunk. They were two sick assholes and I hope they burn in hell!” he said venomously.

Warren couldn't blame him for feeling that way. “Do you remember hearing them say anything? Anything that might lead us to the whereabouts of the female?” Matthew asked. Warren nodded in agreement. The survivor stared forward, trying to recollect the traumatic experience.

“Yeah, after they were through with me, they said they were going to own this city. They wanted to prove a point to the mortals, they said. They were sick, sick fucks!” he said in a shaken voice.

“Is that everything you can remember?” asked Warren.

“Yeah man, that's everything. Look, I've been through enough already. Thanks for saving me and all, but I don't know much information, it's not like they included me in on their plans. I was a piece of meat to them and I really just want to forget it all. Understand?!” he snapped at the two officers. Both Warren and Matthew nodded and left the room, closing the door behind themselves.

“So much for fucking gratitude,” Matthew said. “So, there's a chance that this chick might try to do one more kill, if she hasn't fled the city already. Even after that battle with Darian, she might just try to do it to prove to us that we can't stop her.”

Warren nodded. “What we need to do is go back to the station, and look through our database for any murder cases matching ours. I looked some up before, but they weren't exactly like ours. The problem with ours is that the bodies were never found entirely in the same condition. I don't know whether to call them serial killers, or just plain crazy fucking murderers!”

“Well, let's get back there and check it out, we might find something.” They headed for the car and climbed in. Warren's cell phone began to ring, the designated emergency ringer letting him know it was a phone call he needed to answer. He pulled the little cell phone from his pocket, flipped it open, putting the handset to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Detective Warren, it's Natasha. I had another vision.” She continued, informing him she'd had another possible murder vision. This time, she knew a little more information.

“I'm listening,” Warren said as he drove onto Lake Shore Drive toward downtown.

“She's going to be at a club, but I don't know which one. I didn't see the name of the club, but I could hear the music. She had someone with her and was going to kill him and leave his body in an alley. I saw through both your eyes and hers that Darian was with you again but Matthew wasn't. That's all I saw before my alarm went off. It seems every time I have a vision, it's interrupted. I wish I could tell you more.”

“No. No, you're doing more than enough. Remember what I said before. We wouldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for you. Natasha, stay home, stay safe, you got me?” It was more of an order than a request. Natasha didn't argue, after last night she wasn't in any hurry to go dancing with death again.

“You don't have to tell me twice,” she joked, but she was serious. Then a thought came to her. “Warren, how come I'm not like you?”

There was a short period of silence, then he spoke, “Because you were scratched. The gene can only be transferred through the saliva of a shape-shifter. If you were bitten, it would be a different story” he chuckled.

“What about the other bodily fluids?” she asked inquisitively.

“Semen, blood, breast milk and vaginal secretions cannot carry the gene. Strange, I know. The shape-shifter gene is only spread if the saliva of a shape-shifter directly enters the bloodstream of an unaffected human being, mainly though bite wounds.”

“What about kissing?”

“If the unaffected partner doesn't have any open wounds, then he or she will be safe,” Warren informed her. “You really need to brush up on your supernatural studies,” he joked.

“Yeah, tell me about it!” she chuckled nervously, but relieved.

“Look, get some rest. If you see anything else, call me but don't leave the house. Not tonight,” Warren said adamantly as he pulled the car off the expressway.

“No problem, I didn't want to go out tonight anyway. I'm on my lunch break now. When I get off of work, I'll go straight home. I was going to visit my friend Annette, but I'll just call her. You be careful too, okay?” she entreated. She really liked Warren and Matthew, she had felt like a part of a team last night, but there was a price she had to pay for that. She now had a clearer understanding of just how dangerous their job was and she wanted them to be safe.

“Don't worry about me. You just be safe. Take care,” he said. He waited for her to say her goodbyes before he hung up. He told his partner what she said.

“So, now we just need to narrow down clubs in the city. Probably some well known clubs, if she wants to make a name for herself,” Matthew said as he pondered the possible location.

“Yeah, we finally have a motive. Not only that, but we have to get Darian to back us up again tonight. It was in her dream. If I don't have him there, there's no telling how the situation can end. I'm strong but I'm young. She was fast...too fast! When the government created our team and our weapons, I don't think they were completely prepared for the skill of the old ones.” Then he wondered just how old she was. He also wondered just how old Darian was.

“Yeah, I agree. Hey, let's get some different weapons and head out to Darian's club.” They walked into the precinct, Matthew tried very hard not to look wounded as they headed toward the weapons locker. Warren selected a flamethrower just in case of extreme emergency then he pulled out an automatic machine gun and a 9 mm, fully loaded with ultraviolet ammunition. He signed all the weapons out, the desk clerk looked them over and threw both of the detectives an incredulous glance.

“What?” Warren asked defensively.

“Oh, nothing, I was just wondering if you two were taking over a small country, that's all,” Officer David Marks said mockingly, pushing his black rimmed glasses back on his nose.

