Chapter Twenty-Seven
“SO WHAT’S the status?” Duke asked.
“Mission accomplished,” Horvan told him. “All prisoners accounted for. Five Geran fatalities. They were the only ones who put up resistance. And we got Fielding.”
“Excellent. What’s the plan?”
“I’m sending the team back to Illinois in the C-17, with Roadkill in charge. And then they get a week’s leave.” That included Doc, although Horvan had an inkling where he’d be spending his time. After witnessing that kiss he and Jake had shared, he had to wonder where it would lead them.
“Sounds as if they’ve earned it. One question, though. Why aren’t you going with them?”
“I’ve got a little unfinished business here. I’ll let you know when we’re ready to make a move.”
“Who’s staying with you? I need to know how many bodies to accommodate when I send transport for you guys.”
“Twelve.”
“Noted. I’ll try to make it a plane with seats this time.”
Horvan snorted. “You’re all heart.”
“That’s why you love me. Now go deal with your unfinished business.” Duke hung up.
Horvan shook his head. He and Duke went way back, and yeah, he loved the guy like a brother. Which was no bad thing, seeing as they co-owned a business.
Roadkill entered the room. “You wanted to see me?”
Horvan nodded. “The team is heading back to the barracks, and you’re going with ’em. Hashtag and Eve too. You can break the news that everyone’s got a week’s leave.”
Roadkill grinned. “Does that include Hashtag and Eve?”
“No, but you get to stay at Dellan’s place until we return. That means Mrs. Landon’s cooking, uninterrupted use of the hot tub… and privacy.”
His grin widened. “Sir, yes, sir.”
“Tell Hashtag to get working on all those locations Milo gave us. We need to pinpoint every last Geran camp.” Horvan smirked. “A little homework for when he’s not busy with other pursuits.”
Roadkill cocked his head. “Where is Milo?”
“In a Fridan safe house in Boston, waiting to see Jana as soon as she gets the all-clear. Johan said he was making noises about wanting to fight with us.”
“Well, we know we can trust him. I’d work with him.”
“Yeah, so would I, but we might need to convince some of the team. You’ve only got to whisper Geran and their hackles rise.”
“Do you blame them?”
Horvan stared at him. “What if we could bring an end to all this?”
“All what? The war that’s waging, even though no one’s actually declared one?”
“Not just the war. I’m talking about the deep divisions between shifters.”
Roadkill blinked. “What do you know that the rest of us don’t? Because that sounds like pie in the sky. Only your pie sounds like it comes with ice cream.” His stomach rumbled. “Great. Between thinking about Mrs. Landon’s cooking and pie ala mode, I’m hungry.”
Horvan chuckled. “Well, save me a slice. Anyway, I can’t tell you much—because I don’t have the answers right now—but I can tell you that’s what we’re working toward.” Horvan peered at him. “Is that something you’d like to see too?”
“Gee, let me think.” Roadkill rolled his eyes. “In a fucking heartbeat, H. There are enough human conflicts going on in the world right now to keep us employed until the Rapture. Taking shifter battles out of the equation? Feeling safe again? I’m all for that.”
He smiled. “Me too. Now go home. Make the most of having the house to yourselves, because we’ll be rolling up to the front door before you can say skinny dipping in the hot tub.” He patted Roadkill on the back. “And in case I haven’t said it yet, I think it’s fucking awesome that you, Hashtag, and Eve are mates.”
Roadkill beamed. “It is, isn’t it? And now I’ll go tell them the good news.” He hurried out of the room, passing Aelryn on his way in.
“Just the man I wanted to see.” Horvan inclined his head toward the former office building that was serving as Fielding’s temporary jail. “Who’s going to talk to our prisoner?”
“I thought you and I were the obvious choice.”
Horvan nodded. “I have a couple of suggestions. I think Saul should be in there too. He’ll want any info Fielding can give us about Vic, plus I wanna rub that fucker’s nose in the fact that they didn’t manage to kill him despite giving it their best shot. Well, their best shot fell way short of the mark.”
