Page 81 of Bitten

ChapterTen

Follow the money…

After a bit of rest, Kane spent his evening hitting up all his informants and anyone else he could think of to get news from the street. He’d asked a million questions. No one seemed to know anything—which was odd. It was past quiet, and he sensed danger was coming. The vampires were laying low it seemed and for some reason, that didn’t sit right with him.

Like an unsupervised, quiet toddler—it felt all kinds of wrong.

By the first morning light, he’d exhausted all his informants and went to check in at the office. His footfalls echoed in the old warehouse, telling him he was the only one there. Again. Irritation had him mumbling under his breath.

No one was on watch—and he’d had his focus pulled. This was the exact moment when they were in the most danger. Kane zipped through his emails, voicemails, and a few items left on his desk. It didn’t take long, as there wasn’t much going on investigation wise.

Detective Chris Scimmia walked into the bullpen and tossed his keys onto his desk before eyeing Kane. “Hiya. Good to see someone else here for a change.”

“Morning.” Kane said. “What’s shakin’?”

“I got your email about what Noah suggested—following the money. I’ve been digging a bit. I spent yesterday in the records office—oh, that place. The goblins have forms upon forms upon forms just to get a look at a single record. I ran out of ink filling out requests for information.”

Kane chuckled. He’d been in Chris’ shoes before. “The security measures are for citizen protection. It’ll be worth the time if you find something.”

Chris nodded. “They said they’d email me copies as soon as they’d got everything together. Hopefully it won’t be too long and we can dive in. I made sure they knew this was a rush—but I don’t know if those guys know what a rush is.”

The gorilla shifter scrubbed a hand over his face and sat down behind his desk.

“You okay, man?” Kane asked him.

“I’m fine,” Chris said, but it was apparent he wasn’t.

“You struggling with this whole training bit, too?”

“Yes and no,” Chris said, leaning back in his chair. “Just puts me in close proximity to someone I’d rather not be close to right now.”

Kane narrowed his eyes. “Valen? I thought you two were tight?”

“Yeah, I did, too. Something’s been up with him lately.” Chris shrugged. “But it’s all good.” He searched through some papers on his desk, shaking his head. He lifted his stare to Kane. “What kinda mojo you got that always unhinges my jaw?”

Kane shrugged, smiling inwardly. “Nothing I’m doing.”

“Bullshit. I haven’t said anything about Valen to anyone. Wasn’t planning on it, either. And that’s not the first time I’ve said things I didn’t want to around you.” Chris glared. “You got some vamp magic you’re using on me?”

Kane shook his head. “People have always opened up when I was around. Works well with perps.”

Chris smiled. “I bet. But leave that voodoo shit off me. I know to watch you bayou boys.”

“I’m not doing anything… I swear.” Kane sat back. “Bayou boys?”

“I hear that accent you got.”

Talk about accent. Chris was hardcore New Yorker all the way. “I don’t have an accent.”

“Bullshit,” Chris said. “I hear it. Just a little here and there. You’re Cajun. I’m sure of it.”

Kane smiled some, something he rarely did on the job.

“Teeth! I wasn’t sure you had any. You do have fangs, don’t ya?” Chris asked, tilting his head a bit to get a better look.

Kane’s smile faded. That was the reason he rarely smiled.

“You don’t gotta be like that,” Chris said. “I know you’re good people.” He smiled, showing his own fangs.

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