Blood Dark (32 page)

‘
C
aleb will refuse
to speak under this roof,’ Feinith declared, ‘no matter what you present him with. He has a fervent hatred of your system and nothing will make him confess. Unfortunately though, as I’ve already explained, a shadow reading would not be advisable. I’m sure you’re more than aware of the implications. Should you move to prosecution, any shadow reading will obviously have to be declared in open media. Vampires despise your use of it as it is. You shadow read Caleb Dehain to get your conviction and you will have a riot on your hands. I am trying to safeguard you. I am trying to safeguard this district. For the sake of the community in Blackthorn …’

‘Since when have you had them at the forefront of your mind?’ Caitlin cut in.

She felt Morgan tense from his seat adjacent to her, but it had to be said. She knew enough about how the Higher Order operated even before she’d got to know Kane: the HO only ever got involved when there was something in it for them.

Just once had she ever known an assailant transferred to maximum security. It only ever happened if the Higher Order’s diplomatic service became involved. Maximum security was, ironically, neutral territory that blocked any further contact with the assailant other than with the HO representative and the authority pinnacle in the division.

Caleb was well and truly out of bounds the second Feinith showed an interest. If Kane had been right about Feinith’s affair with Caleb though, her motivations were even more of a concern. And if Feinith intended to get Caleb out, the consequences didn’t bare thinking about.

Feinith didn’t even bother to acknowledge Caitlin’s statement. Instead she kept her attention fixed on Morgan, an act of dismissal that further aggravated her.

‘You know the damage this could do if word gets out exactly what this is about,’ Feinith said. ‘Humans hunting out vampires under
your
jurisdiction; Caleb standing up to them. You’ll make a martyr of him. Think about how this will be portrayed. It was humans who were in the wrong here – taking things into their own hands, making you look incompetent. And we both know incompetency is the last thing you need right now. By prosecuting either brother you will perpetuate the belief that you are human-orientated first and foremost, not justice orientated. It’s the worst thing you could do. It could provoke an uprising.’

Which was exactly what Sirius wanted.

‘We have evidence building against both brothers,’ Morgan said. ‘We will find it difficult not to justify continuing.’

‘Evidence that points to the victim being willing by all accounts – which is exactly what even your witness will testify to. This woman was not an innocent plucked off the street – she was an assassin. She went in there on a suicide mission to commit murder.’

‘Not that Jake knew that,’ Morgan reminded her.

‘Which is irrelevant. What
is
relevant is how messy this could become for you. What kind of girl would take such desperate measures? What kind of system leads to a woman once of Midtown and of a good family reduced to Lowtown and to turning to such acts of violence? So let down by that system through no fault of her own that she would end up voluntarily committing suicide in the depths of Blackthorn? How will that make other residents of Midtown feel? Those with daughters of their own? You will be flagging up that this can happen to anyone. You will heighten concern. What they’ll see is a terminally ill young woman abandoned by the system that is there to protect her, willing to die to make changes. That’ll be the headline – not that you’ve prosecuted yet another vampire.’

‘Caleb covered up that murder,’ Morgan stated.

‘Their home was invaded. Caleb disposed of the woman’s body to protect his brother rather than face-up to the authorities already exposed as being rife with corruption.’

Morgan’s expression remained stoic, his hands interlaced as they rested on the table. ‘Nine humans have been murdered in little over a week, all linked to that same vigilante group. Someone is responsible.’

But seemingly Feinith had no intention of implicating her betrothed, which begged the question why she’d want Caleb out at all.

Unless she knew. Unless Caleb had told her.

But she couldn’t tell Morgan. She couldn’t reveal what he was without blowing everything. Her heart pounded a little harder as she tried to think.

Feinith leaned forward. ‘I am here in a neutral capacity but I do have to remind you that certain laws in the management of our kind were attributed to the Higher Order in order for us to do our jobs in helping you to maintain discipline. I am telling you that prosecuting either of the Dehains would cause significant difficulties. Please do not underestimate Caleb’s power or influence. Believe me when I say the Higher Order has your best interests at heart.’

‘So you’re suggesting we let them go?’

‘We respect your concerns. We also have our own ways of ascertaining the truth. We have our own way of dealing with those who do not respect your laws and bring us into disrepute as a result. We will detain Jake in our own facility –’

‘The Pit,’ Caitlin cut in.

Feinith’s eyes narrowed on Caitlin but the subtle curve of her lips remained. ‘For Jake. I propose a kind of community service, for want of a better term, for Caleb.’

