Page 36 of Tooth and Nail

“Why? Are all these paranormals so dangerous that the I.S.R. is afraid we’ll be disabled or kidnapped?” Ari looked slightly disturbed by the thought.

“No, it’s not the paranormals. It’s because they want to know if we’re takenoffthe planet. The only way to destroy oneof these trackers or the radioactive tracers they leave behind, is to remove it from our atmosphere. Don’t get me wrong. We could still track you to a place where a ship launched, so there is that.”

Ari’s mouth dropped open.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it. It hasn’t happened yet. Come on. Let me finish taking you around.” They finished off that floor with a tour of everything before his phone began ringing. He dug it out of his pocket and swiped at it. “Chief.”

“Sapphire? Are you and Brown in the building because I didn’t find you at your desk.”

“I was just finishing the tour I started yesterday. What’s up?”

“Hot call. I need you and Brown right now. Rapid Response has picked up a report of an unknown swarm in the air above Bronson Canyon last night. I need you two out there before someone comes looking for them.”

He glanced at Ari and pulled on his sleeve, pointing to the elevator as he practically jogged to it. “Are we talking albats here? Ralphie?”

“From all accounts, it sounds like it.”

“Be right there, Chief.” He clicked off.

“Who’s Ralphie and what’s an…all bat?”

“Albats,” Eoghan corrected. “Basically, it’s an alien bat population. Normally, their leader keeps them contained to the caves at Bronson Canyon and because it’s right here in Griffith Park, we need to find out what roused them.” Ari coughed, and Eoghan shot him a look as the elevator opened on the main level. “You okay?”

“Did you say alien bats?”

“Albats, yeah.”

“Okay,” Ari said, sounding beyond skeptical. “You learn something new every day, I guess.”

“You’re going to have to speed up your learning curve here, buddy,” Eoghan said. “I understand you’re being bombarded with new information and strange situations every time you turn around but that’s how it is in this place.”

“I’m up for the challenge.” Ari did a fist pump. “So, who’s Ralphie?”

“Their leader.”

“So, if you see a random albat flying around, do you say, ‘take me to your leader?’ Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“Funny guy,” Eoghan said. “I’d say you could do that but you’d better have a very strong stomach. If you think regular guano stinks, try getting a whiff of albat guano.”

They approached the chief’s office and Ari stopped him, with a hand on his forearm. A pulse of electricity raced up his arm. Oddly enough, Ari seemed to feel it too because his gaze dropped to his lips ever so briefly before he glanced back up into Eoghan’s eyes. “Thanks for teaching me all of this, Eoghan, and if I forget to say this later, you’re a good partner.”

Eoghan grinned. “That’s nice of you to say and here I was hoping I could show off for you today.” He didn’t really know why he said it but when Ari looked down at his mouth again, he slowly licked his lips.

Ari’s full lips turned up in the sexiest fucking grin.

“Sapphire!” Chief Deputy Priest called out, startling him. Her voice seemed to snap him out of whatever thoughts he’d been having as they stepped into the office and the moment was lost. “Our situation is kind of urgent. When I say this is a hot call, it’s a damned hot call.”

“Sorry, Chief. We were downstairs,” Eoghan said.

“Don’t let it happen again. We think Ralphie might have lost control of the colony. I need you to go down there and speak to him.”

“Don’t bats sleep during the day?” Ari asked.

“Chiroptera—what you probably know as an Earth bat—does. Alien bats don’t. They hunt all day and night. From what we know of them, they don’t need much sleep at all but when they do, they roost in caves or trees like Chiroptera,” Eoghan said. He turned back to the chief. “Has anyone tried to make contact with him?”

“Not yet. That’s what you two are going to do. Assess the situation and call in a sanitizing team if necessary.”

“Ma’am, is this bat…albat going to tell us what’s going on?” Ari asked.

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