“Hands in front again.”
Kat meekly offered her wrists, accepting the click of metal without a word.
“You don’t appear injured. Do you need a medic?”
She was far from okay but nothing hurt physically except a little throbbing in her back. It didn’t seem important, though, or serious. Her emotions were a mess but a medic couldn’t help with that. “I’m okay.”
“Have a seat.”
She sat. Rusty picked up her clothing and shoes. “Don’t get up. Stay put. Darkness will be here soon.”“May I have some water, please?”
“I’ll forward your request to Darkness.”
Rusty was gone in the next instant, the click of metal a certainty that she’d locked the door. Kat glanced around the room grimly. At least there was no cavity search. That was the only good news for Kat.
Chapter Two
Darkness stripped out of his uniform and put on a tank top and sweat pants with NSO imprinted in white on the black material. It wasn’t the ideal outfit for an interrogation but the lockers had been damaged in the blast. His discarded uniform lay in a heap on the floor, covered in dust and drywall powder. The makeshift changing room was filled with other Species.
Bluebird rushed in with another armload of clothing. “Here you go. This is all Supply had on hand. It is too hot for sweatshirts.”
“Everyone is okay.” Flame entered the room. “The last one of our officers is accounted for. There are only minor injuries.”
Darkness bit back a snarl. “What of the humans?”
Flame held his gaze. “Four died but one is barely alive. He’s been airlifted to a trauma unit in the out world. He suffered severe burns and internal injuries. Our medical staff doesn’t believe he’ll survive.”
No sympathy for their deaths bothered Darkness. “Too bad. I wanted to question them.”
Snow stomped in, removing his uniform. “We barricaded the front gates. Homeland is officially closed. Justice is handling the media while Fury is waiting for the task force to assemble to begin the investigation. Trey was already here so he’s spoken to Tim.” He sneezed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get the smell out of my nose. I inhaled a lot of that shit.”
“The dust isn’t harmful.” Bluebird began gathering the dirty uniforms. “At least that’s what Trey said. It’s mostly debris from part of the building collapsing. He said new buildings don’t have poisonous materials.”
“Good to know.” Snow sneezed again. “But I was talking about the smoke from the fire.”
“Oh.” She paused, her arms still full. “I’ll get more clothing from Supply.” She spun and rushed away.
Rusty entered next. “Is everyone well?”
“Only some cuts and bruises,” Flame answered. “We didn’t lose anyone.”
Darkness stepped forward, drawing her attention. “I told you to stay with the prisoner.”
“She’s locked in interrogation room three. It’s the farthest corner from the damage. She wasn’t carrying anything in her clothing. I checked and tagged it as evidence. She wants water. Is it okay to give her some?”
“Yes. Go stand guard. I’ll be there in a moment.” He sat, debating whether he should put his boots back on. They were coated with white powder. He stood. “Fuck it.”
“Excuse me?” Snow was dressing, too, but paused and looked up.
“I’m going to talk to our prisoner like this.”
“You’re going to interview a suspect barefoot and out of uniform?” Flame’s eyebrows rose.
Darkness pointed to where the dressing rooms for the males had been. “If you want to go in there where the ceiling lights crashed into the metal lockers and risk being electrocuted to retrieve my spares, go right ahead. I don’t have time to rush home first either. We need answers. We were attacked.”
Flame closed his mouth and nodded sharply.
“Do you want help?” Flirt moved forward, already changed from his uniform to running clothes. “Two of us may intimidate the male more.”
“It’s a female.” Darkness strode forward. “I’ll handle this alone.”
“I didn’t think you interrogated females. I’d like to volunteer to do it.” Snow was putting on his shirt.
“I’ll make an exception this time. I saw what she did. She’s well trained and a soldier isn’t just any female. They are far more dangerous.”
“I’d really like to interview her,” Snow persisted.
“No.”
Darkness didn’t wait around any longer for more conversation. He needed answers and he would get them, regardless of what he had to do. Rage simmered as he maneuvered through the building. Every Species had heard the news and rushed to duty. He passed them, feeling a little pride at the unity and calm they showed under the circumstances.
