To Skin a Wolf Read online

  Jason disconnected and I laid back on my pillow. At least I didn’t have to go down to the morgue, but now I was wide awake. The sun would be up in minutes, and the weather was warm enough in the morning that I could go out with a light jacket.

  I got up and prepared for a run. I left the house just as the sun was breaking over the horizon and casting a red glow on the mountains to the west. As locals, we said that the sun kissed the peak in the morning. It was one of the most beautiful sights of the city. It lifted my spirits a little bit as I took off at a light jog down the road.

  By the time I reached the field down the road, my feet were pounding the asphalt relentlessly. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and my lungs forced air through me with protest. I might have pushed it, but I needed to get back to running. It was good for the body, soul, and chasing bad guys. I slowed down to turn around and start my cool-down run back to the house when a shadow crossed my path.

  I stopped in my tracks and drew my gun, facing Tomes. “I thought you would have run back to Ira.” I used both hands to make sure my aim was steady.

  “So you’ve figured out who’s behind all this.” Tomes held his hands up. “I’m unarmed. There’s no reason to draw your gun, Agent Collins.”

  I didn’t trust him, but I lowered it in case a civilian chanced driving by the road. “What do you want then? Last I heard you were planning on feeding me to the blood-starved vampires.”

  “I was reprimanded for that. Turns out that he doesn’t want you dead.” He shrugged. “I thought we could talk, make a deal.”

  I snorted. “You don’t have anything I want.”

  “That’s wrong. I have Levi.”

  My heart stopped. “You’re lying.” Levi couldn’t be taken out by Tomes; he was too strong.

  “Do you want to chance that?”

  Levi had always told me that someone would try this. Territory politics, he called it. Manipulating someone close to him. I steeled my emotions and tightened my grip on my gun. “I guess I’m going to have to.”

  Tomes eyes widened. “I have your father.”

  “No, you have the vampire who raised me. My father’s been dead for a long time.” The words hurt a little, but Levi was a big bad vampire. Even if Tomes had him, he could take care of himself…and probably kill Tomes in the process.

  “You’re going to leave Levi all alone to face Ira’s wrath? Some daughter you are. Not to mention a PIB agent leaving a leading vampire in a hostage situation.”

  The panic that hit me almost threw me for a loop. My hand tightened on my gun enough for the grip to bite into my hand. He was baiting me. Calling me out on the two things that mattered most to me. But Levi wasn’t alone. He’d been with Mario when he left for his vacation. I didn’t trust Mario, but I didn’t think he was working for Ira. I took a deep breath and raised my gun. “Tomes, you’re under arrest for skipping on your bail and missing your court date.”

  He raised his hand with a wicked smile, and I felt the magic move around me. Necromancy. I let one hand on the gun down and threw up a red circle, flames forming the edge. I smiled at the now practiced habit.

  “I’d forgotten you were an elemental. The talent is on your mother’s side; your uncle controlled water. How silly of me to forget.” He looked around at the flames. “No physical guide, impressive, Abigail.”

  A jolt went through me as he tried to force his own magic into my circle. The flames flickered and closed in a bit. “You won’t win this.”

  “It’s a crime to kill with magic unless you’re an executioner. Are you going to take on that role?” He met my gaze. The calm he projected set off my paranoia.

  “I don’t want a tainted aura. I’m not going to kill you. You’re just going back to that lovely holding cell.”

  I holstered my gun and pulled my phone out. “This is Agent Collins; I have a fugitive in custody. Mile marker four-twenty-six on Highway 24.”

  “We’ll send a squad car for you.”

  “No, we need a containment van, the fugitive is Brian Tomes, he’s a known necromancer.” I met his gaze.

  He simply folded his hands in front of him as if he was waiting patiently for something.

  “Roger that, it’s on the way. ETA ten minutes.”

  They must have had one near for the time to be that quick. “Thank you.” I hung up and put my phone in my pocket. My run had been interrupted, but at least putting Tomes back where he belonged would solve one of my problems.

  “How much do you know about Ira?” Tomes asked, pacing the circle slowly.

  “I’m not stupid enough to discuss that with you.” I shook my head. “So don’t try.”

  He shrugged. “I’m just making small talk. You were the one who took down his lacky at the clinic, weren’t you?”

  That was common knowledge; it had been on the news and in the tabloids. “So?”

  “Pretty easy to capture that vampire, wasn’t it?”

  “Not discussing this.” I reigned in my temper and used the tone that I had when interviewing suspects. “Now, if you would, stop asking questions to glean information.”

  He nodded. “We really do have Levi, and if you put me in that containment van and Ira doesn’t hear from me, he’ll kill Levi.”

  I couldn’t give in. I wanted to. I wanted to demand Levi’s location and proof they had them, but I know what that would lead to. I wouldn’t let Tomes have that kind of control over me. I remained silent because I had nothing I could say without giving him some type of fodder on me.

  “You’re next, princess. Remember that,” he said after a few minutes.

  I clicked my tongue. “Why do you call me that?”

  “All girls dream of being a princess.” He answered without missing a beat. “Why should you be any different?”