“What country do you know of that is going to let us take over with these little ass weapons?” Warren shot back sarcastically. David was always a smartass, but then so was Warren. Dismissing them with the wave of his hand, David busied himself with paperwork. Warren took the weapons and walked out of the locker, Matthew trailing behind him.

“Do you think we'll need the flame thrower?” Matthew asked as they loaded the guns into the trunk of the car.

“I don't know, but it's mainly for you. If she gets close to you, let her have it. I'd prefer if you stayed here at the station.”

“No, I'm coming with you. We're partners,” Matthew stated with finality. Warren nodded. He decided not to argue, it wouldn't make any difference.

“Okay, good, let's go,” Matthew said as he climbed slowly into the passenger seat, wincing with every movement. He hated that his back had to touch the seat. His partner climbed in beside him. They headed for
Desires Unleashed.
When they arrived at the club, the day manager walked up to them.

“What can I do for you two officers?” she asked. Her long, brown hair was in a thick braid down her back. She was wearing a black satin skirt and white satin blouse. Her black leather boots clacked on the tiled floor. Warren could smell that she was a shape-shifter, a cheetah.

“We're looking for Darian. Know where we could find him?” Warren asked. The female shifter threw glances between the two men.

“The boss isn't here. And no, I don't know where you can find him. You're welcome to stay here, and wait for him to arrive, though he might not come, he's normally here on weekends. Is there anything else?” she asked politely. The men looked at each other and shook their heads. “Okay, well, if you will excuse me, I have some loose ends to tie up. You can show yourselves to the door,” she said as she turned and walked away. Matthew and Warren headed for the entrance when a female janitor mopping old vomit off of the floor stopped them.

“I can tell you the address...for a price,” she whispered. Warren looked at his partner then back at the woman. She was wearing a gray workman's jumpsuit with a gray baseball cap.

“What's the price?” he asked. “Fifty bucks, I tell you the address.”

Warren reached in his pocket and pulled out a fifty dollar bill. He held it in front of the woman. Her hand snaked out and took the money.

“It's a three-story mansion on the outskirts of Chicago. His place is in Evanston.” The female gestured for the two cops to com
^e
closer, when they did, she whispered the address to them. Warren thanked her for her help and they left the club. They hit the I
90-94
expressway toward Evanston. It was an hour and a half drive, the traffic slowed them down considerably. They finally located the huge three-story mansion.

Matthew whistled. “Would you look at that. This place is huge, vampires live pretty damn good.”

“Not all of them, just old bastards like him. My Alpha lives in a similar shack. That reminds me!” He looked at his watch. He wanted to call Xander to tell him all that had happened. He noted the time was 2:32 P.M. Time was flying by. He pulled out his cell phone and called his pack leader.

“Hello?” Xander's voice flowed through the telephone. Warren remembered how that voice had always made him feel saf
_e
when he was a frightened little child. There was still some element of security in Xander's voice even now and it made Warren smile.

“Xander, it's me. Last night, I closed in on the wolf. He was huge. I've never seen him before. He's dead. I killed him last night. He was insane, a pleasure killer. I just thought I should tell you.”

“Are you okay? Was anyone bitten?”

“No, two people were scratched, but that's it.”

“Alright, good. What are you doing now? I can hear stress in your voice.”

“I'm vampire hunting. The wolf shared his kills with a female vampire. She got away last night, so now we have to prepare for her. Look Xander, I have to go, I just wanted to bring you up to speed. I'll have to fill you in later on all the details.”

“Very well, we will talk later,” Xander replied calmly. Warren hung up the phone and looked at Matthew.

“Don't ask, I'll explain to you later. Now we have to convince Darian to help us again, I don't know if he will. Last night, he helped because of Natasha. Now, I don't know, but let's give it a try,” Warren said as he exited the automobile. Matthew followed. The two men walked up to the front door and rang the bell. A few seconds later, a beefy, six-foot-four, two-hundred-plus pound African-American male answered the door. He looked at the two officers.

“May I help you?” he asked.

“I'm Detective Warren Davis, and this is my partner, Detective Matthew Eric. We need to speak with Mr. Darian Alexander when he wakes up. We need to ask him some questions. We'll wait on the sofa if necessary. But we're not leaving. We can get a warrant but I'd rather not have to go that far,” Warren said confidently, hoping the bluff would be good enough to grant them entry. The bodyguard scanned both of them, opening the door wider to allow them to step in to the foyer. They walked in and he pointed to a room off the main entrance. Warren walked into the living room. He noted that Darian's style was a lot more modern than his own pack leader's. He settled down on the black leather sofa, the soft cushions were incredibly comfortable, he could feel himself relaxing. He felt he could fall asleep on the sofa, especially considering he hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours. He looked at the black marble coffee table and matching floor. The huge warm gray marble fire place was lit and the roaring fire filled the wide open space with heat. It was becoming more relaxing than Warren was comfortable with.