Viktor had to move quickly to get through the door, into the office. The captain kept hold of the door. He let Ant and Able through, but then almost immediately started to close it. Fortunately, Viktor could move quickly when he had to. He felt a mental chuckle through his head, coming from Ant, as his mate made his way across the room and sat in the chair in front of the desk.
Captain Bains sat with a thud on his chair, immediately pulling a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiping his face. “It’s definitely warm in here today,” he said as he tucked the cloth away again. It wasn’t warm. Ant still had his jacket on, likelybecause the air conditioning was blasting cold air from a vent on the wall behind the captain’s desk.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Ant said, ignoring the obvious opening to a chat about the weather. “You’ve left numerous messages on my phone, which is why I believed a face-to-face meeting was a good idea, so that we can resolve this matter once and for all.
“I believed that you’d made your position perfectly clear when you said you were not comfortable with me continuing my work as a consultant for the police if my mate attended scene readings with me. That request to exclude Viktor was an insult to me, my mate, and my mating. My position on that hasn’t changed. Even suggesting I do that is illegal under the Paranormal Mating Laws Act.
“Rather than kick up a fuss, threaten to sue your department, or take up any of the other options I had open to me at that time, I offered my resignation instead. In light of your concerns, it was important to me that any of my historical cases still being processed through the court system would not be jeopardized in any way, simply because I now have a mate. There would be no legal basis for such appeals, but I did not want to cause any issues for a department I have worked so hard to assist in my own limited capacity.
“I don’t see how the situation has changed, or at least haven’t heard anything from you that the situation has changed. So, please tell me, has it?” Ant crossed one leg over the other, resting his hands on his knee. Able was sitting by his side, as always, although his head was on Ant’s thigh, indicating that Ant’s emotional state was a lot more volatile than the captain would be aware of.
Captain Bains looked down at his desk, where his hands were clasped. “Most people share pleasantries first, but fine. I appreciate you’re a busy man. I agree. I do think that emotions were running a little high at our last meeting, and if it helps, I could offer an apology for any insults you might have perceived as given, despite that not being my intention.”
He can’t even look Ant in the eye.
“My perception of what was said?” Ant frowned, but just as quickly, all expression was wiped from his face. “If that is what you wish to call it, that’s acceptable. I will agree that for most people, emotions were high at the time. Bridget informs me that there were numerous issues surrounding the deaths of Officer Mike Casey and Defense Lawyer Colin Banks. Viktor and I, and my sister, most definitely, were still processing the shock of coming so close to death. But my main concern at our last meeting was Able’s health.”
He stroked a hand over Able’s head. “As you can see, he’s fit and healthy now, but at the time of our meeting, that wasn’t guaranteed. That was all I was concerned about on that day. Are you suggesting that the policy pressures you were under have now been relieved? That you are happy for us to renegotiate another consultancy contract, on the understanding that there may be times when Viktor will be with me?”
“I don’t see how that’s possible.” Captain Bains shook his head. “We would love to have you under contract again in a heartbeat, but… I was genuinely hopeful that having some time away would convince you to change your mind. I have nothing personally against your vampire…”
Viktor snorted, knowing he wouldn’t be heard.Liar. What? You’re not a fan of having degenerates and criminals delivered to you in the shape of a pretzel? Was it the shape they made youobject to, or the fact that I couldn’t get a paper bag big enough to fit the bodies into?
“…and I have four current investigations where your help would be invaluable. I need that help, but your persistence in insisting that Viktor’s presence is permanent in your life… You can’t guarantee that Viktor would not impact the crime scenes in any way. That’s not possible.”
“Then why am I here?” Ant said, his bluntness causing Viktor to grin. “I’m certain it’s not my responsibility to change my mind, to ease whatever pressures you might be under. That’s unrealistic to expect from anyone. If your position hasn’t changed and neither has mine, I don’t see that we have anything to discuss.” Ant uncrossed his legs and looked as if he was ready to stand up.
