Howling Moon Part 35

And it'll take longer if you get stopped for speeding.

Raphael turned, glaring at her balefully, but he did let up on the accelerator. Cat decided it was time to change the subject. She chose the one that was nearly always at the forefront of her mind.

"Any word from Charles or Raven on Jack?"

"The warrant has been issued. Apparently it was a close debate because of something that happened at the Chicago meeting. But it was issued. Since your part's taken care of, they should be able to execute the warrant sometime today."

Cat let out a sigh, her body visibly relaxing into the black leather seat. "Thank G.o.d! It's almost over." She closed her eyes as a feeling of utter weariness washed over her.

"Are you sorry it won't be you taking him down?" Raphael's voice was serious.

Cat opened her eyes and stared out the car window at the bare winter fields that lined the road. She searched for a long moment, trying to come up with the right words to express her feelings. "Yes, and no." She turned to him. "I've trained with Raven and Ivan. I'm good, but they're better. Much, Much, much better. They just much better. They just are. are. We can't afford to risk Jack surviving and getting away. Too many lives are at stake. If that means I have to step back and let the professionals finish him off, then so be it. I came up with the idea. I switched the files. That's enough." She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. We can't afford to risk Jack surviving and getting away. Too many lives are at stake. If that means I have to step back and let the professionals finish him off, then so be it. I came up with the idea. I switched the files. That's enough." She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

Raphael's scent changed. She drew in a deep breath, reveling in the smells rolling off of him: love, warmth, and pride. pride. He was proud of her. That meant a lot. Because letting go of this was He was proud of her. That meant a lot. Because letting go of this was not not easy. easy.

"I love you, Cat Turner."

"I love you, too." She turned giving him a wicked, feral, grin. "Let's go home and celebrate I've got cable. We can keep CNN on in the background. Just in case there's any interesting interesting news." news."

One minute Cat was laughing in the seat next to him, and the next minute she was staring blankly forward. Raphael pulled the car onto the shoulder and to a stop. As he watched, she slammed forward against the seat belt as though struck.

"Cat?" As soon as he touched her arm he was drawn into the vision with her.

They were in a familiar clearing, the helipad in the distance. Jasmine stood between Holly and Yusef. "You said said she was bait for the cat. She wasn't to be harmed!" she was bait for the cat. She wasn't to be harmed!"

Yusef sneered at her down the length of his beakish nose. "I lied." He pulled the trigger, and Jasmine staggered backward, blood blooming from her chest. Holly screamed, and fought with everything she had against the rough hands holding her. But Martin was too strong. She couldn't break free. She could only watch in horror as Yusef stepped calmly forward and placed the gun barrel against her sister's forehead. "And you just became a liability." He pulled the trigger, watching impa.s.sively as blood, bone, and worse splattered against the barren ground.

Holly looked up suddenly, as though she could see something. "Help! "Help! Cat, help. Cat, help. Oh, my G.o.d!" Oh, my G.o.d!"

Then, with a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, Holly broke free changing forms in midstride, leaping over the nearest boulder in a terrified bid for freedom. There was the crack of a gun firing, and she howled in agony, her hip shattered by a bullet that was meant to injure, not kill. She fell, nose over tail, landing in a graceless heap on the ground, panting and whimpering with pain. changing forms in midstride, leaping over the nearest boulder in a terrified bid for freedom. There was the crack of a gun firing, and she howled in agony, her hip shattered by a bullet that was meant to injure, not kill. She fell, nose over tail, landing in a graceless heap on the ground, panting and whimpering with pain.

"G.o.d you 're useless." Yusef snarled as he backhanded Martin to the ground. "You can't even hold a new attack victim? No wonder they won't give you your own pack!" Raphael watched in horror as Charles's most trusted bodyguard stalked toward his niece...

He knew that Holly's only hope right now rode on Cat's talent.

"Cat, can you hear me? We have to get there. We're headed to the mountain right now." Cat nodded. Tears were streaming unheeded down her face and her white-knuckled fingers clutched the door handle.

"Can you get in Martin's head? Don't try Yusef. He's too powerful, and too d.a.m.ned likely to catch you. But we need to know what they want with her, and to find out their plans."

As he watched, she closed her eyes. He could tell she'd succeeded when he saw her features harden into harsh lines. When she spoke her voice was cold and had a distant, hollow quality that sounded precisely like Martin Black.

