lh.narcissusinchains-第83章

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thout　changing。〃
　Christine　continued　as　if　I　hadn't　spoken。　Focused；　Christine　was　always　focused。　〃Joseph's　mate　is　pregnant。　Amber　would　be　here　but　she's　under　plete　bed　rest　until　the　baby　is　born。〃
　〃Until　she　loses　it；　you　mean；〃　Cherry　said。
　I　glanced　at　her。　〃You　say　that　like　she's　lost　some　before。〃
　〃This　is　her　third　try；〃　Cherry　said。
　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that。　Losing　her　。。。　mate　must　not　be　helping　her　stress　levels。〃
　〃That　is　an　understatement；〃　Christine　said。
　〃She's　a　fool　to　keep　trying；〃　Cherry　said。　〃We　can't　carry　a　baby　to　term；　and　that's　that。〃
　I　looked　at　her　again。　〃Pass　that　by　me　again；　slowly。〃
　〃The　change　is　too　violent；　it　causes　miscarriage。〃　Cherry　said　it　matter　of　factly；　then　I　watched　her　understand　what　she'd　just　said；　and　she　whispered；　〃Anita；　I　didn't　。。。　you　shouldn't　have　had　to　find　out　this　way。　I'm　sorry。〃
　I　shrugged；　then　shook　my　head。　〃But　the　MacNairs　have　two　children。　I'm　looking　at　them。　Janet　has　a　son。〃
　〃My　type　of　shapeshifting　is　inherited；〃　Janet　said。　〃It's　not　tied　to　the　moon。　I　avoided　shapeshifting　until　after　Andy　was　born。〃
　I　looked　at　Nilisha。　〃I　am　a　werecobra。　I　can　choose　to　try　and　carry　a　baby　like　a　mammal　or　like　a　snake。〃
　〃You　laid　eggs？〃　I　made　that　one　a　big　question。
　She　nodded。　〃I　couldn't　have　carried　them　in　my　body。　The　change　is　too　hard。　But　I　had　other　options。〃
　The　unspoken；　but　you　don't；　hung　on　the　air。　It　was　too　hard　to　think　about。　It　wasn't　like　I'd　ever　considered　having　children。　I　mean；　get　real；　with　my　life？　Out　loud；　I　said；　〃One　problem　at　a　time。　So　who　disappeared　first？〃
　Henry　MacNair　was　the　first　victim；　and　had　had　the　most　struggle。　Then；　the　werelion；　Joseph；　Andy　Talbot；　weredog；　as　it　turned　out；　and　last　the　Ursa　of　the　bears；　Rebecca　Morton。
　The　last　time　we'd　had　this　many　wereanimals　missing；　it　had　been　the　old　swan　king　who　was　delivering　them　over　to　be　hunted　by　illegal　thrill　seekers。
　I　looked　at　Donovan　Reece。　He　either　read　my　mind　or　anticipated　it。　〃Interesting　coincidence　that　I　e　into　town　about　the　same　time　everyone　goes　missing；　isn't　it。〃
　〃Gee；　Donovan；　you　read　my　mind。〃
　〃I　swear　to　you　that　I　know　nothing　of　this。〃
　Nilisha　said；　〃I　know　all　about　the　betrayal　of　the　last　swan　king。　But　I　am　betting　my　husband's　life　that　Donovan　is　innocent　of　all　this。〃
　I　shrugged。　〃We'll　see。〃
　〃You　do　not　trust　my　judgment；〃　she　said。
　〃I　don't　trust　much　of　anyone's　judgment　but　mine。　Nothing　personal。〃
　Olivia　touched　her　arm。　〃Mother。〃
　Nilisha　took　a　deep　breath　and　calmed　down。　The　day　was　looking　up。
　〃The　first　thing　I'm　going　to　suggest　is　that　we　call　in　the　police。〃
　Nobody　liked　that　idea。　〃Look；　they　have　resources　that　I　don't；　puter　searches；　forensics。〃
　〃No；〃　Nilisha　said；　〃no；　we　must　handle　this　among　ourselves。〃
　〃I　know　the　rule　is　that　we　don't　bring　in　the　human　authorities；　but　guys；　we　have　four　missing；　and　they　made　a　run　at　the　swans　and　the　leopards　already。〃
　〃You　think　the　snake　people　and　their　pet　lion　are　behind　this？〃　Donovan　asked。
　〃It　would　be　too　big　a　coincidence　if　they　weren't；〃　I　said。
　〃I　agree；〃　Micah　said。　He'd　been　very　quiet　through　everything；　carefully　not　standing　or　sitting　too　close；　as　if　he　didn't　want　to　confuse　things。　He　was　letting　me　be　in　charge　without　hovering。
　〃Okay；　then　who　are　these　guys；　and　what　the　hell　would　they　want　with　a　variety　of　shapeshifters？〃
　We　talked　for　a　couple　of　hours　but　didn't　e　up　with　anything　brilliant。　The　snakemen　were　behind　it。　But　why？　Why　would　any　wereanimals　give　a　shit　about　other　wereanimals　that　weren't　their　kind？　If　it　had　just　been　the　werecobras　targeted；　then　maybe　it　could　be　a　reptile　turf　war；　though　frankly；　it　was　unusual　to　have　a　fight　even　between　two　different　kinds　of　snakes。　The　town　was　big　enough　for　everybody　as　long　as　they　weren't　the　same　species。
