(Blood and Bone, #2) Sin and Swoon(32)

“It doesn’t matter what happened. We have the local uniforms on their way. The team’s been dispatched.”

I glance about the room. “Where’s Rory?”

“He’s headed there with them. They’re leaving in a minute.”

I pluck the monitors off me and jump from the bed, struggling for a second before my legs remember who they belong to. I blast through the door with Angie and Dash shouting at me, but I don’t listen. I hurry out the front of the building where the helicopter is, waving at them when I get close. They look ready to take off, but wait for me. Rory gives me a wide grin. It’s sarcastic and shitty.

I glare, hating Dash just a little for screwing with the system. My system was perfect. My plan was perfect. I went in first to get a clue of how to add myself into her life and memory. Once I saw the cells and the other girls, I knew I could be one of them. I had a plan. Damned Dash!

I hurry to the chopper, keeping my head low, and jump into the back. Rory grins. “Thought you needed a little rest. How’d ya get past Angie? Did they debrief you yet?”

I roll my eyes. “Angie’s still dealing with the aftermath. The girl died on the table. She has to clean that up and do the paperwork. I’ll e-mail my report as we fly and they can debrief me later.” I drag my phone out and start drafting an e-mail as we fly to the airport to board our private jet.

“How was it? What are we looking for? Did you see anything?”

“I’ll know the house when we get to the road. He made the mistake of taking her there once in the light of day.” I cringe, hearing his voice. My transfer to the military criminal and terrorist profiling section can’t come quick enough.

I have always liked being his partner, and I always imagined I’d be sad to see either of us go. I have always liked Rory and his magical accent. Now, I can’t wait for this file to be closed. It’s going to take me a while to get past the whole thing. It’s the reason I always take Dash in as the bad guy—I can look past anything he says or does or any evil he commits. I love him. It’s also the reason I never take strangers or people like Rory into a mind run—I can’t forgive everything they do in there. There is no love between us, and I don’t have feelings that are stronger than the mind run. Not for him.

The flight from DC to Washington is long enough to finish a detailed report and e-mail the higher-ups about my situation. I don’t tell them that Rory and Dash ruined the run, but I do mention that the original recording malfunctioned, and the new ones weren’t adequate.

We land in Washington and run to the next chopper, the one that will take us to Granger Mountain.

“What’s he like, our boy?” Rory asks as he buckles in and pulls on his headset.

I shake my head, sending the last of the details. “Not a clue. Dash and you screwing with my recording messed the entire thing up.”

He winces. “Right, sorry about that. He was a bit miffed when he saw how many times good old Dr. Derek Russo appeared in your scenarios. Don’t suppose you can blame the old chap for being a bit worried. You’ve pretty much made him the worst monster a man can be, over and over. I think he supposed you might be into things he wasn’t completely comfortable with.”

I lift my middle finger, refusing to tell him why I chose Dash to be my Mr. X in every scenario. That is going to remain a private matter if my life depends on it.

I press “send” just as the helicopter pilot gives me a look. “We have local uniforms on the ground, speeding to Granger Mountain as we speak. They should be about ten minutes behind us.”

I nod, putting my phone away and ignoring the texts I’m getting from the guy responsible for the fact I don’t know who our perp is.

Rory looks worried when the helicopter lowers over the highway, weaving around at the base of a mountain. “You sure you’re all right? You look pissed.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m not all right. And yes, I am pissed.”

He nods. “Excellent. Hopefully our guy is there then, so you can take out some rage on him!”

I give him my grimmest smile. “Let’s pray for that.” The feeling of the ropes around her wrist, and the blood dripping down her arms, still haunts me. I plan on killing this guy a couple of different ways.

As we pass several mountains, I tingle with anxiety of recognition when I see the crashed truck at the base of the hill by the ravine. “We’re on the right path. There’s the truck.” I point and let my eyes trail up the road. The pilot lowers as much as he can and follows it exactly.

We fly by several beautiful homes, all truly stunning and like nothing I have ever been in. Not in my real mind anyway. Riding other people’s minds has afforded me houses and lifestyles like I could never even imagine. It’s also put me in hell like I have never imagined either. I’ll take my mediocre lifestyle and my shallow problems over this shit any day.