Page 89 of Deadly Lineage
“We need to talk.”
“Obviously. Have a seat.” She waved toward the chair.
I didn’t move. Maybe Icouldn’tmove. Either way, I remained standing as I laid my cards on the table. It wasn’t a winning hand. If McCallister really was involved, the jackpot was already forfeit.
Captain Cicely listened and by the time I was finished, her typically dark skin was ashen. That pale tint dissipated when anger seeped in.
“Tell me I’m barking up the wrong tree here,” I practically begged.
She rounded her desk and waved me to follow. “If you are, then I’m about to piss all over that tree.”
Captain Cicely’s office door flew open, no touch necessary. I might be merely human, but even I could feel the power radiating off her in waves. Witches could be like that, but only when they weren’t in control of their emotions or when they were righteously pissed. I’d only seen the captain like this one other time, and the department had wound up having to pay reparations to a couple of surrounding businesses when she went nuclear.
I followed the captain. She might be a lot shorter than me, but her ire quickened her stride and I practically had to run to keep up.
“You might want to tone it down,” I said, taking a chance but knowing we couldn’t go into McCallister’s space with magical guns blazing. “He might not even be involved.”
The captain sent me an annoyed glare, never once breaking stride. “You don’t believe your own bullshit, O’Hare.”
No, I didn’t, but that didn’t change the facts. Risking a trip to the hospital, I grabbed Captain Cicely’s arm and physically pulled her back. She whipped around, hand raised and eyes glowing with power.
I quickstepped back, both hands held aloft. “Let’s say itishim. Neither one of us knows how he’s killing his victims, whyhe’s killing them, and what he’s doing that damages their souls. We’ve got a dead witch, warlock, and shifter. Maybe a human lowlife too. I’m not thrilled with our chances if he feels cornered, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my soul winding up like the others.”
Captain Cicely blinked and the fire faded from her eyes. Her aura dropped a notch or twelve, down to the level I couldn’t detect. I wasn’t certain about another magic user.
Eyelids slipping closed, she inhaled deeply, several times. When Captain Cicely opened her eyes again, she apologized. “Forgive me. You’re right, O’Hare. Don’t let that fact go to your head, but thanks for reining me in.” Turning her head, Captain Cicely stared down the hall. The morgue was still a distance away.
“Okay. You ready?” she asked.
“As ready as I can be.”
As we continued down the hall, I wondered if I should have called Boone first. It was a morbid thought. It was also telling that if these were my last few minutes within the realm of the living, Boone was my first and last thought. He was the one I wanted to speak to one final time. I wasn’t certain if Nana would be happy about that fact or not.
My palms were sweaty by the time we reached the door to the morgue. I didn’t wait for the captain. I reached forward and pulled it open, entering with the knowledge that we had absolutely no plan. I dutifully followed my captain into the possible lion’s den. Christ, I was an idiot.
“Dr. McCallister?” Captain Cicely called. “Do you have a moment?” Her voice was amazingly calm, cool, and without a hint of accusation.
Silence met Captain Cicely’s query. I walked further into the space and tried, “You in here, Doc?”
Again, there was nothing but the cold comfort of air-conditioning and chemicals.
We shared a look, wordlessly deciding to venture further inside. Together we checked each and every room. Dr. McCallister wasn’t present.
“Is he out on a case?” I asked, wondering if he’d been called to the scene of a crime.
“Not that I’m aware of.” Captain Cicely’s hands fisted on her hips as she took a sweeping look around the space. “He’s gone.” She said those two words with a finality I didn’t like.
Gone, my mind echoed. But gone where? Had McCallister innocently taken off a little early? Was he off doing research somewhere? Had he taken a really late lunch or maybe an early dinner? I didn’t know. The only residents were the dead and since I wasn’t a necromancer, they weren’t talking.
“I’ll see what I can find out,” Captain Cicely said. “Until then, let’s keep this between you and me.”
Of course, Becks knew too, or at least she had the inkling. I didn’t worry about her. She’d remain silent.
“Boone?” I asked.
Captain Cicely shook her head. “Only if it becomes necessary, or when we know more.”
I hated the thought of keeping this from him but I understood, and at the end of the day, it was my job. I leaned my head back, staring at the unforgiving florescent lights. With a groan, I remembered I’d promised to have dinner with Boone and his father. It was already going to be awkward enough but trying to make it through dinner with Nikodemus Holland while keeping this huge secret… Yeah, that was royally going to suck.
