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the decision easier for him. I remove the sunglasses and shrug out of the
coat. As I do, his hand travels to the gun on his hip, but his eyes never
leave my face. He watches carefully as I let the coat drop to the floor. I m
wearing the same outfit from yesterday, jeans and a short-cropped cotton
sweater that falls to just below my waist. The sweater is not form fitting,
but it s tight enough that if I were carrying a gun, it would certainly show.
I raise the cuffs on my jeans. No ankle holsters.
To go any further, I tell him, I require a red light and music.
That almost brings a smile. His shoulders relax and he reaches for the phone.
But he s watching me, and I have no doubt he d have his gun out in a heartbeat
if I made any quick moves.
I don t.
He speaks quietly into the receiver. I can hear him, though, and it appears
Williams has answered the phone himself. Sergeant Harvey starts to give a
brief description and I remember the wig. I pull it off and run a finger
through my hair. He amends the description. That seems to do it. He replaces
the receiver and gives me a code for the elevator.
The Chief is waiting for you.
I gather up my things, head up, and put a lock on my thoughts. I want to be
careful what I reveal.At least at first.
Williams is waiting when the elevator door opens. He s looking at the coat.
You need a better tailor, he says. That coat almost got you arrested for
vagrancy.
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He turns and heads for his office. The enticing smell of fresh brewed coffee
greets us at the door. He doesn t seem to be probing my head, nor is his
manner anything other than mildly curious.
I eye the pot enthusiastically. Any chance I can have a cup of that?
He looks at me, a quizzical half-smile playing at the corners of his mouth,
and makes a go-ahead motion with his hand. What did you do? he asks as I
pour a mug. Spend the night on the streets?
Why would you ask that?
You have the same outfit on as yesterday.
I take a deep, satisfying pull of the coffee before replying. You sound like
a detective. But no, I didn t spend the night on the streets. Actually, I
spent the night in my office.With Frey. You ever see him make the change?
He shakes his head. But I ve seen similar. Don t see any claw or bite marks,
though, so I assume he behaved himself. He settles himself into the chair
behind his desk and waits for me to sit, too. So why did you spend the night
at the office?Why not your apartment?
Bradley and Donovan.They paid me a visit yesterday afternoon to convince me
that Frey was a menace to society. They pulled out all the stops, including
threatening to charge me as an accessory. Then they set up surveillance
outside my building. Figured I d run straight to Frey, I suppose, and warn
him.
Only maybe that wasn t the reason, at least not for Bradley. I flash back on
his phone conversation. He s looking for the computer, not Frey. And he knows
I can lead him to it.
How does he know that?
In the second I let those thoughts filter through, Williams is in my head.
What computer?
I tell him.All of it. Then ready myself for what will come because I ve
withheld important evidence.
Like in the park, though, Williams surprises me. His demeanor is more
thoughtful than angry. He inclines his head andsays,Predatorsusecomputers to
lure children into meeting them. They keep their records on them. Getting our
hands on it is a good first step.
Inod.Maxexplained that. The trail left on a hard drive.
Now a flash ofaggravation.Maxknows about this?
I shake myhead.Notspecifically. I just asked him some general questions. But
what about Bradley saying Frey is just an excuse and that Donovan doesn t
suspect? Suspect what, I wonder?
We ll have to ask him the next time we see him. But what we need to do now is
get that computer and start a trace. Call Ryan. The sooner we do it the better
it is for Trish.
He swivels the phone on his desk toward me and I dial Ryan s number. He picks
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up, and I ask if he can meet me before school. He agrees.
Williams s voice interposes itself in my head, telling me that he ll send me
in a squad car to pick up Ryan. I pass the information on to Ryan and ask,
Will your parents be home?
Yeah, he answers. They don t leave for work until eight or so.
Good. It will give me a chance to meet them and tell them what s going on.
It s time they know.
There s a brief pause, then he says, Okay. But they re probably going to be
pissed.
I can t help smiling. Probably. I ll try to smooth things over.
There s a pause, then Ryan adds softly, They don t know what s on the
computer. I just told them it has to do with Trish s running away. I couldn t
let them see-
I understand, Ryan. You ve been a good friend to Trish. I ll make sure they
know that.
We hang up and Williams again reaches for the phone. He dials a two-digit
number and tells dispatch to send a squad car around to the back. He s
specific as to which squad car he wants. He s just replaced the receiver when
the phone rings. He listens, throws me a half-smile, and says into the phone,
Thanks, SergeantHarvey . Give me five minutes and send them up.
Better take the stairs out of here, he says. Our favorite special agents
are on their way up.Probably to complain about you. He glances at his watch.
I ll meet you and Ryan at the Mission Café in a half hour.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Donovanand Bradley are beginning to seriously piss me off. I m getting tired
of sneaking down stairways and hiding in bushes. I grab the coat and wig and
head for the exit. It s time we got this thing settled.
The squad car is waiting for me right outside the underground entrance in
back. The cop is leaning against the passenger side door, smoking a cigarette.
He flips it away when he sees me approach.
I know what he is before he sends out a probe.
You must beOrtiz,Isay, figuring Williams would pick a vampire cop to drive
me. I extend a hand.
He grins and takes it. His handshake is firm and dry. He follows my glance to
the smolderingcigarette.That sthe best thing about being immortal. I ll never
have to give up smoking.
I raise an eyebrow in reply. Not something I ve given much thought to. He
opens the door and I get in. Then I watch as he passes in front of the car to
claim his place in the driver s seat. In human years, he looks to be in his
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