“No one at the Clubhouse saw Dhane’s abduction?”
“Of course not.” Roberto didn’t quite keep the impatience out of his tone. Milliner’s continual criticisms were starting to grate. “The last thing we need is a war with the Canine network. Nate will either think Dhane ran away to join his rebel brother or one of the cats took him out without the approval of the Alpha Council.” Thanks to Osric’s teaching, they knew far more about the inner workings of the Therian nation than humans were ever meant to know.
“Well,” Tias let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m still convinced Osric knows more than he’s saying. Pain is clearly not sufficient motivation. Are you ready to take a crack at him?”
Roberto couldn’t explain his success, but he had a way of reading people, of ferreting out their weaknesses and finding unexpected motivations. “I’m always willing to try.”
They retraced their steps, but Roberto motioned to the observation booth as they approached the interrogation room. “I work best alone.” Osric would likely know the others were watching. Still, it would be less distracting if there was no one else in the room as they spoke.
A guard opened the door for Roberto and he cringed as he stepped inside. The floor had been hosed down but the room still reeked of blood and urine. Osric opened his eyes, watching closely as Roberto moved to stand directly in front of him.
“I’ve convinced Tias that you’ve had enough.” Charm could be as lethal a weapon as pain when wielded by a master. “I’ll allow you to shift, and when you’ve recovered, we’ll sit down like civilized men and review what you told the others.”
“I told them everything.” Osric’s voice sounded gravelly and pain dulled his gaze.
“I wasn’t here for much of the conversation. I’d like to hear it for myself.”
Osric laughed, but the sound was thin and…maniacal? “I will tell you nothing. Your treachery will be punished. I am a faithful servant of Zophiel!” Suddenly his voice was stronger and Therian light burst within his eyes. “All for you, Mistress! I sacrifice all for you.”
Roberto realized what Osric intended half a second too late. “Where’s the release?” he shouted to his unseen partners.
“By the door.” Tias’ voice blared over the intercom.
He ran for the release as golden light shimmered in his peripheral vision. Osric’s laughter ended abruptly and Roberto heard the sickening snap of bones and joints. He slammed his hand over the emergency release and spun back around in time to see a tiger fall motionless to the floor. Its front legs were hyperextended by the unnatural position in which it had been restrained and the collar was buried so deeply in the animal’s fur that it was no longer visible.
The door was jerked open and Tias and Milliner rushed in.
“Get the collar off him!” Milliner snapped.
“It’s too late.” As if to support his conclusion, the tiger blurred then flowed back into Osric’s human form. His skin was whole again, his lacerations healed, his features relaxed and peaceful. The only evidence of his ordeal was the collar still circling his throat, covered with blood and tissue from the tiger.
Milliner shook his head, clearly dumbfounded. “Why would he try to escape? He’s the one who designed the collar.”
“He wasn’t trying to run.” Roberto shivered and dragged his gaze away from Osric’s body. “He was protecting Zophiel.” Roberto’s phone vibrated, but he ignored it as he struggled to process what he’d just seen.
After a brief pause, Milliner’s phone rang and the general answered the call. “We’re in the middle of something. Is this important?” Milliner’s impatient tone drew Roberto’s attention. The general shifted the phone away from his ear and pressed the screen. “You’re on speaker, go ahead.”
“This is Jarvis, sir. We came to relieve the guards at the old lab and…”
Roberto moved closer to the phone. “Spit it out, man. None of us are in the mood for subtleties.”
“They’re both dead, sir. Looks like the wolf got loose and mauled them or his pack came to rescue him. I’m not sure.”
Roberto scrubbed his hand over his eyes as tension gripped his gut. “And the girl? Is she dead too?”
“My team is searching for her but they haven’t found anything yet.”
“Any sign of a struggle? Were the doors forced open? Have weapons been discharged?” Milliner rattled off his questions as his hostile gaze locked on Roberto. “What about surveillance? Was any of it caught on camera?”