Lycan Packs 1: Lycan Instinct (3 page)

“Yes, sir.”

“And I’ll need the final prospectus on that Las Vegas acquisition by tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, sir.” Sylvia Waters hurried to keep up with his longer strides. “One other thing, sir. A police detective was in the lobby asking to speak with you. I had Frank tell him to call for an appointment.”

Rafe stepped into the elevator. “Interesting.”

It took less than a minute for the elevator to descend to the lobby. He spent that time pondering why the police wanted to speak to him. Soliciting for a law enforcement retirement fund most likely. There’d been no rogue Lycan activity in the Chicago area since he'd founded the Lykos Institute and clearly claimed this part of the country as his sole territory.

“Your limousine’s here, Mr. Stone.”

“How’s the family, Frank?”

“Just fine, sir. Suzy’s expecting again.” The security guard stepped around his desk and pushed the door open before Rafe could do it himself.

“Again? What’s this one make? A dozen?”

“No, sir." Frank laughed. “Six, unless it’s twins again.”

“A half dozen, then. You have my sympathies and heartfelt congratulations.” He shook the guard’s hand, bemused by an unexpected sense of envy. “Give Suzy my best.”

“Will do, sir.”

Rafe nodded at Simon when he pulled open the car’s door. He ducked inside, and then froze as the door closed. Seated across from him was a honeyed blonde vision in tanned leather and worn denim. With one arm draped across the back seat, her bomber jacket exposed a gun in a shoulder holster and a shiny badge tucked in at her slim waist.

“Rafael Stone?” The hair at his nape stood alert as the smooth, cultured vibration of her voice resonated through him.

He laid his briefcase aside and eyed the woman who'd so effectively slipped passed his security. He breathed deeply, taking in a pleasant, albeit unique, mix of scents. Leather, coconut, and aloe. Rafe’s gaze lowered over the V-neck of her white, button-up shirt, past enticing breasts to the badge again. His jaw set. The call to his chief financial officer would have to wait.

“Were you expecting someone else, Detective?”

“No.”

Feeling the car pull away from the curb, he watched her ponytail sway and asked, “May I ask how you gained entry to my limousine?”

“Don’t fire the driver over it. He doesn’t know I’m here.”

“But then, part of his job is to know who is in here."

“I had a fellow police officer hassle him about double parking. As far as distractions go, it was enough.”

“Ah. Creative.” He made a mental note to instruct Simon on the importance of keeping the doors locked. “You have me at a disadvantage, Detective. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“Mackenzie Lyons, Chicago PD.”

“Unusual police procedure, Detective Lyons. Should I contact my attorneys?”

Her smile was subtle. Sly. “That depends. Have you committed a crime you’d like to confess to?”

Amused, he cocked an eyebrow. “I confess only to being intrigued by your presence here. To what do I owe for the pleasure of your company?”

“Homicide, Mr. Stone.”

“I beg your pardon?”

As if she sensed a challenge, she planted her sneakers on the floor, leaned forward, and propped both forearms on her thighs. The move hid her gun, but unveiled an alluring bit of cleavage. Annoyed that he’d noticed, Rafe kept his eyes fixed on her watchful blue gaze.

“I’m investigating an apparent homicide. Last night, a man’s body was found in a filthy alley on the Southside.”

“And you wished to speak to me about this unfortunate individual because...?”

“He was dumped there after being a tofu snack for an animal, the four-legged variety.”

Rafe knew his face showed no sign of the sudden anger and surprise he felt. The anger he could deal with, but the surprise was an unusual sensation. Few people ever caught him off guard. But this curious detective seemed to have an uncanny ability for doing just that.

Could a rogue Lycan be hunting his territory without his knowledge? He’d have to call his brother immediately.

“I’m afraid I still don’t understand what that has to do with me. Would I know the man? Do you have his name?”

“I understand you founded the Lykos Institute.”

He noticed how she avoided answering his questions and wondered where she was heading with this interrogation, so he chose his words with caution. “My brother actually oversees the daily operations, but yes, I started L.I. and have an active interest in it.”

“And this organization specializes in knowing anything and everything there is to know about dogs?”

“Ah, I see. Yes, you could say that. Lykos is a nonprofit educational institute that promotes the humane treatment of canines, both wild and domestic.”

