Page 95 of Vameer

He’ll tell me how his mate turned. And I’ll be back before Rune steps outside.

Chapter 46

Fed Following Orders

The phone rings four times. Six times.

The voicemail clicks over.

“Fuck,” I mutter and hang up.

Then, because Nault didn’t answer, and I have protocol to follow, I dial the next number on the list.

Three rings and the call is answered.

“This better be good.” Johnson’s voice is rough with sleep and a lifetime of smoking.

I close my eyes for a second before I start. I hate this guy. “I’m calling about the Haystack Protocol watch. I got eyes on the target.”

“The woman?” He clears his throat, and I grimace at how wet it sounds.

“No. Well, I saw her leave the residence earlier this evening. But…”

“Spit it out, son.”

“She left her residence a second time.” I rub a hand over my forehead. “And she was met by, uh, the unsub.”

There’s a beat of silence. “Are you saying you got eyes on the vampire?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, who was it?”

“I… I don’t know. I didn’t recognize him.”

“Send me the photos.”

I wince. “Here’s the thing.”

“Taking photos is literally your fucking job,” he grits out, sounding fully awake now.

“I did. I mean, I took photos, but something— I think he was doing something with his power. The images are all blurry.”

The man grumbles something about fucking vampires. “How long ago was this?”

I press my lips together before I answer. “Thirty minutes. Give or take.”

“Thirty!” His shout is so loud that I pull the phone away from my ear. “You better have a good fucking reason for waiting to report.”

“The cell tower went out right after they went inside her place. It just came back on.” I glance out the window at the dark street. “Power is still out on this block. Maybe more of the town too.”

“Was that him?”

Another vibration rolls through the building.

It sounds like thunder.

Feels like thunder.