“We pride ourselves on our quick response time, Saul. When a doctor says they have a patient in need, we know it’s urgent.”
“True. You’ve never let me down yet.”
Dante ducked his head in acknowledgement then dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “That was an excellent meal, by the way.”
The other man, Saul, nodded. “I always dine here when I’m in the country. The chef is a personal friend.”
“Give him my compliments.”
“I will. Now, back to business.” Saul, leaned closer, lowering his voice. “You have the goods?”
“I do. There was a minor hiccup. The first two choices had to be replaced. This one isn’t quite as willing, but I’m sure he’ll suit your needs.”
“He’ll be paid well enough in the end. If money doesn’t silence him there are other ways.” Saul shrugged. “And if there are any useable spare parts, I’m sure I can find someone willing to pay for them. The transplant business is never short of buyers.”
“So true. It’s a good thing we have a steady supply.”
“And speaking of supply, your associate has been hinting at having found a new source of children’s organs. Is that true?”
Dante opened his mouth to speak but a strolling musician wandered by and both men leaned back in their chairs, listening with obvious enjoyment. Dante tapped his foot to the tune and the other man applauded lightly when the song ended. Once the musician had moved to another table, the men turned and faced each other again.
The smile faded from Dante’s face. “Back to the matter at hand.”
“Yes. The donor’s age is within the agreed upon range?” Saul seemed to be checking off a mental list.
“Yes.”
“Health?”
“Excellent.”
The other man nodded. “I’ll want to inspect the goods first, do my own blood tests to confirm yours. If there’s a compatibility problem, I’ll see if I have anyone else on my waiting list who is a match for this particular donor. It would be a shame to waste your efforts.”
“Of course.” Dante pushed his chair back. “I have the merchandise out back. If you could meet me there in ten minutes we can wrap up our transaction quickly.”
Saul checked his watch. “Good. I have a yacht at the docks and the inspector has been paid to look the other way for another three hours. I’d like to be loaded and at sea before he has his hand out again.”
“Understood.” Dante raised his hand to signal for the cheque. “I’ll take care of this while you get your medical equipment. Knock twice on the white freezer van in the alley.”
Stone barely held back a growl, bracing his hands on the back of a chair to keep them from shaking with rage. Worse than human trafficking. If his suspicions were correct, Dante was harvesting and selling organs. Good lord, what would have happened to those two pups if Dante had gotten his hands on them? And what poor sucker was in the van downstairs? Shit, he’d walked right past the vehicle not knowing that a living being was inside about to be carved up like a piece of meat for sale.
Just in time, Stone ducked around the corner. Dante had finished paying and was leaving the building. Stone watched as he walked out of the front door and then disappeared around the corner. The need to make the bastard pay was stronger than ever but there was more at stake now. The human authorities needed to be informed, somehow tipped off so they could deal with Dante’s contact and the organization behind him.
Stone reached for his pocket only to realize he wasn’t wearing his clothes and he’d left his own things in the locker. No phone and hardly any time to act. Transactions such as this went down quickly. A sense of urgency had his mind racing, trying to think of a solution. A scan of the lobby showed several people using their phones. One of Christina’s favourite tricks came to mind.
Grabbing a jug of water, Stone walked towards a group of couches where several people sat. As soon as he was close enough, he purposely tripped, tossing the contents of the water on the patrons.
High pitched screams and curses filled the air.
“You idiot!”
“Incompetent oaf!”
“This is a designer dress!”
Stone palmed a phone as he pretended to mop up the mess. “I’m so sorry. Let me get another towel.”
He slipped away as the concierge came hurrying over.
Walking as quickly as possible without attracting attention he made his way through the building to the alley.
He breathed a sigh of relief. The van was still there. He still had time to save whoever was inside. Keeping an eye on the van, he pressed himself into a doorway and dialled Reno’s number, thankful the owner of the phone had neglected to install password protection.
“Reno?”
“Stone? Are you back? Did you find—”
“Listen, don’t talk. I’ve only got a couple of minutes. I’ve uncovered an organ trafficking operation. At least one end of it is run by humans the other end by Lycans; one is named Dante and I think I know who else is involved.”
“Dante? Damn! Listen, Stone—”
He didn’t let the other man speak. Dante would be here any minute. “There’s some poor chump in a truck who’s going to be sliced and diced and sold off in pieces. I’ll take care of the Lycan end but we need to do something about the human angle. Maybe the local cops?”
“The local cops? I don’t—”
“Yeah. I agree. They may or may not be corrupt. Listen, the guy’s name is Saul. I think he’s a doctor and he has a yacht docked here. I know it’s not a lot to go on but in cases like this, even small tips can be helpful.” Stone ran his hand through his hair as he tried to think of what agency could help. “Maybe the Coast Guard could pick him up.”
“Stone—”
He spied Dante approaching. “Sorry. I’ve got to go.” He ended the call and tossed the phone in the garbage hoping whoever owned it could talk their way out of the long-distance charges.
Dante approached the truck, pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the rear door. As it opened, Stone had a glimpse of someone tied up, gagged and lying on the floor.
Fuck. Not quite as willing? The guy had been kidnapped!
