Page 37 of Black Bird

“He paid me off to get her in here. Paid me more to try and get sealed government files for him.”

“Sealed files about her?”

Nick nodded, adjusting his collar. “About her and her mother. Medical records that aren’t available to anyone without government clearance. High end shit, that I told him I’m not authorized or equipped to get… but he insisted. I’ve had no luck. The only thing I was able to do was get her lab reports from the hospital after she was attacked by one of your people out by the club.” Nick saw a slight change in Kane’s posture when he mentioned the last part.

“So that was why you signed them out? To sell them to Stratford?”

Nick nodded again, shame filling every pore. He hung his head and sighed. “Look, I know it’s wrong, okay? I know this whole thing has gotten so fucked up that I can hardly do anything to mop it up now, but you both have got me by the balls here. Kane, I spent that money. I was about to lose my house. I’ve got a kid, man. Stealing files and giving a girl a job seemed harmless until I realized … it wasn’t. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, least of all some innocent kid.” When he looked back up, the detective appeared normal … human. Something that he said must have eased him at least a little.

“Stratford is smart, but he’s not smart enough to be doing this alone. Who is he working with?”

He wanted to hurl himself out the nearest window and spare himself a painful death. Choosing a quick splat on the pavement would be the easier option. Nick met his eyes—which were back to that pale blue. “How do you not know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Stratford is working with your coven leader. You might as well finish me off, cause if I don’t play their way, I’m as good as dead anyhow.” Nick could have sworn on everything he had that the entire room dropped ten degrees colder.

“You didn’t think to tell me this when I’ve been the one negotiating on her behalf for this blood?!”

“Forgive me, Kane! I try not to ask too many questions in regards to whatever dark business goes on between a bar full of immortals that live off human bodies! I ain’t trying to be one of those! And I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for you coming to me with this proposal for the blood supply in the first place.”

Nick watched Kane as he peeled both his hands through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath. He couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the guy. Kane had never told him what his reason was for initiating this bargain for the blood, but he did know that it at least kept Boston safe from this coven. “Is she your girl?” He dared ask. Kane turned his face toward him. “The chemist … you said she was yours?”

He was silent for a moment and stared off toward the window. “Yeah, something like that.” A muscle feathered in his jaw.

“Look, man … if you can figure some way out of this shit, then I’ll help in whatever way I can. But I’m in too deep. I don’t know what to do.” Nick drew his brows when it appeared Kane had some sort of light bulb go off in his head. “What’s wrong?” He didn’t answer, instead striding off toward the door. “Kane!”

“I know who broke into your labs. I’ll be in touch,” he said, throwing the door open and hurrying past the trembling assistant as he disappeared around the corner.

CHAPTER7

THE FIVE STAGES

The shop was busy today. Wren had already made a decent commission, and this was her fourth client. Thelastclient, she’d decided, when she could barely feel her fingertips through her latex gloves as she wiped away ink with her towel. The guy in her chair was a chubby biker who talked too much and sweat like a pig that knew it was on the chopping block. The weekend was nearing and damn, she needed a break. So much has been going on since Sarah’s attack. It didn’t feel right to need some kind of vacation from all of it, when her best friend was the one that had been struggling through such a thing … but it also didn’t make it any less stressful.

Wren had offered to stay with Sarah through the weekend, but she’d refused. Since all this had happened, it had been harder and harder to read her friend. This had not only changed Sarah, but everyone around her. Boston was getting spooked, Sarah had decided for herself that it was time to give Brent the shoe, and Wren oftentimes didn’t know where she was left in the mix. She wanted to help, but there seemed to be little anyone could do when Sarah got into one of those weird moods. It could go either way; she either wanted to be left alone, wouldn’t say much, if anything at all … or she was downright violent. Aside from that, Wren was grateful for the Sarah she’d come to love so much when all the weird shit was at bay. It just seemed likethatSarah was showing herself less and less as the days went by.

“Vintorri …” Her shop manager called from her doorway. “Make it quick, we got shit to do.” Dominic’s pissy expression flashed warning as he turned and walked off, leaving Sarah’s hot detective standing in his place. Wren paused her work and leaned up from her client’s flabby arm.

“What’s up? Something wrong?” she asked, a panicked feeling roiling in her stomach.

“No, no … all good. Just came to ask you something, if that’s okay.” Kane leaned against the doorway and shoved his hands into his pockets. Wren almost prayed to God that something would flare up between Sarah and this guy. He couldn’t be more perfect for her if he tried. Especially now that Wren knew he was the one Sarah had studied so hard at the club that night.

“Do you mind, son? You want in this chair, you gotta wait your turn.” The biker whined, cocking his head toward her visitor. Kane just raised his badge, expressionless. “Oh … I’ll just—pretend I’m not here, then. Sorry.”

“First bright thing you’ve said this whole session, pal.” Wren rolled her eyes and started back up on his arm. The biker said nothing. “What’s on your mind, detective?”

“I was wondering if you could tell me how she’s been since the incident. Her mood swings, her healing … any strange behavior. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but all the victims in this case aren’t … you know …”

“Alive?” Wren glanced up, wiping more ink with the towel, and digging back into the biker’s arm with her tattoo gun. “Yeah, I’m aware. I’m not sure how much I can tell you that you don’t already know, but I’ll try.” Kane shifted on his feet.

“How was she last night?” he asked.

“She didn’t sleep much. Bitch boy showed up. He was pissed that she wasn’t answering any of his calls, and I walked up to the store to give them some time to fight it out. When I got back, she said she’d ended it. I half expected her to be upset, but …” Wren shrugged and wiped again. “She polished off another pot of coffee after that. She didn’t talk much about what all was said, but she stayed up until 3:00 this morning.”

“Doing what?”

“I dozed off. I woke up and looked at the clock and she was on the couch with a book and her laptop. Didn’t seem really out of the ordinary, but I asked her to come get some rest and I swore the bitch growled at me.” Wren chuckled. “She did come to bed though. It wasn’t restful sleep, she tossed and turned a lot … but it was sleep, at least. I left this morning, and she was already up taking a shower.”

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