“No,” Sylvan said. “I’m surprised to hear from you, Detective, and not the police commissioner. I have a good relationship with her, and she hasn’t informed me of any inquiries involving Weres.”
“There isn’t an official investigation—yet,” Jody said. “But I suspect there will be one before long. Someone wants the public to know that humans are being infected with Were fever.” Sylvan pivoted to Becca. “I take it that’s where you come in, Ms. Land. Rather unusual to involve the public when all you have is speculation—although that doesn’t seem to matter much to the press these days.”
Becca lifted her chin. “I have a job to do, Alpha. And I have a responsibility to report the truth, especially if there’s a danger to the public.”
The auburn-haired female who’d been introduced as Sylvan’s second growled, displaying a flash of fully extended canines. Becca slid her eyes to her and refused to lower her gaze even when the Were snarled a warning.
“Ms. Land is not the cause of your problems, Alpha,” Jody said smoothly.
Becca hadn’t seen Jody move, but suddenly Jody was between her and the Weres.
Sylvan looked from Jody to Becca. “How did you hear about these rumors?”
“An anonymous source,” Becca said. At Sylvan’s look of disgust, she added, “And no, I’m not being difficult. I really don’t know.”
“Whoever contacted Ms. Land may have also alerted others,” Jody said. “I came across the rumor from intelligence sources monitoring anti-Praetern groups.”
“Let me guess—HUFSI,” Sylvan said.
“What—” Becca said.
“Humans United For Species Integrity,” Jody explained. “A small but radical offshoot of some of the more civilized groups trying to block legislation on Praetern rights.”
“You’re kidding,” Becca muttered, mentally making a note to investigate the group. She couldn’t believe that her fellow humans actually thought they had the right to relegate entire species to some kind of second-class status. But then again, her ancestors had been slaves, so she wasn’t sure why she was surprised.
“Unfortunately, HUFSI is not the only group, just one of the more militant.” Sylvan asked Jody, “What’s your interest in this, Detective? Vampires don’t usually involve themselves in anything that doesn’t directly affect them.”
“My job is to see there are no further victims.”
“Your father didn’t seem particularly concerned about the victims.”
Jody went completely still, the stillness of a predator just before an attack. The Were Alpha’s second took a step forward, putting her even with her Alpha. She parted her lips, displaying her teeth. Jody slowly caught the guard’s gaze and sent a wave of power. The Were’s green eyes clouded and she grumbled uneasily, deep in her chest.
“Stand down, Vampire,” Sylvan murmured.
Jody held the Were in thrall a moment longer, then shrugged with graceful insouciance. “My responsibility is to uphold the law. I don’t follow my father’s agenda.”
“Even when the law doesn’t protect your species?” Sylvan asked quietly.
“That’s your job, isn’t it, Councilor? To see that the law does.” Becca edged forward until Jody was no longer shielding her. “We all know there are plenty of factions who don’t want to see Praeterns recognized—legally, socially, economically, or politically. Maybe that’s a place to start. Who are your enemies, Alpha Mir?” Sylvan smiled and looked pointedly at Jody. “More every day.” Becca had had enough of watching the wolf Alpha and the Vampire test each other. She expected one or both of them to pee on the carpet at any moment. “Look—none of us want to see another dead girl. That’s why we either find out what exactly is killing them, and fast, or I will have to go public. Now—do we work together or not?” Sylvan and Jody stared at her.
“What?” Becca said testily. “Was I supposed to raise my hand to ask for permission to speak?”
That mercurial smile flickered over Jody’s mouth and Becca felt a rush of heat.
“It’s a matter of police business,” Jody said.
“It’s Were business,” Sylvan snapped.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Becca said, planting her hands on her hips. “Can’t you—make a temporary alliance or something?”
Sylvan raised a brow. Jody frowned.
“I have no reason to trust you,” Sylvan said to Jody.
“And I have no reason to share information with you.”
“Then we have a stalemate,” Sylvan said and turned to leave.
“You know,” Becca interjected, “I can get my story without either of you. I’ll just go back to the ER and interview Drake McKennan again. Then I’ll decide if we go public.” The wolf Alpha slowly pivoted and fixed Becca with a flat, hard stare. The Weres with her moved into a V formation behind her. Becca shivered as if a cold wind had blown over her skin.
“Careful, wolf,” Jody murmured.
“Drake has nothing to do with this.” Sylvan’s voice dropped to a guttural rumble.
“All right, then,” Becca said, pleased that her voice did not quiver. “Then you be my source. You can’t tell me you aren’t looking into these deaths.”
“You are either very brave or very foolish,” Sylvan said.
“She’s both,” Jody said.
“We don’t believe the humans were infected by Weres,” Sylvan said, still watching Becca. “We don’t know who these human females are or where they came from. We don’t know how to explain what happened to them. But we will find out.” Jody lightly grasped Becca’s elbow and moved her back, putting distance between her and Sylvan. “The medical examiner thinks the girls were being held somewhere—a hospital—before they arrived at the emergency room.”
“A hospital?” Sylvan said softly. “Or a laboratory?”
“Oh my God,” Becca said. “You think someone was experimenting on them?”
“I don’t know,” Sylvan said. “I can only tell you that humans are not generally susceptible to Were fever. Whatever they have, it isn’t that.”
“How many are we talking about?” Jody said.
“Four suspected.”
“Give me the victims’ names and I’ll run background checks,” Jody said. “If we don’t have a lead on the perpetrators, then we’ll study the victims. The victimology may tell us what happened to them.”
“Our medic will call you with the names,” Sylvan said carefully.
“Then we should talk again.”
“Yes,” Jody said, “and you can tell me what your scientists have discovered.”
“So we have an alliance?” Becca asked.
Sylvan stared at Jody.
“Agreed, Vampire?”
Jody held Sylvan’s gaze for a long moment, then, with a slight incline of her head, said, “Agreed, Wolf.”
“We’ll be in touch.” Sylvan turned to leave and Lara fell in on one side, Niki on the other.
Jody led the way into the hall and across the foyer. “I’ll call you once I’ve run the searches.”
Jody pulled open the wide stained-glass door and a windowpane shattered, raining multicolored shards onto the marble floor. Niki shouted. Becca was suddenly thrown down and pinned by a heavy weight. Someone slammed the door closed. Barely able to breathe, Becca managed to turn her head. A bright red sheet of blood cascaded across the polished marble foyer toward her face.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Becca!” Jody crouched by Becca’s side, urgently running her hands over Becca’s body. “Becca! Are you hurt?”
“No, no I don’t think so.” Becca sat up and her heart lurched.
Jody’s face was blood streaked and the front of her white shirt splattered with crimson. “God, Jody. You’re bleeding!” Jody shook her head grimly. “No, I’m not.”