Night Shift

Chapter 1

As Seattle's alpha werewolf, Ted Baron could control the transformation. He rolled his shirt up past his elbow and winced as the hair sprouted on his forearm.

The bones in his wrist thickened and the tips of his fingers split as his claws unsheathed.

He drew Manny close with his human hand. Ted smiled once, and before the warlock could utter word one of a spell, he slit the man from his neck to his pubic bone.

Manny's entrails spilled onto the floor as he screamed. Ted turned around so that Manny wouldn't see his nostrils twitch. Meat was still meat after all. Hard to leave a fresh meal to go to waste.

He turned back to see Manny writhing at the end of his human hand. Each scream forced his diaphragm in and out, pumping more blood onto the floor.

Ted stared into Manny's eyes until Manny grew quiet. When the only sound was the gurgle of Manny's exposed intestines, Ted brought the wolf hand before Manny's eyes.

He forced his face into a grin so that Manny wouldn't see the pain as Ted's claws slid back into the flesh of his hand. His skin returned to a tanned white, while the dark hairs retracted, shortening slowly like a time elapsed film.

Ted stretched the now-human hand and all of his knuckles cracked. He reached into his pocket for his Blackberry, thumbing a few keys before bringing the device to his ear.

I need you in the office, he said. Don't tell me it's late. Both he and Manny glanced from the copy room through the glass wall of Benson's office to see the moon rising above Mount Rainier. I need you to take care of a mess. He dropped Manny to the floor.

Manny's legs tumbled awkwardly beneath him. His hands shook as he tried to gather up his entrails and push them back into his body.

Trust me, Ted said. No one has ever figured out how to get them back in once I've let them out. He leaned down and ran a finger over a glistening intestine. Again he held Manny's gaze as he brought it to his mouth and licked his finger clean.

Shame that I never learned to read this particular kind of oracle, but that was always your thing. Give it a good look, but remember, Manny, he said, whatever my pack consumes is mine. There's no escape. Not even in death. Especially, he said, when I have this.

Nearly covering Manny's hand with his own, he pressed it to the floor. Only Manny's right index finger remained clear. Manny muttered a few magical words that stopped in his throat when Ted yanked the finger off at the root.

He pulled a monogrammed handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped the index finger like a package, then returned it to his pocket. He also pocketed the vial of Manny's blood he'd forcibly collected when the warlock had arrived.

Ted checked his Rolex. You have about five more minutes to make an attempt at peace before the cleanup crew arrives. Best of luck, Manny. He ruffled the man's hair and turned to walk out. One hand jangled the change in his pocket, the other he held at Manny's eye level while he allowed just the tips of his claws to peek out.

I just can't leave without one more taste, he said as he scraped the claws across Manny's right cheek, leaving four deep lines of blood.

Manny could hear Ted sucking his nails clean as he walked down the hall.

He waited until he heard the office door click shut and imagined the elevator had arrived to take Ted down into the parking garage to his awaiting vintage Porsche.

Manny shoved his hand under his intestines, looking for the cell phone in his pocket. The pain had overridden his mind to where he could no longer tell the difference between his insides and his outsides. He had to push and dig until he finally managed to retrieve the phone.

When he looked down, he saw it was covered with blood and feces. His sister Margaret would only argue the last breath out of him. He turned his head and pressed four with his thumb to speed dial his niece Cassie while vomiting.

If this is your idea of a prank call, Uncle Manny, she said, You ought to block your number.

Ted, Manny said.

Who's dead? I'm at the Alibi and we've got a crappy connection. You know how it is at the Market.

T, Manny said.

Now I'm getting alphabet lectures, she said.

He gave up on identifying his killer and settled for action. Protect yourself, Manny said.

Quit trying to scare me into making up with Mother. You know she only uses mild spells against family.

There's magic in your blood. Manny shuddered with effort while he inhaled.

So she says.

This was taking too long. The wolf's cleanup crew was coming. He had to warn her. If you don't use your magic, he said, someone else will.

Are you drunk, Uncle Manny? Tell me what's really going on. . .

But all she heard on the other end of the line was Manny's scream and a wolflike snarl. Then the line went dead.

***

When dialing Manny delivered nothing but voicemail, Cassie did what every fresh cop would do. She dialed the precinct and argued her way up the food chain until she got Sergeant Mortenson on the phone.

We'll file a missing persons report when he's reported missing, Hunt.

But the scream. The line going dead. We know something bad has happened.

