The Monster Files Box Set, page 48
part #1 of Monster Files Series
“Thanks for controlling it.”
The rage faded, and he was Simon again. “Watch yourself with him, sweetheart. I know how important his information is to you, but there’s something off with him.” He rubbed his forehead. “Damn. I’m going to have one nasty migraine soon.”
“You can stay—”
“Not with him here. It’s taking all my persuasion to keep Elias contained. I’ll try to sort it out later, when he’s more—coherent. Just be cautious, and don’t trust too easily.” He kissed my forehead and walked past me, heading for the edge of town.
“Alex.” Oliver approached me. I wasn’t surprised when Detective Sampson stepped in front of me, one hand on his pistol. “This is a misunderstanding. One I would discuss with you, in private.”
Detective Sampson answered for me. “When Hell freezes over.”
“Detective—”
He turned on me. “You’re going home, Alex. Now.”
“I agree,” Sam said.
I didn’t want to argue—not in front of the entire haven, and not when Sam’s rejection hurt so much that stupid, uncontrollable tears stung my eyes.
I nodded, limping back toward the exit. Every eye followed our progress, some of them watching Oliver watch me, like the audience at a tennis match.
Sam paced me, and finally spoke when we reached the ladder.
“Please don’t come back. Not until—”
“Fine.” I was angry, and so close to breaking down it came out snippy.
“Alex. I don’t want you hurt.” Too late for that. “And it could be me hurting you.”
“Sam.” His raw confession stripped away the anger, and the tears started. He was reaching for me when I stepped to him. I held on, fought not to cry all over him. When I got my runaway emotions under control, I looked up at him. The pain in his grey-blue eyes tore at me. “We’ll find the truth. I believe in you. Remember that.”
He kissed me, the touch of his lips, his tongue desperate, his breathing ragged. By the time we came up for air I was pinned between him and the wall, and we had an audience. A large audience.
“Sam—” He cut me off, his kiss gentle this time. I recognized it for what it was. He was saying goodbye. I pulled free and twisted my hand into the front of his shirt. “Don’t you dare let me go. Do you understand? No matter what happens, we’re in this together, to the end. Got it?”
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I don’t deserve you, Alex.”
“You got me. Always, Sam.”
A throat cleared behind us. Sam ignored it and kissed me again. This time it was short, but so thorough my head was spinning when he let me go.
“Don’t come back until this is over. I’ll come and see you, when I can.”
“You better.”
He smiled, and the weight on my heart eased.
“Time to go,” he said. “Before Detective Sampson loses what control he still has.”
I glanced over at the detective. Sam was right—he did not look happy.
“Sam, you didn’t do anything stupid, like confess to him, did you?”
“No time.” He sighed at my raised eyebrows. “I wasn’t planning on confessing. But I was going to tell him about the murders. I still plan to. I think whoever killed the residents also killed Matt.” The grief in his eyes squeezed my heart. “I can’t go to the funeral.”
“What? You have to—”
“I don’t know that I didn’t do it, Alex. Until I’m sure...”
He started to turn away from me, and I wrapped my arms around him, just holding him. He lowered his head to my shoulder and held on to me, until his breathing evened. I let go when his arms dropped.
“Rethink your decision, Sam. Matt’s family will expect to see you there.”
“I’ll—okay.” Whatever wall he’d built between himself and Matt’s death was crumbling. I could see it in his eyes, and the way his shoulders slumped. “Call me when you get home, so I know you made it.”
“I love you, Sam.”
“I love you back.” He stepped away and turned to Detective Sampson. “Take care of her.”
“My word on it, Sam.”
Misty joined me, quiet and frowning. She squeezed my hand before she climbed the ladder.
Detective Sampson joined me, and I almost flinched at the anger rolling off him. He pulled me to the ladder, and climbed up without even breathing heavy.
Misty helped me out when I reached the top. “Ready to go?”
“I’ll be taking her home, Miss Corwin.”
