Hell & High Water (THIRDS 1)

“Where are you going?”

“To check something out.” He didn’t bother to wait around to see if Dex had listened to his orders. Using a parked truck to shield him, he swiftly crossed behind it and onto the sidewalk to the building, edging his way closer to the loading dock. Inside there was a van displaying fancy scripted lettering. It belonged to Thalia’s Kitchen Events & Catering, and it was parked with the rear toward the loading dock’s raised cement platform. Three large males were removing boxes from the van, all of them wearing turtlenecks. Sloane crept toward them, his tranq rifle in his hand at the ready. One of the males turned, his eyes confi

rming Sloane’s suspicion. When the Therian spotted him, he gave a start.

“Easy now. I know you’re thinking about running, but we both know how that’s going to end.”

The three males reluctantly put their hands in the air. Sloane stopped a few feet away and gave them a curt nod. “Let’s see those necks.” He eyed them cautiously as they each pulled down their turtlenecks, revealing nothing but skin. Sloane tapped the side of his earpiece. “Ash, I’ve got three Unregistered males in the loading dock two doors down from Thalia’s. Bring the TIK.” Hopefully the Therian Identification Kit would tell him what he needed to know.

Within minutes, Ash and Letty were at his side. Ash approached the Therians with a growl. “Turn around. Hands behind your backs.”

“We didn’t do anything,” one of them protested as Ash hooked a Therian-strength zip tie around each Therian’s set of wrists and gave the ends a tug, securing them tightly.

“Besides maybe break a law or two,” Ash replied, stepping back as they turned around.

Sloane motioned toward the bay doors. “There a back way into your employer’s shop?”

One of the men gave a nod. “Yeah, second door. There’s a hallway that leads to the back entrance.”

“Okay, let’s go. We’ll have a chat inside.” The last thing they needed was the news stations showing up, and curious bystanders were already starting to gather. They led the three males inside, down a stone passage with several metal doors. Their subjects came to a halt before one of the doors, and the tallest of the three tilted his head toward it.

“You need a security code to get in.”

Ash stepped up to the keypad and grinned. “You can trust us.”

With a muttered curse under his breath, the Therian relayed the security code that Ash typed into the pad. A little green light flashed and Ash opened the door, stopping the males before they could go in.

“Learn some manners.”

Letty gave them a salute before walking in, rifle in hand.

“That’s rather chauvinistic,” one of them huffed.

Ash let out an amused laugh. “I didn’t let her in first because she’s female, you jackass. I let her in first because she likes to shoot things, and I’m very considerate that way.”

“All clear,” Letty called out.

“I suggest you boys behave, or I’ll let her use you for target practice. Now get in there.” Ash pushed the first of their subjects through the doorway, the two behind quickly following.

Inside, they found a large pantry filled with all manner of catering supplies and equipment, folded tables, chairs, and along the wall, several industrial-sized freezers. Ash ordered the Therians to line up before he removed the TIK from one of the pouches in his utility belt. Luckily the kit was nice and slim, so there was no need to untie the Therians in order to use it. “I won’t lie. This is going to hurt like a bitch.” Ash grabbed one of the Therian’s arms, pushed up his sleeve, and clamped the black digital band around the guy’s arm under the elbow. The small screen flickered to life and Ash pressed his thumb against it to log in. A few taps later, the Therian subject flinched as the identification kit accessed and analyzed his DNA.

While he waited for Ash to perform the necessary scans, Sloane touched his earpiece. “Dex, what’s your position?”

“Reception area. Ms. Thalia’s assistant is trying to give us the runaround, insisting her boss isn’t in, but a courier on his way out was carrying paperwork with her signature. Rosa’s doing her thing.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in two.” Sloane tapped his earpiece again and turned to Ash. “What’s the verdict?”

“Three confirmed Unregistered Therians, none of them Felids,” Ash replied, handing Sloane the TIK with the completed analysis report. Damn. Okay, he could still work with this.

“Ash, read them their rights and begin registration. They’ve got a week.”

Ash gave him a nod and addressed the three solemn Therians. They’d have one week to report to their nearest CDC clinic, complete their registrations and get marked, otherwise warrants for their arrest would be issued. Leaving his teammates to handle the bound Therians, Sloane left the pantry, walking out into a cream-colored hallway with lots of fancy gold frames, gilded tables, and crystal vases filled with fresh flowers. A young woman came out of one of the rooms and gave a start, her hand flying to her chest.

“It’s okay,” Sloane assured her. “Can you tell me how to get to the reception area?”

She shakily pointed to the end of the hall and a set of white double doors. With a “Thank you”, he made his way into what appeared to be some kind of small lobby. From there he could see the reception area where Dex, Cael, and Rosa were standing. A tall, slender woman sporting a painfully tight bun stood with her hands clasped in front of her as she looked down her nose at the agents, their stark dark uniforms and heavy artillery a sharp contrast to the ostentatious surroundings. When she spoke, it was in a clipped tone.

“Allow me to reiterate, Agent Santiago. I am in the middle of a very important meeting with a client and have no time to waste on nonsense, nor do I appreciate the accusations. I have not, nor would I ever hire Unregistered Therians. So unless you have something more official to present me with other than your ghastly presence, I suggest you stop wasting my taxes and go catch some criminals.”