You think you know something, officer, but I know Manny Shay. I'm not banking taxpayer money against a rookie hunch — you're your uncle's niece as much as you're your father's daughter.

One of her mother's spells bubbled into Cassie's mind. She stamped out the thought. I earned my way onto the force.

Believe what you want. As far as I'm concerned, the thing you have to earn is your right to remain.

It's not like you've got candidates lined up outside your door.

No, but a bad cop is a luxury I can't afford. Don't prove pricey, Hunt.

The phone went dead.

Cassie dug a crumpled twenty out of her jeans pocket. She dropped it on the bar beside her full shot of bourbon.

That leaves us more than even.

Kat, the bartender and owner, didn't even turn around.

Let Nick know that he's too late — again, she said.

Kat punched a key on the cash register. The drawer opened. Her left hand swept up the twenty, smoothed it and settled it sweetly in the drawer.

I charge extra for messages.

And that large bill just delivered it.

Cassie tried to grab her jacket and purse with one hand while dialing Nick with the other. She refused to enter him in speed dial. Besides, his number burned in her memory.

She bumped the door open with her hip. The door swung just wide enough to catch Nick Myers chin. His head jerked back to keep her from getting his precious nose. Being a big, bad werewolf kept him from going down, but it was Cassie who did the growling.

You were supposed to be here an hour ago.

Business.

What's her name? I can run her in. Cassie jabbed her purse at Nick's chest. He grabbed it reflexively, knowing enough not to try to help her on with her coat.

Manny's got trouble and Mortenson refuses to help fix it.

And that's news? He smoothed the straps on her bag before returning them to her waiting hand.

Cassie snapped up the purse and stalked ahead of him six paces before spinning around.

One of your low-life connections knows how to do a trace, right?

You mean an illegal trace of someone's cell phone? Nick shook his head and opened his arms wide. I don't know a thing about illegal activities. He crossed his arms across his chest and winked, But I do have a new friend who's handy with computers. I'll introduce you.

Chapter 2

Stanley Hudson lived in a two-bedroom view condo on the up and coming Denny Regrade, an area of town the forefathers had leveled when Seattle was first conceived and an area that multi-billionaire Paul Allen tagged for redevelopment. High-priced Euro styling hadn't made a big impression on Stanley.

He'd knocked out the wall between his two bedrooms so that he could be free to string multiple strands of computer cabling between all his computers.

He's got enough computing juice in here to equal a Cray supercomputer, Nick said, hoping that keeping the conversation on the technology would keep Stanley under control.

I'll be impressed when he gets me what I want, Cassie said. Nick winced at her choice of words. Cassie was about to get more than she bargained for.

Which would be anything, Stanley said. Anything at all. His attempt at a sophisticated laugh escalated into a hiccup that ended with a full set of were-whiskers appearing on either side of his nose, distracting Cassie from the greying bunny slippers on his feet.

He's a new wolf, Nick whispered in Cassie's ear.

I'd never have guessed. Don't leave us alone. Not even to go to the bathroom.

I'm here for you, Nick put his arm around her. Stanley's ears literally pricked up.

Maybe you could be here sans physical contact? Cassie said. She shifted her hips, putting an inch of air between them. You're upsetting him.

If I was less distracted, I'd get things done faster, Stanley said as he popped the sim card from Cassie's phone. There can be some variance with these things, you know. He turned and ran his eyes over Cassie. When he got back to her face, his canines had elongated.

I thought only vamps did that, she said.

Stanley giggled and hid his mouth behind his hands. His ears quivered. When he uncovered his mouth, his canines had retracted.

Can't wait for the full moon, huh? Nick said. A waxing half moon cast a long ray of light across Stanley's living room.

I had special glass installed in this room. It magnifies the moon's effects. He turned to face Cassie. It makes me stronger.

Cassie found herself stepping away from both wolves. Stan, she said. you know what would really impress me?

No, but I'm willing to learn anything. His ears quivered again. Anything at all.

The ears won't retract as long as I'm here, right? Cassie said to Nick.

Just thinking about you kept my ears out 24/7 when I was a new wolf. He put himself between her and Stanley, but was careful not to touch either of them.

What would really impress me, Stan, Cassie said. would be finding my Uncle Manny.

Right. Stan tapped at the keyboard. The computer needs some time to run its simulation.

The tension between the two wolves was making the air thin. Cassie tried to draw in a big breath, but stuck on the exhale when she caught Stanley watching her chest expectantly. His canines were showing again.

