Page 78 of The Satyr's Guilt
“How do you explain the anomalies?”
“Again, wild leap. I’m blaming thosechemicals. I’m not saying they’re the exact same structure as knownamphetamines or steroids. Here’s the puzzling part. They are closeenough to be cousins. I found evidence of the substances inmuscles, organs, the bloodstream, the nervous system. His heart’slarger. His lung capacity is huge. See what I mean?”
“This stuff could do all that?”
“Possibly. I also found an injection site onhis arm. He recently got a shot of something. A needle coulddeliver the drugs.”
“Can you tell how long this shit would stayin his system?”
“No. Still, I can say it isn’t permanent. Itis already degrading. He would have needed another shot to staythis way.”
“Good work, sexy.”
Locasta snorted.
****
Denim stared at a long gravel driveway onWildwynd, home of satyrs. A barn and a row of apple trees bookendedthe white, green-shuttered farmhouse. Circling the property, afence framed a golf-course worthy lawn. To finish the idyllicpicture, a front porch made her want to pour a mint julep, pull outa rocking chair, and enjoy the view.
Galena tagged along as her bodyguard or tourguide for the journey. “Nice. I pegged Ram for a city boy, livingin a penthouse with minimalist furnishings. Decked out in black andgray. Typical male stuff. A place stocked with rotating women.”
“You weren’t aware of the kid?”
“I was, but Ram and child didn’t jive in myhead.”
Denim rang the doorbell. As they waited, shewiped her sweating hands on her dress, wondering if the case ofnerves was brought on by the daughter or the father.
With a face lit by a broad smile, Jonquilflung open the door. When she saw the Amazon, her foreheadwrinkled, the grin disappearing.
“Hi, Jonquil. This is Galena.”
“You aren’t planning to stay for dinner, areyou?” asked the girl.
“Nope. I’m here to drop off the preciouscargo. Have fun, kids. Call if you want company home.”
“I won’t need anyone. I’ll pop into thestronghold when all is done.” She tapped her wrist. “I have my newimbedded Flash Gordon watch now.”
“Girl, we give them to anybody these days.I’m outta here.”
Before Galena headed for the portal, Denimelbowed her.
She handed Jonquil a bottle. “I brought yourdad a local wine which I was assured is the best on Scath.” Shepassed off another item. “Also, here’s a six-pack of what thegrocer said was every kid’s choice. Cream soda.”
“I love this stuff. Thanks, Denim. Come in.”The girl swept her arm in an elegant invitation. “Can I take yoursweater? You look real pretty. Purple is one of Daddy’s favoritecolors. He likes pink, too. I wear it a lot.”
Giving up her sweater, Denim tugged at thetop of her sundress, which showed a more skin than she expected. Itwas, however, a stunning purple, sprinkled with little whiteflowers. She thought it looked great. White sandals had replacedher combat boots.
“Follow me. Daddy’s in the backyard grillingsteaks. Since he’s been cussing, things must not be going well. Heuses a lot of four-letter words when he cooks.”
“I know the feeling.” Denim trailed Jonquilthrough the kitchen. The door led to a stone patio. The lawn spreadout about fifty feet behind the farmhouse before it dropped off,revealing a wide expanse of forested hills and valleys. Denimimagined Tuscany, lush, serene.
Ram was bent over the grill, inspecting thesteaks, fork in hand. She licked her lips, admiring his firm ass inthose pants. Her wicked eyes traveled to his trim waist and broadback where slabs of solid muscle rippled beneath a black T-shirt. Aleather band tied off his long caramel-streaked hair. Sheblushed.
Just wrong to be ogling a kid’s father rightin front of her.
“How do you like yours, Denim? We go forrare. The pest and me.” He turned around, almost dropping the steakon a fork.
When he whistled, she was pretty sure shefell in love. Denim blamed his admiration on the new sundress. Ifnot the cause, she had paid a lot of money for nothing. “I’ll havemine medium. You’d think you two are vampires. Rare and bloody,huh?”
