Authors: Mary Abshire
Tom rounded the corner next to me. He eyed me suspiciously.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“You don’t smell like an ordinary demon or half-breed even,” he said while he studied me.
I smiled, recalling how Jackson had instantly suspected I was different when we first met. Maybe the werewolves had extra sensory perception.
We crossed a main walkway and continued down the aisle, toward the middle of the warehouse.
“I’d prove to you I can mist, but since I work for the Senator, I have to wear one of those annoying bracelets.”
“No need to prove anything. Jackson vouched for you. By the way, he said he would be in later.”
I turned down another main artery and scanned the labels on the shelving units. “Can I ask what you’re looking for in nineteen eighty-two?” Finding the row for the 1980s, I strolled to the left.
Tom drew closer to me. “Those of us in the police unit had a quick meeting this afternoon. Jackson informed us what we needed to search for. I decided to start with 1982. Since she’d been elected as Prosecutor for two years, it seemed like a good place to start.”
“Are you a detective?” I slowed my stride, seeing I’d reached the records for 1981.
“Yes. I transferred from Bloomington seven years ago. I’d heard great things about the pack leader in Indy. Heard he was very strong, determined and supportive. Found out everything was true. Losing him was…” Tom shook his head. “A great loss.”
I knew nothing about his Alpha, but sorrow crept into my heart for Tom. Twenty-nine other people died along with his pack leader. And for what? Because they knew about me, knew I was one of a kind in the world. Once again, guilt weighed heavily on my mind. Then I reminded myself their deaths were not my fault. I didn’t ask anyone to keep me a secret, nor would I ever seek to eliminate a life. Galluzzi was the murdering bitch, not me.
Finding the white label marked 1982, I stopped. “Records start here and continue down and to the right.” I pointed.
“Thank you. If I need anything, I’ll find you.”
I headed back the way I’d come. “Good luck with your search.” I hoped he found something, but given the amount of records to search through, I didn’t expect him to find anything on the first night.
I returned to the front desk. Lizzy sat on the stool, assisting a new customer. The young woman standing across the counter had long, dark hair with bangs chopped off right above her brows. She gave off an icy aura with her blank face and frowning lips. Not wanting to interrupt Lizzy, I gathered the stack of documents from the basket, spun around and headed back to the warehouse.
For an hour or so, I returned documents to their proper homes. Carrying a slimmer stack of papers with me, I walked slowly down one of the main aisles. While I scanned the labels, I debated where I should start to look to find evidence against Galluzzi. Row after row of floor to ceiling shelves filled with documents overwhelmed me momentarily. I inhaled a deep breath and decided to select a year and dig into the records. Now, what year?
Tom started searching in 1982, two years into Galluzzi’s term as Prosecutor. She served another two years, ran again and served another four years in the Prosecutor’s office. By late 1988, she advanced to Attorney General. She served two terms as AG before advancing to Governor, serving eight years, and then moved on to Senator. My mother, God rest her soul, worked for Galluzzi. Sometime while Galluzzi was Attorney General, my mother gave birth to me. Considering my creation started a chain of events that led me to where I was today, I decided to start my search in the year 1989–the first full year Galluzzi was AG. I passed Tom, found the row for the late eighties, then began my search.
A half hour later, I’d made little progress. I had focused my research in the demon records and scanned six months worth. Two documents containing meeting notes intrigued me. Both revealed the initials of the attendees, which included BG–Barbara Galluzzi, and mentioned a Project E. Sadly, the notes didn’t go into detail about the project. I wondered what the E stood for.
Feeling the need to do a little more work so I didn’t look like a slacker, I took my stack to file and returned half the records to their homes. When I checked with Lizzy at the front, she had another customer at the counter and a few more documents in the basket. I snatched the papers and returned to the shelves for 1989.
Time passed quickly as I searched, refiled and searched some more. I found two years’ worth of notes from meetings that contained Galluzzi’s initials and mentioned Project E. I didn’t recognize the other initials, but they were same on every document. Mid 1991, one of the records noted Project E was a success. I held the thin paper in my hands and stared at the words for a good minute.
“Find something?” Tom asked, and I flinched.
