Scarlet (16 page)

His grin widened, showing off dimples. "I've been a bounty hunter for the past fifteen years, Commander. The chances of me getting hurt or even detected are slim."

She stared at him, trying to gauge his sincerity. It was hard to do through his protective mask. She knew he wanted to help, but it was wrong to put a new recruit in danger for any reason. There would be plenty of time later where his life would be on the line. It didn't need to be at the beginning of training.

"I-I'm not sure that's such a good idea," she said.

His smile wavered. "We've been chasing a ghost for two weeks. You've already taken a lot of heat for something you didn't do."

"How do you know I'm innocent?" she asked. Demery's grin returned full force. "If Sanchez says that you didn't have anything to do with it, then I believe him. He knows things about me no man should know. He truly has a gift. Besides," he elbowed her teasingly, "you don't seem the type to waste your time on revenge."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." She smirked.

"Any time."

Red looked up and down the street to ensure their privacy. "If I agree to let you do this, what do you need me to do?"

Demery's eyes twinkled behind the faceplate. "Would you buy that I need you to get naked while I'm doing my deep-breathing exercises?"

Red laughed. "No."

"It was worth a try." Demery chuckled. "But if you're not going to get naked, then I guess the answer would be nothing. I just need a quiet place to clear my mind, so I can get in the altered state necessary to do remote viewing."

"Do you want to do it in your room?"

'That would be fine."

"When do you want to start?" she asked, feeling a prickle on the back of her neck.

"Now is as good a time as any," he said, staring at something over her shoulder. "I'll let you know what I find."

"Thanks," Red said, looking behind her. Even though her vision was good, she didn't see anything lurking in the shadows.

Demery touched her arm and she jumped. "Sorry, Commander, didn't mean to scare you. But I think Raphael wants to see you." He nodded to a spot across the street. "I still can't believe he can walk in the light." Envy and awe filled his voice. "Must be nice."

Red tensed. "Yeah, he's different all right." How had she missed Raphael's approach? It was humiliating. She was supposed to lead these men. How could she do that if she couldn't detect a lone vampire? "I should've known it was him. I would've been able to scent the others."

Demery laughed. "The only reason I detected him was because we have something in common."

Her brow crinkled. "What's that? Fangs? A blood fetish?"

"No." He looked at her and all humor fled his face. "You," he said softly, then walked back into the depot.

*    *    *

Morgan's mind reeled as he stared at the empty lab. It wasn't possible. He'd seen the shipping orders. Watched the vehicles arrive to unload their shipments. Project Scarlet and his family should be here.

He stepped through the door and his booted feet echoed in the emptiness. Morgan scanned the room, even checking the area near the ceiling. Nothing but a white void stared back. He heard the alarms as the sweepers arrived to battle his diversion. He couldn't afford to stay any longer. The muscles in his chest tightened as he stared in disbelief. Something was wrong, seriously wrong.

Muffled footsteps sounded from nearby. Morgan had a split second to move. It was either that or risk discovery. He leapt up. shifting into his wolf form on the way. His claws latched onto a beam high above his head, sinking into the metal with a scraping clank. Pain shot through his hands and arms, but Morgan didn't utter a sound as two security guards he'd never seen before poked their heads into the room. They looked around quickly. Without spotting anyone, they shut the door.

Morgan waited, his claws straining under his weight. A few more seconds passed. When no one returned, he forced them to retract and he dropped to the ground, sweat dripping down his forehead. That was close. He took a shuddering breath and forced the wolf back inside.

By the time Morgan returned to the scene of the bombing, the sweepers had managed to clean up the fire. Smoke still wafted in the air, but it wasn't nearly as black as it had been earlier. Pete's uniform was disheveled and his face was gray.

"Are you okay?" Morgan asked.

"We got a call that someone broke into area 47F when you were gone." He hadn't come right out and accused Morgan of the crime, but something in his eyes told Morgan that Pete suspected him.

"I know. I heard," he lied. "I went there to check it out, but no one was there. One of the workers must have tripped the
alarm."

Pete stared at him hard. "We didn't find the person who set the bomb. The sweepers said it was sabotage."

"That doesn't make sense." Morgan frowned. "I didn't think there was anything in this lab of any importance,"
he said.

"There isn't, but it's obvious the saboteur didn't know that." Pete's shoulders relaxed.

Morgan knew Pete had realized if he was behind the sabotage he would've picked a real target.

"I'm about ready to call it a day," Pete said, wiping the grime from his face.

"Me, too," Morgan said, clapping him on the shoulder. "How about I buy you a drink?"

"Sounds good to me."

The two men walked down the hall to Coleman's desk. The Eye of God was pressing several buttons and scowling.

"What's the matter?" Morgan asked, edging closer to the spot where he'd planted the video loops.

Coleman didn't look up. "This damn thing doesn't seem to be working right. I don't understand the problem. I've run two different diagnostics and they've come up with nothing."

"Would you like me to take a look at it?" Morgan asked, brushing the man's leg as he slipped past him.

