Under Devil's Snare (Under Series Book 2) Page 8

  Jamison stopped. Somehow, she didn’t think Sheriff Macke was about to confess to a lover’s rendezvous. “I’m listening.”

  “After Deputy Harris gets off protection detail, Hex is going to assign Seaver to follow your partner around.”

  “Why?” Jamison asked slowly.

  Sheriff Macke sighed over the connection. “She made a pretty good case, Kessler. I don’t know why I never saw it, but Hex pointed out that Lee Grayson resembles the two dead victims. Detective Hex doesn’t buy the separate stalker theory and thinks our killer has chosen Ms. Grayson as the next target.”

  Jamison mentally ran through all the ramifications of what Macke said. “I can see a small resemblance, but it doesn’t track. Killers don’t usually change their M.O. and whoever went after Lee cut her brake lines. Our guy uses a blitz attack, remember? The method of attack is completely divergent.”

  “That is the question,” Macke agreed. “Even Hex questioned the change. Regardless, I thought you should know. Oh and while I’m thinking about it, we’re going to need a list of anyone who might have a grudge against Grayson.”

  The Council would not be happy about this. Having a federal investigator following one of their people around could result in exposure of their kind to the human populace. Jamison’s conversation with her mother came back to her and she realized just how out of control things could get. Already Darlene Kessler viewed Hex and her detectives as a threat.

  “This isn’t good. If the Council finds out about this...”

  “They’ll what?” Macke sounded angry.

  Jamison cursed the fact that she had said too much. “Don’t worry about it, Sheriff. I’ll take care of everything.”

  “How exactly are you going to ‘take care’ of things? Look, Kessler, I don’t really like your kind. You run around Harmon and the park like you own the place and do exactly as you please. You circumvent the law with your venerated Council, internal investigators and your own way of enforcing whatever rules you see fit.”

  “You make us sound like the mob.”

  “In my eyes, you aren’t much different.”

  “Then why do you stay if you hate us so much?” Jamison asked sharply.

  “Because I made a promise to someone I loved to try and protect you people as much as possible. And because, as much as I don’t like it, you all have the right to live just the same as anyone else. But make no mistake. If anything happens to Detective Hex or her people, I’ll know where to start and I’ll cage the guilty party the same as I would any other animal. Are we clear on this?”

  “You don’t have to preach to me, Sheriff. I’m in full agreement.” Unfortunately, that didn’t mean the Council would feel the same way.

  “Glad to hear it. There’s more.”

  “You mean that wasn’t enough?”

  Macke continued on without responding to the comment. “Hex suggested meeting with you in your office around two tomorrow afternoon. She wants us to consider bringing the media in on this. She’s hoping someone saw something that might help us solve these murders.”

  Jamison was startled by the idea of bringing in the press. Panthera did not seek media attention for any reason. Nevertheless, she couldn’t see the harm. Harmon might experience a few more tourists than usual from the curious and thrill seekers once the media weighed in, but the Panthera were accustomed to hiding in plain sight. What with the Adirondack National Park visitors they typically encountered, she didn’t see that a few more people would make any difference.

  “I don’t have a problem with bringing the press in to help us, but I’m not sure I’ll be in my office tomorrow. Lee still hasn’t regained consciousness and I’m not comfortable leaving her until I know she’ll be okay. Why don’t you go ahead and set something up with the local news, that’s sort of your bailiwick anyway.”

  Sam hesitated a moment before speaking. “You trust me to do this on my own? Won’t your venerated Council have a problem?”

  “Please, Sheriff. We both know you don’t give a damn about what the Council thinks and you wouldn’t listen to them anyway. Besides, since when do I tell you how to do your job?”

  “Since never,” Sam acknowledged. “I just expected you to throw a fit about the media.”

  “Would it have done any good?”

  “Not really. We don’t have any answers and we can use help anywhere we can find it, and not to put too fine a point on it, but from where I sit things are getting worse.”

