They didn’t know if the two researchers would arrive together or separately. But with only three squawks from outside, it sounded as if just one had arrived. No matter. They’d hang on to the first until the other showed up.
The inner door swung open, and both Sly and Anthony waited a few beats for the door to swing shut behind the guy. He spotted Sly first. Just as the door was about to close, he yelled out a warning and tried to bolt back outside.
Anthony caught him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him back inside. Sly ran outside, presumably to grab the one who was right behind him.
Only a moment later, the room was full. Two scared researchers were held immobile by two angry vampires. Two shapeshifters stood guard at the door. Nick stepped out from behind his partition and Ruxandra rose, grasping George’s arm.
“What’s the code?” Kurt yelled out. Tory was right on the other side of the door, ready to lead the charge out of the cell. The naked men lined up behind him, but the woman and her son remained a respectful distance away.
The researchers glanced at Kurt and then stared at each other. The older researcher was the one Anthony had seen with Maynard at the tea room. To Anthony’s disappointment, the other researcher was a scrawny Asian kid with glasses, not Maynard.
“It’s no good,” George said with a sigh. “One of them is a wizard with a truth spell. If I’d had the code, they’d be gone by now. Since I’m the only one who can’t be compelled, the vamps can get it out of you too.”
The young kid said, “Way to go, George. I guess that truth spell worked real well on you.”
“Yeah, it did the job,” he said nonchalantly.
“That’s why we didn’t trust you with the details,” the other researcher bit out.
Anthony shook the older guy, and when he caught the researcher’s gaze, he ensnared him. “What is the code? Tell me, now.”
The researcher was trying not to answer. When he opened his mouth to speak, he slapped his own hand over his mouth and mumbled.
Sly shook the younger kid, who purposely diverted his eyes.
“Mmm…this one smells good, and I’m kind of hungry. Are you hungry, Anthony?”
“Famished. Do you mind sharing? He might be tasty, but you’ll probably be hungry an hour from now.”
The guy shivered.
Sly and Nick chuckled. At last, Nick approached the researcher who was still mesmerized and pulled the man’s hand away from his mouth. He clasped both of the researcher’s hands behind his back and cuffed him with a zip tie. He did the same with the kid, despite his attempt to resist.
“Okay. Let’s try this again. What’s the code to the large glass cell?” Nick asked.
“It changes every day,” said the mesmerized researcher. “The computer randomly selects a new number and gives it to us each day.”
Nick poked the man with his gun. “Then go ask the computer what the damn code is.”
“I can’t type with my hands tied.”
“Fine. Tell George how to do it. And by the way, what’s your name?”
“Dr. Grant.”
“Interesting. Which brings us to another question. Where did you get the grant money to do this research?”
“A pharmaceutical company.”
The paranormals all glanced at each other, confused.
“Not the government?” Kurt asked.
“No. It was a private company.”
Nick crossed his arms. “What did they intend to do with us?”
“They wanted to know if paranormal fluids, organs, or brain tissue could be made into drugs to give people better lives.”
Anthony wanted to drop the guy on the floor. Sure. It sounded like a noble cause, but at what expense? Killing some to give others their abilities? Would these researchers feel the same way if the study involved human beings who just happened to be extra strong and healthy?
Nick growled.
“You’d better get that code soon, George,” Kurt called out. “Or I think someone might eat your coworker.”
“Should I do it, Dr. Grant?”
“No!” the Asian kid shouted. “If you let them open the cage, we’ll have even more pissed-off shifters out here.”
Anthony caught Dr. Grant’s gaze again. “You don’t have a choice. I’m going to free your hands, and you’re going to go to your computer. You will not only retrieve the code, but also print out every bit of information you have. That includes contracts, bank accounts, personnel files, and shift notes. I want to know every single thing that has gone on here—right from the day you decided to open this hellhole. After that, you’ll delete it all.”
Claudia arrived at the tea room a few minutes late. She’d had to get home and take a shower before going to work, and the subway from Brookline to Arlington Street seemed to take forever. She’d call and thank Gaye’s sister later, or maybe send flowers or a fruit basket. Or a thank-you card. Yeah, no one was ever allergic to cards—as long as her friend Bliss, the creator of Hall-Snark cards, didn’t make them.
When she walked in, a few customers were already enjoying breakfast.
Angie looked up. “Hey, Claudia. How are you feeling?”
“Uh…feeling? Fine. Why?”
Angie met her by the cash register. “Anthony said you weren’t feeling well yesterday. Isn’t that why he worked during the day for you?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine now. Just a twenty-four-hour bug.”
Angie lowered her voice and whispered behind her hand. “Are you sure it wasn’t honeymoon cystitis?”
Claudia rolled her eyes. “Positive. I need to do something in the office. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Try as she might, Claudia couldn’t get Anthony out of her head. Apparently she was hopelessly in love with a vampire, and there was nothing to be done about it.
She placed her purse in one of the desk’s locked drawers and pocketed the keys. She thought about how Anthony trusted her so completely with his business. Not just the tea room, but the bar before that. She’d paid back his trust with loyalty, hadn’t she? Yesterday was the first time in over five years that she’d left him in the lurch.
And I’m supposedly recovering from irresponsible behavior, she chided herself.
Well, the only thing she could do was get back to handling her responsibilities as quickly as possible. She’d do a fast inventory of the shelved items and see if Chris needed anything.
She no sooner stepped out of the office than the bells above the door jingled.
Maynard. Just who I don’t want to see. It was too late to duck behind the register. He’d spotted her and was pointing at her.
“You and I need to have a talk,” he said.
She let out a long sigh. “I don’t suppose I can defer, can I?”
“No. You really can’t. There’s something important I have to tell you.”
She thought about refusing again, but the tea room had customers. A public argument was never a good idea.
“Angie, I’ll be in the office. Knock if you need any help. Seriously. Anything at all.”
Angie glanced at Maynard, probably recognizing the troublemaker from the other night. “Same goes, boss. If you need me, I’m right here.”
Claudia smiled. How lucky was she to have Angie? The girl was not only a terrific employee, but one who genuinely cared about Claudia as a person.
She escorted Maynard into the office and shut the door. Instead of sitting in the chair beside him, which would put them on equal footing, she purposely sat behind the desk. This was her territory, and he’d better remember it.
“Claudia, I want to warn you about something…as an old friend. I realize you’re taken, and this has nothing to do with trying to get you back.”