“He’s made his navy rank by believing two plus two equals five if that’s what his superiors tell him. He’s no different from any other civil servant.”
“And the damage?” I asked. “The wrecked vehicles? The injured?”
“This administration is used to hiding expensive catastrophes. Let the White House worry about it.”
“And the agent that I killed? The assassin?”
“A rogue. According to the federal government, the man died doing freelance covert work in Ecuador.”
I waved my hand at the containers. “Now you know. What happens next?”
“I have a Q-clearance. That means I forget whatever DOE tells me to forget. Now beat it before the security force gets here. If I need you again, I hope you’ll be available.”
“If?” I asked.
The alien winked at me. “Make that when.”
The glare of dozens of searchlights focused on the rear of the trailer. Excited radio traffic blared from the imposter’s receiver.
“Hawk Vanguard, we’ve got the trailer surrounded. What’s your situation? Over.”
“Felix, you’re trapped.” The imposter pulled the microphone loose. “Eagle Team, this is Hawk Vanguard. Negative on the intruder.”
“Roger,” the radio answered. “We’re securing the area to make sure the intruder doesn’t slip away.”
The imposter rubbed his face. His aura became a low burn of worry. “It’s too late. You won’t escape.”
I pulled my wallet, cell phone, and everything else from my pockets, and dumped it all into the manila envelope. I shoved the envelope into the imposter’s hands.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Escaping,” I answered and stepped back into the vault. I pointed to the blaster on the floor. “Don’t try anything. So far tonight you’re batting zero against me.”
I undid my shirt and trousers, crouched on the steel floor, and summoned the wolf transformation.
My body tensed to accept the shock of pain. My heartbeat accelerated. Every inch of my skin burned where animal fur poked from flesh. I couldn’t withstand the agony and dropped to my side. My limbs twitched as my bones twisted from vampire to wolf shape. A long muzzle extended from my face.
I lay on the cold floor, panting, gathering my strength. My ears perked up to take in the delicate sounds from outside. I sniffed the air and deciphered the many smells. Sage. Mineral lubricants. Buffalo grass. The reek of cabbage from the imposter. Anxious, sweaty men crept around the trailer.
I sat up and shook loose the man garments draped around my neck. Standing on all four paws and wagging my tail, I stepped free of the pile of man things and advanced on the alien imposter.
His aura blazed around him with awe and terror. With my jaws I snatched the envelope from his hands and bounded for the door.
Two men in black appeared at the end of the trailer. They pointed weapons.
I lunged forward, knocked them aside, and landed in the snow.
The humans brayed like donkeys.
“Holy shit. What was that? A coyote?”
“Coyote-hell-that was a wolf.”
“Get it. Open fire.”
Weapons barked and bit the ground to my left and right. The flying machine thundered above. A bright circle of light swept over the rocks and snow. I dodged the many men converging on the trailer. Their auras lit up with confusion and fright.
I choose a crooked path through the deepest of night’s shadows. Running uphill, I cut into a ravine between the scrub pines. My legs pushed beneath me in a gallop. My breath surged past the envelope in my snout. The stupid humans fell farther and farther behind. If I had lips, I would have smiled.
CHAPTER 32
I PARKED MY CADILLAC against the curb. Wendy reached over the console between our seats and took the bag of blood from my hand. A plastic drinking straw jutted from the top of the bag. I was getting used to human blood and looked forward to feeding on succulent necks.
Wendy interlaced her warm fingers with mine. For the last three days we hadn’t done much except stay locked up in my apartment and screw, and yet we still yearned for each other’s touch. A scarf hid the fang marks on her neck.
A black van marked Federal Taskforce/Homeland Security, swerved around us and halted in front of a fleabag hotel on the opposite side of South Santa Fe Street. The doors of the van sprang open and out bounded five officers in black SWAT gear, masks, helmets, and shotguns at the ready. They queued in a tactical stack at the lobby door and, on the leader’s signal, scrambled in.
Another officer climbed out of the van’s cab and came our way. The torso narrowed from the healthy swell around the bosom to a trim waistline, then filled out again to a nice set of hips. Obviously a woman. Her leather overalls were cinched with a belt that held a small holster and pistol. She bent down toward my window and tapped the glass.
I depressed the switch and lowered the window.
She raised her mirrored sunglasses to the rim of her black helmet and showed me vampire eyes. “Hi, Felix. Wendy,” Carmen said. “We’re acting on a tip that the vânätori are here in the U.S. as illegal terrorists.”
“As opposed to legal terrorists?” I asked. “The van is a nice prop.”
“It’s no prop. The new local district coordinator for federal counterterrorism is family.” Carmen unsnapped the chinstrap and removed her helmet. Shiny black hair cascaded loose. She ran her tongue over her fangs. “We’ll be interrogating, then disposing of, the vânätori.”
The five officers emerged from the lobby, dragging Dragan, Petru, and Teodor, who were cuffed and blindfolded. Dragan shouted for help. One of the officers pulled the blindfold up and Maced him in the eyes. Dragan howled in pain. With his mouth agape, another officer jammed a rag down his throat. The officers shoved the vânätori into the van and climbed in. There was scuffling and the whack of batons on flesh. I smiled at the sounds. Give those human bastards a whack for me.
Carmen replaced her sunglasses. “Care to join us? Felix? Wendy? Get your last licks in?”
“I’ll pass, though give Dragan my regards. I’m sure that you’ll have fun without me.” I raised my hand, Wendy’s fingers still clasped to mine. “Besides, we’re in the middle of our own fun.”
Carmen smiled and creased the dimples in her cheeks. “Hmmm, I could join you later.”
Wendy said, “Three’s a crowd, Carmen.”
“Crowds can be fun.”
Wendy replied, “We’ll take a rain check.”
Pushing away from the door, Carmen laughed. “I’m not used to brush-offs. Take care, Felix. Wendy. Adiós.” She walked toward the van and wiggled her tight, leather-clad buns.
Carmen slammed shut the rear doors of the van and got in the cab. The van rolled away, roof lights flashing.
I started the Cadillac and cruised north.
Wendy squeezed my hand. “I’m going to miss you.”
“What do you mean? I’m planning to stay here in Denver…with you.”
Wendy sighed. “I’ve lived long enough to know that nothing’s ever permanent.”
“So what gives?”
“The Araneum’s sending me to Indianapolis.”
“Oh.” I let go of her hand.
Wendy kissed my neck. “Don’t act so glum. We’re not apart yet. I’ve got a month before I go, and that’s plenty of time for lots and lots of goodbye sex.”
About the Author
A former infantry and aviation officer, Mario Acevedo lives and writes in Denver, Colorado. He has worked as a military helicopter pilot, engineer, and art teacher. www.marioacevedo.com
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