  “I don’t dream of being a princess; they are all damsels in distress. I save myself.” I shook my head and looked up when I heard the rumbling of an engine. “Oh look, your ride is here.”

  “So it is.”

  I turned to the circle and concentrated on pulling the flames down, leaving just a red glowing circle that switched to purple as the containment crew approached.

  “Scared they’ll learn what you are?” Tomes whispered to me before the crew reached us. “The mighty Abigail Collins, hiding things.” He tutted his tongue at me. “It’d be a shame if that information was to get out.”

  I met his gaze. “They won’t believe you. There’s nothing in my lineage that says I should be an elemental.” That wasn’t exactly true, my big book of answers listed Oliver as one, but I didn’t think Tomes knew there was documented proof.

  “I have people in high places.” He winked at me as the crew approached.

  I waited until one of the crew members put a circle around Tomes so I could pull mine down. I pulled the magic back into me and watched as Tomes went with the crew peacefully. Why run just to be taken in willingly?

  I kept my eyes on him as they loaded him into the back of the black van. Relief flooded through me when the doors closed. I needed to figure out if what he said about Levi was true or not. I holstered my gun and pulled out my phone.

  I dialed Levi and it went straight to voicemail. I pressed my lips together. He could be sleeping, which basically meant he was dead to the world, depending on the time difference. That didn’t calm my worry any. I needed to keep reminding myself that he was a powerful vampire and could take care of himself. There were other things here that I needed to focus on.

  I waltzed into the office, expecting it to be empty, but froze when I saw my uncle sitting behind my desk. “Seriously, how do you keep getting in?”

  “Your building isn’t very secure.” He shrugged. “And your database isn’t updated.” He flicked a card at me, and I caught it.

  The picture on the ID card hit me hard. Nick’s smirk was something I’d never forget. I tried to hide my anger. “Where did you get this?”

  “Someone mailed it to my house.” He stood up. “I just received it y
esterday. Something you care to share with me?”

  “Not particularly. I don’t know why they would have mailed it to you.” I snorted. “It’s not like you and Nick were friends. Hell, you two have never met.”

  “It was addressed to you.”

  That made me pause on my way to the desk. “Was there anything else with it?”

  “No, just that.” He glanced at the door. “I don’t want to talk here, and you’re due for a training session. I want to make sure you’re able to keep your powers in check with your emotions running rampant.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t tonight. I have to work my case.” He didn’t need to know where I was going.

  “This afternoon, before you go to the wolf pack.” He shook his head. “This isn’t negotiable, Abigail. I know that Tomes is out—“

  “Nope, I arrested him this morning.”

  His eyes widened just a touch, and I smiled. “What, don’t have spies all around Mom’s house?”

  “No, because I didn’t think you’d go wandering.”

  But he just admitted to having spies. I put my hands on my hips. “I found all your bugs in the house, how did you know about the case?”

  “I have my ways. I’ll see you this afternoon.” He started to walk out, but once he stood next to me, he put his hand on my shoulder. “Be careful.” And with that, he left.

  I went to my desk and put Nick’s ID down. I had started to wonder if I was crazy when I had seen Nick outside the morgue that night. The night that Jason said Nick’s body disappeared.

  I called Jason and waited for him to answer.

  “What’s up, Agent A.? I haven’t gotten anything back yet, and I’m running off pure caffeine.”

  “Do you have Nick’s personal belongings by any chance?”

  He was silent for a moment. “No, they were released to his mom. Why?”

  “Do you have the record of what was in there?” I ignored his question and tapped my fingers on the desk.

  “Check the database; it should be in there. I don’t have the paper copy anymore. It’s probably archived by this point. Abby, I don’t really want to talk about this…because, you know…” he let it trail off.

  I sighed. “Yeah, I know.” I disconnected and turned to my computer. If I searched his name, I’d be opening up a can of worms I didn’t know if I was ready for. I looked down at the ID. If he was still out there somehow, I needed to know. I pulled up my search engine and typed his name in. Instantly, his files flooded my screen, every case he’d been on, the forms from when he was suspended from a Cult of Ra case, which had prompted his transfer here. I clicked on his agent profile and saw the big red words ‘deceased’ across the screen. My heart sank. If he was alive, then PIB wasn’t in on it. Which made me wonder what the hell happened at the morgue that night.

  I searched for the personal effects file and found it towards the bottom. I double clicked and looked through the list. All the typical things were on the list like his gun, wallet, badge, but not his ID card for the office. I closed out of the file and the search. Something was going on here, and it was all connected to the bombing, I was sure. I jumped up and grabbed my bag. I wasn’t getting anything done in the office right now. I needed to get out and look at the crime scene closer and focus on my current case, not Nick.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  I walked into the bar, ducking under the PIB crime scene tape and greeting the few officers that were around. None of them questioned me being there and let me go about what I needed to do. I entered the breakroom and looked at all the blood. The pattern seemed odd now that the bodies were removed, and instead of the stark red, it had dried into a deep brown. Crime scene clean up wouldn’t come in until we released the location and we were done gathering evidence. I put my backpack down by the door and walked further in. The blood around me wouldn’t do me any good, I could use it to track the victim’s path, like a reverse tracking spell, but there was no reason to do that without having a suspect in mind.