  “I wish I could argue the issue with you, Sheriff, but I just can’t. Do what you think is best. I’ll soothe any ruffled feathers with the Council.”

  “Glad to hear it. Now go take care of your partner and make sure she knows to act natural until we get things sorted.”

  “Sheriff Macke, I might point out that the Panthera are probably more natural than any full human.”

  “Don’t give me that transcendental crap, you know what I mean. Make sure Grayson remembers to act like a person.”

  Jamison wanted to pursue the point but let it go. They’d be there all night arguing semantics over feline versus human nature when both states were equally a part of the Panthera psyche. “I’ll make sure she knows, and I’ll also make sure that the Council doesn’t take any action on the feds. To be honest, I’m not sure there’s any reason for them to know about this anyway. As long as Hex and her people don’t suspect anything unusual about Lee, there shouldn’t be any problems. Anyway, thanks for warning me. You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I didn’t do it for you.”

  Jamison wondered why Macke couldn’t just be gracious.

  “I’ve seen a mountain lion’s idea of justice before and I’m willing to bet the Panthera aren’t that different while in a regressed state. If anything happened to one of these detectives we’d have every alphabet agency in the country descend on our mountains. That’s something I’d prefer to avoid.”

  “All the same, I appreciate the heads up.”

  “Sure, whatever. Oh and Kessler, I really am happy Grayson will be okay. No one should have to survive the loss of a partner.”

  Jamison heard the connection terminate and shook her head. Samantha Macke was such a strange combination of contemptuous and compassionate. She turned and reentered the hospital. Striding with purpose, she returned to Lee’s room. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to have changed while she was out. Dinah still stood gazing out the hospital window into the night and Lee lay unmoving. The machines continued to beep.

  Disappointed and concerned to find Lee still sleeping, Jamison settled onto the chair beside the hospital bed. She clasped Lee’s cold hand between her own and studiously ignored the worried expression on Dinah’s face. Jamison tried to stay positive. Maybe Lee hadn’t slept well before the accident and this was her body’s way of making up for it. Despite her determination to strive for optimism, Dinah voiced Jamison’s fears.

  “Why doesn’t she wake up? I can sense that her injuries are healing.”

  “I don’t know,” Jamison admitted softly. “Mom said that sometimes people just need to sleep.”

  “Who can sleep with all the chit chat?”

  Startled, Jamison looked up at Dinah to see if her mind was playing tricks. She discovered her own shock mirrored in her sister’s expression.

  “Lee?” Jamison squeezed Lee’s fingers and choked back a sob of relief when blue eyes opened.

  Dinah scooted up on the bed’s opposite side and grinned down at Lee. “Hey there, how are you feeling?”

  “Fuzzy.” Lee attempted to raise a hand to her forehead but the various medical feeds prevented the movement. Confusion clouded her eyes. “What happened?”

  “You had a wreck while driving home from Harmon,” Jamison said. “Can you remember anything?”

  Lee’s brows furrowed. “That’s right, the brakes quit working. I think my car bounced off a guard rail.”

  “It did more than that,” Dinah grinned. “You went airborne across a ditch and slammed into a tree
. I’m pretty sure the car is totaled.”

  Jamison growled and directed an angry mental shout to Dinah when Lee flinched.

  Stop! What’s wrong with you?

  Aggravated but trying to contain her ire for Lee’s sake, Jamison schooled her voice. “It wasn’t an accident, honey.” She brushed blonde hair back from Lee’s forehead. Jamison hesitated to say the words but finally decided Lee deserved to know the truth. “Someone cut the brake line.”

  “I had considered the possibility. It just seemed too strange after everything else that has happened.”

  “You’re not surprised?” Dinah asked.

  “Hardly.” Lee stifled a yawn. “When you’ve had a box of snakes and bugs delivered to your front door, this seems like the next logical step. I just can’t imagine who I could have hurt enough for them to try and kill me.”

  “Snakes and bugs?” Dinah looked to Jamison for an explanation.

  “I’ll tell you later. Lee, there’s more.”