Aelryn huffed. “I couldn’t agree more. Anyone else?”
“Yeah. Jake Carson and Seth Miles.”
Aelryn’s eyes gleamed. “Anyone would think you were trying to rattle our… guest.”
“Yup. Think it’ll work? Because Fielding must’ve ordered Jake’s execution for a reason. And if the bastard won’t talk, then we have a plan B.”
“I think having them in there might give us an edge.”
“I wanna be in there too, H.” Brick spoke from the doorway, his eyes glinting.
“No.” Horvan’s gut clenched at the idea of denying Brick what he so desperately wanted, but he knew he was right.
“Hey, I was—”
“I said no. And if you were thinking clearly, you wouldn’t ask. Besides, you’ll hear everything that’s said, right? Seth will be there.”
Brick glared at him. “But… he… he….”
Horvan’s heart went out to him. “I know, Brick. But face facts. Do you really think you could sit across the table from him and not shift and tear him limb from limb? Well?”
One glance at Brick’s tight features was all the answer Horvan needed.
“So what’s gonna happen to Fielding?”
Horvan gazed at Aelryn, who frowned. “We haven’t decided yet. Let’s wait until we see how cooperative he is—or isn’t.”
Horvan let out another snort. “My money’s on the latter.”
“If Seth’s gonna be in there, you know I’m gonna be close by,” Brick informed him.
Horvan knew. If one of his mates was in the same situation, he’d be a hot mess.
Brick sighed. “Think I’ll go stroke a kitty. It might even bring down my blood pressure. They say cats can do that.” He turned and walked away.
Brick needed a whole heap of cats. Not that Horvan could blame him. Fielding had cost him so damn much: his parents, the constant fear for both him and Aric, holding Seth prisoner. Of everyone, Brick had been the one who’d had the most crap heaped on him. Horvan knew without a doubt that if the opportunity arose, Brick would seize it. And Horvan wasn’t sure he would want to stop him.
Horvan met Aelryn’s glance. “So when do we get this show on the road?”
Aelryn gave a thin smile. “No time like the present.”
THE FORMER office building comprised one main room, a couple of storerooms, and a restroom. Fielding had been kept bound to his chair except for when he’d hollered to use the bathroom or when he ate. All the windows were locked, and there were two doors, both of them guarded by two of Aelryn’s men, who let no one approach.
After Aric’s little unannounced visit, they were on the watch for kitties too.
Horvan and Aelryn walked into the main room, followed by a soldier who stood in front of the door, his rifle held across his chest.
Fielding sat in what had been a wide office chair, his ankles bound, wrists tied to the armrests with rope. He appeared to be in his sixties, although that meant nothing. Some shifters were much older than their looks.
Vic, for instance.
He gazed at them with belligerence, jaw set, cool eyes locked on their every move as they sat down facing him. Fielding glanced over their shoulders to the armed guard with unconcealed amusement.
“One guard? That’s all you’re bringing along for protection?”
Horvan arched his eyebrows. “What makes you think he’s here for our protection?”
That earned him a blink, but Fielding recovered quickly. “Neatly played, Mr. Kojik.”
Horvan pointed to the Steri-Strips on his face. “Besides, it seems as though you could use a little protection. I mean, someone has to guard you from the kitty, right?”
“And if you hadn’t bound me, that cat would have none of its nine lives left,” Fielding retorted with a fierce scowl.
Horvan wagged his finger. “Not something you should say out loud around here. You never know if one of his mates is listening. They might not be as tolerant as me.”
Fielding arched his eyebrows. “Not a word I’d use to describe you. You see, I remember you. The last time we spoke, you were in some remote cabin with your mates and several thugs, while I was busy cleaning up Anson Prescott’s mess.”