There was a sharp intake of breath behind him as Morgan bent over and pretended to analyze the circuits and wires. "I think I found the problem," he said, jiggling a few circuit boards for effect. "It's here," Morgan said, pulling out a charred wire, while palming the video loops with his other hand. "I'm surprised you didn't smell it."

"What?" Coleman's eyes slid from Morgan's ass to the burnt wire in his hand. "Yes, that could do it," he said unapologetically.

"You may want to get someone down here to run another systems check for you," Morgan suggested. "That is, once they replace the wires."

Coleman swallowed hard as Morgan slipped slowly past him again. Morgan could smell his arousal. It filled the air like a tangy spice. He was sure that if he looked down the man would be erect. A twinge of guilt hit, but Morgan brushed it aside.

"I'll get right on it," Coleman said, caressing him with his gaze.

"You do that." Morgan winked at him and followed Pete out of the building.

Pete stopped him when they'd made it to his hydro car. "I didn't think you were interested in Coleman that way," he said.

Morgan met his gaze. "I'm not, but it makes our job easier if he thinks I am."

"How so?" Pete asked.

"Coleman takes care of our schedules. One wrong word and he can have us working the night shift."

Pete grimaced. "I never thought about it that way before. Heck, if I had, I would've probably tried flirting with him myself. Though I doubt I'd have been as convincing as you. Had me worried there for a minute, partner." He laughed.

"Why?" Morgan asked, knowing it would put Pete on the spot.

"Because ... well.. ." Pete blushed from the tips of his ears straight down his neck.

Morgan snorted, unable to keep a straight face any longer. "Don't worry," he said. "You're not my type."

chapter twelve

Red strolled across the street to the alley. Now that the sun had dipped behind the buildings, the shadows were deep. "You can come out now. I know you're in there."

A cool breath caressed her ear. "Are you sure?" he purred, stepping out of striking range.

Red jumped. "I was." A minute ago. "What are you doing spying on me?"

Raphael's brow arched. "I wasn't spying on you."

"Were you standing in the shadows, watching me and Demery talk?"

"Yes."

"Were you listening to our conversation?" she asked.

"Yes," he said.

Red cocked her hip and settled her hand on it. "I don't know what you call it, but I call that spying."

Raphael's lips twitched and he gave a slight shrug. "Observing is the not the same as spying."

"If you say so."

"I didn't come here to argue semantics, I came here to see if you'd found your killer yet."

Her shoulders drooped. "No. I'm sure you would've heard about it if we had. The consensus is that the person left when the job was done."

"Logical conclusion, since there haven't been any strangers in town other than your accuser. Of course," he paused, "it could always be one of the new recruits."

"Jim Thornton suggested the same thing." Red glanced over her shoulder. Fear prickled her senses. She'd considered an enemy within the town. It had happened before with Morgan's cousin Kane to devastating effect, but she hadn't wanted to suspect the recruits.

Yet she couldn't deny there was no safer place for a murderer to be than right under her nose. She thought about each candidate. Some of these men were dangerous, no doubt. They could easily kill someone without leaving a trace. But were they behind the murder? She didn't think so.

"I've vetted them. Their backgrounds check out," she said.

Raphael cocked his head. "Backgrounds can be manipulated. You of all people should know that."

She sighed. Yes, Red knew firsthand how easy it was to change someone's past. Most of hers had been a complete fabrication, thanks to her grandfather's overprotective nature. "I still don't think it's any of my men. They've all been too determined to catch the killer, even the ones who suspect I'm behind the murder."

"And who exactly would they be?" His voice dripped · with menace.

Red balked. "Knock it off. I can handle them. I don't need you going all alpha on me." Her stomach took that moment to growl, ruining her confident stance.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asked, giving her a closer perusal. "Your cheeks are sunken and you have dark circles under your eyes. You should take better care of yourself."

Red snorted. "Thanks, Mom. I'll keep that in mind."

Raphael scowled. "I am not your mother, but I
am
concerned about your well-being." He reached for her hand, clasping it in his cold one. "Now let's get you something to eat."

She didn't bother to pull away. It was nice being around someone who didn't look at her with suspicion. Someone who was willing to listen to her vent. Red allowed Raphael to walk her down the street to the food dispensing station. There were few people out, but the ones who were eyed them with something close to contempt.

"They think I'm cheating on Morgan with you," she said. "Maggie practically accused us of having a clandestine meeting in the valley. Can you believe it?"

Raphael didn't respond.

His silence caused her to chatter on. "I told them the idea was ridiculous." Even as she said the words, she felt the warmth of his touch shimmering up her arm and through her body. He'd been cool moments ago, but no longer.

He stopped, meeting her eyes a second before his molten gaze dropped to her mouth. "You're right. How could they imagine anything so
outrageous?"

Red's pulse kicked up a notch as Raphael wet his bottom lip. The moisture glistening there had her undivided attention. His thumb brushed the back of her knuckles in a gentle caress. The move was innocent, but the look that followed was not. Red felt the touch all the way to her toes. Her breath caught in her lungs. She cleared her throat. "We'd better get going."