Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville 1)

“I know what you are, and I’m coming to kill you.”

According to Matt’s screening, this guy had said he had a question about lycanthropy and STDs.

I should have cut off the call right there. But the strange ones always interested me.

“Cormac? You want to tell me what you’re talking about?”

“I’m an assassin. I specialize in lycanthropes.” His voice hissed and faded for a moment.

“Are you on a cell phone?”

“Yeah. I’m in the lobby of the building, and I’m coming to kill you.”

Good Matt, he was already on the phone with security. I watched him on the phone, just standing there. Not talking. What was wrong?

Matt slammed the phone into the cradle. “No one’s answering,” he said loud enough to sound through the glass of the booth.

“I rigged a little distraction outside,” Cormac said. “Building security is out of the building.” At that, Matt picked up the phone and dialed, just three numbers after punching the outside line. Calling the cavalry.

Then he dialed again. And again. His face went pale. “Line’s busy,” he mouthed.

“Did you manage to tie up 911?” I said to the caller.

“I’m a professional,” Cormac replied.

Damn, this was for real. I could see Carl standing there saying, I told you so. I hoped he wasn’t listening. Then again, if he was, maybe he could come rescue me.

Over the line I heard the ping of the elevator on the ground floor, the slide of the doors. It was a scare tactic, calling me on the phone and walking me through my own assassination. It was a good scare tactic.

“Okay, you’re coming to kill me while you warn me on the phone.”

“It’s part of the contract,” he said in a strained way that made me think he was grimacing as he spoke.

“What is?”

“I have to do it on the air.”

Matt made a slicing motion across his neck with a questioning look. Cut the show? I shook my head. Maybe I could talk my way out of this.

“What makes you think I’m a lycanthrope, Cormac the Assassin Who Specializes in Lycanthropes?”

“My client has proof.”

“What proof?”

“Pictures. Video.”

“Yes, I’m sure, video taken in the dark with lots of blurry movement. I’ve seen those kinds of TV shows. Would it hold up in court?”

“It convinced me.”

“And you’re obviously deranged,” I said, flustered. “Have you considered, Cormac, that you’re the patsy in a publicity stunt to get me off the air? Certain factions have been trying to push me off for months.”

This time of night, Matt and I had the studio to ourselves. Even if some sharp listener called the police, Cormac would be at the booth before they arrived. He’d counted on it, I was sure.

Matt came into the booth and hissed at me in a stage whisper. “We can leave by the emergency stairs before he gets here.”

I covered the mike with my hands. “I can’t leave the show.”