　I　thought　Nilisha　MacNair　was　right　and　her　husband　was　dead。　If　people　kidnap　someone　and　don't　want　money；　they　want　worse　things；　usually　things　that　include　blood；　pain；　and；　eventually；　death。　They　were　probably　all　dead；　and　if　they　weren't；　we　needed　the　police　in　on　it　to　keep　them　alive。
　It　turned　out　that　everyone　had　reported　their　people　missing；　neglecting　to　mention　the　part　about　being　wereanimals。　〃But　don't　you　see；　the　police　have　a　twenty…one…year…old　college　senior　missing；　a　forty…five…year…old　husband；　a　thirty…something　single　woman；　and　a　thirty…something　married　man。　Other　than　the　fact　that　they're　all　Caucasian；　there　is　no　mon　denominator　to　link　up　these　cases。　But　if　I　can　tell　the　police　they　are　all　wereanimals；　then　that's　the　link。　You　guys　live　all　over　the　city。　You　have　different　police　units　working　on　each　case。　They'll　never　make　the　connection；　unless　we　tell　them　what　the　connection　is。〃
　Janet　Talbot　nodded　first。　〃Andy's　almost　got　his　pre…med　degree。　If　they　find　out　what　he　is；　he'll　never　be　a　doctor；　but　I　want　him　safe　more　than　I　want　anything　right　now。　So　I　agree；　go　to　the　police。〃
　〃I　can't　speak　for　Amber；〃　Christine　said；　〃but　I'm　pretty　sure　she'd　agree。〃
　〃I　should　ask　the　others　first；　but　the　hell　with　it；　find　Rebecca　for　us；　even　if　that　means　bringing　in　the　cops；〃　Boone　said。
　We　all　turned　to　Nilisha　MacNair。　〃No；　if　they　find　out；　we　are　all　ruined。〃
　Olivia　took　her　hand。　Ethan　knelt　in　front　of　her。　〃Mother；　without　father　what　does　it　matter？〃
　I　wasn't　sure　she'd　agree　since　he'd　been　cheating　on　her；　but　she　nodded　and　she　agreed。　Love　is　a　funny　thing　sometimes。　But　whatever　the　motive；　it　meant　I　could　talk　to　Dolph；　and　I　wouldn't　even　have　to　lie。
　
　45
　
　DOLPH　ANSWERED　ON　the　second　ring。　〃Dolph。〃　He　never　said；　Regional　Preternatural　Investigation　Team；　or　even　police；　just　his　name；　not　even　his　last　name；　not　even　his　full　first　name；　just　〃Dolph；〃　or　〃Dolph；　here。〃　Did　anyone　ever　plain？　Somehow　I　doubted　it。
　He　sounded　as　close　to　surprised　as　he　ever　gets。　〃Anita；　I　didn't　expect　to　hear　from　you　until　we'd　at　least　finished　the　paperwork　on　the　last　batch　of　bodies。〃　I　heard　a　man's　voice；　but　couldn't　tell　what　was　said。　Dolph　came　back　on。　〃Zerbrowski　says　that　if　you　killed　someone　else　just　hide　the　body；　he's　not　starting　over　on　the　paperwork。〃
　〃I　know　enough　about　procedure　to　know　that　he'd　have　to　start　a　new　report　anyway。　Separate　crime；　separate　report；　right？〃
　〃Do　you　really　have　a　fresh　body　out　there？〃　He　sounded　tired；　but　not　surprised。
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃Then　how　do　we　rate　a　call？〃
　〃I　have　information　pertaining　to　several　crimes　and　the　permission　of　those　involved　to　tell　you　the　truth；　the　whole　truth。　Now；　isn't　that　refreshing？〃
　I　could　almost　feel　him　sitting　up　over　the　phone。　〃I'm　a　cop；　truth　is　always　refreshing；　so　dazzle　me。〃
　I　told　him。　As　I'd　suspected；　the　MacNair　case　was　already　on　the　roster　for　Dolph　and　the　gang；　but　it　was　the　first　he'd　heard　of　the　others。
　〃I　interviewed　the　wife　personally。　She　kept　saying　she　had　no　idea　why　some　monster　would　attack　her　husband。　It　might　have　helped　us　find　him　if　we'd　known。〃
　〃Dolph；　they　run　a　restaurant。　If　it　gets　out　that　they're　shapeshifters；　they　may　lose　it。〃
　〃Board　of　Health　can't　shut　them　down　for　this。〃
　〃No；　but　word　will　get　out；　and　the　customers　will　start　to　worry。　You　know　it；　and　I　know　it。〃
　〃No　one　will　find　out　from　my　people。　You　have　my　word　on　it。〃
　〃Yeah；　but　how　many　other　departments　are　involved？　How　many　nonpolice　are　at　every　crime　scene；　not　to　mention　clerical　workers？　It'll　e　out；　Dolph；　eventually　it'll　e　out。〃