“You’re right, of course. But can you at least try and understand the difficult position that I’m in.” The captain’s nervousness increased. “On the one hand, I have to answer to our city officials, to paranormal agencies, and every other authority who thinks that they should have a say in how the police are organized, governed, and run. They are the people who are in charge of funding, who make sure my loyal officers are paid. I can’t afford to upset them, and they want you back.”
“I can understand that, and those people wouldn’t have a problem with the presence of a mate. I know a lot of those people personally,” Ant said. “Where’s the problem? One would think that for a man in your position, your loyalty would be to the men and women who serve under you and the people who pay the bills, namely the taxpayers.”
“They are not the only power players in this town, Doctor Channon, and you should be more aware of that than most. Your vampire was associated with the Manzano family. Not justassociated, he had been in a position of authority in that criminal enterprise. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I received word just the other day that you were seen lunching with Carmine Doukas, of all people.”
“You were misinformed. I wasn’t eating with Carmine. He requested a meeting, and I let him know where I was having a date with my mate, and said he could join us for coffee afterward.” Ant shrugged. “I’d met him before and didn’t think a lot of him then. I still don’t. He claimed to have a case he wanted me to investigate, and I told him he could put his application for my assistance through to my office, the same as I would tell anyone else. Again, I am failing to see what the problem is.”
The captain let out a long breath. “There are certain business factions in town,” he said slowly, “who believe that your association with criminal elements could technically influence what you see, and what you report about what you see, when you testify in court.”
“You think I would lie under oath?” Ant’s eyes flashed as he jumped to his feet, and Viktor could feel a surge of magic in the air.
Captain Bains’s shoulders hunched as he stared at his desk, not saying anything.
“If you had ever doubted me in any way, all you needed to do was call Susie, the truth-sayer. Demand that she verifies the content of everything I report. I am genuinely shocked. I made time out of my busy day to come in here, and for what? To be insulted for a second time? This is intolerable. For future reference, Captain, leave your insults on my voicemail so I can just delete them. That would save both of us a lot of time.”
Point two to Ant.Viktor wanted to clap, but he stayed still, lurking, because there was something about Captain Bains’sbehavior that wasn’t sitting right. The man had been nervous from the moment they’d arrived. He was sweating profusely, his face red, and Viktor noticed a tremor in his right hand. One would almost think somebody had a gun pointed at the captain’s head, and yet there was nobody else in the office.
“Doctor Channon, please sit down.” The request was normal – the man’s actions were not. Captain Bains shuffled among some papers on his desk and slid one of them in Ant’s direction. Then he pointed down between his legs, almost as though indicating someone was under the table, although it was clear there wasn’t.
Frowning, Ant reached over and picked up the piece of paper before sitting back in his seat. Viktor twisted his head to one side so he could read what had been typed on the white sheet of paper. No letterhead, no signature, just a sparse note.
This office is being electronically monitored. I need your help. I’m being blackmailed. My family is at risk. Help me, please!
Ant folded the piece of paper and put it in the pocket of his jacket. He didn’t say anything, just lifted his hands into the air, moving them in circular motions. Viktor, who was busy scrutinizing pictures, walls, vents, and anywhere else recording devices could be located, suddenly noticed a green haze in the air.
Captain Bains’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Clearly, he could see it, too. It only took a moment, barely long enough to register, before Ant said quietly, “Any listening devices, visual devices, or any form of recording devices in this room are currently disrupted so you can speak honestly.
“However, that cloaking protection will disappear the moment I leave this office, so we do not have much time. It is likely thatsomebody in your department is already recording how long we’ve been in here, and it will not take long for them to realize that their bugs... That is what they call them, isn’t it?” Ant turned, tilted his head in Viktor’s direction, but then he quickly caught himself doing it.
“Bugs, I do believe they’re known as bugs,” Ant said, directing his focus back to Captain Bains again. “But regardless of what people call them, it won’t take anyone long to realize they are currently out of action. We likely have only a matter of minutes before we’re interrupted. Speak fast.”
