he had the good grace to blush.
I gestured at the microscope. “Do you have something for us, Doc?”
She scowled, more than likely due to my change of subject. “Yes. I’ve been examining the blood samples. It’s demon, but they’re not cells from any of the demon clans currently on earth.”
“What’s with the green?”
Doc grinned. “It’s interesting, isn’t it? I think it might have to do with the atmosphere in the realm. I would imagine after the demon has been on earth for a while the color would change to red.”
“So you believe we’re dealing with a recent arrival from the demon realm?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I looked first at Misha and then Doc. “Isn’t the demon realm locked down? How do they even get to earth?”
“The portal between the realm and earth is guarded,” Misha answered. “But given enough motivation, folks will find ways to get past most any kind of barrier.”
“That doesn’t make me feel secure.”
“The average human is much more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or accidents than a run-in with a rogue demon.”
“Misha. Don’t give up your day job to become a counselor.”
Doc sighed. “Are you two done squabbling?”
We both nodded.
“We need to figure out who this demon is and if he’s still on earth.”
“I know someone who might be able to help us,” I said. “Doyle.”
Misha scowled. “He’s a con-demon. Do you honestly think you can trust him?”
I considered it for a second. “He’s gone legit now, but I bet he still has contacts. Let’s go fill in Jean Luc and Talia and then pay a visit to Doyle.”
Chapter 9
I plowed through the reception area and into the office. “Time to hit the road. We…”
My words and steps faltered, and Misha ran into me from behind. If he hadn’t wrapped his arm around me, he would have knocked me flat on my face.
Jean Luc and Talia sat at the table while Dalton watched us from in front of the whiteboard. He took in our less-than-elegant entrance, including Misha’s arm around my stomach.
“You have something new on the case?” he asked.
I untangled myself. “Doc reviewed the demon blood samples.”
“Doc?”
“She’s our Medical Examiner,” Jean Luc volunteered.
Dalton folded his arms across his chest. “I read the report. The only blood samples gathered were from the victim.”
I folded my own arms across my chest. “In point of fact, we gathered some samples of our own, and here’s the kicker. He’s from the demon realm.”
“What the hell is a demon realm?”
I looked at Misha, who took over. “Only certain demon clans are allowed to live on earth. Those who have been deemed too dangerous remain in the demon realm.”
“And you’re saying one of those demons was at the art museum?”
Misha and I nodded.
“How do we find him?”
Jean Luc stood. “He might not be on earth anymore.”
“Right,” I agreed. “But he’s found a way to escape the realm and come to earth. More than likely someone’s helping him. I was going to talk to Doyle. See if he can hook us up with an informant or two.”
“I’m coming with you,” Dalton announced.
Alarm bells pealed in my brain. “That might not be a good idea. We can talk to our contact and report the results to you.”
“This investigation is hands-on for me. I will not sit on the sidelines.”
I dug in my heels. “Well, our contact is going to spook. You’re wearing a suit, for God’s sake. You might as well have Fed stamped on your forehead.”
“I always carry other clothes with me. I’ll get them from the car and change, and we can be on our way.”
“Fine.”
Dalton walked out of the room, and I flipped into pace mode. “Misha. After we leave, would you get hold of Doyle and let him know we’re coming? And for God’s sake, tell him to act like he doesn’t recognize Dalton.”
Thirty minutes later, I parked my car and looked at the man sitting next to me. Dalton was now dressed in jeans and a
I gestured at the microscope. “Do you have something for us, Doc?”
She scowled, more than likely due to my change of subject. “Yes. I’ve been examining the blood samples. It’s demon, but they’re not cells from any of the demon clans currently on earth.”
“What’s with the green?”
Doc grinned. “It’s interesting, isn’t it? I think it might have to do with the atmosphere in the realm. I would imagine after the demon has been on earth for a while the color would change to red.”
“So you believe we’re dealing with a recent arrival from the demon realm?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I looked first at Misha and then Doc. “Isn’t the demon realm locked down? How do they even get to earth?”
“The portal between the realm and earth is guarded,” Misha answered. “But given enough motivation, folks will find ways to get past most any kind of barrier.”
“That doesn’t make me feel secure.”
“The average human is much more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or accidents than a run-in with a rogue demon.”
“Misha. Don’t give up your day job to become a counselor.”
Doc sighed. “Are you two done squabbling?”
We both nodded.
“We need to figure out who this demon is and if he’s still on earth.”
“I know someone who might be able to help us,” I said. “Doyle.”
Misha scowled. “He’s a con-demon. Do you honestly think you can trust him?”
I considered it for a second. “He’s gone legit now, but I bet he still has contacts. Let’s go fill in Jean Luc and Talia and then pay a visit to Doyle.”
Chapter 9
I plowed through the reception area and into the office. “Time to hit the road. We…”
My words and steps faltered, and Misha ran into me from behind. If he hadn’t wrapped his arm around me, he would have knocked me flat on my face.
Jean Luc and Talia sat at the table while Dalton watched us from in front of the whiteboard. He took in our less-than-elegant entrance, including Misha’s arm around my stomach.
“You have something new on the case?” he asked.
I untangled myself. “Doc reviewed the demon blood samples.”
“Doc?”
“She’s our Medical Examiner,” Jean Luc volunteered.
Dalton folded his arms across his chest. “I read the report. The only blood samples gathered were from the victim.”
I folded my own arms across my chest. “In point of fact, we gathered some samples of our own, and here’s the kicker. He’s from the demon realm.”
“What the hell is a demon realm?”
I looked at Misha, who took over. “Only certain demon clans are allowed to live on earth. Those who have been deemed too dangerous remain in the demon realm.”
“And you’re saying one of those demons was at the art museum?”
Misha and I nodded.
“How do we find him?”
Jean Luc stood. “He might not be on earth anymore.”
“Right,” I agreed. “But he’s found a way to escape the realm and come to earth. More than likely someone’s helping him. I was going to talk to Doyle. See if he can hook us up with an informant or two.”
“I’m coming with you,” Dalton announced.
Alarm bells pealed in my brain. “That might not be a good idea. We can talk to our contact and report the results to you.”
“This investigation is hands-on for me. I will not sit on the sidelines.”
I dug in my heels. “Well, our contact is going to spook. You’re wearing a suit, for God’s sake. You might as well have Fed stamped on your forehead.”
“I always carry other clothes with me. I’ll get them from the car and change, and we can be on our way.”
“Fine.”
Dalton walked out of the room, and I flipped into pace mode. “Misha. After we leave, would you get hold of Doyle and let him know we’re coming? And for God’s sake, tell him to act like he doesn’t recognize Dalton.”
Thirty minutes later, I parked my car and looked at the man sitting next to me. Dalton was now dressed in jeans and a
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