CHAPTER TWELVE #4
He was used to their deep dislike for each other, but no man could expect two of the sexiest women on the earth to get along, especially when they were intent on being rivals, although only God knew why.
They might look as different as night and day, but they had more in common than not.
Sam looked as tough as nails, while Jan resembled a sex kitten, Marilyn Monroe style.
Sam screwed around; Jan had decided she’d mourn her deceased partner until she died.
Jan had been one of his best field agents, a long time ago, and Sam was one of the best now.
If they could ever stop disliking one another, he’d love to put them in the field together.
It was a fantasy.
He rubbed his temples, knowing he was overworked if his fantasy was about putting those two out in the field and not in his bed. Sam strode in, flushed.
His eyes widened as he felt her pain, most of which was emotional. “She’s gone?”
Sam breathed hard and slammed down into the chair facing him. “Not only is she gone into the past without a word—Lafarge paid me a call.” She touched her gut. “She’s a witch, Nick. A powerful one.”
“What happened?”
“She put a spell on me and I told her where to find Tabby. Oh, I forgot. She’s after my sister—and it’s some kind of payback.”
He had never seen Sam so out of control. “Cool it, kid. I don’t want to find you laid out on a slab, covered in white.”
“I am friggin’ worried!”
No kidding, he thought. Jan poked her beautiful face inside, a file in her hands. “I have something for you, Nick.”
Sam turned in the chair, her eyes shooting daggers. “Nick is busy.”
“He’ll want to see this,” Jan said, her expression going from warm to cold in less than a nanosecond.
“Can you two sheathe the claws?” Nick waved Jan over.
Sam ignored her and said, “What if Lafarge can time-travel?”
Nick took the file from Jan. “Can I assume this is about Lafarge?”
Jan smiled. “You sure can. Unfortunately, it’s generic.”
And that meant it was as authentic as a cubic zircon.
Nick opened the file and said to Sam, “Your average witch can’t time-travel.
” He looked up. “We’ll have that DNA comp back by this evening.
” He’d ordered a comp as well as the standard test. If she was one-ten-thousandth something inhuman, he wanted to know.
A small genetic dose of demon, beast or “other” wouldn’t show up on a standard DNA test.
“She isn’t average. I also think she’s really, really old,” Sam said. She stood, hands on her hips. “I need to ask you something. Can I have a moment?”
He already knew what she wanted. He said casually, “If you think I’ll let you go back in time, the answer is no.”
Sam cried out, “Why the hell not?”
With inimitable timing, Kit poked her head into the door. “Can I bother you guys for a minute? I found something on An Tùir-Tara that is really interesting.”
Nick gestured her in. “Join the party.”
Kit entered, casting a worried glance at Sam.
“You’ll want to hear this. I found this quote in a first edition from Oxford University Press.
The pub date was 1922. It’s only one reference to An Tùir-Tara, but I will try to back it up.
” She had memorized the sentence. “The great rivalry between the ladies of Melvaig and Blayde ended that day in the fires.”
Sam stared, paling. “I knew it. I knew she was there.” She faced Nick.
“Tabby is a gentle soul. She abhors violence. She is going to have a really hard time adjusting to life in the Middle Ages. I have to go back and help her through this—and I have to protect her from Lafarge. She doesn’t even know Lafarge is out to destroy her. ”
She was too involved. “You’re not going back. And that is final.”
“Nick, this is really important to me.”
Nick closed the file. He stared at Sam. “Rose, we both know your sister will be just fine. We both know she had to go back sooner or later. You’re not going back—but I am.”
Sam jerked. “Without me?”
He sighed, because she was spitting fire, and turned to look at Jan. Jan started. Instantly understanding, her eyes widened. “I am not going back with you,” she said flatly. “Never again!”
“You’re taking her?” Sam cried. “Are you kidding?”
“Don’t worry,” Jan said. “I am not a field agent.” She walked out.
He was sorry she was upset, but she’d have to get over it, because his mind was made up. “I’m going after Lafarge,” he said. “But I’ll check in on your sister while I’m at it.”
“I don’t believe this.” Sam strode out.
Kit hesitated. “I’m more than happy to do the dirty and go down under.”
He gave her a scornful look. “You’re a rookie, you haven’t finished your PST, goodbye.”
Kit kept her face impassive but he saw the disappointment in her eyes, and she left his office.
He got up and went to the door. Jan was on the phone and she ignored him. He felt her distress.
He decided to remind her that they weren’t going back to the days of the Roman Empire, and that in the Middle Ages, torture did not include crucifixion.
She lifted her green eyes. “I am not going back…It’s a miracle you and Sam made it home in one piece and you know it. Forget about going back, Nick. Forget Lafarge.”
“You know I don’t give a rat’s ass about Lafarge,” he said easily. “But I can feel that she’s the lead to the real bad boys. You can start packing.”
She stared furiously, trembling.
“At least you won’t need lipstick,” he said.
“Damn you to hell!”
He thought about the flashbacks and didn’t bother to tell her he might already be there.