Chapter Three

 

For once, the police weren't after my blood, which was nice. Bianca was ordered to place her hands behind her head and the entire fire squad surrounded her. No one would make eye contact with her and did their best to lead her out of the hospital without touching her. If I didn't know any better I would have said they were afraid of her.

The woman who had been yelling hadn't quieted down since Bianca's arrest. If anything she grew more hostile and angry. She was standing at the entrance of the building, her back away from my face. A fat police officer in fatigues was attempting to handle her but was very unsuccessful.

"Sorry ma'am, but 1no one gets passed this police barrier, no way no how."

"I don't think you know who you're dealing with, Paddy. I'm a f%*#ing agent of the f%*#ing United States Government."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but unless you show me some credials or at least a badge for this supposed Federal Preternatural Investigation team I'm going to have to ask you to stand back."

"I don't have it on me. I'm on f%*#ing vacation."

He tried to gently push her towards the parking lot as the parade of police quickly led their suspect out of the hospital and into the back of a black-and-white. One of the uniforms pushed roughly against me like he was trying to knock me off my feet. Another did the same thing to Eddie who'd broken free of the other officer.

"A*$hole!" she vehemently called after the man.

Before I could say anything, the police took off with Bianca. The officers who'd been trying to deal with the crowd that had gathered received a signal from their leader and headed back into town, leaving me alone with the other woman. She swore at the departing me and turned to me. I could have been looking into a mirror.

The woman was exactly my height with thick black hair that came down to her shoulders, brown eyes, and a pale complexion. She was roughly the same size as me proportionately only about fifteen pounds heavier. Most of that extra weight was probably muscle as what I could see of her arms was extremely well sculpted biceps. The only real difference lied in the fact that she was wearing thin glasses and a sour expression. A power tingled along my skin that I didn't recognize.

"I know you. Anita Blake, right? What the hell happened to you? Take a trip through a windshield?"

"Car accident," I said as casually as I could, all the while trying to recall who she was. I hated it when people remembered my name and I couldn't remember theirs. Of course, it also disturbed me how close to the truth she'd gotten just by looking at me. Not looking at me, a small voice inside my head suddenly said, in me.

The thought sparked a vivid memory. An image of Eddie sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the room while her partner questioned Mrs. Fitzpatrick flashed in my mind.  Her name was Eddie. She was the clairvoyant cop that the police had used to narrow down the list of suspects. I think she was also telepathic, although she denied possessing the ability. We hadn't met formally. After the case was closed, Bianca took me out for a night on the town and invited her friend Eddie along. She hadn't been able to go but we spoke on the phone long enough for me to realize two things. One, Eddie was not someone you messed with on or off the job. And two, she was very protective of Bianca.

"How about you?"

"Bar fight," she replied off handedly.

"You're kidding?" Did people even have bar fights any more?

"What can I say? Some barfly was getting a little rough my girl."

I couldn't help but smile at that.

"Did you know that the police actually believe that you were about to be Bianca's next victim?"

"Victim?"

"Yeah, she's a homicidal maniac.  Didn't the cops tell you?"

"Actually, they haven't said anything to me." 

Eddie stared at me a moment, probably sizing me up.  I shifted uncomfortably and was about to tell her to quit it, when she finally spoke.

"Tell you what.  If you'll come with me to talk to her blood sucking lawyers, I promise I'll tell you anything you want to know," Eddie said and started for the parking lot.  She must have been pretty confident that I would follow.  I, the other hand, was having an internal struggle. The whole situation seemed a little too haphazard for my tastes.  A woman I haven't seen in years just happens to appear moments before she's arrested for multiple homicide.  The smart thing would have been to just turn around, go back to my room, and sleep until I was fully healed.  But since when did I ever do the smart thing? The practical thing? Yes. The smart thing? No. I went back to my room to grab my holsters and shoes.

I spent a few minutes putting them on, then made my escape. Luckily Dr. Cunnigham wasn't anywhere in sight as I slipped out. I was going to get an earful the next time I saw him.

Eddie was standing beside a small black Porsche overburdened with luggage, a cell phone to her ear.  She was talking brusquely to someone but quickly ended the conversation when I approached the car.

"F*#@%ing lawyers," she explained. "The one that usually handles Bee's cases is in the Bahamas with wife number three. The rich ba$%$rd won't be in for another two weeks."

"Can't you just snag another lawyer from the same firm?"

"The secretary says they're booked solid for the next few days."

"You can always get her another lawyer."

Eddie frowned. "I'm not too partial to Maguire Legal but they are the best law firm in the country with the exception of the Wilson Law Offices in Maine.  And regardless of her innocence, she's going to need a goddamn 'Rainmaker' if half of what the local P.D. has gathered sticks."

"How much evidence have they collected?"

"S*&#loads.  Bianca and I have been on a cross-country road trip for eight days now.  Every place that we've gone, there's been a murder, which---as you know---is all very circumstantial in and of itself.  But according to the police, they have eye witnesses that can place Bianca at three of the crime scenes moments before the bodies were discovered."

"What kind of eye witnesses?"

"A cheap hooker standing outside a bar, a drug addict getting a fix in a dark alley, an old homeless woman, an alcoholic wife beater.  You know the real reliable type that cops love to use."

"That's just great."

"It gets better. The governor is up for reelection, so he's passed a bill a few months ago increasing the penalities of hate crimes."

"Why should that matter to Bianca's case?"

"Four of the victims are lycanthropes."

"So?"

Eddie let out a heavy sigh, like she was struggling with a big decision. "Bianca's been hanging with a strange crowd these days," she said at last.

"Preternatural strange?"

"I almost wish. There's these people that come to the house. Bianca only has them over when she thinks I'm going to out all night."

"Then how----"

"I came home early one night and found them in the living room looking over some map. I think it was of California, but I didn't get a good enough look. The moment someone noticed me, they packed up and left. Treated me like I was just part of the scenery on their way out. Bianca refused to tell me who they are, but I've got some suspicions."

"Were all the victims lycanthropes?"

The other woman searched my eyes for a few seconds before speaking. "No. They were field agents for an organization that Bianca and I both belong to."

"F.P.I.T.?"

She looked at me, startled. "Who told---" Eddie's paused and her face suddenly filled with understanding. "No."

I waited for Eddie to elaborate, but she just stood there staring at the people across the street. She walked over to the other side of the car and got in. I followed her example. As I buckled myself in, Eddie turned on the radio.

"Let's head over and crash the lawyers' office," she said.

"What are we going to do there?"

"Bust a few heads. You up to it?"

I leaned against the warm leather of the car seat and glanced out the window back at the hospital.

"Sure. Why not?"

It wasn't like I'd planned anything else for today. Besides, working on a case would keep me awake and away from dragons.