Memory Zero (Spook Squad 1)

She raised her eyebrows. Just for an instant, the compassion in his voice reminded her of the man she’d known before she’d become his partner. “You got coffee onboard?”

“Freshly brewed.”

And he hadn’t offered her any until now? It was lucky he’d equipped the two of them with only stun rifles, because she was very tempted to march right over and shoot him. “Sure you can spare a cup?” she said tightly. “I mean, you oldsters need some sort of stimulant to keep you awake at this hour of the night, don’t you?”

“Do I take that as a yes or a no?” His warm voice held an undertone of annoyance.

But she was way past caring at this particular moment. “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether you intend to freeze me out, figuratively or literally.”

He made no immediate reply and she waited, wondering what he’d do now that she’d finally called him out. Down toward the Main Street end of the alley she heard a soft thump, as if someone had jumped off a rooftop, and a dog yelped somewhere to the left of that—a short, sharp sound that spoke of fear. She frowned and stared into the darkness. The electricity filling the night stirred, running over her skin, standing the small hairs at the back of her neck on end. Heat followed quickly. Then her senses exploded outward, and she was tasting the night.

A kite creature walked toward her.

“Sam—”

She jumped and quickly pressed the earphone, cutting him off. He’d once told her the kites hunted by sound and movement. She wasn’t about to chance the creature hearing his voice, no matter how unlikely that might be.

The kite came into view. It almost looked like a large white sheet, except that it had feet and talonlike hands. The creature hesitated as it neared the steps, sniffing the night like a dog. It turned milky-white eyes in her direction. She controlled the urge to reach for the stun rifle and remained still.

After a moment, it lumbered past, moving to the other end of the alley. Avoiding the yellow wash of the streetlight, it slunk around the corner and disappeared. She rose and picked up her rifle before switching the earpiece back on.

“A kite just made an appearance in the alley. I’m about to follow.”

“Negative. You’re not equipped—”

Sam snorted softly. “Neither are you, partner. You continue to keep watch on the blood bank, and I’ll see what the creature is up to.”

“Stun guns won’t—”

“Gabriel, remember imperative one?” The SIU had become aware of the kites only five months ago, but since then the creatures had reached the top of the SIU’s extermination list. With an edge in her voice that imitated his own, she continued, “Find and stop all kites, regardless of the cost.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to do a suicide run when you’re not properly equipped to deal with them.”

“Please credit me with a little bit of sense. I’m merely going to see what the thing is up to.” She stopped at the end of the alley and carefully peered around the corner. The kite lumbered across the road.

“I’m calling for backup,” he said, his voice terse.

The kite disappeared around the corner of the opposite street. She ran across the road and then edged forward, keeping to the shadows of the three-story apartment building.

“Fine.” It only made sense. “I’ll keep in contact.”

“You’d better,” he growled.

She grinned. She might well pay for it later, but damn, it felt good to annoy him.

She reached the corner, but the kite was nowhere to be seen. Wondering how the creature could have moved so fast, she frowned and glanced up—and found it. The loose skin around its arms flapped lightly as it climbed crablike up the wall.

The wind tugged at her hair, throwing it across her eyes. She brushed it back and listened to the sounds beneath the soft cry of the wind. Two men were talking, their voices harsh and grating. A radio near the top of the building played classic rock. Between the two came the squeak of a bed and a whispered good night. These were all sounds she wouldn’t normally have heard but now did thanks to the odd sense of power flowing through the night.

The creature seemed to be headed for the apartment in which the radio played. She watched it for as long as she dared. When it stopped and pressed a taloned hand against a window, she turned and ran for the building’s front door.

“Gabriel, the kite’s about to break into a top-floor apartment on the corner of Gibb and Macelan Streets.”

“Help’s on the way. Stay where you are.”