Rage filled him, the Guardian side of him compelled to act. He rushed from his hiding spot and caught the door just before it slammed shut. Dante’s hand was still on the handle and when Stone yanked the door open, the man flew from the truck.
Even before he hit the ground, Dante had shifted into a wolf, rolling and springing to his feet. Stone set his wolf free as well and the two animals met in battle. Snarls filled the air as fangs slashed and feet clawed.
Dante went for his throat but Stone dodged to the side, sinking his teeth into Dante’s hip. Dante flipped over, knocking Stone loose then grabbed Stone’s foreleg. Stone used his hind legs to gouge Dante’s belly and the other man yelped and let go.
The back door of the kitchen banged open. “¡Eh! ¡Dos perros rabiosos! Two mad dogs! Get a gun!”
Dante took off, his tail between his legs and Stone went in hot pursuit. Down one alley and then the next. Across a road, horns honking as they dodged cars and bikes. Over garbage cans, around pedestrians, through a street market, toppling baskets of goods while people screamed and ran.
Slowly, inch by inch, Stone shortened the distance between himself and the other man. Dante’s age was showing on him. The older man leapt over a fence and Stone followed only to skitter to a halt. Dante had immediately doubled back and ducked under the fence. Stone twisted around and followed. The other man was old but wily.
They headed back the way they’d come, dodging more vehicles and darting between startled tourists. For some reason, Dante was returning to where this crazy race had begun. Down the alley towards the truck. A small crowd had gathered. Stone was relieved to notice the bound man was now free and standing.
“There they are!” A voice rang out. All eyes turned towards to the two wolves racing towards them. “Mad dogs! Shoot them
!”
Dante scooted under a car at the exact moment gunfire erupted.
Stone yelped as a bullet whizzed past his hip and threw himself into the shelter of a recessed doorway. He shifted to human form, rammed his shoulder into the door breaking the lock and slipped inside seconds before the sound of running feet passed by.
“Where’d the dog go?”
“I don’t know. It has to be here somewhere.”
Stone kept his back pressed to the door as he fought to catch his breath. That had been too close for comfort. Damn Dante to hell and back. As the pounding of his heart slowed, he had to admit it had been an ingenuous plan. He’d even tell the man next time their paths crossed. Then he’d kill him.
Chapter 15
Sister Bernita arched her back and wiped the sweat from her brow. The simple surgery she’d completed had been successful, the patient was now stitched up and it was just a matter of time and patience while the flesh knit itself back together. Provided another infection didn’t set in.
“Put her in the bed near the door so I can check on her during the night without disturbing the others.”
“Yes, Sister.” The young girl who had assisted her moved to carry out the instructions and Sister Bernita stepped outside for a breath of fresh air.
She wasn’t a trained doctor, but over the years she’d been called upon to perform many tasks that should only be done by a medical person. It was amazing what a bit of first aid, a few medical books and pure desperation could accomplish. Oh, and divine intervention. She shot an apologetic look upwards.
It was late afternoon. The sun was losing its midday bite and the air was relatively cooler than it had been when she’d started the surgery. Soon the dinner bell would be ringing. She’d supervise the meal, go over the chore assignments. An hour later it would be curfew and the gates would be locked. The rhythm of the day seldom changed. There was security in that, but sometimes a little adventure would be nice.
That was why Mr. Stone’s arrival had been so interesting. A new face, a new person to talk to, someone with knowledge of the outside world. Sadly, he hadn’t returned. While she really didn’t expect him to, it never hurt to dream. Another set of hands would have been helpful, especially when the hands were attached to a fine looking man.
A hint of a smile passed over her as she recalled bandaging his side. ‘Washboard abs.’ Wasn’t that what they were calling them nowadays?
One of the older boys approached. “Hermana—”
“Speak English, José.”
“Si, Hermana.” He flushed. “I mean, yes, Sister. Someone is here to see you.”
“Mr. Stone?” Hope flared in her but she kept her voice moderate.
“No. Señor Esteban.”
“Oh.” Her disappointment didn’t show either. “Bring him to my office.”
Señor Esteban hadn’t visited for several months, much to her relief. She found his superior attitude annoying plus he never seemed to have a purpose for visiting. He didn’t help. He didn’t bring supplies. He didn’t come asking for medical assistance. He simply walked in like he was lord of the manor inspecting one of his tenants. His cool green eyes would sweep over the buildings, the crops, the children, even herself, without a word of praise or condemnation. A few banal questions about the weather or something equally unimportant and then he was on his way. She considered refusing to speak with him but couldn’t think of a good reason. Besides, she had a feeling he’d search her out anyway. The man had the air of someone who always got what he wanted.
He stood when she entered the room, an old fashioned habit that had at first impressed her. Now, seven years later, she barely noticed.
“Sister.”
“Señor.” She nodded and gave the briefest of smiles. After surgery she was always tired and spending time talking to this man was the last thing she wanted to do. Taking up her usual spot leaning against the desk, she folded her hands.
He sat down and casually crossed his legs. “The rainy season will soon be upon us.”