“What about the kind that can kill a man?”

“I assume we’re talking about domestic breeds only? Like many of the larger domestic breeds, wolf packs are certainly capable of harming humans, although such attacks are rare. More so, here in Illinois...and in Chicago.” He let his skepticism show in both voice and look.

“Rare or not, at least one animal—maybe more—used a man for a chew toy last night. What about training a dog to kill?”

“That’s possible. There have been unscrupulous men who trained dogs for such brutal ventures as dog fights. Some animals have even been known to turn on their handlers, often with deadly consequences. The goal of most dog training programs, however, is far different.”

She leaned back in her seat again and crossed her arms. “Obedience training?”

Rafe nodded. “Among other things. For instance, we sponsor programs that teach dogs how to attack...to protect...for purposes such as those used by your K-9 officers. They’re taught how to track and subdue, not kill.” He paused, watching for any shift in her expression. “Were you able to collect any physical evidence that could be linked to an animal?”

The change was subtle, but he saw it. The slight narrowing of her eyes, the tiny tilt of her head, the alert tenseness of her body. “Why do you ask?”

He shrugged as if the matter was of minor import. “Like humans, animals have unique DNA. That or hair samples could be used to make a connection between a suspected animal and your victim. L.I. has an extensive database, and our staff has years of experience in tracking and identifying various breeds of canines. If you’d like a professional consult concerning any evidence in the case, I’m quite certain we could assist.” He would make sure of it.

“That’s very generous.”

“Why don’t I have my brother contact you?”

The limousine slowed to a stop.

Mackenzie pulled out a business card. “His name is?”

“Gabriel.” Rafe took the card from her and resisted the urge to touch her hand.
Was her skin as soft as it appeared
?

“I look forward to speaking with him.”

Yes, he must contact his brother very soon. If another Lycan was around, he doubted a cover-up would easily fool this detective. The door opened, and he reached for his briefcase.

“Mr. Stone, how many properties do you own in the city of Chicago that use guard dogs for security purposes?”

He paused, peering at her. She was good, and dangerous. He’d wager a million at least that she could already name every piece of property in question. Probably had the list in a pocket somewhere. “Quite a few. They are very effective as preventative measures. I’d have to check to be certain of the exact number, but if you like, I could fax you a list.”

“Thank you. I’d like that.”

Rafe exited the vehicle and ordered a surprised Simon to return the detective to her car, which was most certainly parked somewhere near his offices.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“On the contrary, I insist. Good day, Detective Lyons.”

As he watched the limousine pull away, he flipped open his cell phone.

Courteous and sculpted to perfection, Rafael Stone made a memorable first impression. He also remained a puzzle for Mackenzie after their face-to-face meeting.

He was younger than she’d expected, which added to her perception of vigor. A man needed ambition and discipline, backed by talent and intelligence, to reach such heights at his age. Some men spent years climbing over others’ backs to garner an ounce of the captivating power that rolled off Stone in waves. Strong, smart, and no doubt arrogant.

The latter usually turned her off, but she’d liked his smooth, casual demeanor. That slight curl to his lips. She wondered what would unsettle Stone’s foundations.

Despite his lavish choice of transportation and the tailored suits he wore, which probably cost more than a month of her pay, he was not just a handsome face. Something about those dark, mysterious brown eyes told her there was much more to the wealthy entrepreneur than he presented to the world. Still, with those features combined with that body and commanding presence… No wonder photographers chased him with cameras ready.

She was still thinking of jet-black hair and fathomless eyes when she reached her office to find her chair occupied by a hazel-eyed brunette with a crew cut and a badge.

“Coop, get out of my chair.” She shoved his size eleven snakeskin boots off the corner of her desk.

“You cost me twenty bucks, Mac.”

“How much did you bet?”

“Five.”

“Four-to-one odds? You should’ve had more faith in me.”

She sat and picked up the fax draped across her keyboard. The man was efficient. She’d give him that. Stone’s computer-generated list included a few properties that weren’t on hers. Flipping to the last page, she smiled at the bold strokes of a handwritten note.

Enjoyed our private chat.

Until next time.

Rafe.