How about a glass of water while I'm waiting? she said.

Stanley's whiskers resprouted while he vigorously nodded. He jumped out of his Aeron office chair and hopped to the kitchen.

You touch that glass to your mouth and you'll be leaving him your scent, Nick said.

Oh, I've practically sprayed my scent all over this place just standing here.

It's not the same, Nick said. And you know enough about wolves to know it. A warning growl crept into the end of his words.

Cassie made herself stare into his eyes. I might need him again, she said, reminding herself to glare. And you may not be around. I'll need him to have fond memories.

He got the bite just last month. He won't be a safe wolf for a year.

Sooner than a good bottle of wine.

Stanley returned with the glass. He elbowed past Nick, his hands shaking as he stretched his arms toward Cassie. She reached to take the glass as the claws on his right hand sliced through his fingertips.

His index claw sliced open the back of her hand. Her blood crashed to the floor with the glass as Nick leapt between the two of them.

He swept Cassie onto his back before both his hands turned to paws with palm-long claws sharper than any hood's favorite knife. Get a good grip, he said to Cassie. Her arms circled his neck so tightly she could take his pulse with her forearm. The safest place in the room might have been on a wolf’s back, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. If he went wild during the Change, how the hell was she going to stay safe while reaching for her gun?

Blood from her hand dripped down his neck. His nose shuddered. She waited for him to whisker out. His cheeks twitched. Once. He cracked his neck and shrugged at her arms.

Not quite that tight, Nick said. He shifted his stance so that Cassie was completely behind him. Slightly safer, she tried to keep a little air between them. He backed himself into her, his ass rocking into her pelvis, forcing a warm rush of memories. She was damned glad he couldn‘t see her face flush. But Stanley did.

Close the blackout blinds, Stanley, Nick said.

Stanley thrust out his whiskered chin and went to stand in the moonlight. The buttons on his shirt popped, one after another, as his chest expanded.

His hips quickly outgrew the width of his sweats. The ripping fabric resembled a low scream.

His toe claws shredded his bunny slippers.

Stanley's jaw unhinged, making room for his muzzle to lengthen.

The computer dinged.

Stanley's muzzle paused two inches from his face. His jaw swung loose as his head turned toward the computer.

Can't type on the keys with claws, Nick said. I've tried it. Made a mess of my keyboard.

Stanley stared at his claws. Nothing happened. He thrashed them against his hairy thighs, slicing into his own skin.

It'd be easier if you'd step away from the moonlight. Nick stepped sideways as well, keeping his full body between the new wolf and Cassie.

Stanley dropped to his knees, crawling to the shadow beside his filing cabinet. The hairs on his back slowly retracted. His torso shrunk to half its wolf width. The claws and whiskers resolved themselves, but his jaw still hung loose.

I'll need to set you down, Nick said. Mind you move with me. He could shift back in an instant.

He's got to be exhausted.

Nick's claws sliced near her cheek as he waved her words from the air. Adrenaline, he hissed.

Stanley looked up at them. Sweat shook from his shoulders and ribs as he shivered. He covered his face with his hands, peered through his fingers to see that they were still staring at him and shifted his left hand over his privates. A small moaning sound vibrated his throat.

She's seen much worse, Nick said.

Claw tips started to sprout from Stanley's fingers. We've had enough of that for one night, Nick said. These half forms are a bit exhausting. How about you find yourself another pair of sweats and come back to us all presentable. Cassie, here, promises not to peek. Not even at the computer.

Stanley dropped his hand to reveal a human grin. He spun on his heels and dashed down the hall.

The first moon gives them a lot of energy, Nick said, of all kinds.

I remember.

He let out a big sigh and let his claws transform back into fingers. He fished his red bandana from his back pocket and wiped away her blood. Not as bad as it looks, he said. Bringing her hand to his mouth, he licked her wound clean. See?

What had been a bleeding wound was now a pink scratch. Cassie opened her mouth to ask questions as Stanley returned in matching University of Washington's purple and gold. She closed her lips.

I admire your dedication, Nick said. Now as for the information.

Stanley tried to speak only to Nick, stealing a few glances at Cassie. He ran through the idea of overlaying the cell tower relays during a ping based on the two phone numbers.

You're looking at a 10,000-square-foot radius.

That's better than looking at the whole city. Cassie leaned past both men. Nick grabbed her shoulder, while Stanley stuck his nose near her hair, drawing in several nostrils full of her scent.

