"Yeah. Another naked male has turned up, this one found on his car on the top level."
On? That didn't sound good. "I gather he's in the same state as the others?"
"Worse."
I wanted to ask what could possibly be worse than what we'd already seen, but I had a bad feeling I'd know the answer soon enough. Besides, I had seen worse. Many times. It seemed bad men and women didn't have a whole lot of respect for the human - and nonhuman - condition. "Crap."
"Yeah." He paused. "I talked to some of the other women last night. All the murdered men were Cherry Barnes's former partners. And all the murdered women were the next lovers of those men."
Which is basically what I'd guessed after talking to Dia. "So, unable to reach her mistress's actual killer, the bakeneko is exacting revenge for what she sees as betrayals of her mistress's trust. And she's killing the women first so she can take their form and then kill the men?"
"It would appear so."
And if it hadn't been for the bakeneko's catlike sense of self-superiority, we might never have realized who was behind all the murders. "Did the cuts on Cherry's body match those found on Ivan and Denny?"
"Yes. She appears to have been Young's first victim."
"Meaning it was Young who set the bakeneko off in the first place?"
"Yes," Jack said grimly. "Keep your com-link open, Riley. I want to know where you are at all times."
"Will do." I hung up and looked at Rhoan. "I have to go."
He didn't even look at me. "I'll be fine."
I didn't believe it. Not one little bit.
Quinn squeezed my shoulder lightly, then removed his arm. My world seemed colder without it. Just for an instant I wondered if he was using his vampire wiles again, then wanted to smack myself mentally. Besides the fact that my shields had grown substantially since he'd last tried that, I honestly didn't think he'd do such a thing when we were still sorting out what was going to happen between us. He might be a very old vampire and set in his ways, but he wasn't stupid.
"There's been a murder?" he asked softly.
I nodded, then opened the link between us and said softly, Will you look after Rhoan for me? I know it's a huge favor, but -
He leaned forward and stopped my words with a kiss. And oh, what a kiss.
It's not such a huge favor, he said after a while, his breath warm and soft against my lips. Rhoan was a friend long before we got together. I'll keep him safe for you, have no doubt about that. Out loud, he added, "Be careful."
It felt like a weight had been lifted from my soul. I smiled and touched his face lightly. "I will."
He kissed me again, then added, "Ring me when you finish. We've things to discuss."
Things to discuss, decisions to make. But there was one decision that didn't need to be made. Quinn was back in my life and I was more than happy about that. But in what capacity he stayed there remained to be seen.
I let my fingers slip down his cheeks and across his lips. He kissed my fingertips lightly, sending a tingle right down to my toes. I sighed, but forced myself upright. I wanted to stay, not just for my brother but to soak up the warmth and strength that was Quinn, but I was a guardian, and there were people out there dying.
"Take care when dealing with the bakeneko," he added, dark eyes filled with concern. "Remember, she's consumed a number of souls now, and that will make her both fast and deadly."
"Hey, I took out a god of death - how bad can a bakeneko be after that?"
He didn't say anything. I touched my brother's shoulder lightly, then left. And the feeling that I'd just tempted fate sat like a weight in my stomach.
The top floor of the parking lot had been cordoned off with yellow tape and watchful cops. Blood rode the wind, thick and fresh, and somewhere ahead Kade was speaking, his rich tones bringing a smile to my lips.
A smile that wasn't likely to stay there given the apparent extent of the blood. This was going to be nasty.
I flashed my badge at the officer guarding the top-floor entrance, then ducked under the tape and walked up the ramp. One of Cole's men - the bird-shifter - was bagging something that looked suspiciously like a chunk of meat, and I paused.
"Is that what I think it is?"