  “Oh great, like a stalker isn’t bad enough.”

  Jamison kept her doubts about the perpetrator to herself. She couldn’t admit to the sheriff that the serial killer might have his sights set on Lee and she wasn’t going to share that belief with Lee either. Instead, she changed her approach to deliver the next bit of information in a more positive light, hoping some good news would help speed Lee’s recovery.

  “Actually, this is a good thing. Mom said that as soon as you woke up they could move you out of ICU. And don’t worry about a stalker. Sheriff Macke is going to have a deputy posted outside your door.”

  “My own private bodyguard?” Lee smiled. “I feel special, but is the deputy going to follow me around until this psycho is caught?”

  “Um, no,” Jamison hedged, glancing between Lee and Dinah. “Detective Hex plans to give that particular honor to Detective Seaver.”

  The room went still, but Jamison felt Lee’s wariness in her mind. Why?

  Their eyes locked and Jamison attempted to communicate Hex’s human concerns. Dinah kept silent throughout the exchange, nothing less than Jamison expected of her. This conversation was for Jamison and her mate.

  Think you are killer’s target. No stalker.

  Why?

  You look like other prey.

  So do others.

  No others get warnings.

  Frustrated, Lee turned away. “It doesn’t matter what I want, does it? You’ve already decided.”

  “No, you don’t get a say in this. This is how it has to be. And it would make me feel better to know Seaver is there.”

  “You don’t trust my instincts to know if someone is about to attack?” Lee sounded angry. “I couldn’t have known about the other events because I wasn’t there when they happened. Someone left the box on the porch before I got home and whoever did this could have cut the brakes anytime. But I will know if someone comes after me.”

  “You’re going to allow this?” Dinah finally asked.

  Jamison stood up slowly, pinning Dinah with her gaze until her sister looked away. “I am still an elder and I have to weigh all our options, not just for Lee’s sake but for our people.” She looked down at Lee. “Yes, I trust your instincts, but I’m not adverse to someone providing backup. As for the Panthera, if I resist Hex on this I run the risk of making her suspicious. Whenever I talk to her, I get the feeling that somehow she already knows something. I won’t take that chance.”

  Lee still radiated irritation, but the challenge had faded from her gaze. “Fine, I’ll have a chaperone. At least I’ll know she’s there.”

  “Jamison, the Council isn’t going to like this.”

  “Noted, but at this point they don’t need to know anything.”

  Dinah looked at Jamison as if she’d never seen her before. “They’re going to be really pissed when they find out. It’s not like you to keep the Council in the dark.”

  Jamison considered that truth. The stakes had never been this high before. Jamison wasn’t comfortable with the idea of sacrificing a human life for any reason. She was already at odds with her mother over the incident with Aaron Dalton last year and Marie Tristan, second in command of the Panthera Council, would be thrilled if Jamison didn’t make it through her probationary period as an elder. Marie had never approved the idea of two elders on the Council from the same family. This would be just the excuse she needed to question Jamison’s loyalty to the community. Regardless Jamison stood firm.

  “I don’t care. The Council would willingly eliminate Hex just because she’s human if they thought it would help keep the Panthera a secret from the world.”

  “Is that so wrong?” Dinah asked. “You know what would happen if we were discovered. It may be a tired cliché, but you’ve seen the black and white creature features where the villagers show up with torches and sharp sticks to kill the monster. In reality, discovering shape changers will cause riots and mass casualties as every human in the world attempts to exterminate us.”

  “You don’t know that. Maybe the humans will surprise us.”

  “Are you saying you want the world to know about the Panthera?”

  Lee interrupted the sisters. “As much as I like the sound of being welcomed with open arms, I’m afraid I have to agree with Dinah. The world isn’t ready to know that werewolves, or werecats, are real.”

  Jamison turned to her partner in complete surprise.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Lee held up a hand. “I do not agree with putting Detective Hex in danger. Killing people to save your own ass is not honorable. But I do think the Council needs to know about her putting a bodyguard on me. If they find out later you’ll be in a lot of trouble and this is such a minor thing I don’t think it will matter.”

