Page 76 of Tainted Gifts
"I'm looking for anyone out of place. That wound was fresh... like we interrupted them. Do you see or feel anything?"
It doesn't work like that. It's not a tracking beacon power. I told you that you're the only one it works properly with.
"Then use me to make it work on someone else," he whispers while holding my hand.
I shut down everything as I attempt the feat I've never done before, and I study hard, trying to pinpoint the killer. I almost feel a head-rush when I scroll through the numerous emotions of everyone in the building.
I feel something wet dripping from my nose as I become overloaded with all the bizarre and strong feeling exuding from the unseen people behind closed doors.
Heartbreak, anger, rage, pain, anguish, bliss, betrayal... it's like a painful buffet for the empathic mind.
Then I feel it. Fear. The stench of a man with dread as he hides, cowering somewhere that makes him feel claustrophobic. My eyes open and I look around, seeking the small space where I felt him.
"There," I whisper while pointing to the narrow door that most likely conceals a janitor's closet.
Jase doesn't hesitate. He drops my gun and stealthily creeps to the small door. Pointing directly at the thin sheet of metal, he shoots five times, driving the uranium tipped bullets into the metal.
We hear a thud, and we open it up to see the bloody pulp of a man Jase hadn't meant to kill.
"Shit. I meant to wound him," he gripes, slapping the wall. "I just didn't want him to draw a weapon on us."
I sigh out, and then I start searching his body, searching for a scorpion tattoo. I shred his shirt off, but nothing.
"If he's one of them, he's hiding his tattoo," I murmur, letting my eyes move around the hallway for someone who might see us. "How did he get by us?"
"He probably ran out when we were distracted and fighting over who gave her blood. I couldn't read his mind. I didn't know he was there until I smelled sweat in the air. Hybrid sweat."
He stops talking when he becomes distracted with his phone, typing away to send out messages.
"I'll send for a team. There should be one stationed nearby. I'll let their coroner take a look at this guy."
He looks up to see a man pushing a cart full of cleaning supplies toward us, and Jase heads toward him, using his powerful strut to demonstrate his poise under pressure.
"I'm Commander Jase Ericson," he says while flashing his badge. "I need a new door, and I need this floor shut down."
The guy salutes, though he's merely a cleaning man, and he shakes as his keys jiggle in his trembling hands. He pulls one off and hands it to Jase.
"These go to all the doors up here. Choose whichever one you want. I'll call the manager."
He leaves the cart where it's at, and out of habit, I inspect it for the possibility of a bomb. Jase smiles when I seem pleased that it's merely a bunch of cleaning supplies.
"That's very thorough of you Ms. Banner."
"I'm not risking the commander's safety," I murmur softly, threading my fingers with his once again.
He stops and releases me while opening a door. People start shuffling out of the room when he announces his rank, and then other doors fly open as everyone starts evacuating the floor.
Jase's phone rings just as he manages to unhinge the heavy door, and he hands the phone to me while putting it on speaker.
"What's up? You said to call if it was safe," Mel says obliviously.
I follow behind him, holding his phone up, as he carries the new door to the room where Simone is rocking our informat's world.
"I need you to get here now. Someone put a hit on our informant. I want backup in case there are more."
"We're on our way. We're done here anyhow," Mel says very seriously, and then the line goes silent.
Jase pops the new door into place, and then he checks to make sure it swings back and forth properly before ushering me in. We hear the ravenous, carnal sounds running amuck from the other room, and Jase blushes.
