Chapter Thirty-One
“I don’t have a lot of time,” Ant said as he sat down in the police captain’s office, Viktor a brooding hulk beside him choosing to stand. “I have to pick Able up from the vets in an hour and I don’t wish to be late.”
“Ah, yes, your service animal. I am glad to hear he is recovering successfully.” Captain Bains looked at the papers on his desk. “I understand the veterinarian removed a police issue bullet from his shoulder?”
“Two of them.” From the tone it was clear Viktor didn’t want to be in the office either.
It’d been two days since Bridget’s abduction and the events that followed. Bridget had been checked over in hospital, and then checked herself out, insisting she was fine to be home. Ant tried to persuade her to stay with him for a few days, but she refused. “The day I let assholes change my behavior is the day I hang up my high heels,” she said. “Besides someone has got to sort out all the legal shit this incident has caused, and we all know you’re hopeless with paperwork.”
The most she would agree to was turning up for breakfast each morning, and Ant had to be happy with that.
Able was a different matter. The vet wouldn’t let Ant bring him home, even though he underwent surgery that same day to remove the bullets. The vet had been kind, explaining that as Able was so highly trained, it would be almost impossible for Ant to get him to rest, which was what he needed.
“I’m sorry, because I know how important he is to you, but you’ll have to rely on your mate for a few days so Able can rest without having to work.”
It had been one thing after another, and Ant was tired of it all. Viktor hadn’t said much to him or the police when they were questioned back at the house. Once they got home, all he did was bring Ant food every five minutes and spent the rest of the time insisting he wanted to cuddle on the couch and watch movies, although it was clear Viktor watched him more than whatever was happening on the screen.
And now they were in another office, going through yet another interview. “Is there something wrong with any of my testimony?” Ant asked.
“No. The audio files were determined as true by Susie and the transcripts are remarkably detailed.” Captain Bains looked up from the papers and took off his glasses, rubbing over his eyes. “I don’t have to tell you what a shit storm this is for the precinct and the justice department. Mr. Banks had worked as a defense lawyer for years, and Mike has fifteen years’ service with this precinct.”
“I’m not sure I understand what that has to do with us.” Ant glanced at Viktor, who was glaring at Bains, so he left him to it.
“Bridget didn’t ask to be abducted, Able didn’t ask to be shot, I didn’t ask to be swamped with more visions in one hour than I’ve seen this past year, and none of Colin Bank’s victims, or Mike Casey’s deserved to have their lives ruined or taken from them before their time.”
“No, you misunderstand me.” Captain Bains shook his head. “I agree totally that what happened to you, Miss Channon, and the victims of those two men are horrific events that should never have happened.”
“Then why are we here?” Ant was still confused.
Captain Bains sighed. “I hesitate to bring this up, but you need to know. I’ve been getting pressure from certain parties that suggest you used your vampire mate as a judge, jury, and executioner when he took the lives of Colin Banks and Mike Casey. There is a concern this could be setting a precedent, considering you work so closely with this precinct and justice officials on active cases.”
“How is that a precedent?” Ant frowned. “It’s only happened once, and my lawyer made it clear that Viktor acted within the parameters of protecting his mate under paranormal law. I was already unconscious. Bridget had been abducted and was also unconscious. Her lips were turning blue when she was found. Able was bleeding out. There were numerous spent bullets found in the basement of Colin’s house. I saw them all aimed at my mate. If I had been able to move any part of my body whatsoever, there wouldn’t have been enough left of Banks or Mike to bury.”
Ant heard his voice rising, and he tried to rein it back. His hand went to his knee, but Able’s head wasn’t there. “We weren’t meant to leave that house alive that day. None of us were. Why is it suddenly a bad thing that Viktor saved us?”
Viktor’s hand landed heavily on his shoulder, grounding him. Ant took in a shuddery breath and then another.
“I’m not saying that the events weren’t particularly stressful in the moment.” Captain Bains swallowed and tried again. “However, Mr. Banks and Mike Casey had no way of fighting back against a vampire, and there is a concern that your association with your mate could lead to further incidences of a similar nature in the future.”
Ant played the words through his head, over and over in a loop. They still didn’t make sense. “So, it’s all right for me to be shot and killed in the course of doing my bit to bring criminals to justice, but it’s not acceptable for my fated mate to protect me from people who try and hurt me? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No.” Captain Bains groaned. “Did you have to use such excessive force, Viktor?”
“I didn’t.” Viktor’s nostrils flared. “I used exactly the right amount of force to remove a very real threat of death made against my mate, his sister, and his service animal.”
“His actions are covered by paranormal law,” Ant said quickly. “Viktor didn’t do anything wrong.”
Captain Bains leaned back in his chair and pointed a pen at Ant. “Between you and me and these four walls, I agree. But in the human world we have very important laws about people taking justice into their own hands. Allowing something like that undermines what the justice department is all about.”
