Читать книгу Nightwalker - Connie Hall - Страница 9

Takala checked her mirrors for a tail. Clear so far. She had been forced to stop at a service station and find a quick fix for the driver’s side window. They had used Mylar plastic and duct tape. At least it kept out some of the cold air, but the flapping of the plastic was driving her crazy. Takala had the heater going full blast, though Lilly Smith was hunched in a ball as if she was cold.

Takala had found a scarf in her glove compartment and covered the bleeding scratches on her neck. She adjusted it now, still feeling the gecko cretin’s nails gouging her skin. If only she had some peroxide and antibiotic ointment. That would have to wait. She grimaced at the neon-pink scarf, but it went okay with her black jeans and black coat. And the blood spots on the scarf actually looked as if they had been added by the designer. For having been attacked, she didn’t look half-bad. Wounded or not, she cared about her appearance.

Takala settled back in the driver’s seat, aware of the uncomfortable silence between her and Lilly Smith. She felt Lilly’s keen eyes studying her. Finally Takala said, “Are you warm enough?”

“Yes, thanks.”

“So, where we going?”

“The Richmond airport,” Lilly said, uncertainty in the reply.

“Sure.” Takala nodded to assure Lilly Smith that she was okay with the drive.

“And thank you. I appreciate your help. They would have killed me back there.”

“No problem.”

Lilly took Takala’s measure for a long, uncomfortable moment, something in her shrewd blue eyes that hid more than just mere intelligence. “You’re a brave girl. You don’t seem afraid, even after all you’ve seen.”

“I’m not. Supernatural stuff doesn’t bother me.”

“If you stay with me, you might be more than bothered.”

“I’m used to living on the edge.”

“Really.” Lilly glanced at Takala as if she had no idea what danger was. She lifted her chin a few inches in a challenging, almost condescending way, the smug smile never leaving her lips.

“I’m a detective.” Takala swallowed her indignation, and it tasted bitter in her throat.

“A good one, I hope.”

“I’ve stayed alive this long.”

“You look young to me.”

“I’ve been in the business for six years.”

“Run a lot of background checks, do you?”

“No, I don’t like the research end. I’m more hands-on.”

Lilly shot her an I-guess-you’ll-do-in-a-pinch look.

No matter how hard she tried, her dislike for this woman was growing like a cancer in her gut. She felt as if she were being interviewed for a job and found lacking. Do a stranger a favor, and that’s how they repay you.

Stranger or not, was she really related to this woman? The verdict was still out, and she wanted to keep it that way. Two things Takala knew: Lilly Smith had trust issues, and she had a hard time feeling obligated to anyone. Not to mention she wasn’t very likable. Takala quickly changed the subject. “Who were those goons?”

“Unfortunately, State Department agents.”

So Lilly Smith actually worked for the State Department. One point for Blake. “When did the State Department start hiring paranormal hit squads?” Takala asked, playing along.

“I work—or shall I say worked—for a branch of the State Department …” Lilly paused as if weighing something, then said, “What the hell, I’ll tell you. It’s called B.O.S.P. Ever heard of it?”

Takala knew of B.O.S.P. Fala’s husband, Stephen Winter, a warlock, used to work as an agent there, but she didn’t know if she wanted Lilly Smith to know that, so she lied and said, “No, I haven’t.”

“Not surprised. Most people haven’t. They try to keep all humans in the dark about what goes on right under their noses. They’d probably have congressional hearings for the next century if they found out about all the paranormal activities in government.”

“The human zeitgeist can’t handle it.”

“But they got that television series, Supernatural, pretty on the mark.” Lilly laughed softly, a detectable forced note in her voice.

Lilly seemed to work hard at being sociable. Was this just her standoffish personality? Takala had hoped to find something warm in her, but as yet she hadn’t. “Sam’s my favorite,” she said flatly.

“Dean’s mine. So hunky, with that edge of evil.”

Okay, she might just have disagreed with her own mother for the first time. She didn’t know how she felt about that, so she lapsed into silence.

Lilly broke it. “That strength of yours is pretty impressive—” she considered Takala, her eyes sparkling like shards of blue glass “—but you seem human enough to me.”

“I am, in basics.” Takala turned the conversation back to Lilly. “So, you can inhale the powers of other creatures. Pretty interesting.”

“Only for a few moments. Too bad I can’t keep them.” A power-hungry glint shifted in Lilly’s eyes.

A cold chill gripped Takala. This woman could be her mother, but Takala didn’t know if she liked her or trusted her. “Why were those agents after you?”

“They want me dead.”

“Why?”

