The Awakening (21 page)

“I will have to burn the bodies in the car,” Jackson said as he strode by, buttoning his dark shirt.

Jonas and I went to the back of Jackson's car as he popped the trunk.

“Do you burn your fellow officers and their cars often?” I asked, thinking he seemed rather calm about the whole thing.

“No, I don’t,” Jackson replied. “But this is the best way to destroy any kind of evidence. If you have a better idea of how to get rid of the bodies and explain how the screen was ripped out, I am willing to hear it.”

“Do you need help?” Jonas asked.

Jackson reached in the trunk and pulled out a gas can. “No. I can handle this.”

Jonas and I stepped away from the car as he doused the interior of the vehicle. The fumes thickened the air fast. I held my breath and covered my mouth.

Jackson tossed the empty gas can back in the trunk and grabbed several flares. He walked around to the side, ignited two, and tossed them in the car. Bright flames leaped into the air. He lit the last stick and threw it in the trunk.

“Let’s go,” he said as he strode by us.

Jonas and I headed for the passenger side of Jackson’s car. “I’ll sit in the front.”
If anything happens, I want to have quick and easy access to him.

But your arm...

I’ll be fine. It’s healing.

“All right.” I sighed, disliking the fact that I had to sit in the back of a cop car for the second time. At least my hands were free.

Once we settled into our seats, Jackson spun the cruiser around and headed back the direction we’d come. I glanced at the fire consuming the other car one last time. A touch of sadness filled my heart for the innocent cop who'd died. He'd done nothing to deserve death. And if I hadn't acted fast, the demon would’ve killed Jonas too. Anger replaced the melancholy at the thought of it. Burn demon. Burn.

“Do I get to know your names?” Jackson asked.

Jonas looked at Jackson. “I’m Jonas. Her name is Stephanie.”

I bit down on my lip, hating the fact I couldn't remember my real name. Of all the flashbacks I'd had thus far, none of them offered a clue about it.

“There’s a medical kit under the seat,” Jackson said.

“I’m fine. It’s healing,” Jonas replied. “I’ll clean up after we get to the hospital.”

Jackson took his eyes from the road. “Any idea where Henry was taking you?”

“No. He didn’t say.”

“What happened in the car?” Jackson asked.

Jonas looked at Jackson with a firm gaze. “I busted through the screen to stop him from shooting us. He killed his partner with my gun.”

“He shot David?”

Jonas nodded. “Twice in the chest.”

Jackson shook his head as we halted at a stop sign. Darkness surrounded us. Not even a farmhouse was in sight.

Jackson accelerated and turned onto another deserted road. “Any idea why Henry would kill you?”

“I think he wanted to get rid of me. I don’t believe he was going to kill Stephanie.”

Jackson studied me from the mirror above the dash. “You smell different from any other half-breed demon.”

I shrugged. “I shower.”

I caught a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“What’s the rest of your plan?” Jonas asked, changing the subject. “People know we left with Henry.”

“Do you have a cell phone?”

“They took it, along with my wallet,” Jonas said, and turned to me. “Is it in Tabby’s purse?”

I grabbed her bag, and dug inside, pushing her phone, wallet, makeup, hairbrush, handcuffs, and other knick-knacks aside. At the bottom, I spotted Jonas’s square wallet and his phone.

“Yep, got them both,” I said.

“I need you to call a number for me,” Jackson said.

I picked up Jonas’s phone and pushed Tabby’s bag aside.

“What’s the call for?” Jonas asked.

“I need you to call a buddy of mine and tell him to meet us. You two will go with him and he’ll take you to Starbucks. I’ll meet you there.”

“Why are we going with your friend?” Jonas asked.

“Because I need to prove you left Henry’s car and got into mine. The cameras where we are meeting him are poor, but good enough to support my story,” Jackson explained.

“If he’s a cop, he’ll suspect something,” I said.

“He’s part of the pack. He won’t say a word.”

The plan sounded good to me; although I wanted to get to the hospital as soon as possible and make sure Tabby was all right. A quick coffee, answer some questions, and then we’d leave. Simple enough.

“What’s the number for your friend?” I asked.

He gave me the number and I tapped it on the screen.

“Who am I asking for?” I said as I held the phone to my ear.

