Page 22 of Soulmarked
We stood there in tense silence, each waiting for the other to break first. I could feel him assessing me, cataloging every detail that didn't quite add up to normal federal agent. The weight of his stare was almost physical, like being sized up by a predator deciding if you're worth the effort to kill.
“Show me your evidence,” Sean said abruptly.
I raised an eyebrow. “That's classified CITD intel.”
His smirk was pure arrogance, the kind that made me want to punch it off his face. “And I just saved your life. Consider it payment due.”
For a moment, I considered telling him to go to hell. But he wasn't wrong, he had saved my life, and more importantly, he clearly knew things I needed to know. Sometimes pride had to take a backseat to practicality.
I pulled out my tablet, linking it to the nearest display surface. The holographic interface flickered to life, projecting crime scene photos, victim profiles, and heat map overlays tracking supernatural activity across the city. It was the kind of evidence that would get me fired, or worse, if anyone at CITD saw it.
Sean leaned in, his previous antagonism giving way to focused intensity as he scanned the data. I'd expected dismissal, maybe even mockery, but instead his expression turned thoughtful, almost... impressed?
“You're thorough,” he admitted, flicking through images of the victims with practiced efficiency. “Not bad for government work.”
I ignored the backhanded compliment. “The victims weren't random. They were all found within a two-mile radius of Purgatory, and they all had identical wound patterns.”
“Drained, no forced entry, no defensive wounds,” Sean murmured, zooming in on one particularly gruesome photo. “Classic vamp kill. But...” He frowned, something catching his attention.
I tapped another file open. “These aren't just random civilians. All five victims worked for the same company. Phoenix Pharmaceuticals.”
Sean went completely still. The change was subtle but immediate, like a switch being flipped. His casual stance shifted to something more alert, more dangerous.
“That mean something to you?” I asked, watching his reaction carefully.
His jaw tightened, a muscle working beneath the skin. “Phoenix's got secrets. The kind people don't usually live to talk about.”
That reaction wasn't nothing. In my line of work, you learn to read people's tells, and Sean had just shown his hand. He knew something about Phoenix.
“Then we need to look deeper,” I pressed, sensing an opening. “If these victims are connected to Phoenix.”
“We don't need to look deeper,” Sean cut me off sharply. “We need to put a silver stake through that vampire's heart before it kills anyone else.”
“That's your answer for everything?” I challenged. “Kill first, ask questions never?”
“When it comes to vamps? Yeah.” His accent thickened with irritation. “They're predators, Cross. Pure and simple. You start trying to unravel conspiracy theories, more people die.”
I scoffed. “And if we're dealing with something bigger? If Phoenix is involved, that changes everything. These victims weren't random targets, they were chosen. The vampire's working for someone.”
“Christ, you just don't quit, do you?” Sean exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
“Then enlighten me,” I challenged. “What do you know about Phoenix?”
He moved to a weapons rack, fingers trailing over various blades like he was considering his options. “They're into pharmaceutical research, officially. Unofficially? They've got their fingers in everything from genetic engineering to... other things.”
“You've dealt with them before.”
It wasn't a question, but Sean answered anyway. “Once. In Dublin. It didn't end well for anyone involved.” His voice carried an edge of old pain, the kind that never really heals.
I filed that information away for later. “So if they're involved with our vampire.”
“Then this is bigger than a simple hunt,” Sean finished. He turned back to the evidence display, studying the victim profiles with renewed intensity. “But that doesn't change the immediate problem. We've got a vampire targeting Phoenix employees. Whether it's working for them or against them, it needs to be stopped.”
“We?” I echoed, not bothering to hide my surprise.
Sean's smile was more grimace than grin. “Don't get excited. I'm not joining your little crusade. But if Phoenix is involved, I want to know why. And you...” He gestured at me with obvious disdain, “clearly need someone to keep you from getting yourself killed.”
“How generous of you.”
