Page 123 of Night Call

A quiet ball of anxiety roiled in Pember’s gut, making him reach for Blake’s hand. The alpha squeezed it, leading him through the waiting room and past the main desk. Samantha’s swivel chair was empty, her jacket slung over the back and a half-finished cup of coffee on the desk. A day old, judging by the dried ring around the top.

Where usually they’d have heard the loud chit-chat of the local neighbourhood officers, there was nothing. Blake dipped his head around one of the side doors, sniffing as he returned to Pember’s side.

“No one’s around,” he said, wrapping an arm around Pember’s waist.

They walked with hurried steps to the end of the hall and down the stairs, and when Pember pressed his badge to the security door they strode straight past the forensic lockers and into the lab. The computer monitors were flickering, and when Pember pressed the back of his hand to the thermocycler, he found it was still warm.

“In here,” Wallace called softly.

Pember let out a sharp breath and padded into his office. Blake followed, pressing his fingers to his lower back as they arrived at the doorway.

“Wallace? What happened?” Pember said, reaching for his shoulder.

The beta looked ill. Physically and emotionally sick as he stared up at them with dark eyes.

“Sit down, Pem,” he said, gesturing towards a chair. “Blake, the inspector needs you.”

Pember swallowed and sank into the uncomfortable plastic chair opposite. Wallace sighed when Blake still didn’t move. Pressing his fingers to his temples, he said, “It’s Samantha. She’s dead.”

Pember’s throat went dry, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Blake’s fingers went straight to the nape of his neck, thumb brushing the fine hairs under his collar. Pember opened his mouth, but no sound came out. It was like Wallace had just told a distasteful joke.

Blake cleared his throat. “Are we certain it’s her?”

Wallace nodded with a grave expression. “DS Vaughan’s at the scene now.”

Pember let out a breath. “Oh my God. W-What… Who found her?” he said, unable to stop the shake in his voice.

“Her wife. She had tracking software in her car.”

Pember covered his mouth. “Her poor wife. How is… Where is?—”

“Oliver’s with her,” Wallace replied. “We’ve locked down the station until we know what’s happened. Falkington CID and their forensic lead are on their way over to assist.”

Pember gasped, his brain slowly kicking back into gear. “Falkington? Why are another force?—”

“Because they have a stake in this too,” Wallace said, steepling his hands on the tabletop. “After the Maginty discovery, they?—”

“What Maginty discovery?” Pember said, rising to his feet.

Blake’s fingers moved down his spine, soothing his rapidly rising heart rate. Wallace was about to speak when Blake held up a hand. “I’ll tell him,” he said, voice low.

Pember slowly turned. Blake was looking at him with a strange, unreadable expression, one that put him even more on edge. He reached for Blake’s forearm. “Tell me what, Blake?”

Blake let out a breath and held Pember’s gaze. “Felix Maginty was involved in the Falkington gang rape.”

“Oh shit,” Pember whispered. “But that’s?—”

“The victim was a male omega called Reuben Atkinson.”

Pember tried to speak, but his throat muscles tensed. The cogs in his brain felt like they were malfunctioning, struggling to turn and comprehend Blake’s words. “R-Ru?”

Blake nodded once, and Pember crumpled back into the chair.

“Do you know him?” Wallace asked, leaning forwards.

“Y-yeah. Well, I mean… I met him last week with Maya. He was… withdrawn. To put it mildly.”

Blake’s eyes flicked between them. “Does Maya know that we know?” he said, holding Wallace in a hard stare.

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