I’d been deeply engrossed with my research that I’d tuned out sounds and movement around me. If someone wanted me dead, they could’ve easily snuck up behind me and succeeded in their plan.
“I’m not sure.”
Tom’s gaze fell to the paper in my hand. “What is that?”
“These are notes from a meeting.” I held it closer to him. “I searched from 1989 to 1991 and found documents similar to this showing the same initials and noting a Project E. This particular one shows the project as a success.” I pointed to the words on the paper.
“Any idea what the project is?”
“No, I’ve found nothing else that mentions the project.”
Tom took the document from me. “I’ll make a copy and bring this back. Stay here.”
After he left, I continued searching. The last two meetings in 1991 made no mention of the project.
Tom returned later, holding a couple of papers in his hand. He slipped the top one from the pile and handed it to me. “Sorry it took so long. Lizzy stopped me and asked how I was doing. I chatted with her for a while to keep her from suspecting anything.”
“No problem.” I took the paper and filed it back in the spot where I’d taken it. “Did you find anything?”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “No such luck.”
“There’s a lot to search through.” I tried to sound encouraging.
“I’m not worried. I have to leave for work, but Jackson will be here soon. If by chance I find something, I’ll pass it on to Jackson so he can keep you informed.”
Extending my hand to Tom, I said, “Thanks. I appreciate your help.”
He gripped my hand tight while he shook it. “Shelley, you are a unique one. I’m glad I met you. Be careful around here.”
Why did everyone feel the need to remind me? “I will. Thank you.”
After he left, I finished refiling the papers I had, then returned to the front. Lizzy sat at the counter, typing on the computer. Seeing more papers in the basket, I let out a heavy sigh.
“What a busy night,” I said, leaning sideways against the counter. I glanced at the clock and noticed I only had a few hours left in my shift. Which also meant Lizzy would leave soon, and I hadn’t taken my dinner break.
“It’s been nonstop all night. People keep coming in for documents, and they don’t want to find it themselves. I’m charging their clan’s accounts for every copy I’ve handed out tonight.”
“You can do that–charge them?”
She nodded without turning to look at me. “If I have to make the copies, yes. But if they get it themselves, then we don’t charge. I have the pricing in the blue binder under the counter if you ever need it.”
“Mind if I take my dinner break?” I seized the key to the file cabinet from the drawer under the counter.
“No, now is a good time. I can manage.” The keys on the keyboard made soft clicks every time her fingers pressed down on them.
Once I unlocked the file cabinet housing my purse, I grabbed my phone and relocked the drawer. My cell showed a missed call from Jonas. After I tapped the call back option on the screen, I waited for him to answer.
“Shelley?”
“Hey, I’m about to take my break. What’s going on?”
“Oh, good. I’m downtown now. We need to talk. I can meet you at the canal in a few minutes.”
“The canal?” My heart jumped a beat when he said we needed to talk. It always sounds as if something is wrong.
“Yeah, do you know where it’s at?”
Obviously I didn’t or I wouldn’t have asked. “I’ll find it. Give me ten minutes.”
“See you soon.”
I returned my phone back into my purse, then stopped at the counter next to Lizzy. “Do you know where the canal is?”
“Yeah, go up to the main tunnel and follow it to the south cafeteria. You’ll see it from the window.”
A tall man wearing a black, casual business suit walked into the warehouse. He had shoulder length hair, a paler than normal complexion and dark eyes. Vampire
.
He stopped at the counter. “I’m looking for a document and was told to come here.” His gaze drifted from me to Lizzy.
“You came to the right place,” she said, cheerful. “Do you know what it is you’re looking for?”
His eyes met mine. “I’m looking for a document in the demon records.”
Behind me, I heard the footsteps of someone approaching. I twisted and saw an older man with short hair and glasses coming toward me. He held a stack of papers in his hands.
While Lizzy assisted the vampire, I stepped closer to geeky guy. “Can I help you?”
“Can you help me with the copying machine? I can’t seem to get it to copy double-sided.”
“Sure, I’ll help you,” I said, and headed down the hall.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” He had a kind smile.
