Read Online Generation 18: The Spook Squad 2 by Keri Arthur - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Keri Arthur
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something like these murders. Max has standards, lines he won’t step over.”
“What did he say about supplying Harry with Jadrone?”
“Harry told him he didn’t need the drug anymore.”
Gabriel arched an eyebrow in surprise. “That’s not possible—not if Harry was as addicted as you say.”
“I know. He must have found some other drug to sate his need.”
“Supplied, perhaps, by our mysterious shape-changer. Anything else you remember about her?”
“Yeah, she tried to shit all over me.”
He smiled. “Birds shit when they’re scared. Fact of life.”
“And do you suffer this problem, Assistant Director?”
His smile widened, lending warmth to his angular features. “Hawks don’t scare as easily as budgies.”
Didn’t scare at all, from what she’d seen. In the brief time they’d known each other, they’d been shot at, bombed, even gassed. The only time she’d seen the slightest hint of fear in Gabriel’s eyes was when his brother Stephan had gone missing in the explosion at the SIU headquarters. Family mattered more than personal safety, it seemed.
His wristcom buzzed into the brief silence. He gave her an apologetic look, though she wasn’t entirely sure why, then answered it. And the warmth lingering on his face quickly disappeared.
“What?” she said, the minute he hung up.
His expression was grim as he glanced at her. “It would seem our serial killer has just accelerated her schedule.”
G ABRIEL LEANED SIDEWAYS AND BANGED on the communications hatch. The small door opened and light flooded in. Sam hissed.
“Change of direction. Head for 280 Elizabeth Street.”
The ambulance driver nodded and the hatch closed, enclosing them in darkness once again.
“Who are you dumping me with?”
Though her voice was even, her underlying anger was something he could almost taste. She was so pale she looked like death, and the thought chilled him. He didn’t want to lose another partner, but he almost had, yet again. “What makes you think I’m dumping you?”
“Well, maybe because you’ve used any and all excuses to keep me away from everything except paperwork?”
“I’ve done it for your own safety.”
“Yeah, right. Tell that to someone who hasn’t spent ten years with the State Police.”
“And the mess you made interviewing Max proved just how capable you are as an SIU officer, didn’t it?”
It wasn’t a fair statement. Had their positions been reversed, he doubted if he’d have coped any better. And the Jadrone would definitely have killed him.
Her hands clenched briefly by her sides. It was the only sign of the fury he could feel pouring from her. “One of these days you’re going to have to trust me.”
“I do trust you.” With both his and his brother’s lives. He just didn’t trust fate.
Not that he had much choice at this particular moment. As much as he
did
want to dump her somewhere safe, he actually couldn’t. There were only two people he’d trust with her safety. And of those, Karl was still on vacation with the family, and Stephan had a series of high-level meetings to attend.
“Then start acting like you do,” Sam countered. “Stop giving me inane tasks and start giving me some real work.” She raised a hand, as if to stop his answer, then closed her eyes and leaned back against the ambulance wall. “It doesn’t matter. Forget about it.”
He watched a trickle of sweat roll down her pale cheek. “Sam, 280 Elizabeth Street is where the murder happened.”
She opened her eyes, and her smoky-blue gaze swept him from head to foot. Then a slightly bitter smile touched her lips. “Ah. You can’t dump me. You haven’t got anyone you trust to watch over me.”
She was altogether
too
perceptive. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
“I think the question should be are
you
sure I’m up to this?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a good idea to puke all over the evidence,” he said, half in jest.
Her gaze narrowed. “I won’t
“What did he say about supplying Harry with Jadrone?”
“Harry told him he didn’t need the drug anymore.”
Gabriel arched an eyebrow in surprise. “That’s not possible—not if Harry was as addicted as you say.”
“I know. He must have found some other drug to sate his need.”
“Supplied, perhaps, by our mysterious shape-changer. Anything else you remember about her?”
“Yeah, she tried to shit all over me.”
He smiled. “Birds shit when they’re scared. Fact of life.”
“And do you suffer this problem, Assistant Director?”
His smile widened, lending warmth to his angular features. “Hawks don’t scare as easily as budgies.”
Didn’t scare at all, from what she’d seen. In the brief time they’d known each other, they’d been shot at, bombed, even gassed. The only time she’d seen the slightest hint of fear in Gabriel’s eyes was when his brother Stephan had gone missing in the explosion at the SIU headquarters. Family mattered more than personal safety, it seemed.
His wristcom buzzed into the brief silence. He gave her an apologetic look, though she wasn’t entirely sure why, then answered it. And the warmth lingering on his face quickly disappeared.
“What?” she said, the minute he hung up.
His expression was grim as he glanced at her. “It would seem our serial killer has just accelerated her schedule.”
G ABRIEL LEANED SIDEWAYS AND BANGED on the communications hatch. The small door opened and light flooded in. Sam hissed.
“Change of direction. Head for 280 Elizabeth Street.”
The ambulance driver nodded and the hatch closed, enclosing them in darkness once again.
“Who are you dumping me with?”
Though her voice was even, her underlying anger was something he could almost taste. She was so pale she looked like death, and the thought chilled him. He didn’t want to lose another partner, but he almost had, yet again. “What makes you think I’m dumping you?”
“Well, maybe because you’ve used any and all excuses to keep me away from everything except paperwork?”
“I’ve done it for your own safety.”
“Yeah, right. Tell that to someone who hasn’t spent ten years with the State Police.”
“And the mess you made interviewing Max proved just how capable you are as an SIU officer, didn’t it?”
It wasn’t a fair statement. Had their positions been reversed, he doubted if he’d have coped any better. And the Jadrone would definitely have killed him.
Her hands clenched briefly by her sides. It was the only sign of the fury he could feel pouring from her. “One of these days you’re going to have to trust me.”
“I do trust you.” With both his and his brother’s lives. He just didn’t trust fate.
Not that he had much choice at this particular moment. As much as he
did
want to dump her somewhere safe, he actually couldn’t. There were only two people he’d trust with her safety. And of those, Karl was still on vacation with the family, and Stephan had a series of high-level meetings to attend.
“Then start acting like you do,” Sam countered. “Stop giving me inane tasks and start giving me some real work.” She raised a hand, as if to stop his answer, then closed her eyes and leaned back against the ambulance wall. “It doesn’t matter. Forget about it.”
He watched a trickle of sweat roll down her pale cheek. “Sam, 280 Elizabeth Street is where the murder happened.”
She opened her eyes, and her smoky-blue gaze swept him from head to foot. Then a slightly bitter smile touched her lips. “Ah. You can’t dump me. You haven’t got anyone you trust to watch over me.”
She was altogether
too
perceptive. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
“I think the question should be are
you
sure I’m up to this?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be a good idea to puke all over the evidence,” he said, half in jest.
Her gaze narrowed. “I won’t
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