“I did not. You know why.”
His brow furrowed and he shifted, his chair squealing under his weight. “The bloodsuckers got him first.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bloodsuckers? Really? Every vampire TV show ever called—they want their catchphrases back.”
“Vampires suck blood. Hence the term.”
“Use a little originality. They screw like rock stars, too. So why don’t you call them rock-star screwers?”
“Besides the clumsiness of that phrase, rock stars are mortal. They couldn’t possibly screw as well as vampires.”
“Whatever. Regardless, yes, the vampires got the mark. They brought enough people out of the Realm to organize the effort. The shifters couldn’t compete with that kind of power, but they knew the vampires were around. Which means there is no way you didn’t. Being that you didn’t give me a heads-up, what do you think that says to me?”
“I have no idea.”
I cracked my neck in frustration. “Clearly you are covering your bases again.”
“I did that one time.”
I glared at him.
“Fine, twice. I didn’t realize you found out about the second.” He leaned against his desk and spread his hands in front of him. “They didn’t tell me they wanted the mark. The first I heard of it was this morning, when the mark’s head was delivered in a cooler.”
I crinkled my nose at that visual. “So much for me getting him back,” I muttered. “You expect me to believe you didn’t know about a mass entrance of old vampires? Give me a break.”
“I don’t care what you believe. That is the truth. I’m no happier than you are. That mark was supposed to come in alive. The bounty is void. But…” A flash of confusion crossed his features. “I did get a note. It was taped to my office door when I got in this morning.” He reached into his drawer, extracted a piece of paper, and pushed it across the desk. “The head arrived via parcel, so the note was delivered independently. We checked the security cameras, but we didn’t see anyone deliver it.”
I grabbed the note. “Come on, everyone knows vampires don’t show up on film or video.”
“Not everyone. Humans, for example, don’t even know they exist.”
I flipped the note open. “You know what I meant.”
“The video didn’t show any doors opening or things moving around. One second, the door was clear, and the next, the note was on it. Why not leave the head at the same time?”
I scanned the note as my heart sank into the abyss of my body, which somehow didn’t stop it from thumping manically. I met his assessing stare. “The leader was an elder. He could open and close a door between frames. Getting past your shoddy security wouldn’t be a problem for him. He brought a host of upper-mid levelers last night. I’m sure he had his people attend to the head.” I shook the note. “And in answer to this—” I huffed. “No. Hard no. No way. Not on your life.”
“It wouldn’t be on my life. It’d be on yours.”
My clenched fists matched my jaw. “How the hell did you get this position?”
“Stating the obvious really goes a long way. Idiots tend to ignore the thing staring them right in the face.”
I put a boot on the door, a little reminder of the destruction I was capable of. “Are you calling me an idiot?”
“Again, just stating the obvious. Do you want another case?” He tapped a brown file on the edge of his desk. “Eight hundred bucks, dead or alive. Unless you take a desk job, I’m afraid this is all I have.”
“I can’t take a desk job.” I stuck out my hand. “I don’t have legit paperwork for the Brink. You know that.”
“You merely have to buy some. You know that.”
“With what? My beatbox broke, so I can’t take to the curb for money.”
“I don’t know what any of that means.”
I flipped open the file and my heart sank even lower. The thing felt like it was trying to squeeze into my boots. “All this risk for a measly eight hundred?”
“He only bothers the magical community. A couple of his neighbors got together to raise the money. It isn’t on the government’s dime, so I can’t send my people. It’s either you or no one.”
I groaned and dropped the hand holding the file. “Why not the shifters?”
“They have their hands full with the vampires. That’s what they said, anyway. Word is, they tried, but lost two of theirs. This is heavy magic, and they don’t have that kind of arsenal. Neither do I, if you want to know the truth. This guy has dabbled in the dark arts. He’ll throw hexes at you that you might not be ready for. Word of caution.”
I shook my head and tapped the folder against my leg, thinking about the vampire’s note. “I have to eat,” I said vaguely.
Pity crossed his features for a brief moment, but was wiped away immediately. “That’s all I’ve got, kid. Sorry about the vamp trouble. Ain’t nobody got time for that.”
I blew out a breath.
A silent beat. “So, you going to do it?” he asked.
We both knew he wasn’t asking about the file.
I glanced at the note again. I didn’t know. I said as much.
“In addition to that note, I got the official notice of a bounty.” The captain nodded toward his computer screen. “They’re doing it by the book, though the actual mark is not yet known. There’s a catch, though. If you accept the bounty, they’ll be assigning you a vamp partner.”
“Wait.” I let my confusion show on my face. “What?”
“Together, you’ll track down the mark, bring him in alive, and collect the bounty. You will take half. The vamp will take half.”
“They’re going to take back half of the bounty they put up? That doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s our system. Otherwise, they’d have to personally hire you. This way they’re doing it through us.”
“Why bother?”
The captain smirked. “Working through us means the wolves have to leave them alone. They’re using you and my department as a get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s pretty clever, really.”