She crossed her arms. “And if the killer comes after her?”
Detective Sampson touched the pistol on his belt. “The bastard won’t get anywhere near her.”
“If she gets so much as a scratch, Detective, I’m coming after you.” She hugged me, hard and fast. “Call me when you get home.”
“I will.”
With a final glare at Detective Sampson, she disappeared around the corner of the house. Leaving us alone.
“Detective—”
“Not a word.” He grabbed my hand, and didn’t let go of me until I was in the passenger seat of his car. “I want you away from this place, away from those—”
“Don’t use the word, or I’ll get out of this car, and not speak to you again. Ever.”
He leaned back, crossing his arms. “I’ll respect your wishes, as long as you respect mine. Stay out of this.”
“I can’t. Not as long as Sam, or anyone at the haven is involved.”
“Alex—”
“I’m one of the only lifelines they have to the outside world. I take that responsibility seriously.” Far too angry to be in a confined space with him, I shoved the door open and climbed out of the car, expecting him to stop me.
When he didn’t, I risked a glance over my shoulder. He stood next to the driver’s door, watching me, and the concern on his face almost had me returning. But I thought of Sam, and it kept me walking. No matter what, he came first, and the haven right after him.
Of course, all I had to do was convince my parents that he was still innocent, so they wouldn’t ban me from seeing him again. Because I knew by now they’d know about the latest murder, and that Sam was found at the scene.
It was going to be a long night.
~ ~ ~
Mom and Dad weren’t home when I finally limped back from the McGinty house, physically and emotionally exhausted. I made the necessary phone calls as I leaned against the refrigerator door, too exhausted to eat. But I had to eat something—my stomach was nagging me, and I also felt lightheaded.
After staring blankly at the contents, I snapped myself out of my stupor, and settled on a cheese sandwich. Along with my salt and vinegar chips, it would hold me over until I was coherent enough to plan out a real dinner. It was easy to slap some cheese and mayo on sourdough bread—I’ve done it so many times, I could probably do it in my sleep.
Food in hand, I limped up the stairs, set the sandwich and the bag of chips on my bedside table, then collapsed on my bed. All I needed was a few minutes, just a few minutes to rest, before I hit the ground running again.
~ ~ ~
“Alex.”
I jerked awake at the quiet voice. Dad sat next to me on the bed, his hand spread across my back.
“Dad. I’m okay...” My protest faded as I looked at the window. It was dark out. Dad had turned on every light in my room, so I didn’t notice. “What time is it?”
“After ten. What happened today, sweetheart?”
Dad always saw right through me. With a sigh, I sat, pushing tangled, sweaty hair off my face. Ugh—I’d need a long shower before I even thought about going back to bed. Oh, and clean sheets.
“There was another murder. Only this one was aboveground.”
“I heard.”
I figured as much.
Dad held my hand, and his presence finally unleashed the emotions I’d been fighting all day.
“Dad—” Tears choked my voice.
He pulled me into his arms, and I cried until I couldn’t think. When I finally came up for air, Mom was sitting on the other side of the bed, gently untangling my hair, tears in her eyes. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek, hugging me.
It felt good, being surrounded by the two people who loved me, no matter what. I was waiting for them to denounce Sam, forbid me to see him, help him, do anything related to him—
“Whatever you need, Alex.” Mom’s voice was quiet, but calm. “Tell us what you want to do, and we will support you. And Sam.”
“Mom—”
“He’s a good boy. I can’t believe he did something so violent.”
Even if she was lying to make me feel better, I loved her like crazy for saying it. And I felt—stronger, knowing I had them on my side.
“I need to find a way to prove Sam didn’t kill them.” I told them about Simon helping, and Detective Sampson’s afternoon visit to the haven.
“I’m not surprised,” Dad said. “He’s good at his job, and he’s been investigating the unanswered questions about your case.”
Mom cringed at even the mention of what had happened to me, and quickly changed the subject.