“His name is Brian. Tell him Jackson wants to meet him at the Ace lot in five minutes.”

Jonas watched me through the wire screen, a hint of concern lurking in his eyes.

“Hello?” a man answered.

“Is this Brian?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Who is this?”

“I’m with Jackson and he wants me to tell you to meet him at the Ace lot in five minutes.”

I heard a heavy sigh over the line. “All right. Tell him it might be seven.”

I tossed the phone back into the bag, and met Jackson’s eyes in the mirror. “He said it might take him longer.”

“I couldn’t use my phone, just in case they would pull my phone records,” Jackson said.

The werewolf cop certainly had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He had claimed everyone had something to hide. I wondered what he was hiding.

Another turn, and we were on a road leading into town. Houses and subdivisions lined the street. Ahead, bright lights and large signs lit up the corner near a stoplight.

“So you haven’t seen your alpha and these four other men in a couple of days?” I asked.

“Haven’t seen or heard a word from them,” Jackson replied, glancing in the mirror. “I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my life, but what’s happened in the last couple of days has topped everything. It’s unheard of for two clan leaders go missing at the same time.”

“What questions do you have for us?” Jonas asked.

“Why was your picture on the demon website?”

Jonas answered before I could speak. “She isn’t registered. Sal wants her brought in,” “He must have a special interest in her to post a photograph,” Jackson said.

“She came to help me and my partner with an investigation.”

“Oh?” Jackson replied. “You work for the WWOPP?”

“Yes.”

Jackson turned the car again. “What are you investigating?”

Jonas hesitated. I knew if I didn't speak up fast, the cop might suspect Jonas was lying.

“Several people were murdered at the dump,” I said. “We’re trying to figure out why and who is responsible.”

“How many people?” Jackson asked with a glance over his shoulder.

“Around thirty,” Jonas said.

“When did this happen?” Jackson asked, looking shocked. “I was unaware of any murders. We didn’t receive any calls at the station.”

I didn’t respond, nor did Jonas. There were no reports because Jonas had burned all the bodies.

Jackson turned into the empty parking lot of a small shopping strip. The stores were dark and two burnt-out lights hovered over the lot. He stopped near one of the poles and parked. I scanned the area and found no humans or others in sight.

“Look, I’m just trying to find out what happened to my Alpha and the men who were with him.” Jackson's gaze shifted from Jonas to me. “If you know something that can help me find him, I would appreciate it if you told me. Whatever information you have will stay with the pack. If you're worried, I can offer you protection.”

I bit my lip, wondering if I could trust him. Tabby, Jonas, and Boss’s safety were my biggest concern. I didn’t want any more danger thrown at them. While Jackson seemed honest, he was a werewolf. Jonas and I were from other breeds. I recalled Boss had told me how races fought for superiority. Would Jackson protect us as if we were part of his pack?

I slid my fingers through the metal wires of the screen. A splotch of dried blood marred my hand. I made a mental note to wash it at the coffee shop. “You’re a werewolf. Why would you offer us protection?”

Jackson met my gaze. “I suspect neither of you are telling me the full truth. I don’t sense fear, but there has to be a reason why you’re hiding whatever it is you’re hiding. I want to help you. And quite honestly, I’m not sure what you two are. Neither of you smell like regular demons or vampires.”

He was smart. Guess he had to be, to be a cop.

Another cop car entered the lot and stopped on Jackson’s driver’s side. Jackson lowered his window.

“What’s going on?” the man asked. He stroked his dark hair above his head.

“Hey, Brian. Can you take my friends and drop them off at the Starbucks up the road by the gas station?” Jackson asked. “I’m working on something that I can’t explain right now. I need you to trust me.”

“Are they in some kind of trouble?”

“No, no trouble,” Jackson replied, shaking his head. “I’ll pick them up at the coffee shop and explain everything to you later.”

“Okay, I’ll drop them off for you.”

Jackson twisted his head our way. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Grab a table for me.”

Jonas and I left one cop car and got into the other. Jonas sat in the front again. As soon as we shut our doors, both cars took off in separate directions.

The trip to Starbucks took a whole two minutes, thanks to the traffic light. Brian sped, shortening the time. He avoided looking at Jonas or me, and didn’t say anything either. After he dropped us off at the side of the building, he left with the same urgency.

