Page 81 of White Raven
“I don’t understand…what reason would they have to test it on werewolves?”
“I’m not the detective, but from what I’m gathering from these lab reports, and the files sent to me by Detective Northwood…it’s my belief that they were trying to create some kind of hybrid species.”
He wasn’t sure what a heart attack felt like, but the way his chest was audibly pounding, and the roaring in his ears, it had to be something close to this. “They did this at the blood center?”
“No, these experiments were documented as being held off-site, and only on willing participants.”There was clicking and typing on the other end, and then he continued.“There’s a short list of redacted names, but the parentheses in the spreadsheet link to another spreadsheet for each subject showing individual payments made for their participation. What’s more…it looks like these experiments only half-failed.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The notes state that each one that ingested the blood given, were still changing form, and were unable to controltheir transitions. Most weren’t able to consume a regular diet either, and resorted to feeding like vampires.”
He thought he’d be sick. “And none of the names of these participants are available?”
“Sadly, no. When Conrad Stratford was pressing me for sealed documents, I wasn’t able to get them no matter how hard I tried. I almost paid for that with my life, Captain. I won’t do that again. If you would please tell Detective Northwood that I’ve done what she’s asked, and I’d rather stay out of whatever this leads you to?”
“I understand, Mr. Specter. Thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll encrypt these files and send them to you for review. Share them with her if you wouldn’t mind.”
“You have my word. Thank you again.”
“Yes, sir.”
They hung up, and Foley’s throat felt dry. Face was numb with apprehension. All the years he’d thought he knew her…for Lindsay to take part in anything like that just to get ahead—he felt like he never knew her at all. And to think that Rhaena’s uncle may have been after her…not because he couldn’t help it…but because she had a hand in making him into a monster? Could Rhaena even handle the possibility that her uncle had put himself in front of that truck to end his torment? Or to keep himself from having to take responsibility for Lindsay’s murder? This would crush her. The desk phone blared again, startling him, and bringing him out of the trance he’d found himself in from the shock of what he’d just learned. He wiped his sweaty palm over his slacks, and then picked up the call.
“Captain Foley,” he answered.
“Captain…what in the hell are you up to, now? If I have to fly back to shit-ass Boston, you’re gonna put me up in the swankiest hotel in the city. I’m in the middle of a huge case, and I don’t have time for amateurs.”
“Agent Foster?”
“Yes. And don’t try to pretend you’re happy to hear my voice. I’m definitely not happy to have to hear yours,”she bit.
“What makes you think I’m up to something?” he asked, scratching his head.
“Captain, I’m really not in the mood. Detective Kane has tried digging too deep, and his activity was flagged with my department. What’s he after?”
“Kane is on leave,” he answered honestly.
“Well, I suggest you give him a call. You know just as good as I do what happens when you open a can of worms. I don’t have time to go chasing them all when they crawl off to God knows where. And why are they booking flights to Seattle?”
“That’s their personal business. I suggestyoutake that up with St. James.”
“What relation do either of them have with Ryan Sykes?”she asked. His eyebrows nearly jumped off his face.
“What do you know about Ryan Sykes?”
“She’s part of a case that I’m really damn close to cracking, and whatever they think they know about her, they need to let it go.”
“Interesting. If you’re that close to cracking a case regarding Sykes, then I assume you know she posed as a detective at this precinct for a very short time?”
“I beg your damn pardon?”
“No, you heard me right. She made herself dead center of our investigation, and now, no one can seem to find her.”
She sighed hard and sounded like she was frustratingly clicking a pen.“Don’t tell anybody I called. I’ll be in touch with you soon.”
And that was that. This day had just turned out to be a test of his physical and mental capacity. He jumped up from hischair, closing his office door, and jerking the blinds closed as he pulled a bottle of expensive scotch from a cabinet under his desk. He filled half his glass, and took a deep swallow, resting the back of his head against his chair and staring at the ceiling as he blew out a heavy breath.