Horvan breathed evenly. “Yeah, I remember you too, except you haven’t quite got your facts straight. Last time we spoke, you were making a mess of him—not that you sullied your hands on a human. No, you let a gorilla take care of that little task for you, until Anson shot him unexpectedly, and then you left what remained of them both for the Chicago Police Department to find.”
Fielding ignored him and stared at Aelryn. “I know your face from my files too. Aelryn, isn’t it? A direct—”
“We’re not here to talk about my lineage,” Aelryn interjected. “We wish to find two shifters, and—”
“You dragged me away from a camp full of them. You could have taken your pick.” He smirked.
Horvan snarled. “Vic Ryder. Where is he?”
Fielding raised his eyebrows. “Vic who?”
The door opened, and Saul strolled in with an easy air Horvan envied.
He’s one cool customer.
“Having memory problems, Fielding? You asked me to access the shifter archive—you know, the one Vic controls? You told me Vic and Crank had already bonded, which was a fucking lie, but I won’t hold that against you because we all bonded eventually.” Saul dragged a chair over and sat in front of Fielding. “So… where is he? Did you give the order to have him taken?”
Fielding gazed at him with an expression of mild surprise. “You’re asking me ? Why should I know? And by the way, let me congratulate you, Mr. Emory. I thought I’d seen the last of you.”
“Where are you keeping Alec?” Saul spoke calmly in a low voice, hands clasped between his knees.
“And who is Alec?”
Saul rolled his eyes. “Wow, dementia is certainly playing havoc with your memory, Fielding. Alec, the young boy you had carve me up like a fucking turkey? Believe me, I’m never gonna forget him.”
“He’s Dellan Carson’s son, Jake Carson’s grandson, and Seth Miles’s nephew.” Aelryn tilted his head. “You do recall those names, don’t you, Mr . Fielding? I mean, you could hardly forget Jake Carson, could you? The man you were going to have executed today?”
Fielding widened his eyes. “I find it very interesting that you are in possession of that piece of information.”
“You might as well tell us, because we’re just gonna keep at you until you do.” Saul folded his arms. “Where are Vic Ryder and Alec?”
“How tedious.” Fielding did his best to straighten. “Very well. Alec is where you’ll never find him. I’d hazard a guess that he isn’t all that far from Mr. Ryder. In fact I’d wager Alec is going to be making his acquaintance very, very soon.” He gave a bright smile. “So I hope you said all your goodbyes.”
Horvan let out a growl. “You fucking—”
Aelryn laid a hand on his arm, then gave the guard a nod. He opened the door, and Jake and Seth walked in. They pulled two chairs to join Horvan, Aelryn, and Saul, and sat, their faces impassive.
Fielding reacted instantly. He became very still. “Why are they here?”
Aelryn regarded him with a neutral expression. “I invited them. Do you have a problem with that? They’re here to help us with our… questioning.” He gave Fielding an inquiring glance. “Is there something wrong? You’re a little pale. Surely their presence doesn’t disturb you?”
Fielding recovered enough to manage a shrug. “Why should it?”
Then Jake lurched to his feet, and Fielding shrank back in his chair.
It looked as if Plan B was a go.
“I’ve heard every word so far, and you know what I’ve learned? This guy isn’t going to talk.” Jake’s words dripped with contempt. “All he’s going to do is dance around with words and waste our time.” He went over to where Fielding sat, leaned forward, and gripped the armrests. “So why not go straight to the source of all the information we need?”
Fielding quirked one eyebrow. “You have another Geran to interrogate? My, you have been busy.”
Horvan wasn’t fooled. The tremor in Fielding’s voice, the way he wouldn’t look Jake in the eye, the sweat that popped out on his brow….
Jake smiled. “You’re going to tell me everything I want to know.”
Fielding snorted. “Me? I doubt that.” He swallowed.
“You won’t have much choice in the matter, because if you won’t give us what we want, I’ll just have to take it. From your head.”