Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

TATE

The smell of bacon welcomed me as I emerged from the mist in the bathroom wrapped in a thin white towel. I smirked as I sauntered out, Tim’s eyes swallowed me whole, focused on the snug towel that barely covered my assets. He was humming, his black hair still a mess from bed, and was already dressed in his uniform of choice: loose dress pants, with an oversized button-down sloppily tucked into them. The brown belt holding the too-big pants up was worn and had seen better days. I could see the vague imprint of his wallet in his back pocket. Funny that his dress pants had a back pocket.

“Want some?” He held the pan with the sizzling bacon up in the air. Grease splattered the front of his shirt and coated the square tiled counter.

“Smells amazing. I’m surprised you’re up.” I winked. He’d just had a huge workout a couple of hours ago. But I suppose he was hungry, even if he’d just had me not long ago…

“Yeah, Chief called twenty minutes ago. We have a witness who’s en route for the missing person case I’m working. I have to be at the station in the next hour.” He pushed a plate of eggs and bacon toward me. I sat down and reached for the coffee pot and grabbed the empty cup near my plate. This man may not know his way around the female cuisine, but he certainly understood food. His mastery in the kitchen was definitely a perk.

“Mmm. This is so good, Tim.” I took another bite. For once, the flattery rolling off my tongue was genuine. Vampires may live for centuries, but we still had not perfected coffee or bacon in the Glenn. One of many reasons I liked being veil side.

“Thanks, I hope you get a chance to enjoy it. I, on the other hand, have to eat on the go.”

“What missing person is this?”

“I got assigned a new case two days ago, a young college student just disappeared. No witnesses, her roommates haven’t seen her in a week, and she hasn’t been to any classes. It’s like she just vanished.” Jackpot. This could be the perfect perp for me to hunt next and expend some pent-up aggression on.

“Any footage?”

“None. That’s why it’s so weird. The campus is heavily monitored, but the last footage we have of her is after she left the campus clinic and was headed through the park. No footage shows her coming out of the park. It’s just like another case I had a month ago.” His brows furrowed. “I’m sorry, I get so caught up in my work but I’m sure it’s boring to you.”

“Not at all.” I set my cup down and grabbed his hand across the counter. “You know I’m intrigued by police work. And I care about you so please don’t ever apologize or feel the need to carry any of this alone.” His eyes dipped to my lips as he leaned across the counter and grazed them gently with his own. Tender, yet firm.

“What’d I do to get so lucky with you?” I smiled. Tim had a good heart. If he wasn’t my informant, he would make a good friend. He chugged his coffee before placing the mug in the sink.

“Well, among other things, you are a great cook.” I winked as I stabbed some of the eggs on my plate.

He chuckled in response and then reached for his badge, gun, and phone. I stood and walked to the table where his coat was hanging over the chair back. Picking it up, I intentionally knocked over his stack of folders.

“Oh shit! I’m sorry!” I fumbled to collect them, making them more of a mess so I could clearly see the missing person pictures of Allie and Ben.

“It’s ok, just uh, let me do that.”

“So many files.” I sat back on my heels and looked at all the papers.

“Yeah, it’s been a weird month.”

“Are they all in reference to missing persons?” I asked as I picked up a picture of Allie Johnstain. She looked young, frail.

“Most of them.” He continued to replace the correct folders to their files. Dozens of people, reduced to a manila folder.

Who knew if they were dead or hurting—their poor families. A familiar pang echoed at the thought in my chest. Loss was never easy to move past.

“That’s so sad.” I sucked on my lower lip for a minute before meeting his gaze. “Do you think they’re all connected?”

“I don’t know. I have a theory that Gari is involved, but it’s hard to say.” I needed to push more so I reached for a file also labeled Johnstain.

“Is this another Johnstain?” I asked.

“It is.” He reached for the file and added it to the stack on top of Allie’s folder.

“Did they go missing at the same time?”

“No. This one belongs to Carter Johnstain, he’s her brother and disappeared just over a year ago. It’s strange, this family has known so much loss and I have to go question her remaining family—well, the remaining members here in town—again.”

“Why would Gari target a family a year apart?”

“That’s what I can’t figure out. If it is Gari, which I have a hunch it is, then he’s attacking a family line at random. I suspect the family does business with him and either these people crossed him or are being absorbed by him and joining his ranks under a new alias.” That made sense. He could be growing his network. It was thorough and extensive; he had ears almost everywhere in the city.

“That’s just so scary. I mean, from what you’ve told me, Gari has been arrested for human trafficking right? What if it’s that again?” The thought made me angry and simultaneously hungry. I could feast from that asshole. “But you’ll get him, right Tim?”

He placed the last file on the stack and then turned and pulled me into a hug. His cologne was a bit strong and barely covered the musk he still had from not showering.“You betcha. In fact, that crooked judge was just found dead. It was listed as an accidental fire, but I actually suspect murder—and I think Gari did it. If Gari can’t even keep his people under control, then it won’t be long before he slips and I have a real shot at taking him down.” His words were full of passion. “Plus, now his case has been moved to Judge Knolen, and she’s someone who I trust. I think Gari may actually get what’s coming to him. So yes, Tate, I’ll get him.” He released me and pecked my forehead before picking up his coat and heading for the door. We both had work to do.

A glance at the clock told me I needed to head back for my Disciplinary Hearing. Definity didn’t want to be late for that. Pfft.

Plus, hopefully Fletch would be home afterwards and I could finally talk to him about the questions literally burning in my chest. It may have been a couple of nights since I actually exhaled fire, but things were still burning. The blood-drains I’d recently committed had escalated the spark in my chest and burned my veins; I still had no idea what had happened when I drained the judge. I’d never seen any aura like that before, let alone been responsible for it; something in my genetic makeup was changing, I could feel it and didn’t have the slightest clue how to control it or what it was.

Goose bumps pimpled my arms. I took a deep steadying breath and headed back to the Glenn. One problem at a time. Right now, I needed to look composed and explain why I broke the no-kill law to a committee. I prayed to blood they would be understanding and that they would see my value at the clinic, my peaceful life and just consider this a youthful indiscretion. If not, it could very well be my life they demand.

Yes, this one problem was certainly enough.