He paused outside the door of the interrogation room and it sank in that he’d have to go in there and do whatever it took to make the female talk. Homeland had been attacked and it could have cost a lot of Species lives. He’d been on his way to take out the driver of that van but admitted it probably would have cost his own life attempting it. He’d leapt from the top of the wall to the roof of the security building once it became clear their bullets were useless. The female had done his job instead.
Why? Her tactics had been clean, too precise. She had skills that she should not possess. He’d have been hard-pressed to do what she had. He spun and stormed over to the phone. Security picked up on the second ring.
“Tell me everything you’ve learned about the female in holding.”
He listened, his rage building. He needed to stop thinking of her as a female. She was a threat. He needed to remember that. Normal tactics wouldn’t work. He’d have to outsmart her and keep her off guard. A plan formed and he took a few calming breaths. Anger was the last thing he needed to use against someone with her probable background.
* * * * *
Kat kept her eyes closed and tried to ignore the chilly air. Adrenaline had left her emotionally drained. It was a normal reaction under the tense circumstances. She’d just faced death, had taken the life of the driver she’d shot and probably his accomplices. That’s at least two dead for sure. The one hanging out of the back of that van was burnt toast.
She flinched at the food comparison her mind came up with and shifted her weight on the metal chair. It wasn’t helping her get any warmer. She debated pacing the room but decided against it. The risk of incurring more suspicion from the NSO would be higher if she failed to act the role of the frightened, timid mouse. That’s what they would expect and that’s what she needed to give them if she had any chance of recovering her undercover persona.
The click of a lock preceded the door being thrown open. A dark-haired man entered. He was seriously tan with piercing dark eyes, which looked black. He stared at her, his features shadowed. She put him at about six-and-a-half feet tall. Darkness. That’s got to be him. Holy shit, he’s huge and intimidating.She took note of his densely muscled arms and very broad shoulders. The tank top stretched tightly over his upper body and tapered down to where he’d tucked it in the waistband of black drawstring pants. They weren’t tied, the white laces just hung free. He had shapely, muscular thighs, evident even through the thick material, and at least size-sixteen bare feet. His very casual attire wasn’t what she’d expected.
“Who are you?”
It confirmed his identity. She’d never forget that deep voice. “Kathryn Decker but everyone just calls me Kat for short.”
The door slammed, sealing them inside together. She glanced at it, waiting for it to open a second time.
“No one else is coming in here. There will be no rescue.”
She focused on his face. He stood still, a few feet inside the door. “Isn’t a woman supposed to be present?”
A soft, frightening sound came from him. It wasn’t exactly a growl but it wasn’t friendly either. “Do you realize you’re not inside the United States anymore? You were in NSO territory once you passed those gates. Tell me the truth because believe me, you don’t want me to make you talk. Your laws of interrogation don’t apply here.”
Fear edged up Kat’s spine but she pushed it back. “You can’t kill me.”
He stepped closer and lifted his head enough for her to get a better look at his face. Her breath caught in her lungs. He had one of the most masculine faces she’d ever seen. His cheekbones were pronounced, possibly American Indian. A square jaw sat under a pair of full lips with a harsh angle, due to his frown. It was the shape of his eyes, though, that really startled her. Justice North had the catlike shape but his weren’t nearly as fierce. She still couldn’t tell the exact color of those eyes but she’d guess dark brown. Unusually long, thick eyelashes framed them.
Breathe, damn it. She sucked in air, forcing her lungs to work again. The way he dressed had to be a tactic to throw her off her game. She needed to keep her shit together. It was difficult to do with that grim expression and the predatory stare aimed her way.
“I actually could. Are you ready to tell me the truth now? Who are you really? What are you doing here?”
He’s bluffing. She hoped. “My name is Kat Decker,” she lied. “Check my driver’s license. Call my boss. I was asked to come to Homeland for two weeks to teach forensic science classes and brush up your security on some of the newest trends in criminal behavior.”