Page 19 of The Devil's Embrace

“I think most of the important stuff already came from the Detective’s fancy device,” Mitri stated, tutting down at the orb as it rolled to a stop near Cal’s feet. “Thanks for taking over my job, N.I.M.”

The device beeped as though it understood, but really it was just a programmed response to hearing its name called.

“It’s the end of the universe as we know it.” Mitri sighed and then set his hands on his hips, that friendly smile back in place full force. “Anyway, since the chief seems busy, want to ride back to the station with me? We can count it as our first date if you’d like.”

Calix was in the process of trying to decide if that was meant as a joke or not when a deep sense of dread suddenly overcame him. He sucked in a sharp breath, turning toward a spot in the tree line along with the others who must have felt it too.

“What the hell?” Mitri’s brow furrowed. “Did anyone hear anything?”

“No,” Amory answered, eyes scanning their surroundings, “but I definitely feel it.”

“We’re being watched.” It wasn’t the first time Cal had felt someone’s attention, though he couldn’t recall it ever being this…potent before. Every nerve ending he had was screaming there was danger and he should get the hell out of there.

Which of course he wasn’t going to do.

Troya’s earlier assessment about his death wish came back to him, and he almost laughed. His partner would get a kick out of what he was planning on doing next for sure.

The blaster at his left side slipped out of its holster a second before he eased closer to the trees.

“Are you sure you should do that?” Mitri asked. “What if it’s a predatory animal? This forest is known for zem sightings. I’ve done autopsies on a few of the unfortunate souls who came into contact with them. It’s not pretty.”

“Stay here,” Amory ordered Cal, then stepped up to Calix’s side. “I’ll go check it out.”

“We’ll do it together,” he corrected. This was his case, he wasn’t going to stand around twiddling his thumbs simply because of a bad feeling.

“He’s right,” she said, “about the zem.”

“I don’t suppose you brought any zem spray with you?”

She shook her head.

“Too bad.” Calix motioned her forward. “There’s a chance it’s the killer and he’s come back to the scene to get a rise out of us.”

“By discreetly watching from within the trees?”

“Not so discreetly since we were able to sense his eyes on us.”

“Can’t disagree there.” She frowned. “Isn’t it kind of weird though? I mean, he obviously knows we’re onto him. Why is he still watching us instead of running?”

Cal took another step forward. It was either a taunt or some idiot hiker had stumbled on them and was too busy freaking out to use common sense and get out of there. It wouldn’t explain the bad feeling they were all getting, but a feeling was just that. It wasn’t proof of anything.

“Let’s go ask them and find out,” he suggested, and that was all the warning he gave before he took off into the woods with Amory hot on his heels.

Chapter 6:

Whoever it was they were chasing, they were fast.

And quiet.

Hell, maybe it really was nothing, or Mitri was right and they were running after an animal. His lungs burned as he pushed himself further, the feeling of something heavy in his chest calling him forward.

By the time he burst through the clearing, he was already alone.

“Amory?” he risked calling out to her, figuring even if they didn’t know who they were after, whoever had been watching was well aware of their presence. When he didn’t get a response back and couldn’t make out the sound of footsteps, he silently cursed. Had she located their suspect? Was that why they’d been separated?

Cal took a step back, planning on finding her, when the feeling strengthened. His skin prickled as his instincts screamed at him to turn tail and flee. His heart raced as he ignored it, eyes catching on a large tree trunk.

Was there someone hiding behind there?

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