Big Bad Beast
Page 9
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Why didnt you do that before? Malone wanted to know.
Because knowing I can do it is just as good as doing it. Just like knowing that I can cut your throat while you sleep
Ric placed a hand over Dees mouth and pulled her down the hall. Bathroom? he asked Desiree, who was unlocking Malones cage.
At the end of the hallway.
They found the room and Ric pushed her in.
What is wrong with you? he demanded.
And all Dee could do was shrug and admit, She irritates me. Ric opened the first aid kit tacked to the wall and took out some gauze and antibiotic cream. He wet the gauze and began wiping the blood off Dees face and her knuckles. Once the blood was gone, however, he still had bruises and cuts to deal with.
She irritates you? She irritates everyone.
Dee gazed at him through the one eye that wasnt swollen shut. You know Malone?
I hired Malone. She plays on the Carnivores.
What the hell did you do that for?
Have you seen the way that woman plays?
I dont care how she plays, supermodel. Shes with KZS. Did you know that, too? He gazed into her eyes and answered with utter honesty, Of course, I knew. Dee shoved him aside. Youre working with them now?
Theyre not our enemy, Dee-Ann.
Like hell theyre not. Maybe you dont remember when they tried to move on wolf territory, but I sure do.
Ric scratched his forehead. You mean in 1832?
Yeah.
Wow. Smiths really dont let a grudge go, do they?
Not unless were contractually obligated to like we were with yall.
Ill keep that in mind. But we dont have time for this, Dee.
What does that mean?
Come on.
Dee waited while Ric threw out the bloody gauze, slathered some ointment on the worst of her cuts, washed his hands, and took Dee to the main office on the floor: a glass room with a door and a view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the window behind the desk. Sitting at the desk was a black bear sow.
Desiree stood next to the desk and Malone sat in a chair beside another feline. A lynx, who seemed way overdressed for this meeting.
There you are, the lynx complained, pointing at her watch. Have date. Not missing. Lets move this along, people.
Ric closed the door and, always the gentleman, began introducing everyone to Dee. You know Detective MacDermott, and this is her boss Lynsey Gentry. She runs this division of the NYPD. And you know Marcella Malone, and this is her boss, Nina Bugliosi. Shes Cellassupervisor, but speaks for KZS as I speak for the Group.
Dee gazed at him. Cella? Hes calling her Cella now?
Sit, you two. Sit. The sow motioned them down and began. Ill keep this short because I dont see a point in making it long-winded. Heres the deal. These fight rings have popped up all over the city and theyre multiplying. Now, I wont get into the concern over protecting who we are from the full-humans who know nothing about us. Thats a given, I think. The more important issue is that we can no longer ignore whats happening to the hybrids in this city and the other boroughs, nor can we continue to try and strike at these small dogfights that weve been stumbling across. Its not effective.
So after talking to Niles Van Holtz, who runs the entire Group from East Coast to the West, and Victoria Lwe who represents Katzenhaft Security in the States, weve all decided to join forces.
Which means what, exactly? Malone asked.
That means were putting a small team of our best people on this to get to the heart of where its all stemming from. I want to know whos the money behind this. Once we find the money, we can take it from there. But weve got to find the money.
And whos gonna be on this team? Although Dee already had a bad feeling she knew the answer.
Desiree will take lead. She represents NYPD and can keep the full-human precincts off you, something she did earlier tonight after the residents of that neighborhood complained, so you should thank her. I dont know what we could have done if anyone else had found you in that warehouse with all those bodies.
Together, Malone and Dee looked over at Desiree and sneered, Thank you. Desiree laughed and Gentry continued. To represent KZS, well have Miss Malone and for the Group, Miss Smith.
Canine and feline scowled at each other across the room. Then Malone roared and Dee barked multiple times, lips pulled back over fangs.
The lynx snapped her fingers in Malones face. Date! she bellowed. Was I not clear I have a date? I dont have time for this bullshit. She pointed at Dee-Ann. From you either. So lets cut to the chase rather than wait for the bear to make her slow, plodding way to it. Weve already looked at your records, ladies. All three of you are former Marines, and both Smith and Malone have Unit training. So youre going to get over whatever bullshit issues you have and fix this problem before I get really fucking cranky. She stood, smoothing down her mini-dress. Is that it?
Well the sow began.