"Jack found out we switched the file. He plans to use Holly as a hostage. He knows Wolven will consider her expendable but that I I won't. He's on his way to pick her up. If I don't cooperate they'll force Holly to change on camera and start building a won't. He's on his way to pick her up. If I don't cooperate they'll force Holly to change on camera and start building a new new insurance file insurance file before before they kill her." they kill her."

Raphael's thoughts were dark with rage. He could barely speak through his clenched jaw. "Does Martin know when when Jack's due?" There was no time to waste. They needed weapons. They had what he wore on his person, and the few things in the car, but not nearly enough. Jack's due?" There was no time to waste. They needed weapons. They had what he wore on his person, and the few things in the car, but not nearly enough.

She shook her head like Martin would. "Not for another three hours. Jasmine was early. They hadn't expected her to bring Holly until after the meeting with you at eleven."

They'd known about his appointment with Holly! Only someone on the office staff would have access to his calendar. Which meant there were more traitors within the pack. Raphael pulled back onto the highway, pressing down on the gas pedal, opening up all eight cylinders in a race to save Holly.

Cat shuddered, her eyes cleared, and she was suddenly back in her own body. "Yusef was getting suspicious. Apparently having me riding along changed Martin's body language or something. I didn't dare stick around'. But I did find out that they plan to stay up there. They're loading Holly into the back of a van."

Raphael only half listened to her. His mind was racing. They had three hours. A good half of that time would be taken in the drive up to the helipad. Lucas, Tatya, Raven... nearly everyone he truly trusted was clear the h.e.l.l on the other side of the country. His best weapons were in his office safe but they didn't have the time to spare to go get them. Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he grabbed his cell phone and hit the third number on speed dial. If he was wrong...

The phone rang, and rang, but there was no answer. Raphael gripped the phone tight enough that the plastic began to crack. He urged the Mitsubishi around a slower-moving car and onto the interstate, headed toward the mountains.

"Cat, can you slide into Betty's thoughts?"

"Betty's?"

"There's a traitor in pack headquarters. I want to make sure it isn't her."

Cat's eyes unfocused. Almost immediately she began swearing under her breath. Raphael watched as her power flared until the hairs on his arms began crawling and the temperature in the car began to rise.

"Cat "

"She's only semiconscious. Daphne shot her, but she went down fighting. Sally's dead, and she d.a.m.ned near tore Daphne's leg off before she pa.s.sed out from blood loss."

Raphael grabbed onto Cat's arm, joining his limited gift to hers in an attempt to see and speak with the Second Female while at the same time driving the car. It was tricky, and dangerous. He didn't dare let himself get too distracted by the vision.

Betty was badly hurt. Only the fact that Daphne hadn't known known to shoot an alpha in both the head and heart had saved her life. As it was, she pulled the power Cat offered into herself using it to augment her own abilities and close the bullet hole in her chest. to shoot an alpha in both the head and heart had saved her life. As it was, she pulled the power Cat offered into herself using it to augment her own abilities and close the bullet hole in her chest.

Cat, they took Holly. Jasmine was with them. You have to warn Raphael...

I'm right here, Raphael told her. I was going to contact you, see if you could bring my weapons from the safe. But But nothing, Betty snarled viciously. She reached upward, grabbing the top of the nurse's station and hauled herself upward. She lay gasping on its surface for a long moment afterward, but her thoughts were clear. Give me the combination and pick me up at the bar.

THE J JEEP LURCHED and bucked, its engine whining in protest. Raphael thanked G.o.d he'd chosen to drive die Jeep this morning because the tracks were sliced with gullies from die last melt and very nearly vertical. Yellow dust blew into me air in a cloud that marked their pa.s.sage. Raphael rolled down the window. Tall weeds, bent and bowed from the last snow, slapped at his face as he looked toward me sky. There was no sign of a helicopter yet. The vehicle rocked and slid sideways, its wheels spitting loose gravel in an arc as they sought traction. Finally, they caught and the car lurched forward. It slammed roughly against a half-buried boulder, rocking dangerously onto two wheels before gravity won and the vehicle hit the ground with a solid whump. and bucked, its engine whining in protest. Raphael thanked G.o.d he'd chosen to drive die Jeep this morning because the tracks were sliced with gullies from die last melt and very nearly vertical. Yellow dust blew into me air in a cloud that marked their pa.s.sage. Raphael rolled down the window. Tall weeds, bent and bowed from the last snow, slapped at his face as he looked toward me sky. There was no sign of a helicopter yet. The vehicle rocked and slid sideways, its wheels spitting loose gravel in an arc as they sought traction. Finally, they caught and the car lurched forward. It slammed roughly against a half-buried boulder, rocking dangerously onto two wheels before gravity won and the vehicle hit the ground with a solid whump.