Cassie tapped the computer screen with a buffed fingernail. Can you lay this over a satellite image?

Natch, Stanley shouldered Nick out of the way and wriggled next to Cassie. A few keystrokes later, the circles clearly intersected around a single downtown building — the Columbia Tower.

Great, said Nick. Now all we have to do is search an entire office building.

Cassie turned a full smile on Stanley, Thanks, she said. We’ll let you know when we find him.

I'll call you and you can tell me.

The lady's not handing out her number.

But she already gave it to me.

Nick lunged toward the keyboard. Stanley stepped back, whiskers slipping from either side of his nose. Go ahead, he said. I've got install recall. There's only one way to wipe the memory.

Don't tempt me, Nick said.

He pushed Cassie into the hall and jabbed at the elevator button. Behind them, he heard Stanley's door creak open. He spun Cassie against the elevator doors, covering her body with his and covered her mouth with his lips. Despite her best efforts her lips responded. Fully.

He finished the hard first kiss by nipping at her enough to make her blood rise. The door squeaked as Stanley pulled it closed.

Marking your territory? Shaken, Cassie leaned her shoulders against the elevator doors. After she caught her breath, she pushed Nick away with her hips.

Exactly, he said as the doors opened behind her. They fell into the empty elevator, with Nick landing between her legs. I remember this, he said. He dusted her off with a tad too much care, then stood to press the elevator button without so much as glance in her direction.

Cassie rode down all twelve stories sitting cross-legged on the floor.

***

Just how do you expect to get into the Columbia Tower at this time of night?

I flash the badge.

First, there has to be someone to flash a badge at and, second, you need a warrant.

Cop wannabe security guards love helping women and I can let them play if I give them probable cause. Say, I was out walking my dog when I saw someone fleeing their loading dock with what could have been computer towers. The partner fled inside when I saw them.

Walking your dog?

Woof, Cassie leaned over and scratched behind his ears. Good boy.

***

Midnight in Seattle's CBD made it too easy to find street parking. Cassie waved Nick away from a spot directly in front of the building.

What if their cameras caught you changing?

They settled a few blocks east of the Columbia Tower on an angled spot. Gravity swung her door wide. While she bent down, Nick watched a truck with a battered green paint job pull out of the loading dock. He turned his head towards Cassie's open door to catch their scent before they turned up the hill to pass them.

He rubbed the smell from his nose and shook his head. He leaned across the gearshift and grabbed Cassie's arm.

This dog's not done with you.

Not now, she said into his mouth. He let her have her words while he nibbled along her jawline, forcing her to turn her face to his. Then he pressed his lips against hers, with steadily increasing pressure until her mouth opened with a gasp.

They French kissed until Nick's nose told him the car had passed.

Isn't this where you slap me? he whispered into her ear. His tongue traced her earring.

Cassie swallowed and slapped him in the chest. This is where I wonder what the hell you're hiding.

A rope, Nick said. There's a rope in the back you can use for a leash.

And miss the disrobing? Not a chance.

Nick pulled off his leather jacket and handed it to Cassie so she could fold it and put it on the floorboards. He did the same with his t-shirt, his left forearm reflexively covering the scar on his collarbone.

Don't, Cassie said. I want to see. She sucked in her breath at the white arc of scars. More than two years had passed and it still hadn't faded. The scars he'd left on her hips had long since turned white.

Nick grabbed her right hand and guided it over the scar. He made sure her fingers slipped off to touch the rest of his skin that was always at least five degrees warmer than human.

She snatched her hand away like she'd been burned.

I'm worried about Uncle Manny, she said, stuffing her hair into a casual ponytail so she could take her eyes off him and his scars. She dove into the back to find the rope.

Nick shifted into his four-legged wolf form and stretched his legs. He wriggled out of his jeans, wagged his tail and gave a little woof.

She looked down and smiled. At least I know you won't be humping my leg, Cassie said. If I'd had to bring Stanley…

Nick growled.

Cassie looped the rope over his neck. And now you can't make cracks about getting me to tie the knot. Police dogs all walk at a heel. You're too big to be poorly trained.

They proceeded up the hill, Nick heeling with his head slightly bowed so that his nose remained even with Cassie's waist.

***

The security guard had his college textbooks spread around the guard console. He dropped his pen and bent down to pick it up. As he sat upright, he met Nick's gaze.

Before he could scream, Cassie tapped on the glass. She shifted all her weight to her right foot, thrust