Caitlin’s stomach churned.

Setting him free was
exactly
what she intended.

‘Like what?’ Morgan asked, his eyes sparking with curiosity.

Like inciting the vampire uprising.

‘I think it best we discuss that between us,’ Feinith said, focusing her full attention on Morgan.

Kane.

Her heart pounding was matched by the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Feinith had something planned for Kane. She was game playing – every instinct told Caitlin that. And she knew as much as Feinith did that there was nothing she could do to protest.

‘Feinith, I understand your concerns,’ Morgan said. ‘I understand what you are presenting and –’

The knock on the door was swift.

At first dismissive of the interruption, Morgan reluctantly joined the officer outside.

‘I’m afraid there’s a situation I’m going to need to deal with,’ Morgan said, tucking his head back around the door.

And there was no guessing what.

‘Caitlin, I’d like you to wait down in your office for me. I need to speak to you shortly. Feinith, I can’t apologise enough. We’ll resume as soon as possible.’

Caitlin knew an instruction when she heard one, just as she knew why he’d left the door wide open behind him. He wanted her as far away from Feinith as possible before she dared to put her foot in it.

As she stood, Caitlin’s glare locked on Feinith. And she could see by the indignation in the vampire’s eyes that being looked at in such a manner wasn’t something she was used to.

But Feinith retained her composure, her smug smile. ‘Fret not, my dear, Caleb is in
very
capable hands now.’

‘I’ll be doing what I can to keep him inside,’ Caitlin said. ‘I want you to know that.’

Inside where they could reformulate a plan. She had to talk to Morgan and at least get him to delay.

‘Ahh,’ Feinith said. ‘Now I see it.’

Caitlin pushed her chair under, trying hard not to indulge her. But her curiosity was too great. ‘See what?’ she asked, clutching the back of the chair.

‘Why Kane has had so much fun with you. He’s an interesting one, that lover of yours, isn’t he?’ She cocked her head to the side slightly. ‘Very …’ she pondered over her words before staring down her nose at Caitlin with hooded eyes. ‘Persistent.’ Her full lips curled up slightly in one corner as she held Caitlin’s gaze partially in triumph and partially in distain. ‘In
every
facet.’ She leaned closer. ‘He’s talked about you. He’s let me in on
all
the little details.’ She smirked. ‘Those two cute little freckles on that pert derrière of yours. He
loves
those.’

Caitlin’s heart thudded, a cool perspiration sweeping over her.

‘So like I said – don’t you worry, Agent Parish,’ she said with another flash of a smile. ‘Everything is in hand. We know
exactly
what we’re doing.’

‘
Y
ou can reseal
the break in the dimensions
without
Caleb?’ Kane asked.

Leila nodded. ‘Yes. Temporarily.’

‘How temporarily?’

‘A few days at least.’ Despite being huddled between her two sisters, she shivered in her damp blouse, the mist casting a dewy hue over her face and hair. ‘Long enough to sort the permanent solution.’

‘Does Caleb know what he is?’ Kane asked.

‘I suggest we talk about Caleb when this is done,’ Leila said, ‘because for every hour that passes, more fourth dimension creatures get in.’

‘How many would have already got through?’

‘I don’t know. It’s impossible to tell. The break could be a miles wide by now. Imagine it looking like an infinity symbol.’ Ironically the symbol of new order, of a new creation. ‘And having an electrical charge, constantly self-generating magnetic power and getting stronger and bigger each time, drawing more and more from the fourth dimension through the loops and into ours. What we have to do is cause a block – a bit like putting a peg on a wire.’

‘How?’

‘By spilling my blood, just as the prophecy wants.’

‘Why do I suddenly not like the sound of this?’ Phia remarked.

‘A small amount,’ Leila reassured her. ‘Just enough to activate the spell. There’s an epicentre somewhere in Blackthorn. I think it’s on the south side because according to the maps in the TSCD, that’s where the localised activity is. That’s where it needs to be done.’

‘Where I drew my visions,’ Jessie remarked, echoing Kane’s thoughts.

‘You can take me there?’ Leila asked.

Kane nodded. ‘Yes. Are you all we need?’

‘Not quite. I’m going to need angel blood too. It’s the only thing more powerful than Caleb’s blood for the temporary closure. And it’ll also help to have angel presence to mask the break’s existence back in the fourth dimension whilst I close it.’