“Well he was a nice fellow,” I said as we headed for the entrance.

“I’m going straight to the bathroom to clean up,” Jonas said.

“After I wash my hands, I’ll find a spot for us.”

He nodded and held the door open for me.

The sweet aroma of coffee perked me up as I stepped inside the shop. The arrangement of furniture and the cashier in the back reminded me of the coffee shop Boss had taken us to. Jonas passed by me and headed straight for the hallway in the corner. I followed with slower steps.

A strong soapy smell greeted me in the bathroom. The fixtures were pleasantly clean and shiny. I washed my hands with a foamy cleanser and kept my eye on the mirror, staring at the door. Quickly, I dug into my boot and cleaned off my dagger. I'd have to wipe the lining of my boot later. Once I finished, I slid the blade back in its place, dried my hands, and left.

I scanned the mid-sized cafe. I had hoped to find a spot away from the window, but most of the tables were in range, even the ones in the middle of the shop. On the other side of the entrance, I saw a sofa and couple of lounge chairs. Opting for comfort, I went to the sofa.

I sat at the far end and leaned back into the soft cushions, tucking Tabby’s purse beside me. As I waited for Jonas to return, I thought about Jackson. He seemed nice and willing to protect us. I had to give him credit. He knew nothing about us, yet he put his career on the line all because we might have information about his Alpha. Talk about loyalty.

A small part of me warned not to trust him. He was a cop, a werewolf too. Smart and devoted to his own kind. His actions were to support his Alpha. Everything else would fall second. I'd have to be careful with my words.

The other part of me wanted me to share my knowledge with him, what little I had. Okay, it helped he had a hot body I enjoyed staring at. Just thinking of him naked stirred me. The man personified temptation in the flesh.

Jonas came out from the restroom, his arm free of dried blood. He saw me and came right over. “Can you hand my phone to me? I want to send a message to Boss and tell him to meet us at the hospital.” He sat in the recliner, off to my side.

I dug inside Tabby’s bag and withdrew his phone. “I’ve been thinking, maybe Jackson is one of the good guys.”

Jonas typed on the phone with his thumbs. “Uh-huh. Maybe.”

“We should share what we know with him.”

Jonas finished his message, then slid the phone in his front pocket. “He’s smart. He’s going to ask more questions.”

“His Alpha is missing and probably dead. We should at least let him know.”

Bright lights flashed through the window, capturing my attention. A police car faced the glass. The lights flicked off.

“Anything we tell him, he’ll want to know more. We can’t let him know about you,” Jonas said.

“I understand, and I don’t want him to know about me. But he deserves to know about his Alpha.”

Jackson walked into the shop. He had an allure I found difficult to resist. My heart skipped a beat. Our eyes met, and I smiled.

He stopped in front of us. “Can I get either of you a drink?”

“Actually, I’m not thirsty.” I had a thirst for something thicker than coffee, but it would have to wait.

Jackson’s eyes darted to Jonas.

“I’m fine,” Jonas said.

I crossed my legs and the wolf’s attention shifted to my bare knees. “Our friend is at the hospital. If you don't mind, I'd like to check on her soon.”

“It’s probably better we rush this conversation anyway.” Jackson sat next to me. One of his large legs was bigger than both of mine together.

I got right to the point. “I’m not sure what’s going on with your Alpha or the demon clan leader, but we have reason to believe they are dead.”

“Why do you think they are dead?” Jackson asked, brows pinched.

“We found four different breeds at the dump. I saw several werewolves. They weren’t in their human form, and they were burning,” Jonas said.

“They were in wolf form and they were on fire?” Jackson asked, his upper lip curled.

“Yes. They were,” Jonas replied.

Jackson’s eyes lowered. “That’s very odd. Typically, we die in human form. The fact they were in wolf form suggests they were protecting someone or something.”

“Maybe they were guarding your Alpha,” I said.

“It’s possible.” Jackson lifted his gaze to Jonas. “Did you find the demon leader at the dump?”

“Many of the bodies could not be identified. I saw a few demons based on the red ring around their eyes. Vampires I recognized by their teeth. Gargumen are easy to identify too,” Jonas replied.