Collective gasps filled the room.
“Okay, Michael,” Derrick interrupted. “I think we get the point.” Derrick, as he assumed a few others felt, was glad he hadn’t eaten lunch yet. He didn’t like to think that there were animals that would do such a thing.
“He asked,” Michael defended his repugnant answer. “But here’s the part that baffles me. Whoever this is, they want us to know.”
“How’s that?” Dean spoke up again, curiosity lighting in his eyes.
Michael moved backward toward the desk, resting on the edge as though he was a professor addressing his students. “Even though a creatus is smart enough not to give any indication of how the person was killed, they usually hide the victim, bury them. These victims have been left for authorities to find.” Michael paused for effect. “The rogue wants us to know.”
“So, as Michael and I discussed earlier, there’s only one answer,” Derrick cut in. “We need to start watching again.”
Vic burst to her feet. “What? What happened to ‘the rules’? Isn’t that why you banished Jonas?”
Derrick shook his head, casting a glance in Ryan and his mother’s direction, wondering if they had thought the same thing too.
Michael also stared in the direction of Ry and Margaret and then hopped off the desk to answer. “We didn’t banish Jonas; he left on his own. Jonas was a good friend of mine, but he used watching as an excuse to fight. He didn’t care about humans any more than you or I, Vic. He was only looking for a fight. And he was sloppy.”
“So we’re supposed to put our existence in jeopardy because a few humans are dying.” Vic raised her hands in the air and paced. “Derrick’s just worried about his new precious human.”
“Sit down, Victoria, or leave,” Derrick ordered. “Your choice.”
Vic inhaled a deep breath as though she would argue, but then flopped down in her chair again.
Derrick held up his hands in a silent request to the rest of the group. No one as much as breathed. “They are the rules, and I intend to keep them. As for Kristina, she’s my concern.” He leveled his eyes on Victoria. “No one will get near her; I will make certain of that. As for the rest of you, we will set up a perimeter around Boston where the killings have occurred.” Derrick glanced around to see if anyone else dared to question him. “Per ‘the rules’, as Vic pointed out, I do not want you to get involved with a crime; we’re only looking for the rogue. Only interfere if the rogue is involved. And make sure you are always dressed in black with a knit ski mask you can shield your face if need be; we don’t need to start any vigilante investigations again.”
His father stood up again. “So, if we see a human getting attacked, you want us to stand by?”
Derrick’s stomach plummeted. No, he didn’t want that. What would Kristina think of him saying such a thing? But, it was the only way. “We don’t have a choice, Dad. It’s not like it was when you were protecting the streets. Humans are busy 24-7. They never sleep, it seems. Also, everyone has a video camera on their cell phone. We’d be on the front page of The National Enquirer the next day.”
Chapter Twelve
After Michael presented the map and the schedules of where he wanted everyone stationed, the barn cleared.
“Hang on a second, Vic,” Derrick called as she made her way toward the massive doors that were big enough a tank could fit through.
She threw her head back in disgust, acting like a spoiled child. He almost expected her to stomp her feet and stick out her tongue at this point. “Now what?” she whined.
Michael stopped his departure as well, which was probably a good thing. With Vic’s attitude, no telling what they’d end up saying to each other. Besides, Derrick needed to question his brother as well.
So as not to accuse just Vic, he addressed both of them with a razor-sharp scowl, “Which one of you were outside Kristina’s window last night?” he asked pointblank.
Vic rolled her eyes and Michael’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, clearly digesting this information.
Smoothing her hair with her hands, sending him the image of a cat preening herself, Vic laughed. “That was fast, Derrick. Didn’t waste any time getting with the human, did you?”
Derrick huffed out a breath. What a one-eighty her personality had taken. Again, he hated to keep thinking she was the typical scorned woman, but he now understood all the colloquialisms. There clearly was a thin line between love and hate. “You didn’t answer my question, Victoria?”
“I have better things to do with my time than spy on your little girlfriend. Besides, I didn’t know you’d decided to bring her into our humble family until you showed up with her on your arm.” Vic bit her lip, her tough façade seemingly melting. He knew she was heartbroken, understood that her antagonism was directed at the situation, not him. She had to know he’d tried to make it work with her. “Thanks for that by the way,” she said sharply, attempting to hold onto her anger. “You could have warned me instead of blindsiding me, making me look like a fool.”
Derrick rubbed his chin. “I’m sorry. I guess you’re right.” He walked toward her and she stepped backward, away from him. “I was worried you’d leave without me having a chance to explain.”
“What’s to explain, Derrick? I always knew you loved Kristina, even if you denied it. You’ve been spellbound by her for years. I figured it would happen when she got old enough, when you finally saw her as the beautiful woman she is.” The corners of her lips turned up, and a semblance of a smile dawned on her face that he hadn’t expected in the middle of her rant. “She is beautiful, by the way. I still hate her, mind you, but I can see the attraction. I guess being half-human makes you boys want a weak shell of a woman—”
“Not me, Vic,” Michael burst into the conversation. Derrick was surprised he’d kept his mouth shut as long as he had. An unusual occurrence for his brother. “I love a tough woman.”
She laughed, and for a minute, Derrick wondered if they could be the trio they’d been all these years.
“That’s the problem, Michael. You’ll love just about anything with legs,” Victoria teased.
Michael’s bravado dropped, looking as if she’d slapped him. “That’s not true. You’ve just been too busy to notice what I do.”
Victoria waved her hand in dismissal. “I’m just messing with you, Mike. Chill. You know you’ll always be my number one guy.”
His brother smiled, but Derrick could see he hadn’t been placated. Not wanting to embarrass him, Derrick decided to drop the subject. He’d revisit it later. “I hate to interrupt you two, but let’s get back to the purpose of our little soirée here. Neither of you paid Kristina and me a visit last night at her apartment?”
They shook their heads in unison.
Michael rolled his eyes. “Last I saw, you two were playing kissy-face in the park. I actually met up with Ry after we talked and went clubbing.”
“What time was that?” Derrick asked.
Michael looked toward the roof of the barn as if the answer would be dangling from the rafters. “Hmm… I went to dinner. Had a few glasses of wine for St. Paddy’s Day. You know we have an Irish heritage by way of Mom, right?”