Page 94 of Black Bird

His heart nearly stopped when a picture came through of Sarah soundly sleeping in her own bed. She certainly didn’t look like she’d just been through the ringer. Her tattooed hand was curled beneath her chin, and he could almost feel the warmth of her body as she snuggled beneath that tattered blanket she kept on her bed. Damn, he missed her. It was still strange to feel this way about anyone, let alone a woman like her that he’d gladly rip his own heart out for. He snapped a photo of Rhaena, sent it and texted her back.

Me: … don’t worry … she passed out before I could string her up and beat her like a dirty rug. Glad everything mellowed out between you two … later.

Another text popped up, this time from someone he hadn’t expected.

Nick Specter: Hey man, I need you at the office. We’ve got a problem.

Any warm, snuggly feelings he had vanished. Athan dressed quickly, grabbing his gun and badge and making sure Poe’s cage was secure before locking Rhaena in. The tagged key to his new wheels dangled from his finger and the elevator doors opened. Athan cracked his knuckles as he stepped inside and leaned against the back wall, his need for trouble growing more satisfied as the doors slowly closed. He smirked as he slipped a cigarette into his mouth and disappeared from view.

Nick tapped his foot nervously under his desk while he waited for a response from Kane. All had seemed quiet as far as his deception in sneaking those blood bags out of the hospital and handing them over to the Devil himself. He was pretty positive Kane hadn’t figured that out yet, if for no other reason than Nick was still breathing air. He knew deep down that it would only be a matter of time before that changed. He’d tried calling St. James several times this morning to let her know not to come into work, but it kept going straight to her voicemail. The desk phone beeped.

“Detective Kane is here, sir.”

“Yep, send him in.”

Kane stepped through the door, closing it softly behind him. “Specter.” He inclined his head and walked over to the chair across from his desk to sit.

“You’re scruffier than I’ve seen you. Everything okay?” Nick pointed out as he sat down.

“Been better. What’s going on?”

“Do you have any idea where St. James is?”

“Why?” Kane’s face revealed nothing.

“I’ve tried calling her all morning and haven’t been able to reach her.”

“She’s safe.”

Nick propped his elbows on his desk and steepled his fingers. “Can you keep her away from the lab? Maybe take her somewhere?”

“Get to the point, Nick.”

Nick sighed sharply. “Fine. She’s been testing some shit outside of what we have for her to work on. Not that it’s a problem where we’re concerned, she actually does an immaculate job and we’re lucky to have her even considering how she ended up here. However …”

Kane quirked a brow. “However …?”

“What she tested, she logged. You know the government can look at whatever they want. She’s made it onto their radar. All her shit was claimed by the government, and I was forced to sign a document that says the facility and its employees relinquish all rights to the research. It’s gone. All of it.”

“She told me that she tested her own blood. Was there anything else?”

“Yes … this.” He reached into a drawer under his desk and dug out the glass container, sliding it across toward Kane. “I’m not sure what this is, but I managed to get my hands on it before they sent people here to take it from us.” He watched Kane’s expression change when he examined the contents. Dark and light purple shards of stone with flecks of gray and silver. “After she ran tests on it, she searched for a very specific virus in the database. I’m thinking that was what sounded the alarm on their end. We don’t have any record of what she was looking for.”

“What are you planning to do with this?” Kane asked, raising the small glass container and teetering it between his fingers.

“I was going to give it back to her, though I think it might be best for her to lay low for a while. They’re looking for her. It won’t take government lackeys very long to pin her down.”

Kane grew quiet and stared down at the contents of the container. “These are her mother’s ashes. She used to wear them around her neck. She must have busted the stone apart to test it.”

“I see … so the virus?”

“She’s trying to find answers,” he breathed.

Nick leaned back in his chair. “She’s got a damn army after her. If I were in her position, I’d find a way out of this whole country.”

“What good would it do, Nick? You know just as well as I do that our demons will follow us wherever we go.”

“What do we do, then?”

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