“Yes, it will.” The weather. Just what she wanted to discuss. The temptation to roll her eyes was strong. “We haven’t seen you in a while.” She didn’t add that she wished he’d stayed away longer though the thought had her struggling to keep her face bland.
“I had business elsewhere.”
“I see.” She didn’t, but who really cared?
“You still only have one chair in here.”
“I dislike sitting at a desk. Not having a spare chair gives me an excuse, I suppose.”
“Ah.” He nodded and then looked about the room.
“And what can I do for you today?” She hoped the prompt might get the meeting over with sooner.
“How is your new patient doing?”
The question caught her off guard. His usual response was that he was just ‘stopping by’. That he even knew she had a new patient had her frowning. “What concern is it of yours?”
“I directed the family to bring her here.”
“Ah.” She raised her brows. He’d never sent a patient her way before. As a matter of fact, she always had the impression that he was secretly turning his nose up at her makeshift infirmary. “A proper medical facility would have been preferable given the nature of the wound.”
“But too far away. You are the medical miracle worker in the area, aren’t you?”
“A miracle worker? No. Just luck and prayers.”
“You are too modest.” He gave a hint of a smile. “But back to our patient. What is the prognosis?”
“She’ll live. Do you know anything about her?”
“Not really. A tourist would be my best guest. Most likely she didn’t listen to the warnings and wandered away from her resort. After that,” he shrugged, “a mugging? Maybe she stumbled upon a drug deal. Crime is rife in our country, as you well know.”
All of his explanations were plausible but none fit. She decided to let it pass. “Once she’s stable, I’ll drive into town and make inquiries at the police station. Someone must be looking for her.”
“I can do that for you.”
She didn’t try to hide her surprise. “An offer of assistance?”
“I feel responsible. As I said, I directed the family that found her to bring her here.”
“The wound was several days old. It’s amazing she lived as long as she did.”
“It is indeed. I believe they found her in the jungle, brought her home and were trying to cure her using folk remedies. I happened to stop by to visit them which was when I discovered her presence.”
“Very fortuitous.” There was definitely something about his tale that set her instincts on alert but she didn’t know what. She didn’t suspect him of shooting the woman, but he knew more than he was letting on.
“May I see her?”
She hesitated and then conceded. “There’d be no harm in that, I suppose. I’ll ring for Anna to accompany you.”
Esteban stood. “Not necessary. I can find my own way. It’s right through this door, isn’t it?”
“It is, but I will still have Anna accompany you.”
“So lacking in trust,” he murmured.
“So cautious,” she countered.
Esteban stood beside the witch’s bed. He now knew her name was Christina and that it was assumed she was dead. Stone had a depth of affection for her which would explain why he’d gone so far as to give her his blood to drink. Had the Lycan known the full implications of the ancient remedy he’d been attempting? Had some primal instinct directed him? Or had it been dumb luck and desperation? At any rate, the scent of wolf now lingered on her and blood was the only way that could occur.
The attempted cure hadn’t been completely successful, unfortunately.
As he’d watched her shake with fever, delirious and near death, he’d been moved with an unfamiliar pity. Or maybe it had been an act of chivalry. As one of the nobility, chivalrous deeds were expected of him, after all. Whatever the case, he’d broken his own r
ule of non-interference, and now she also bore the scent of the jaguar. He, too, had given her blood to keep her alive. Afterwards, he’d deposited her at the home of a local family, expecting she’d soon revive and be on her way. Yet, for some reason his blood hadn’t completely cured her either. Maybe being part witch was the difficulty. Or, more likely, it was the bullet still lodged in her leg. Prompting the family to bring her here had been his last attempt to help her. If the nun couldn’t save her then it was the will of the gods that she died.
He turned to the young girl that was hovering nearby.
“You may leave.”
“But Sister Bernita said—”
“And I say otherwise.” He fixed her with a pointed stare. “Go. Do something over there.” Once he’d shooed her away, he sat down on the stool near the patient’s cot to study her.
She was still pale with dark shadows under her eyes. He leaned forward and touched her forehead. It was cool, no sign of fever. Her chances of survival seemed higher now. His hand lingered on her face then brushed her hair back, tucking a few strands behind her ear. Interesting. Some of the tips were blue, others were pink. Had one of her spells gone wrong? Surely no one would do that to their hair on purpose.
Had she been well, she’d be pretty enough, he supposed. Strong, given that she’d survived a jungle trek, and determined. He was impressed that, even badly wounded, she’d managed to hide herself away under a bush. If circumstances had been different, if the wolf hadn’t covered her in his scent… No. That was just a passing fancy. She wasn’t a jaguar and besides, his interests lay elsewhere.
He eased back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If Stone delivered on his promise to get rid of the other Lycans, he’d have to bring the man here. The woman—Christina—wouldn’t be strong enough to move for a day or two. That meant the Lycan would linger in the area. Well, he’d just have to help transport the woman out of the jungle. It was an inconvenience but couldn’t be avoided. Lycans in his territory were not acceptable, and he wanted them gone as soon as possible. A female jaguar had passed through the territory recently and Esteban hoped to claim her. Having other shifters in the area would be too distracting to the courtship process.