Blake's Pursuit (Scanguards Vampires, #11)(25)

Haven shook his head. “Human.”

“Then why is Donnelly sending him to us? Does he want us to handle human crime now, too?” He glanced at Isabelle. “Maybe you should add renegotiating contracts with the city to your curriculum while you’re at it.”

“Something is off with him. Donnelly asked us to take a look at him. And boy, is he messed up. John can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. He’s running some tests, but he won’t have the results for a few hours.”

“What kind of tests?”

“Blood tests. We could use your help.”

“Why’s that?”

“Seems he’s under the influence of something. Could be a spell, or drugs, or mind control. You’re better equipped to figure it out.”

Wes grinned. “Aren’t you lucky to have a witch for a brother?”

Haven turned toward the door. “I’m lucky to have a brother. You coming?”

“I’ll be there in two minutes.” He marched to one of the computer stations, where another human was sitting. “Hey, Matt, what have you got for me?”

Matt stared up at him through his John Lennon glasses. “I’m afraid it’s not much.” He reached for a few sheets of paper. “I printed out what I thought was important, but I can also send you the electronic file, which is a little more comprehensive.”

Wes motioned to the pages. “Give me a quick summary. I’ll look at the details later.”

“I found the usual: shopping, YouTube stuff, online gaming. But I’m a little stumped by this.” He pointed to a spot on the sheet. “I can’t pronounce it, sorry. Seems to be some herb.”

Wes leaned closer. “H?llenkraut?” Fuck! “Where did you find this?”

“In what looks like an online cookbook he’d saved. Which is odd—”

“—given that this guy is a vampire, and doesn’t eat or drink.” He patted Matt on the shoulder, cutting him off. “Well done. Send the entire file with all the links to my email. I’ll check into it.”

“Will do.”

Wes had already turned away, heading for the door, when Matt added, “What is that stuff? That H?llenkraut?”

He looked over his shoulder. “If I’m right, and I hope I’m not, then it’s one of the most dangerous plants in the world.”

And if Ronny had used it on Hannah in some way, all rescue efforts might already be too late.

A moment later, he was marching toward the interrogation room. Inside, Haven and John hovered over a human who was slumped over in a plastic chair.

John glanced up and acknowledged him with a nod. “Let’s see if you have more luck with him than I,” he said in his Louisiana accent.

Despite the fact that he’d moved to San Francisco and joined Scanguards four years earlier, he’d lost nothing of his Southern drawl.

Wes joined his colleagues and perused the suspect. “What do we know about him?”

“His name is Michael Thorland. He got picked up for possession a few times, but all the charges were dropped. No criminal record until he got caught robbing a liquor store two days ago. At first they threw him in a cell in the hopes that he’d sober up so they could question him, but when he didn’t, Donnelly figured something wasn’t right and transferred him over to us.” John put his hand underneath the guy’s chin and lifted his head. “He’s been like this ever since he arrived.”

Wes looked closer. The suspect’s eyes stared at him blankly. “Catatonic?”

“Looks like it, doesn’t it?” John said. “And he doesn’t respond to mind control either.”

Wes lifted an eyebrow. “I thought every human responds to mind control.” He motioned to the suspect. “Even in a drugged state.”

“That’s what I thought, too.”

“Maybe you’re just tired,” Wes suggested.

John instantly flashed his fangs at him. “I’m not f*cking tired!”

“Just saying…”

“I’ll try it,” Haven interrupted, but a moment later had to concede, too. “John is right. He doesn’t respond to mind control. Very odd.”

“Something is wrong. Seriously wrong,” Wes murmured.

Mind control worked on all humans. And this man was clearly human.

“He might be under a spell,” Haven mused. “It’s a possibility, right, Wes?”

“We’ll find out. Somebody get me my black bag from my office.” It contained basic tools for witchcraft. While he kept a more comprehensive collection of tools, books, and herbs at his home, he always had the essentials in his office. “And then clear the room. It won’t be safe in here for any of you.”

Because not even vampires had any protection against spells.





14


Blake got out of the shower and dressed quickly. It was mid-afternoon and he’d only slept a few hours, but he’d gotten a call from Scanguards twenty minutes ago that they’d found Hannah’s car and were transporting it to headquarters for examination. He wanted to take a look at it, in the hopes that Hannah had left a clue as to her whereabouts.

He opened the door to leave his bedroom, when he heard sounds from the guestroom Nicholas and Adam were occupying. The boys were stirring. He knew he couldn’t leave them to their own devices, particularly since he didn’t know how long he’d be gone.