‘Like in the cellar,’ Jessie said to Eden. ‘The aura I emanate,’ she said to the others, ‘the light of it blinds them. I used it back when I rescued the lycan young.’

‘Exactly,’ Leila said.

‘So we’re good to go?’ Kane asked.

‘We have Jessie but I’m afraid I’m going to need a male angel too. It’s the Yin and Yang rule: masculine and feminine. For this to work, we need both. Can any of you get your hands on a male angel? Quickly?’

M
organ stepped
inside Caitlin’s office and closed the door.

The queasy feeling after Feinith’s proclamation was bad enough without the gravity on Morgan’s face exacerbating it.

She wasn’t going to believe it. What Feinith said was some kind of cruel lie or a manipulative trick. She wasn’t going to fall for it. She wasn’t going to doubt Kane again.

But the comment, the detail of it, was so deeply personal. No one other than someone she had been intimate with would know it. No one but Kane. No one but Rob.

Rob who she now knew to be out. But there was no possible link between Feinith and Rob. Rob would never disclose such things, let alone to a vampire. He would never have any reason to disclose such things.

But Meghan had said she’d spoken to Rob. That Rob had disclosed things about their relationship. If Meghan was linked to Sirius and Sirius was linked to Feinith …

Morgan placed the overfilled cardboard folder he’d brought with him on the floor. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

Something was wrong. From the way he looked down at the floor for a few moments, something was badly wrong.

‘You went to see Dehain a couple of hours ago,’ he said. His gaze snapped back to hers. ‘Why?’

‘I wanted to check a few basic facts.’

‘I didn’t even know you were back in the office.’

‘I don’t usually have to report my presence.’

Morgan leaned back in his seat. ‘A little over an hour ago Alisha McKay was taken out of her cell by someone posing as Meghan,’ he said, his eyes laced with disappointment as much as suspicion as he looked back at her. ‘Her sister, an interpreter, has been reported missing from the conference room – twenty minutes after you also spoke to her.’

‘Leila?’

‘Yes, Leila,’ he said, his eyes darkening a little. ‘What did you talk to her about?’

Caitlin knew she had to give him something. ‘Whilst I was researching Sophia on the system, I worked out Alisha was related to her, which also led me to Leila. I wanted to find out when she’d last heard from Sophia. With Sophia being a key witness –’

‘You didn’t think to tell me this link before proceeding?’

‘You told me to go out there and investigate, Matt – to do what I do best. I was trying to get something concrete first.’

‘You were supposed to be home resting.’

‘And I couldn’t sleep. But what’s new? So I came here to do something about it.’

‘So you flagged up to Leila that her sister was in this building? In detainment?’

‘She was under guard in the conference area. I told them to keep a close eye on her. How the hell did she get into the detainment area anyway? I take it you’ve got some of the team out looking? They couldn’t have got that far. ’

His eyes narrowed with suspicion again. ‘A CEO helped.’

‘Which CEO?’

‘Hodges said it was Eden Reece.’

Caitlin feigned what realistic surprise she could. ‘What has Reece got to do with the McKays?’

Morgan leaned forward again. He pinched the top of his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he took a steady breath. ‘After you left earlier tonight, I asked Caleb to account for where he was during the murders. Tyrell has been checking out what he said.’ He looked back across at her. ‘So far he’s got alibis for every single one.’

Her heart barely contained itself in her chest. ‘Okay …’

‘Okay? That’s what you have to say?’

‘What more can I say?’

‘Caitlin,’ he said, the strain of annoyance clear in his voice. ‘Do
not
play games with me. I’m finding it hard enough to contain my temper over what is already going through my head. Caleb must have had access to the dates and times of all those murders.’

‘Or he genuinely is innocent –’

Morgan’s face reddened. ‘Stop!’ he snapped. ‘Just
stop
, Caitlin.’

‘You don’t think its suspicious that Feinith showed up here? When does she ever show an interest in our detainees? And now she’s trying to get Caleb out? We need to keep him here for further …’

‘You passed that information on to Kane, didn’t you?’

She held her gaze as steadily as she could on Morgan. But she couldn’t lie. She couldn’t look her friend in the eye and lie.

As silence reigned between them, she heard him exhale with unease, with barely contained temper.

‘Why?’ he demanded quietly.

‘Because I don’t think he’s responsible for The Alliance murders. Focusing on him was distracting from whoever the real culprit is.’

