Part 25 (1/2)
”Meredythe. She's not back yet.”
Kim chuckled as he shrugged into his parka. ”When that woman gets her teeth into a story, she doesn't let go. You sure you want to get involved with her? She'll always be running off after one story or another.”
”Christ, Kim, I barely know her. Now you have us practically engaged.”
”Yeah, but you'd like to get to know her a lot better. You're the one who keeps calling to see if she's back from upstate yet.”
”Well, she's not back yet, and I want to finish this report. Go home. The sooner I finish this, the sooner I'll be able to go home.”
Laughter followed Kim out the door.
After he heard the door slam, Jon made a few more notes then pulled the slide he'd been viewing from the microscope and put it away. Rising, he walked to his desk and unlocked the bottom drawer. Finally, he had the time and privacy to review the DNA test he'd completed on the hairs that had been found on that pimp's body. Now when Meredythe got back, he'd be able to give her some definitive information about whether the animal that had killed him was a wolf, a dog or a combination of the two.
Ten minutes later, Jon flopped down onto a stool and stared at the evidence laid out before him. No way was this possible. That first test by the lab hadn't been a mistake. He had the same results, and he knew he hadn't contaminated the sample. The DNA from those hairs came up wolf...and human.
No way could this be true, no way. It wasn't possible. But the evidence never lied.
”Jesus Christ. Meredythe is hunting a werewolf.”
The stool toppled to the floor as he leaped toward the phone.
”Phonebook,” he muttered as papers went flying. ”Where's the d.a.m.n phonebook? I have to call her paper.”
He stopped and sank into his chair. ”Who the h.e.l.l is going to believe me? n.o.body.”
He looked back at the table that held his evidence. How was he going to contact Meredythe? She had to be warned.
Jon thought back to the dinners they'd shared. Meredythe had been very free with her praise for her boss-a smart, open-minded man who was willing to let her run with her ideas and feelings.
Jon rose and gathered up his evidence. ”I'll go see this King guy now. The worst he can do is call me a lunatic and throw me out. But he'll know how to contact Meredythe. She told me she always checks in with him.”
”This is a rather fantastic tale you tell, Mr. Bowers.”
”You believe me?”
James King's eyebrow rose. ”On one piece of evidence? I'm afraid I'll need more than that. Even if it is DNA, most scientists will be skeptical.”
”But...”
King held up his hand. ”I agree this is compelling information you have. But surely you don't expect complete belief on one DNA test?”
Jon sank into a chair. ”I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't done the test myself. But belief isn't the point. I'm worried about Meredythe. She could be in danger. Isn't there any way to contact her? She does have a cell phone, doesn't she?”
King reached his hand across the table. ”I will call and pa.s.s on the information, Mr. Bowers. Meredythe is my best reporter. I don't want her hurt any more than you do.”
Jon recognized a dismissal when he heard one. Rising, he shook King's hand.
Picking up the results of the DNA test, he slid it into his briefcase.
”Thank you for at least hearing me out, Mr. King.”
The older man smiled. ”Any time, my boy. Any time.”
James King's smile faded as the door closed behind Jon. Picking up his phone, he punched in a number, waiting impatiently for the connection.
”A tall, blond man wearing a brown overcoat just left my office carrying a leather briefcase. He's in forensics, so you'll probably be able to recognize him by his smell. You must get me that briefcase, tonight. He's got proof that Bleddyn's a werewolf.”
After severing the connection, James sank into his chair. d.a.m.n, but things were getting complicated.
Jon trudged along the sidewalk toward his apartment. One more block and he'd be home. That subway ride seemed to get longer every day.
A gust of wind exploded out of an alley, staggering him. As he struggled to regain his balance, a dark figure grabbed his briefcase. Gripping it more tightly, Jon refused to let go. d.a.m.n muggers.
A pale face turned toward him. A smile appeared-a smile with fangs. Dark eyes bore into his.
”Release the case now.”
Jon felt his fingers relax. He tensed his hand, but the compulsion had been laid. The briefcase slipped from his fingers. The dark figure disappeared back into the alley.
Swallowing twice, Jon leaned back against a mailbox. He had DNA that proved the existence of a werewolf and now a vampire had stolen it. Maybe he did belong in an insane asylum.
Chapter Thirteen.
”She's waking up.”
Concentrating on the strange voice, Meredythe crawled back toward consciousness.
”The master doesn't want her awake yet.”
Just as her eyes fluttered open, a cloth was pressed over her nose and mouth. Meredythe sank back into unconsciousness. With the full moon s.h.i.+ning through the small window, she began to dream.
The last, shrill scream of the air raid sirens faded away as Bleddyn scrambled through the rubble of Germany's second attack on London. Fires blazed out of control. So many had died in the first attack yesterday. So many more had died today. He pushed past dazed survivors. Meredythe hadn't been in the air raid shelter closest to her home. Where was she?
Screams and groans echoed through broken and blasted walls. When a gas line exploded and rubble rained down, he threw himself against all that remained of a house as the building across the street collapsed.
”That was too close,” he mumbled as he pushed himself out of the debris. ”I have to find Meredythe and get out of here.”
Climbing the ruins of a crumbled wall, he swung his legs over and slid down the other side. As he pushed himself to his feet, the last house on the block collapsed.
A woman's scream bounced around the rubble.
”Meredythe!”
Tossing chunks of wood and plaster out of his way as if they were cardboard, Bleddyn sprinted through the wreckage. Dust settled around him when he skidded to a halt in front of what remained of the house where Meredythe lived with her aunt. A single, slender arm was visible amongst the charred ruins.