Read Online New Markets - 02 by Kevin Rau - Free Book Online Page A

noticed the car leaned quite a bit to Lance’s side as he got out.  “Spartan, we really need to get you weighed.  You’ve got to weigh a lot more than you used to.”
    “Why would my weight matter?”
    “If you get a motorcycle it’ll matter as far as size.  Also, if others have to pick you up for some reason.  Even for buying furniture.”
    “Fine, fine, worry about it later.”
    We walked up the drive to the front door, and I knocked.  I thought it was properly imposing having my claws out.  I stared at them for a moment.  It was interesting that they weren’t a long fingernail, instead the fleshy end of each finger changed into this very hard (and sharp) substance.  The sound of someone walking to the front door interrupted my thoughts.  Heavy footsteps, it had to be a man, although nowhere near as heavy as Lance.
    A guy in a suit answered the door.  He looked like a Fed to me.  He glanced quickly up and down at me, then at the giant behind me.  His hand was still on the sidearm in the holster at his side.
    He said, "I'm Agent Dunsworth of the F.B.I., can I help you with something?"
    I said, "I'm Black Tiger, this is Spartan, we’re, ah, H.E.R.O. agents.  We're wondering why Psystar dropped off our radar, when this was her last location."  I breathed in deeply through my nose.  I could smell Stephanie's scent, but she definitely wasn't here right now.
    "Well, she's not here."
    "I know, I'd be able to smell her if she were."
    He raised an eyebrow, "She's at the hospital, last I heard."
    My eyes narrowed.  I heard his heart rate speed up, and could smell something.  Some part of me told me it was the scent of fear.  "You're concealing something, Agent Dunsworth.  Which hospital is she at?"
    "Mercy Hospital, it's downtown."
    "We'll trust that you're telling the truth then.  There shouldn't be a reason to conceal anything, right?  Even if she got shot, she'd heal it in a few minutes, so I know that something's up.  But hey, I'll just believe you for the moment."
    I very much wanted to grab this guy and slam him against the wall, then claw the information out of him, federal officer or not.  I felt Lance's hand on my shoulder.  He squeezed slightly with that massive strength.  It felt a lot like some kind of vice had closed on me rather than just a hand.
    Lance said, "Let's go check the hospital.  Good seeing you, Agent Dunsworth."  He released my shoulder as he turned and headed back to the car.  At least he didn't break my shoulder this time.
    I glanced back one more time at Agent Dunsworth, and then followed Lance out to the car.  Once I sat down I did a map search for the hospital on the H.E.R.O. device to get a route.  It was annoying having to use my knuckle to tap on the display, but at least it worked.
    I debated for a moment, and then tried calling Stephanie's H.E.R.O. phone again.  It went immediately to voicemail.  Either her phone was off, or she had it on a do-not-disturb setting.  In about fifteen minutes we arrived at the hospital.
    As we walked up to the lobby Lance said, "You must be pretty irate.  Your claws have been out since the drive to Rikesville."
    "Yeah, I could smell sweat, or fear or something on that agent.  He wasn't telling the truth, but if I attack him for the info outright it'll start a big fight or something that we don't need.  But he was definitely feeding us a line."
    "I agree.  Good job on keeping it non-hostile."
    "We haven't found her yet."
    "We will."
     
    We quickly entered the hospital and approached the front desk.  Lance held me back by my shoulder, stepped ahead of me and asked, "Hi.  May I ask which room the superheroine named Psystar is staying in?"  He held out his H.E.R.O. card to display that we were official H.E.R.O. agents.
    "I'm sorry, she checked out."
    That ticked me off.  I made a tight fist, and accidentally shoved my finger claws through my palm.  "Gah, damnit."  I pulled them out and licked the glove until the wound