Because she trusted Kane. She believed in Kane. He’d been so convincing about the Higher Order’s involvement …

Feinith and Kane.

Feinith and Kane were working together.

She forced the thought out of her head the second it invaded again, Feinith’s words still too raw.

‘Oh, fucking genius,’ he said. She didn’t need the sarcasm in his tone to exacerbate the look in his eyes. ‘Even if I did say no to Feinith now, one inkling of this and our entire case would be thrown out whether we could find them guilty of Trudy Lawrence or not. They’d both walk. This entire unit would be ruined.’ He rested his head in his hands. ‘I can’t believe this. I can’t believe you’ve been so negligent, so naïve, so
stupid
.’ He stared back at her. ‘You
let
Kane Malloy cover his buddy’s back. You let him use you. I warned you …’

He stood and turned away.

And that was exactly what they could do if Morgan didn’t play ball: they’d threaten more exposure of internal corruption.

It was inevitable Caleb would be taken in – but using her meant they’d be sure to get him back out.

‘You think I don’t know where you were last night when I was trying to get hold of you?’ Morgan added. ‘Or should I say I know
who
you were with. The same as I know you don’t take your work phone with you for fear of being tracked. You’re an investigative agent through and through, the best I’ve ever worked with. Yet you cannot see through him and I wish I knew why. He has used you from the outset. This is why he has kept the contact with you: little snippets of information here and there, protecting his own. And because you prefer to focus on fucking him than concentrating on the well-being of this locale,’ he said, the harshness of his tone, the curtness of his words taking her aback, ‘he might have just succeeded in getting the second-most-dangerous vampire in this district off without so much as a warning. Is that what less than three weeks with him does? Is he
that
good between the sheets?’

‘Don’t,’ she said quietly.

‘Because you don’t want to hear it? You don’t want to hear the truth? But I don’t know how else to get through to you. Your family
murdered
his sister in the most cruel and despicable way. You think incarceration in the very system he loathes is anywhere near enough to placate him? Do you think that it is wrapped up and done? You’re smart, Caitlin. You’ve never been anyone’s fool. But he’s got to you somehow. You walk around convincing yourself that your eyes are wide open but you can’t see the blinkers. And I’m scared for you. As your boss, but more as your friend, I’m scared of his potential around you. I gave you a chance here when no one else wanted me to. And this is why. This is why …’

His voice trailed off.

Morgan lowered his gaze, his lips mashed together as he sank back into the chair. He rested his head in his hands before dragging them down his face as he looked up at the ceiling. Picking up the thick cardboard folder from the floor, he chucked it onto the desk in front of Caitlin, it landing with a definitive thunk.

‘I want you to take a look at that,’ he said. ‘I shouldn’t be showing it to you, but I’m doing it because I care. I’m doing it because I think you need to read this more than ever.’

Her pulse raced at the concern in Morgan’s gaze. ‘What is it?’

‘It’s a file from the vault – a top-secret file on Malloy. It’s confidential enough that no copies have ever been made; they’re all originals. It must not leave this office. I can only give you a few hours with it. I’m putting my job on the line even sharing its existence with you. It contains sensitive information about several agents from this division over the decades, in most cases their families too. It spans over fifty years. Because of its restrictive access, only Xavier previously had access to it. With him and Max not replaced, I’ve had a few more leniencies put my way. Caitlin, I want you to read it because I think you have a right to know everything.
This
is the full profile.’ He paused for a moment. ‘I think Xavier let this slip to Max, to Rob, and to your father. I think
this
was their real motivation as to why they got involved with Kane Malloy.’

Her stomach flipped.

‘In exchange for these testimonies, those involved were assured it wouldn’t be made public knowledge. You’ll see why. Caitlin, you need to know that Kane had a vendetta against the TSCD long before what happened to Arana. He simply turned the entire thing with her to his advantage. He has always despised us. He has always wanted to bring the entire law-enforcement system down.’

The room spun a little, the edges of it blurring as all she could hear was the thrumming of blood in her ears.

‘You’re not the first, Caitlin. You’re just one in a long line, but you’re most definitely his most-successful accomplishment to date considering the corruption you brought to the forefront. He has
used
you. He has always used you. I don’t know what he’s ultimately planning, Caitlin, I’m not sure any of us will until it happens, but there’s a bigger picture here and he’s using this unit as his personal playground. But one thing we know for sure is that once he’s done, he’s done. That folder contains the truth that he won’t ever want you to see. I want you to open your eyes before it’s too late.’