“I was working undercover for them. Some agents got killed, and I was set up to take the fall for it.”

“Know who set you up?”

“Nightwalker.”

“Who’s that?”

“The vamp who just attacked me.”

Houdini. Nightwalker. A vampire. The image seemed to fit. “Why’d he set you up?”

“He must have wanted me out of the picture.”

“He’d kill his own men just to take you out?”

“You sound skeptical. Believe me, he’s capable of a lot worse.”

Takala didn’t know if Lilly’s story was credible. Why not just go after Lilly? Why kill your own men? None of it seemed practical, but then a lot went on in classified government agencies that would probably make her hair stand on end. Not until Fala hooked up with Stephen had Takala found out that witches had infiltrated government positions. Some duly elected officials were possessed by demons. Others were just plain demons. Shifters, too. You name it, and you could find all manner of paranormal creatures in high places. And people thought Watergate was bad.

This Nightwalker vamp could be a real mean dude with limitless power to back him up. She knew little about vampires, other than the ones she’d dealt with in her line of work. Her clients were mostly human with human problems. Occasionally she was hired to protect women from a stalker, who sometimes turned out to be a vampire. She had helped Fala, her sister, the Guardian, the most powerful shaman on the earth, take out a few evil vampires and their dens. Mostly, though, vampires operated below the radar and stayed to themselves. Takala was glad she’d never come up against this Nightwalker vamp. She wondered why Stephen had never spoken of him. When she had some alone time, she’d have to call Fala and Stephen and get the skinny on Nightwalker.

“This Nightwalker dude must be a badass,” Takala said. “Never seen a vamp out in daylight. Thought they had to sleep during the day.”

“This one’s unusually old and powerful. Sunlight only weakens him.” Lilly’s brows met in a frown, and she said, “So, how is it you showed up when you did? You’re not working for B.O.S.P., are you?” Her eyes narrowed to slits as she studied Takala.

Takala took her attention off the road long enough to stare squarely into Lilly’s eyes. Then she lied with ease. “I was casing a house—cheating husband.” Takala shrugged nonchalantly. “Saw you were in trouble, so I helped.”

“I’ve ruined your case.”

“Nothing I can’t rectify. He’ll probably be there for a while anyway. He’s a bigamist.”

Lilly chewed that over for a moment, then said, “I don’t even know your name.”

Takala supplied her usual bogus moniker. “Tonya Richter.”

Lilly considered her a moment as if wondering if that was Takala’s real name. Then she said, “I’m Lilly Smith.”

Only one of her aliases. Takala grinned and said, “Nice to meet you.”

Lilly bobbed her head in kind. “Since I’ve disturbed your case, you have to let me compensate you.”

“No big deal.”

“I don’t like owing people.” Lilly thought a moment, the red of her lipstick making her mouth gleam as if it had been doused in shellac. “How does five hundred sound for your trouble?”

Takala had to find a way to keep Lilly near her. The sign for Interstate 95 appeared, and she hopped onto the highway to Richmond. Finally she said, “I don’t want to take money I haven’t earned. What about you hire me for protection?”

“I don’t know.” Lilly tapped her painted red nails on her arm and stared at the traffic ahead of them. “You might end up being more trouble than you’re worth.”

“I saved your life, didn’t I?” Takala sounded as insulted as she felt by this woman’s lack of trust.

When Lilly didn’t say anything right away, and before she could come up with a reason to say no, Takala said, “I could use the work.” She tried to sound more desperate than greedy.

“The economy. It’s killing everybody.” Lilly shook her head in disgust. “I guess I can hire you. If it doesn’t work out, then you’re gone. And if you’ve lied to me about being a B.O.S.P agent, you’ll regret it.”

Takala ground her jaw together and passed a Corolla blocking her way. Then she said, “Let’s get one thing straight here. I’m not lying, and I don’t appreciate your threats.”

“Noted.” A superior grin toyed with the curves of her red lips. “You must understand that in my line of work I can trust no one.”

“I get that.”

Her tone turned dismissive and businesslike. “I’ll only need your services until I get safely to France—if that long.”

“Okay. I usually get a hundred dollars a day for expenses, but I’ll knock it back to fifty if you pay for my ticket.”

“Sounds fair.”

This was a no-brainer. Takala didn’t have any pending cases at the moment. In fact, a mob boss had tried to abduct her a month ago for testifying in court against him. His thugs had almost killed her. If Fala, her older sister, hadn’t used her healing powers, Takala would be dead. She could also spend time with Lilly and see if she really was a murderer, much less someone she could even like.