The man stood close to my side the entire time I fiddled with the copier. It didn’t take but a minute to figure out how to copy dual-sided. Buttons on the display made the job easy. I selected the two-sided function, the paper tray, placed the papers in the feeder, then hit the start button. When the machine had finished copying, the man thanked me and I returned to the front desk.
Lizzy faced the computer while the vampire on the other side of the counter stared at her. “I’m leaving for break,” I said, then pressed the button for the gate.
She continued typing without acknowledging me. Knowing Jonas was waiting for me, I didn’t bother to ask if she needed help with anything. If she did, I decided she could wait.
Walking fast, I left the cage and strode down the halls to the elevator. With each minute ticking by, I wondered what Jonas had to tell me. Would he be upset about my relationship with Boss? Had Anubis showed up? Anxiety fueled my steps and quickened my heartbeat. I hoped he had only good news to share, but I feared the worst.
I followed the signs through the main tunnel and finally, after a seven-minute walk, reached the south cafeteria. I was late, but I had a feeling Jonas would wait for me.
Cutting through the cafeteria with my heels clicking on the tile, I spotted the canal beyond the glass doors. Lights reflected in the rippling water. In the center, water sprayed up. I pushed the door open and stepped outside.
Hairs on the back of my neck twitched as I walked away from the cafeteria. Water splashed, bugs chirped and a few cars passed in the distance. Tuning those sounds out, I heard a soft heartbeat.
“Jonas?” I started jogging in the direction of the beating heart. When I didn’t get a response, my own heart pumped faster.
I picked up my pace and ran. Wind blew the hair away from my face. The fresh night air refreshed me, but something else instantly stirred a hunger. I smelled blood.
Following the path around a curve to an overhead bridge, I spotted a body on the ground near the wall.
No.
“Jonas!” I urged my legs to hurry.
He didn’t move. His body lay sideways on the hard concrete. A small light reflected off the water, showing me his closed eyes.
When I reached him, I fell to my knees and gripped his arms. “Jonas.”
The strong scent of blood tickled my taste buds, making me thirsty. I nudged his body gently, widened the gap of his leather jacket and found his shirt soaked with a dark fluid.
“Jonas, what happened?”
He moaned softly. “Shelley.”
“I’m here.” I pressed my hand to his face. He felt cool, damp and clammy. He needed medical attention, fast. I chided myself for having left my phone in the warehouse. “You need help. I have to get to a phone.”
Footsteps up ahead stole my attention. Four men approached, three running fast toward me.
“Shit!”
Jonas gripped my arm. “My gun.”
I reached inside his jacket and withdrew his gun. Time didn’t allow for thinking, only action. I flicked the safety, stood and started firing. One man dropped back and fell to the ground. I hit another in the shoulder, slowing him down. The third man raced ahead, full steam while the last disappeared. What the fuck? Demons
.
I fired more shots, striking the same man from earlier. He dropped to his knees. The fast one dodged all my shots. When he was within feet from me, I turned to run. Only a hard object hit me in the head. Pain shattered my thoughts, and I fell to my knees, the gun slipping from my hand in the process.
“When will women ever listen?” said a familiar voice.
My vision spun while my head throbbed. I couldn’t clearly see him, but the voice reminded me of the demon from the night before. Billy Rodriguez, underground leader. Damn him. I refused to admit defeat. On my hands and knees like a dog, I prepared to face my rival.
The man behind me laughed. “Bitches never have any sense. They’re good for fucking, but not much else.”
I blinked, clearing the haze. Jonas’s gun was within my reach. I couldn’t kill both, but I could certainly take out one.
Inhaling a quick breath, I snatched the gun and fired fast. The sound of the shots bounced off the concrete walls, echoing loudly. The demon who thought I was nothing more than an object to fuck took three direct hits in his chest, then fell.
Billy kicked my hand and the gun flew into the air. It splashed in the water seconds later.
“You fucking bitch!” He snapped. “Three of my men? Oh no. I’m not letting you die that fast now.”
He gripped my throat and squeezed. Gasping, I scraped my knees on the concrete, trying to steady myself.
Holding my neck tight in his grasp, he used his other hand to withdraw something from his pocket. I glanced down as he jerked his hand. Something clicked, and I saw a touch of light reflected off the metal knife he held.