Generation 18 (Spook Squad 2)

But if the kite hadn’t attacked, he would have found some other reason to keep her away from the murder investigation. Had it been anyone else, she would have sworn it stemmed from distrust—of both her and her ability to cope with the job—but he’d already told her it wasn’t so much her, but partners in general. It was almost as if he distrusted himself more than her or any partner he might be assigned.

Not that that thought made any sense at all—unless, of course, something had happened to his other partners. Something he felt responsible for. Maybe that was something she needed to check out, because it would certainly go a long way toward explaining things.

Of course, it was also something he should tell her, but, obviously, the man had a stubborn streak a mile wide. Either that or he thought telling her it wasn’t about her, but about partners in general, was explanation enough.

“Well, at least it’s better than filling out endless rounds of paperwork.”

His brief smile held a grim edge. “You’ve been with the SIU for just on three months. You’ve yet to go through full training. Don’t expect to be treated as anything more than a trainee.”

She snorted softly. “Don’t worry. Any expectations I might have had have long since died.”

Anger flared briefly in his eyes. Then he glanced at the hovering CSM and his face became impassive once more. “Keep in contact. I’ll see you back at the office.”

He turned and walked away, his movements sharp and agitated.

She stared at the door for several minutes after he’d disappeared, then turned and walked across to the bedroom to see what she could find.

—

Gabriel showed his ID to the black-clad police officer keeping watch, then ducked under the yellow crime-scene tapes. The rotating red and blue lights of the nearby police vehicles washed across the night, splashing the otherwise somber, glass-walled building with color.

Like so many other buildings constructed in the area recently, this one had no real character. Its only purpose was to provide a decent view for those wealthy enough to afford an apartment so close to the city and the beach. He glanced up—ten floors in all. Surely, this time, they’d find a witness.

His brother walked down the steps as Gabriel approached. Stephan was a multi-shifter, capable of taking the form of any human male he touched, but the shape he mostly wore these days was that of Jonathan Byrne, the head of the SIU. Gabriel raised his eyebrows in surprise. It was unusual for the SIU director to become involved in routine investigations such as this. Something had to be up.

Byrne stopped in front of him, his blue eyes narrowed. “Where’s Ryan?”

Gabriel shrugged, even though he knew his nonchalance would only irritate his brother more. Right now, he didn’t really care. “Handling the kite murder.”

Stephan shot an aggravated look at the two police officers standing nearby and Gabriel smiled grimly, knowing their presence prevented Stephan from saying too much. It was well known that Byrne had little to do with his six assistant directors. Being too familiar now might just blow Stephan’s cover.

“Damn it, Stern, you’re supposed to be partners.”

“I don’t want or need a partner.” And his brother, more than anyone, should have understood why.

“Andrea died a long time ago,” Stephan said softly, an edge of compassion in his voice.

“Mike didn’t.” Gabriel tried to control the almost instinctive rush of anger, but the desire to hit someone, anyone, was so fierce his fists clenched. “Death comes in threes, Byrne. I’m due one more.”

And come hell or high water, that was not going to be Sam.

Stephan studied him for a long moment, then shook his head and headed back to the building. Gabriel fell into step beside him. The matter of his partner might have been dropped, but it was definitely not forgotten. Yet this was one battle of wills his brother was not going to win.

“Why are you here?” he asked as they entered the building.

“As a personal request from Frank Maxwell.”

Maxwell was the Federal Minister for Education, and one of the few friends the real Byrne had actually had. As such, he’d posed a very real threat to Stephan as he tried to secure his new identity. Luckily, the two men had seen little of each other in the last year, so any differences Maxwell might see in Byrne now would surely be put down to time and the pressures of a new job. “Why?”

“It’s his son who’s been murdered.”

Gabriel glanced at his brother in surprise. “A male? Are you sure it’s the same killer and not a copycat?”

Stephan’s smile was grim. “You’ll see when we get there.”

Which could only mean the clinical brutality of the previous attacks was evident here too. Gabriel eyed the police officer guarding the express elevator and frowned. The same officer had been guarding the doorway after Jack bombed Sam’s apartment. Odd that he was here now, too.

“Is Marsdan on the scene?” Gabriel asked softly.