Page 30 of Bad Medicine

She busied herself once againwith the dishes. “I felt something different about him, so when you said he wasone of you—”

“Oh, no,” I interrupted. “He ismost definitely not one of us, not if you mean wolf shifters. We shift intowolves. That’s it. We’re wolves. He’s…” And I didn’t want to say it, really, Ididn’t, but it came out anyway. “He’s a monster, Lucy. Shapeshifters steal aperson. They absorb memories, physical looks, identities. They cause innocentpeople—both human and nonhuman—to be punished for crimes thattheycommit. That’s normal to them. Inborn. They don’t care who they hurt. They havetoo much power, and they abuse the fuck out of that power. Any shapeshifterI’ve ever heard of is a killer. I’m not like this guy.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “Ididn’t mean he’s like you, Kait.”

And I hadn’t meant to be sodefensive. The shapeshifter seemed to believe we were alike. I couldn’t haveLucy thinking it too. I took a deep breath. “I know.” I gave her a quick hug.“I need to get to the office.”

“It’s early for you. You’re notgoing to sleep?”

“I slept for a few hours lastnight. I’m good.”

“Zach?”

“He’s going to be okay. I thinkhe’s through the worst of it.” I went to dress for the office, debating onwhether or not to call Mayor Hedrick. In the end, I decided to wait. I’d thankhim in person…and also insist on paying him back for the land.

“Don’t open the door foranyone,” I told Lucy. “He could show up as someone you know. Anyone who needsin this apartment has a key. If someone knocks and you look through the fisheyeand see me, Joe, my mother, or the detective, do not let them in. We all have akey and can let ourselves in.”

“I know, Kait. Go to work anddon’t worry so much. I’ll be here when you get home.”

“I’ll call to check on you.”I’d rathershebe more worried, because worry would make her careful.Maybe it was my imagination, but she’d gone from freaked out to calm, and I wasafraid she no longer believed Sam was a threat to her.

On my way to work, Sam calledme again, and that was the moment I knew he’d been watching me all along.

I didn’t take the call.

And when I got to the office, Iforgot all about Sam the shapeshifting serial killer, because Lucas the brutalangel was standing behind my desk, waiting for me.

ChapterFifteen

I wanted to pretend not to seehim, but he wasn’t one of the lost spirits I helped cross over. He would knowbetter. “I have a roomful of clients out there,” I said, indicating the waitingroom. “I don’t have time to kick your ass just now.”

“I don’t want to fight,” hesaid. “I would like the blade you used to injure me.”

I barely repressed a shudder ofhorror. “No.”

He dropped his stare to thebulge beneath my jacket, as though he could feel the demon blade there. “I willmake a trade.”

“No.”

He lifted his eyebrows, theghost of a smile on his lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know what I would giveyou?”

“I really wouldn’t.”

Max gave a quick tap on thedoor, the pushed it open and stuck his head into the room. “Are you ready?”

I didn’t take my stare off thebig angel. “Give me two minutes, Max.”

“Um. Kait? Do you need Joe?”

“No,” I told him. “Just twominutes.” He withdrew, but I was pretty sure he’d send Joe in.

“We’ll talk again,” Lucas said,“when you’re less distracted. I’m sure there’s something you would like. Youcan get another blade.”

“So can you,” I told him. “Andyou’re going to have to, because you’re not getting mine.”

To my surprise, he didn’t dowhat I’d been poised for him to do. He didn’t throw me against a wall and stealmy weapon. He simply nodded slowly. “Think about it.” And then he disappeared.

Joe came in with his gun out,his eyes narrow, and a whole lot of mean in his heart. “What’s wrong, Kait?”