  “All right.” Jamison nodded. “I’ll tell them, but only about the bodyguard. I won’t tell them about my suspicions. Neither will you.” She directed the comment to Dinah. “It’s not like I can prove anything at this point anyway. This is all conjecture.”

  “I understand, elder. For the record, I don’t agree but I will follow your orders.”

  “Your opinion is noted. Now please go let Mother know that Lee is awake.”

  Dinah left without another word and Jamison settled into the chair next to Lee. She let the tension drain from her shoulders as she reached out to stroke her cheek. Seeing her partner’s open eyes and clear expression made Jamison feel better than she had since hearing about the accident.

  “I’m sorry about what I said before you left the house. I was frustrated over this case and I took it out on you. Please forgive me.”

  Lee leaned into the touch and Jamison wanted to purr at the contact. Sometimes it was truly unfortunate that big cats were incapable of such a reaction. A physiological trade-off for the ability to roar was that jaguar did not purr. Unable to make that simple contented sound, Jamison sought another way to express her feelings. She leaned forward and captured Lee’s lips with her own in a sweet caress. After a few moments Lee pulled away.

  “There is nothing to forgive. I should have been more patient. I know how much pressure you’re under and it was selfish of me to demand your attention. Catching this killer is more important. I bought you a piece of Andy’s cheesecake as a peace offering, but I guess it’s gone now.”

  “Probably flipped right out of the car and into the woods.” Jamison said, her eyes pinned on Lee’s and not really conscious of what she said.

  “Probably.” Lee sounded a little breathless.

  “Right now some raccoon or possum is eating my cheesecake.”

  “Shut up and kiss me.”

  Jamison did as Lee instructed. She took her time, slowly stroking Lee’s lips with the tip of her tongue before kissing her gently.

  “I see you’re feeling better.”

  Jamison ignored her mother’s voice and slowly completed the kiss. She wouldn’t rush away from showing her mate how much she cherished her. Finally, Jamison eased back and faced Darlene. Dinah stood beside their mother. As so
on as Jamison looked at Darlene she realized her decision to keep the Council out of the loop had created even more distance between them. Jamison felt coldness settle into her heart and watched confusion grow in her mother’s gaze. Darlene might not know of the reasons for Jamison’s withdrawal, but she clearly felt it all the same.

  Lee seemed unaware of the sudden tension, or perhaps she was simply more concerned with other things. “Yes, thanks. When can I go home?”

  Darlene shook herself slightly and stepped toward her patient. When Jamison didn’t relinquish her seat, Darlene raised an eyebrow and changed direction to walk around to the far side. She kept silent while she checked Lee’s vitals and shone a penlight in her eyes.

  “Everything looks good but you might have a headache for a few days. You broke your nose in the crash and even with your metabolism that’s going to take some time to heal fully. I’d like to run a few more tests, but if everything checks out I don’t see why you can’t go home tomorrow.”

  “So soon?” Jamison asked before Lee could respond. “Are you sure she doesn’t need to stay for a few more days? That was a pretty bad accident.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it,” Darlene said a little sharply. When Jamison refused to drop her gaze, Darlene’s tone dropped a few octaves. “Stand down, Jamison. I wouldn’t release her if I thought for one second there was any problem.”

  Jamison felt Lee take her hand. “Honey, please. Don’t.”

  That simple plea was the only thing that got through to her. For Lee’s sake, Jamison dropped her gaze. Still, she made it clear that she didn’t lower her gaze in deference to the Caber, but so that she could gaze into her partner’s eyes.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Would I lie to you? Besides, I’m starving and I have a date to go up onto Wolverine Summit with Dinah soon. Are you really going to deny me a helicopter ride?”

  Jamison smiled at the strength Lee displayed. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Just do me a favor and wait until the day after tomorrow. It’ll make me feel better if you get some rest before you start running all over the country again.”