　〃I'll　keep　a　lid　on　it；　Anita；　but　I　can　only　guarantee　my　people。〃
　〃I　know；　Dolph；　but　Andy　Talbot　wants　to　be　a　doctor。　He'll　never　get　into　med　school　once　this　es　out。　Rebecca　Morton　is　a　chiropractor。　If　they　find　out　what　she　is；　they'll　yank　her　license。〃
　〃Why　is　it　that　most　of　these　people　go　in　for　professions　where　this　is　a　problem？〃
　I　shrugged；　knew　he　couldn't　see　it。　〃Just　lucky；　I　guess。〃
　〃I　think　it's　stubbornness；〃　Dolph　said。
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Tell　anyone　that　they　can't　do　something；　and　they'll　want　to　do　it。〃
　He　had　a　good　point。　〃Makes　sense。〃
　〃How　do　these　disappearances　tie　in　to　the　attack　on　your　house？〃
　Damn；　the　whole　truth；　I'd　said。　There　was　my　chance　to　prove　it。　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　told　him　almost　all　of　the　truth。　I　told　him　that　Gregory　had　called　for　help；　leaving　out　why　he'd　call　me。　Dolph　never　questioned　that　I'd　be　a　good　choice　when　calling　for　rescue　from　the　monsters。　He　did　say；　〃He　could　have　called　the　police。〃
　〃It　hasn't　been　that　long　since　the　police　killed　wereanimals　on　sight；　Dolph。　You　can't　really　blame　them　for　being　leery　of　you　guys。〃
　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　all　this　when　you　were　in　for　questioning？〃
　〃You　were　mad　at　me；〃　I　said；　as　if　that　explained　it。　And　it　sort　of　did；　though　it　made　me　sound　childish。
　〃What　are　you　leaving　out？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　tell　you　the　truth；　and　you　still　doubt　me。　That　really　hurts；　Dolph；〃
　〃Not　as　much　as　it's　going　to　if　I　find　out　you　withheld　evidence　on　this。〃
　〃It's　not　like　you　to　make　threats；　Dolph。〃
　〃I'm　tired；〃　he　said。
　I　was　quiet　for　a　second。　〃You　should　get　some　rest；　Dolph。〃
　〃Yeah；　if　you　can　keep　from　killing　anyone　else；　maybe　I'll　catch　up　on　the　paperwork。〃
　〃I'll　do　my　best；〃　I　said。
　〃You　do　that。〃　I　heard　him　take　a　deep　breath。　〃Is　this　all　the　information　you're　going　to　give　me　on　this？〃
　〃Yep。〃
　〃I'll　go　back　and　interview　the　families　again。　Do　you　know　how　much　extra　work　this　is　going　to　be；　just　because　they　fucking　lied　the　first　time？〃
　〃They　didn't　mean　to　make　your　job　hard；　Dolph；　they　were　just　scared。〃
　〃Yeah；　so　isn't　everyone？〃　With　that；　he　hung　up。
　I　stared　at　the　buzzing　phone。　The　man　was　not　in　a　good　mood。　I　knew　why；　now；　and　I　was　probably　one　of　the　few　outside　his　family　that　did　know　why。　I　wondered　how　much　grouchier　he　was　going　to　get；　and　if　it　would　start　affecting　his　job；　if　it　hadn't　already。　If　his　hatred　of　the　monsters　took　away　his　objectivity；　then　he　was　going　to　be　useless　as　the　head　of　the　Regional　Preternatural　Investigation　Team。　Shit。　It　was　a　problem　for　another　day。　I　could　add　it　to　the　list　of　things　I'd　worry　about　later。　At　the　rate　the　list　was　growing；　I'd　never　have　time　to　worry　about　everything　on　it。　Maybe　I　could　throw　a　dart　and　make　what　it　stuck　in　the　problem　of　the　day。　Or　maybe　I　could　just　ignore　the　list。　Yeah；　ignoring　sounded　good。
　
　46
　
　THE　MACNAIRS；　PLUS　bodyguard；　promised　to　drive　straight　to　RPIT's　headquarters　and　give　statements。　Janet　Talbot　went　with　them。　Christine　didn't　really　know　anything　about　the　werelion's　disappearance；　so　she　just　went　home；　promising　to　be　careful。　I　offered　to　let　her　stay　at　my　place　until　the　bad　guy；　or　guys；　was　caught；　but　she　turned　me　down　flat。
　Donovan　Reece　said；　〃She　is　an　independent　creature。〃
　I　could　admire　that。　〃I　hope　her　independence　doesn't　get　her　hurt。〃
　He　shrugged；　getting　to　his　feet。　I　noticed　a　lump　under　the　front　of　his　pink　shirt。　〃You're　armed；〃　I　said。
　He　glanced　down　at　the　place　where　his　gun　was　trying　and　failing　to　hide。　〃I　won't　let　my　girls　be　taken　again。〃
　〃Pe