Cooper propped half his butt on the corner of her desk, his heel banging into the side. “One day, Mac.”

“You put a dent in my desk, Coop...”

He ignored her. “Not even one day. Hours. Damn, what’d you do? Kidnap the man?”

“I’d have to get within five miles of him to do that, now wouldn’t I?”

Cooper’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying you didn’t actually see Stone today?”

“I saw him. He volunteered his services to help in the investigation.”

He pointed at the fax. “What’s that ‘private’ chat all about?”

“We spoke while riding in his car across town. And this is to let me know I’ll be seeing him again.”

“Yeah, well, you apparently made quite an impression. Gabriel Stone called before you arrived. He wants to see you, too, and left a number. Here.” He handed her a note, but the phone rang before she could lift the receiver to make the call.

“Lyons.”

“Mac, you may want to come down to the morgue. I’ve got something on your John Doe.”

She sensed, more than heard, the urgency in Tancock’s voice. “I’m on my way.”

“Any new leads?” Rafe asked the moment his brother walked in the room.

“On the vanishings or the homicide?” Gabriel’s face, so much like his own, showed serious focus in the firm lines and drawn brow.

“Either.”

“No more missing Lycans. As for the murder? No reports of any rogue sightings in the metropolitan area. Could be someone new in the city, and the cops got the first call.” A slight curve twitched at the corner of Gabe’s mouth. “Not surprising, since they have 9-1-1 and our numbers aren’t exactly listed.”

“For good reason. Heard from Lucian?”

“Yes, he’s heading home on the next flight.” Gabe accepted a snifter of brandy and sat in the plush leather seat opposite him. “Another successful mission.”

Rafe lifted his glass in salute. “Any fallout?”

“No more than your little confrontation with that politician last weekend garnered.”

“Few gossip rags were interested.”

Gabe snorted.

“What about the mission?” Rafe pressed, not wanting to discuss his daily dealings with the ever-present paparazzi. Such publicity was why he was no longer an L.I. field agent.

“There was a small article in that tabloid,
Global Examiner
. A villager claims to have given birth to a werewolf’s baby.”

“Oh?”

“Included a photo, obviously doctored, of a very hairy, chubby infant.”

“Entertaining, I’m sure,” he said dryly.

Gabe chuckled. “I’ll give your compliments to our team. Seriously though, there were a few local stories, but nothing on legitimate global news sources. A couple in a remote village killed by a supposedly rabid wolf doesn’t make international news, especially when that wolf is stopped.”

Rafe rose to pour himself another drink. He faced the large glass wall that opened onto a spectacular view of the city, always changing but silent from the top floor of his corporate offices. “Let’s keep Lucian stateside for a while.”

“The homicide?”

Rafe savored the taste of his own brandy before nodding. “Did you contact Detective Lyons?”

“Left a message. Nothing yet.”

He felt Gabriel studying him and fought to relax the tension in his shoulders. His brother was often too observant for his own good.

“What am I missing?”

“There’s nothing to miss,” Rafe answered. “She’s investigating the murder of someone apparently mauled to death. It would be in our best interest to consult on the case.”

“She?” Gabe’s eyebrows rose. “You never mentioned the detective was a woman. Is she Lycan?”

Rafe remembered her scent. Female, attractive, but definitely human. “No.”

“Is she pretty?”

His grip tightened on the snifter. For some reason he couldn’t fathom, his brother’s sudden interest grated. “She’s off-limits.”

“Possessive, are we?”

“Don’t even think it.”

“Yep. I bet she’s sexy.”

“What she is, is a homicide detective, the last person I’d want to uncover our secret.”

“Who says she has to know? There’s no harm in dabbling with a willing female, especially a pretty one. And if you aren’t claiming her, I might like to give her a try.”

Rafe shot his brother a quelling look.

Gabe wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Think of what she could do with handcuffs...”

“No.” An unexpected growl burned in Rafe’s throat. The thought of Gabe and Mackenzie together made him see red, which only infuriated him more because he knew he shouldn’t care. Although his entire being wanted to howl against allowing Gabe to “give her a try,” he hadn’t staked a claim on her. And he wouldn’t. He needed a mate, sure, but not a human—a female cop—who could jeopardize everything. The danger she posed to the pack outweighed all else.