Good. See ya! Then she was out the door and gone.
Because knowing I can do it is just as good as doing it. Just like knowing that I can cut your throat while you sleep
Ric placed a hand over Dees mouth and pulled her down the hall. Bathroom? he asked Desiree, who was unlocking Malones cage.
At the end of the hallway.
They found the room and Ric pushed her in.
What is wrong with you? he demanded.
And all Dee could do was shrug and admit, She irritates me. Ric opened the first aid kit tacked to the wall and took out some gauze and antibiotic cream. He wet the gauze and began wiping the blood off Dees face and her knuckles. Once the blood was gone, however, he still had bruises and cuts to deal with.
She irritates you? She irritates everyone.
Dee gazed at him through the one eye that wasnt swollen shut. You know Malone?
I hired Malone. She plays on the Carnivores.
What the hell did you do that for?
Have you seen the way that woman plays?
I dont care how she plays, supermodel. Shes with KZS. Did you know that, too? He gazed into her eyes and answered with utter honesty, Of course, I knew. Dee shoved him aside. Youre working with them now?
Theyre not our enemy, Dee-Ann.
Like hell theyre not. Maybe you dont remember when they tried to move on wolf territory, but I sure do.
Ric scratched his forehead. You mean in 1832?
Yeah.
Wow. Smiths really dont let a grudge go, do they?
Not unless were contractually obligated to like we were with yall.
Ill keep that in mind. But we dont have time for this, Dee.
What does that mean?
Come on.
Dee waited while Ric threw out the bloody gauze, slathered some ointment on the worst of her cuts, washed his hands, and took Dee to the main office on the floor: a glass room with a door and a view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the window behind the desk. Sitting at the desk was a black bear sow.
Desiree stood next to the desk and Malone sat in a chair beside another feline. A lynx, who seemed way overdressed for this meeting.
There you are, the lynx complained, pointing at her watch. Have date. Not missing. Lets move this along, people.
Ric closed the door and, always the gentleman, began introducing everyone to Dee. You know Detective MacDermott, and this is her boss Lynsey Gentry. She runs this division of the NYPD. And you know Marcella Malone, and this is her boss, Nina Bugliosi. Shes Cellassupervisor, but speaks for KZS as I speak for the Group.
Dee gazed at him. Cella? Hes calling her Cella now?
Sit, you two. Sit. The sow motioned them down and began. Ill keep this short because I dont see a point in making it long-winded. Heres the deal. These fight rings have popped up all over the city and theyre multiplying. Now, I wont get into the concern over protecting who we are from the full-humans who know nothing about us. Thats a given, I think. The more important issue is that we can no longer ignore whats happening to the hybrids in this city and the other boroughs, nor can we continue to try and strike at these small dogfights that weve been stumbling across. Its not effective.
So after talking to Niles Van Holtz, who runs the entire Group from East Coast to the West, and Victoria Lwe who represents Katzenhaft Security in the States, weve all decided to join forces.
Which means what, exactly? Malone asked.
That means were putting a small team of our best people on this to get to the heart of where its all stemming from. I want to know whos the money behind this. Once we find the money, we can take it from there. But weve got to find the money.
And whos gonna be on this team? Although Dee already had a bad feeling she knew the answer.
Desiree will take lead. She represents NYPD and can keep the full-human precincts off you, something she did earlier tonight after the residents of that neighborhood complained, so you should thank her. I dont know what we could have done if anyone else had found you in that warehouse with all those bodies.
Together, Malone and Dee looked over at Desiree and sneered, Thank you. Desiree laughed and Gentry continued. To represent KZS, well have Miss Malone and for the Group, Miss Smith.
Canine and feline scowled at each other across the room. Then Malone roared and Dee barked multiple times, lips pulled back over fangs.
The lynx snapped her fingers in Malones face. Date! she bellowed. Was I not clear I have a date? I dont have time for this bullshit. She pointed at Dee-Ann. From you either. So lets cut to the chase rather than wait for the bear to make her slow, plodding way to it. Weve already looked at your records, ladies. All three of you are former Marines, and both Smith and Malone have Unit training. So youre going to get over whatever bullshit issues you have and fix this problem before I get really fucking cranky. She stood, smoothing down her mini-dress. Is that it?
Well the sow began.
Good. See ya! Then she was out the door and gone.