“That’s debatable.” Ant checked the time on the clock behind Captain Bains’s head. “However I don’t have the time to lay out a comprehensive argument for you right now. I heard you say you are getting pressure about Viktor’s presence in my life. Are these same parties doubting my ability to do my work?”
“Your work is never in doubt, Doctor Channon. However, Viktor’s presence could cause future complications…”
Ant held up his hand. “That’s fine. I understand. I would never want to cause the department any issues with my presence. I will text my sister and have Bridget draft my resignation letter, effective immediately. I am sure my sister will ensure you’ll have it by the end of the day.” Patting Viktor’s hand that was still on his shoulder, he stood up. “Was there anything else?”
“We don’t want to lose you, Doctor Channon.” Captain Bains got to his feet as well. “Your work has saved us thousands of man hours, and helped bring resolution to hundreds of cases. Your testimonies, which are always well detailed, have put countless criminals in jail. You’re invaluable to this department. All these concerned parties are asking for is that you work without your mate’s presence possibly contaminating a scene or outcome. I don’t believe that’s unreasonable to ask.”
“I do. I think it’s insulting.” Ant took Viktor’s hand. “I have only known my mate since the Fallows trial. In that time he’s saved me from a bullet that would’ve hit me or Able while I was reading a crime scene. Need I remind you that Mike was less than a hundred yards away at the time? Viktor saved me from another bullet shot in my direction at my house and he didn’t kill those two people responsible even though under paranormal law he was entitled to.
“He physically brought in a known crime lord and handed you the weapon used to kill Mr. Fallows, allowing the charges of murder to go ahead – and again didn’t kill Tony despite the man making numerous threats about me. And that’s without the events from two days ago where he saved me, my sister, and my dog from certain death.
“If I am as valued a consultant as you suggest, then you would advise those parties who are threatened by Viktor’s presence in my life that the only reason they would see Viktor as a threat is because they have something to hide.”
Ant smiled. “My sister will find out who is responsible for this pressure, and we will decide for ourselves if further action needs to be taken. But I haven’t forgotten that Tony Manzano’s reach is long and one of the things he would pay his entire fortune to achieve is to see me separated from my fated mate. You might want to consider that when you think about the parties who are pressuring you.”
“I’ll take your words under advisement. But Doctor Channon, we can’t replace you. There’s no one at the Mage Academy who has your level of expertise and the skill set necessary to do the work you’ve done for us.”
“I know. That’s not a brag. I am well versed in the skill levels of the people at the academy. I teach there sometimes.” Ant frowned, looking up at Viktor’s face. He’d at least stopped glaring. “Is that meant to be my problem?”
Viktor shook his head. “That is a backhanded way of the captain’s, trying to guilt you into retracting your resignation, and working without me being around.”
“I still don’t understand why people talk around something instead of saying something straight out.” Ant glanced at the clock again, and then turned to face Captain Bains. “You do not have a fated mate, so I don’t expect you to understand how insulting your request was to me.
“My gut” - he patted his belly - “the same gut that has brought many criminals to justice, is telling me that you are being manipulated by forces with a nefarious agenda. They are not concerned about the legalities of a mate saving his partner, which is allowable under paranormal law, they are concerned that Viktor’s presence in my life will provide me with a deeper insight on how criminals work in this city. That is clearly a threat to them.”
“The question had to be raised.” Captain Bains was blustering now and clearly uncomfortable.
“The question has been raised and answered with my resignation from my position as police consultant. I have my own consulting company. Bridget will be thrilled to hear I can now take on more private clients.”
“You should also note, Captain,” Viktor said gravely, “that it is also against paranormal law for any company or organization to insist that any person work without access to their mate. In some species any separation can cause irreparable mental stress and even physical harm, especially among shifters and vampires. I’d be very surprised if your concerned parties were not aware of that. You are being played, Captain, but that doesn’t mean that Ant or I have to play that game with you or your concerned parties.”
“Exactly.” Ant was pleased he and his mate were on the same page. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really have to go and pick up my dog. It’s been very difficult not having him with me. Have a good day.”
“It’s very arousing when you get all professional with someone,” Viktor murmured in his ear as they made their way back to Viktor’s new SUV.
“I thought you were as keen on picking up Able as I am.” Ant flicked a quick look at his mate’s face, but the vampire’s expression hadn’t changed.
“I am. I miss that furball, too. That’s why I verbalized my appreciation of your talents, rather than acting on those thoughts. I am showing you affection and appreciation without us changing our plans.”
“Ah.” Ant chuckled. “I see how that works now. In the same spirit then, I can say that I find your straight talk very arousing for me and know that won’t change our plans either. I like that idea.”
Viktor groaned as he reached for the passenger door handle. “I should’ve kept my mouth shut,” he muttered. “Focus on the furball. Let’s focus on the furball.”