Takala thought a moment and said, “I’ll have to call my boyfriend first and let him know where I’m going. He’s about to propose,” she added to gain Lilly’s confidence. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Lilly arched a dark brow. “Oh, one of those. Isn’t it comical that we can make men do anything we want?” She grinned sardonically.

Takala smiled back, but it was only a polite smile. Something told her Lilly Smith enjoyed manipulating more than just men.

Takala didn’t like talking on the cell phone while driving, but she had no choice. She pulled out her phone and hit 1 on the speed dial.

A woman’s high-pitched giggle sounded in her ear, then, “Oh, Akando. That feels wonderful.” Lust filled each word.

Another giggle.

Takala felt jealousy soar through her like a hot poker. “Who the hell is this?” When there was no response, she yelled, “Hello! Akando!”

A deep, sexy voice melted over the phone. “Hey, babe.”

“Don’t babe me. Who’s with you?”

“No one.”

“You’re lying through your teeth. I heard a woman’s voice.” Takala wished she was standing before him, because he wouldn’t have any teeth when she was done with him. “Who’s with you?”

“Just a friend.”

Another giggle, then a smooching, sucking noise. Takala felt a hole opening in the pit of her stomach, and her heart began being sucked down through it. Her chest ached as if he’d just put his foot through it.

She’d really thought Akando was the one. The love of her life. No! No! No! This wasn’t happening. “Just tell me the truth,” she said, the need to cry burning the back of her throat. She wouldn’t cry. Not over him.

He paused as if summoning his courage. She’d never thought Akando was weak until this moment. “The truth is, you’re sweet, and we’ve had a good time, but I want to date other women.”

“You told me you loved me.”

“I never said that.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t. I made a point of not telling you that.”

Had she heard only what she wanted to hear? She could have sworn he’d said it at least once. When she couldn’t remember the exact moment, she said, “You implied it.”

“I can’t help what you let yourself believe.”

“Let myself.” How could she have been so oblivious?

“Yeah, you got carried away.”

“Only because you made me believe you loved me.”

“Don’t blame me, babe. You came up with that notion on your own.”

Another feminine giggle near the phone.

The sound cut through Takala like fingernails on a chalkboard. “I guess we’ve both been deceived,” she said.

“No, I pretty much knew what I was getting into with you.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re just too intense.”

“So that’s why you’re breaking up with me?” she asked, hating the whiny and weak sound in her own voice.

The woman spoke in the background. “Just hang up on her.”

“Don’t you dare,” Takala said. “Explain intense.”

“Insecure, clingy. You’re sweet, but …”

“But?”

“You scare me.”

The woman chuckled softly.

The knot in Takala’s throat grew baseball-size as she said, “You didn’t seem too scared when we slept together.” She heard her voice crack.

“That was different. You’re a good lay.”

“That’s all I am to you?”

“No, I mean—”

“Forget it!” Takala slammed the phone shut. Tears streamed down her cheeks in earnest, so much so that she couldn’t see to drive. She slowed and pulled the MINI over onto the shoulder.

“Everything okay?” Lilly asked softly.

“I thought he loved me. I thought he was the one, but he’s still in love with my older sister.”

“You’re rebound material?”

“I guess so.” Takala wiped at the hot tears on her face, smearing them across her cheeks.

“And you didn’t see it coming?” Even Lilly sounded surprised that Takala had been so unaware.

In all honesty, Takala had considered it. Akando had been betrothed to Fala, Takala’s older sister and the current Guardian since birth. It almost destroyed Akando when Fala chose Stephen Winter over him. Takala had been angry at Fala at first for hurting Akando; she’d had a crush on him since childhood. But it had not worked out because Takala had been there to nurse his emotional wounds. And she believed she could make Akando love her. Who would put balm on her own wounds?

Takala hiccupped and said, “I should have listened. My baby sister warned me not to get involved with Akando. I just didn’t want to hear the truth.” Why hadn’t Takala seen what was so obvious to Nina? Why was it Takala could read people in her line of work, knew the moment they were lying, but when it came to her love life, she was clueless? She thought of Fala and Nina. Both happily married to men who worshipped them. Why couldn’t she find someone? What was wrong with her?

Lilly Smith patted Takala’s shoulder. “Heck with him. You don’t want someone like that. There’s plenty fish in the sea.”

“I’m sick of trolling for them. I always end up getting the pointy end of the hook. Men are pigs.” Takala banged her head on the steering wheel, making the whole car shake.

“Tell me about it, honey,” Lilly said.

Takala felt Lilly Smith’s comforting hand on her shoulder, the hand of the woman who might possibly be her mother, and her sobs became uncontrollable.