“Get some sleep.” She rubbed my back, then stood, moving to Dad. He wrapped one arm around her waist. They were so good together—I wanted that someday, daydreamed about having it with Sam. “I’m going to call school in the morning, tell them you’re sick. No argument,” she said, when I opened my mouth to argue. “You’re exhausted, and I want you to have a quiet day at home.”
That so wasn’t going to happen. After watching Simon with Oliver this afternoon, I had some ugly suspicions. It was time to find some answers.
Eleven
After Mom and Dad left for the day, I snuck out, using my pendant to keep from being snitched on by my neighbor, Mr. Gregory.
As a retired Marine drill sergeant who resented the fact that he was retired, he considered it his duty to report my movements when he deemed them unfit for a teenage girl. Since he barely considered me a girl, with my tomboy wardrobe, my parents probably got their ears filled on a regular basis.
He was out watering his lawn, just like every morning. Even if rain was two minutes away, he’d still be out there, like it was on his duty roster.
I made my way past him, careful not to step on any leaves or twigs from the huge oak between our properties. For an old guy, he had sharp hearing. Once I got past him and on the sidewalk, I took my first full breath, and moved faster, ignoring my cranky ankle. After my muscles warmed it would be better.
The McGinty house was deserted, as usual. I did notice that someone had trimmed down the piles in the front yard—not enough to be obvious, but enough to keep us from tripping over them every other step. I reached for my pendant as I rounded the corner. It didn’t work in the haven, and we discovered some of the more sensitive demons got physically ill from the field it emitted.
Sam and Jake were actually the most affected. Outside the haven, they were fine. But underground—wearing the necklace, or being close to one for any length of time had both of them fighting to control the Fenris. We all found that out the hard way, during a meeting in the small conference room attached to the office, where we used to store the necklaces. I needed to find out if someone was using that weakness against them—
I froze when an agonized cry cut through the air.
It came from behind the house.
I was unprepared for any kind of confrontation—especially since I’d stopped carrying my Swiss army knife. My martial arts training was still too shiny new to be of use.
Frantic, I scanned the area around me, and spotted the rusty crowbar near a tree. I grabbed it up and inched around the side of the house.
My heart stopped when I saw Detective Sampson sprawled on the dead grass. Trapped by a growling Fenris.
Before I could open my mouth to scream the Fenris lowered its head and sank long teeth into the detective’s left shoulder.
“Oh, God—”
They’d both be able to see me, even with the pendant, but I shot forward, swinging the crowbar like a bat.
It smacked against the Fenris’s right hind leg. With a furious snarl it turned on me. I stumbled backward and lost my balance, the crowbar flying out of my hand. I scrabbled away from the Fenris, hitting up against the back wall of the house. With a frightening smile, the Fenris rose up on its hind legs and crouched, ready to spring at me.
A figure slammed into its back, knocking it off balance.
“Run, Alex!” Detective Sampson backed up and rammed his good shoulder into its hip, throwing them both to the ground.
I may not be the most courageous person on the face of the planet, but I do not walk away when someone I know is in trouble.
I pushed to my feet and grabbed the crowbar. With the broken end facing my target, I put all my weight behind it and stabbed the Fenris in the side.
It shrieked, one claw slamming into my left arm hard enough to throw me across the yard. The house stopped my flight.
By the time I managed to take in a breath, I was too late. The Fenris was dragging the unconscious detective into the manhole.
~ ~ ~
I climbed down the ladder as fast as possible. My left arm hurt like hell, and I could feel blood sliding across my skin under my shirt. I had one of my heavier hoodies on, otherwise the claws would have shredded my arm.
When I reached the bottom, I glanced around. The Fenris wouldn’t take him through the town, so where—
The support forest.
Damn.
Gripping the crowbar, I limped forward—and spotted movement just beyond the first set of supports. The Fenris would be hurting, and wouldn’t carry its prey any farther than it had to. A pained grunt, and the sound of a weight hitting the ground pinpointed them.