Betty swore roundly as her head slammed against me roll bar. She was crammed uncomfortably into the backseat. Cat was bracing herself with her left arm on the dashboard, while her right hand held the handle above the door in a death grip. Her eyes were closed, and Raphael knew she was concentrating, trying to use her gift.

Raphael said a silent prayer of thanks that Betty hadn't been stopped on me way to their meeting point. The a.r.s.enal she'd brought with her would've earned her a one-way ticket to prison from the humans, and the graveyard from Wolven. She'd brought everything: everything: all the weapons, all me ammo. Since he wasn't sure what they were up against, he hadn't argued when she and Cat had transferred everything from the Volvo to die Jeep. all the weapons, all me ammo. Since he wasn't sure what they were up against, he hadn't argued when she and Cat had transferred everything from the Volvo to die Jeep.

Raphael slowed slightly. This next section was going to be difficult, even for the Jeep. He had chosen the most direct route he knew up to the helipad. It was barely more than a trail, and not something he would've dared in any other vehicle. But this route had saved them a good half-hour of time. It was time they'd need because the last part of the route would have to be taken on foot and from upwind if they were to have any hope at all of surprise.

They were probably outnumbered. There were only three of them, after all. Betty hadn't trusted anyone else enough to bring him along as backup. Neither had Raphael.

They were nearly to the point where the trail intersected the two-lane highway. Raphael pulled the vehicle to a skidding stop beneath a small stand of pine. He jumped from the vehicle, and began to strip.

"I'm going to scout ahead while you unload. Cat, if I'm not back in twenty minutes, use your gift to look for me."

Raphael started up the steep incline in wolf form. He tried to use what cover he could. There wasn't much. They were not quite high enough to be above the tree line. The rocky ground was only spa.r.s.ely dotted with slender pines and dead weeds. Small patches of snow dotted the spots the winter sun couldn't reach. His paws were nearly silent as he moved with practiced ease through familiar territory. Every sense was stretched to its utmost. He circled wide, intending to approach the area from behind and above where Cat had last seen their enemies. He was looking either for scouts, or for signs of electronic surveillance. If he were in charge, he'd use both. He hoped Yusef wasn't as methodical, but he'd be willing to bet otherwise. You didn't rise through the ranks to become one of the Chief Justice's personal bodyguards without being both very good and very thorough.

He stopped, barely daring to breathe. He tilted his head, listening: in the distance, to his left he heard a familiar voice. It was Martin, and he wasn't happy at having been a.s.signed to patrol the perimeter.

"I just did. did. There's no one out here." Raphael heard the click and static from a radio. Yusef's voice coming through the speaker was only slightly distorted. There's no one out here." Raphael heard the click and static from a radio. Yusef's voice coming through the speaker was only slightly distorted.

"The sensors picked up something to your right. It's about the right size for a wolf."

Raphael stepped softly across the rough ground, moving into the deep shadows of a rocky outcropping. He could hear Martin's approach easily. The fool wasn't even trying trying to be quiet. to be quiet.

Raphael.

Not now, now, Cat! Cat!

They had someone patrolling in wolf form. I had to kill her. She was getting ready to sound the alarm. Betty and I are moving out. We'll be taking positions on high ground.

Right.

Cat cut the connection just as Martin appeared in the open s.p.a.ce opposite the outcropping. He was moving more carefully now, his nostrils flaring as he scented the breeze. He was armed, but it was obvious he wasn't used to carrying a weapon. Still, it didn't take a great deal of skill to kill someone at close range with the right firearm. And it was a perfectly lovely gun, his favorite Ruger, the one that had disappeared at Violet's house. Raphael's eyes narrowed as he recognized his weapon and knew where Martin had to have gotten it.

