LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

likely because of them. The media keeps going on about this Rip`n'Stitch serial killer who rips out teenagers' hearts and leaves a criss-cross scar.'

      He shivered. `The Rip`n'Stitch has to be a Taloner, right? He leaves the same mark as you did when you melded Jack's skin. This coven is murdering people on our world, too.'

      `In my kingdom, crops lie rotting in the fields after the coven slayed the farmers who used to till them. Many of our best warriors were murdered as they travelled between cities. Our population is dying. We are without future, without hope.'

      `Oh, no!'

      `I assure you, I speak the truth.'

      `No, I mean uh-oh oh no!' Max grimaced and pointed ahead at some bright lights, flashing blue and red. He slowed the car and came to a halt.

      `What is the predicament?'

      `Cops. Police.' He pointed to the group of people garbed in luminous vests, talking to other drivers parked ahead of them.

      `Do they know we have a dead body in the boot?'

      `Shh! Do you want the whole city to hear you? Of course they don't know, how could they? They'll be doing a random breath test.'

      `That is nonsensical. Why implement a test to check if we can breathe or not? Is your city plagued by wraiths?'

      `No.' Max glanced at her. `Well, I don't think so. But who would know. After tonight, I'd say nearly anything is possible.'

      He touched a button and his window sank scientifically into the door.

      `The police check to see if drivers have been drinking alcohol. Don't say anything. You'll make them suspicious. I hope that healing spell of yours worked.'

      `It was not a spell.'

      `Same difference.'

      She blinked. How could the same be different?

      `Well, I'll be!' Max's eyebrows rose in surprise as he watched the policeman who was approaching their car. `It's Ryan.'

      `Do you know this man?' she asked.

      `Ryan Tanner. Old family friend, ex-bodyguard, now cop.'

      Dark eyes met theirs as the cop bent down to face them through the open window. `Hey Max. I thought you'd be at your Dad's big party by now. Did you chicken out?'

      `No, we're on our way there now.'

      `Is this a new girlfriend?'

      Shahkara tried a smile as Ryan assessed her. He would not be so friendly if he knew about the dead body.

      `No, we're just friends.' He waved his hands between them. `Shahkara, Detective Constable Ryan Tanner.'

      `Nice costume for the ball, Shahkara,' Ryan said. `Max, where are your bodyguards?'

      `I ditched them.'

      `Your dad pays them for a good reason.'

      `Yeah. But what gives with you? RBTs aren't your beat.'

      `This isn't an RBT. We got a tip-off about a missing person. The uniforms will check your car in a minute. It won't take long.'

      A blonde-haired policewoman now approached their car.

      `Is there a problem, Tanner?' Despite her clipped tone, her vowels were softer than those of Max and his friend. Shahkara guessed she was raised far away from this city.

      `Sorry, Detective Sergeant O'Neal. This is Liam McCalden's son, Max. I was just saying hello.'

      `We don't have time for caramel lattes, Detective Constable. Friends or not, check their car. No sense waiting for Constable Parker to amble along and do it.'

      She sniffed. `What's that smell? Have you been drinking, Mr McCalden?'

      `No,' Max lied.

      The woman, obviously Ryan's superior, pulled a box-like packet, with a white straw, from her pocket. She handed it to Max but spoke to Ryan. `He reeks of rum and I've heard he has a reputation for it. Give him a breath test.'

      `But that's not why we're out here.'

      `We are always out for RBTs, Tanner, especially when a driver smells like he's taken a bath in Bundy. I'm sure Mr McCalden doesn't think he's above the law. Do it.'

      `You know the routine Max,' Ryan said. `Blow until it beeps.' Max did as he was told and handed the packet back to Ryan who peered at it and said, `Zero. All clear.'

      `What?' O'Neal took the packet from him. `But I can smell the booze! What did you do, take a swim in it?'

      `One of my friends spilt a drink on me earlier tonight.' Max held out his arm to her.

      `Check the back seat and boot, Tanner.'

      Max did not move a muscle but Shahkara could hear the acceleration of his heart. She reached out and touched his elbow reassuringly, even though her own insides clenched with worry.

      `Do you have to?' Max's voice barely wavered. `We're already late.'

      O'Neal glared at him. `We're searching vehicles for a missing teenager. So unless you have him or drugs or dead bodies in your boot, it not going to take long.'

      Oh no! Max had warned her this might occur and she had refused to listen, too intent on eradicating Jack before any part of him could return to destroy them.

      Beg Danu! The woman seemed to be joking about dead bodies, so what would they do when Ryan opened the back of the car?

      Every conceivable scenario was fraught with flaws. She and Max were ill-equipped to escape on foot without her being forced to use the talons she wished to conceal. Their best chance, also not good, was to accelerate through the crowd and hope the cars with flashing lights were slower. Her spirits plummeted.

      She straightened her back, already as stiff as a newly-forged sword, sucked in a breath and waited.

      Chapter Four

      Sweat trickled down Max's back. `I'll pop the boot.'

       The boot with the dead body in it!

       Even worse: a corpse that Ryan would recognise.

      Max pulled the lever as Ryan strode to the back of the Alfa, and lifted the boot lid. It was only because Detective Sergeant O'Neal was still hovering in earshot, that Max didn't turn to Shahkara to beg for some kind of magical escape. Preferably one that would transport them anywhere else.

      `Mate,' Ryan declared. `You are in deep trouble!'

      Max held his breath as... the boot was slammed shut. He glanced at Shahkara.

      `Your father is not going to be impressed.' Ryan's tone, as he returned to the driver's window, was stern but not horrified.

      Impressed? His dad would either cut off his toes or send him to military school.

      Act innocent! Who's to say he and Shah knew anything about a body in the boot? It could have been dumped there by someone else. After all, they'd given Jack the night off.

      `What are you talking about, Ryan?' he managed to ask.

      `Liam won't be happy when he finds out you've loaded the boot with crap. Is that gypsum? Never thought you were a greenthumb.'

      `Um, it's relaxing; helps with the study.'

      `Yeah? Well, I'd clean the boot before your dad sees it.'

      `I doubt he'd really care what my car looked like.'

      `Probably not. Be careful, okay. You have my number.'

      `Thanks mate.' Max started the car, flipped the indicator and drove away. His nerves skittered as he checked the rearview mirror, just in case a police car took chase.

      `A boot full of crap,' Max laughed. `I guess the body must have, you know, disintegrated.'

Скачать книгу