I took off the pendant and slipped it in my pocket, afraid it would light up at the wrong second and betray me. My left arm throbbed, and my side joined it, angry from the impact with the house.
The Fenris crouched over Detective Sampson, growling and whining. Good—I hurt it. That gave me a little bit of an advantage. I’d just aim for the injured side—
“Kill me if you have to.” I almost tripped at Detective Sampson’s low voice. “But leave the haven alone. Leave my town alone.”
His left hand twitched on the ground. No—it didn’t twitch, it pointed. At me. He knew I was here, and he was distracting—
I forgot the pain, raised the crowbar as I ran forward, and swung it at the back of the Fenris’s head.
The impact jarred me all the way to my shoulders. But it worked.
The Fenris howled in pain and leaped away, crouched in the shadows.
“Go,” I said. My voice was raw, but it carried enough. “I find you hurting my friends and I’ll kill you.”
After a plaintive whine, it turned and ran deeper into the forest.
“Detective.” I dropped to my knees, scanned the damage. There was a lot of it. The Fenris hadn’t been gentle when it dragged him down here. “I’m going to get help—”
“Looks like it’s coming,” he whispered. I glanced behind me and saw bobbing lights headed our way. “How bad, Alex?”
“You’ll live, most likely.”
Those dark brown eyes met mine, and I could tell. He knew. I nodded, and he closed his eyes.
“Damn, it burns. Sorry.”
I bit back a smile. “I’ve heard worse. Candace can help with that. With—all of it. She’s working on a treatment to—”
“Keep me from changing?” He looked at me. “I’d appreciate any information.”
“Detective.” This was my fault. I didn’t push him far enough away, and now he was—his life would never be the same. Because of me. “I’m so—”
“No apology. I walked into it, Alex, knowing full well what was killing. And please call me Joe. I believe saving my life entitles you to call me by my first name.”
“Okay.” I looked up as Candace skidded to a halt, her huge first aid kit with her. “He’s been bitten.”
“Fabulous. Welcome to the family, Sampson.”
He let out a choked laugh. “Thanks.”
“Her bedside manner is a little rough,” I said. “But she knows what she’s doing.”
“Thanks, Finch,” she said. “Now stop the rest from interrupting me, before he bleeds out. And don’t go far—I want a closer look at that arm.”
I used the support next to me to stand, just in time for Sam to haul me into his arms. He froze when I let out a pained gasp.
“Alex—where?”
I didn’t have to point it out; he saw the blood on my arm. Cursing with a variety that startled me, he eased me back to the ground, and helped me take off my hoodie. Blood soaked my shirt from shoulder to wrist. Since the shirt was white, it probably looked much worse than it was. I hoped that was the case, because it looked pretty bad.
Simon knelt on my other side, and gently pulled the shredded fabric off my arm.
“The claw marks are shallow,” he said. “A couple of them may need stitches, but you’re not in danger of dying from them.” Looks like I’d have more scars to join the ones from Mrs. Hyatt’s knife. He flashed a smile at me. It faded when he glanced over at Detective Sampson. “How is he?”
I let out a shaky breath. “He was bitten.”
Sam froze. “You’re sure?”
“I saw it. The attack started up top, in the yard. Is Jake—”
“Here.” He stepped out of the shadows. “Sam and I were holed up with Candace, working on the latest version of her serum. Whatever you saw attack Sampson—”
“Wasn’t one of you. I knew that when I first saw it.” All three of them stared at me. “I’ve seen both you and Sam in your Fenris form. The Fenris that attacked Detective Sampson wasn’t black or grey.” I met Sam’s eyes. “It was white.”
Jake’s voice broke the silence. “That would be from age. Fenris always have the hair coloring of their human version. Either we have a second killer on the loose—”
“Or you just proved them both innocent, Alex.” Simon touched my cheek. “What you did was stupid—”
