Hunting Tess by Kathryn Summers (best novels to read in english .TXT) 📗

nice, rare, event. Leo took Lorelai to tour the Celestial Seasonings factory since Caleb had “stuff to do” when Lorelai suggested going and didn’t want to be relentlessly teased upon their return.

“You burned the bacon,” Caleb complains, having yet to get to that “stuff”.

Parker passes me the plate full of crispy bacon after taking his seat. “You would eat meat raw if it wouldn’t make you sick.”

“Isn’t that kind of a perk of being a shifter?” I ask, thinking about stray dogs eating anything that’s available, not that I would call Caleb a stray dog to his face.

Parker rubs at his forehead like he didn’t sleep well as Caleb scarfs down what he deems burned bacon, when in reality it’s perfectly crispy. Caleb heads upstairs as soon as all the food on his plate is crammed into his mouth in a very unappealing way.

Once our plates are nearly cleared Parker asks, “What time is your class?”

“Not until later this afternoon. Why?”

“There are a couple of errands I need to run next to that new store on Pine Street if you want to come.

“Yeah, that would be great.”

A phone rings from the office leaving Parker with an exasperated look before apologizing. “Rain check?”

Nodding in understanding he stands from the table, disappearing toward the study and work. After clearing off the table I stand in the kitchen unsure what to do now. Parker’s voice draws me to the study where I hear keyboard keys clicking vigorously.

“There are four different properties under that name. I did find another alias with three properties including a seaside cottage, but unless there’s an underground bunker it wouldn’t be big enough for their purposes.”

“Anything industrial?”

More clicking.

“Two. One was sold in the fifties to a private sector and the other . . . was sold to a dummy corporation ten years ago.”

“Great. Can you get a location?”

“Broomfield.”

Since the door is cracked, I don’t feel bad about eavesdropping, especially since I’m in plain view. And I’m curious about what exactly Parker does.

Muffled dialogue comes through the speaker phone like the person talking is consulting someone else. “We can get a team there but it’ll take a couple of hours. Do you mind scouting out the area for us with Caleb?”

Parker’s eyes flicker up to mine through the doorway. I knew the risk of getting caught was high but that doesn’t stop my blush. “Yeah, we can do that.” Finishing up a few details he ends the call. Before I can apologize, he asks, “Want to take a field trip?”

“What exactly do you do?” I question, surveying the plain gray industrial building. Built in an older part of town the building looks like it hasn’t been used in quite some time. A row of narrow windows runs along the second floor of the building, clouded over with age, and the only sound I hear are mine and Parker’s breathing. Caleb volunteered to circle the building for any clues of activity.

“Normally I work behind a computer. Tracking, locating, informing, stuff like that. The group I work for tracks all sorts of nasty creatures, taking care of them and protecting the humans they threaten.”

“So, what exactly are we doing here?”

“A hit was found of missing women from a few small towns in Wyoming.”

“And you tracked them here? They’re inside this warehouse?”

“Possibly,” Parker says, scanning for anything out of the ordinary.

“Then we need to get inside! Isn’t that part of scouting things out?”

“Only from the outside. I can’t just barge in.”

“But we have no idea what’s going on in there! What if they’ve been drugged?” I rove the building again trying to think of a way to see inside without actually being seen. The windows are too aged to get a good view, but it looks like there are several vents on top of the building. Maybe one would be big enough to slip inside.

Caleb rounds the corner and jogs to us. “There are a couple of loading doors but they’re locked. I’m sure we could break through but with the noise that would make our entrance would be anything but stealthy.”

“Were there any tracks?”

“Yeah. Tire tracks from a heavy truck and two sets of footprints. Looked relatively fresh too.”

“Okay, I’ll call it in.” Stepping away, Parker’s phone is already to his ear. I look back at the building with worry. If there are girls inside there’s no telling how long they’ll last. I look at the vents on top of the warehouse again, forming a loose plan.

“We need a way to see inside.”

“Think you’ll fit?” Caleb asks, following my line of sight and connecting the pieces.

“One way to find out.”

Disclosing the haphazard plan to Parker, who doesn’t immediately turn it down though a frown grows deeper and deeper on his face, he reluctantly agrees on the condition I don’t engage if there are vampires. I smelled something when we first arrived but don’t any more. The scent could have been old.

His hand looks like it’s moving toward mine before he readjusts, fixing the cuff of his shirt. That was strange. My heart started beating a little faster at the thought of him taking my hand, but I quash any self-pity that would squeeze into my non-existent dating life. Turning my back, I scale the side using every small protruding brick available.

With minimal effort I hoist myself over the roof’s ledge, tucking and rolling onto the surface. Various sizes of vents dot the space with a couple looking industrial sized. The first one I go to sounds like a metal fan isn’t too far away, but the second one sounds clear. Climbing in I slide down the steep shaft slowly, vigilantly, to make sure I don’t slip and fumble our advantage.

The vertical shaft ends and opens to a winding air duct barely a foot wide. Angling sideways, I have to tweak my hips diagonally to fit through the widest part, and even then, it’s tight. How I’ll get out is beyond me since scooching backwards won’t work.

Pushing any descending claustrophobia away, I focus