  If I had another witch or warlock that was willing, I could use a spell that would show me the past of the room, but Merick, who helped me last time I cast it, was nowhere to be seen, Nick was presumed dead, and Clarissa wouldn’t be willing. It’d been over a year since I had worked a case on my own, and I almost felt helpless as to where to start.

  “Anything sticking out to you?” Simon’s voice was soft from the doorway.

  I shook my head. “No, I was hoping something would. They took fingerprints from the door and the rest of the scene, but nothing has come back yet.” It was standard procedure for all cases. “Tell me about the guys.”

  “I wrote down their information.”

  I shook my head. “No, not the facts, tell me about them. Their hobbies, their likes, dislikes.”

  “Not like you, wanting to get personal about the victims.”

  “I need something to latch onto, something that might help me understand why someone would do something so horrible to them.” I tried to keep any emotion out of my voice, but knowing that they had been alive when torn apart really bothered me.

  Simon nodded. “Come to the bar, and we’ll talk.”

  I reluctantly walked away from the blood stains and grabbed my bag. I felt like my answer was there, but I just couldn’t see it. I sat at the bar and he went to pour me a drink. I shook my head. “I’m on the clock.”

  “That’s right.” He put the bottle back. “They were both passionate about fighting for our kinds’ rights. To make sure that we didn’t slide backward in the world. To show people we aren’t monsters. They’d play basketball together, video games, they were always together.” He shook his head. “Both newly graduated from the local community college, I think they were only a year or two apart when they were infected with the wolf lycanthrope strain.” He leaned on the bar. “They worked here with Maddy.”

  They were almost twins in every aspect, which I thought was interesting. “Do they have pack family?”

  “Blood?” He asked.

  I nodded.

  “No, and I gave you a list of who they were closest to.” He looked helpless. “Six pack members, Abby. I’m one screw up as an alpha.”

  Something occurred to me. “Simon, have you made any new enemies as of late? Who’s leading the other side of the squabble?”

  “You can’t get involved in that. I told you, I don’t think this has anything to do with that.”

  “Will you just give me a name so I can do my job?” I growled. “I’m tired of the political bullshit of the supernatural world.”

  He held his hands up. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

  “I’m tired of that too.” I shot back. “I don’t need protection like everyone thinks. I’m a witch and a damn good PIB agent; I don’t need defending or people hiding things from me. Please give me the name so I can make sure that it is not part of this.”

  He hung his head in defeat, and I knew I had him. “Luke Barry and Angela Hines.”

  “Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to start working down my list of names.” I had to admit that Maddy being an imposter threw me for a loop, and I should have checked out the list long before now. I hoped it wasn’t a mistake that I was going to pay for.

  “I’ll pick you up at eight tonight.” Simon reminded me gently. “If you want to talk to the pack, many of them will be there.”

  I tried to smile. “Promise I won’t get eaten?”

  “I can actually make that promise now.” He nodded. “As Alpha, I give you my word that my pack will not harm you.”

  I bowed my head. “Thank you. I’ll see you at eight then.” I walked out and waved goodbye at the officers.

  Nothing but the typical information showed up for all the names I ran. I’d have to go and talk to them personally if I wanted anything beyond their basic facts, but I had to get to my uncle’s. I didn’t know why Oliver wanted me to continue to train under him. We had never really agreed about what he wanted in return. Originally, he wanted
me to kill the high priest of the Cult of Ra, but we had never completely hammered out the details. I went to him because I needed someone to teach me about my elemental abilities because Levi was no use in that department, and I couldn’t seek anyone else out without risking being put in containment and studied by the government. That wasn’t something I could deal with.

  I stepped up to Oliver’s house, mansion really. I tried the door and found it unlocked. He, like me, had a state of the art security system on top of his magic so that he knew anytime someone was at the door.

  “In the main room.” I heard him call out as I kicked my shoes off and left my bag by the door. I went down the hall to find him sitting on a couch in front of the fireplace. The fire extinguisher still sat on the hearth, reminding me that Oliver didn’t trust me to keep my power under control, and even though his element was water, he still depended on that extinguisher. The fireplace only had glowing coals in it right now.

  “This doesn’t look like we’re planning on training.” I raised a brow. “What’s going on? A therapy session?”

  “Something like that. It’s been brought to my attention that Levi has left the country and may be in some trouble. I wanted to speak to you about it.” He leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees, his eyes on the fire.

  I kept my panic in check so the fire wouldn’t react to my emotions. The coals didn’t even flare a little. “As far as I know, he’s on vacation with Mario.”

  “Ah, Mario, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know he was still around.”

  “I thought you knew everything. He’s been here for a few months now. Ever since the haunted house case.” I sat on the couch and watched the fire. “I don’t like him.”

  “Neither do I, but Levi trusts him with his life. Now about Levi leaving the country.” He leaned back and glanced at me. “What do you know?”

  I tried not to be irritated. “I just told you what I knew. That he went on vacation. That’s all he told me. Tomes tried to convince me that Ira had Levi contained somewhere.”