He waited, tensing every muscle for the perfect instant, when Martin was turned, then leapt with everything he had, claws and teeth rending skin and cloth as his weight carried both of them to the ground with a jarring impact that slammed the breath from Martin's lungs and sent the gun flying from his hand.

It was a quick, dirty fight. Martin was alphic enough to resist most of Raphael's magic, but he'd relied too much on the gun in his hand. With that gone, in human form, he was no match for Raphael's teeth and claws. Still, somehow he managed to get his bent legs beneath the wolf's body straightening them to throw Raphael off of him.

Martin frantically scuttled away on his hands, trying to buy time and s.p.a.ce to shift, but Raphael leapt onto his back. Locking his jaws around Martin's spine he jerked his head sideways until he heard the fragile bones snap, felt the spinal cord sever. He shifted then. With a single, brutal kick he rolled Martin's limp body onto its back. He was alive, though paralyzed. His lungs struggled for air, the messages from the brain barely making it through to keep life in his broken body. Given a chance he might heal. But Raphael would make sure there was no chance. Raphael bent down to pick up the Ruger. He put the first bullet in Martin's chest, the second in his skull.

The radio crackled inside the pocket of the dead man's jacket. "Black, report!" report!"

Raphael retrieved the radio, and pressed the b.u.t.ton to transmit. He focused, deliberately mimicking the dead man's voice. "Ramirez is dead." He made his voice triumphant. "I killed killed the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

"Bring the body down here."

"Why?"

"Just do it, do it, Black. Everybody else, report." Black. Everybody else, report."

Daphne Black was the first to report. "I'm here with the Sanchez woman. She's healing." Raphael counted as three additional voices came over the radio, all wolves, all members of his his pack. Raphael felt die bile rise, and his eyes bled red as his power rose in reaction to his rage. pack. Raphael felt die bile rise, and his eyes bled red as his power rose in reaction to his rage.

"Melissa, report. Melissa?" Melissa?" There was no answer. Nor would there be. Raphael cursed under his breath. He should've warned Cat to take the radio, but there was no help for it now, and even with magic augmenting it, he couldn't make his voice a feminine soprano. There was no answer. Nor would there be. Raphael cursed under his breath. He should've warned Cat to take the radio, but there was no help for it now, and even with magic augmenting it, he couldn't make his voice a feminine soprano.

"All right people. We have company." Yusef's voice was calm. "Stay alert."

CAT MOVED WITH exquisite care. Avoiding the patches of snow was obvious, but there were other ways of leaving your mark upon the ground, and every one of the Sazi in Yusef's group was bound to be more experienced at hunting and tracking than she was. exquisite care. Avoiding the patches of snow was obvious, but there were other ways of leaving your mark upon the ground, and every one of the Sazi in Yusef's group was bound to be more experienced at hunting and tracking than she was.

She paused, sending out a tendril of thought. Betty was in position and loading her weapons. She had chosen a tall rock formation that would give her an excellent view of the helipad. Of course she'd have to be d.a.m.ned careful not not to allow herself to be silhouetted against the skyline but she was smart enough to know it. She was also armed to the teeth, having taken both the Tommy gun and the grenade launcher, and ammunition for both. Her half-healed chest wound might not allow her rapid mobility, or her usual strength, but she was determined to be a part of this fight. to allow herself to be silhouetted against the skyline but she was smart enough to know it. She was also armed to the teeth, having taken both the Tommy gun and the grenade launcher, and ammunition for both. Her half-healed chest wound might not allow her rapid mobility, or her usual strength, but she was determined to be a part of this fight.

Cat had chosen feline form. Guns were great distance weapons, but they made noise. noise. She'd dispatched the female guard with teeth and claws in near silence. It had bought them precious minutes, and Cat wasn't wasting an instant of it. She'd dispatched the female guard with teeth and claws in near silence. It had bought them precious minutes, and Cat wasn't wasting an instant of it.

Holly, are you there?

Cat? Oh, my G.o.d, Cat! They killed Jasmine, and I heard them say-It's all right. That was Raphael pretending to be Martin But it sounded Trust me, I know. But we need information. Do you know where you are, how many of them there are, and how many are guarding you?

I'm in the back of a van. The only one with me is Daphne, but I don't know how many others there are.

Right.

Cat heard the snap of a twig and a metallic click. Her body reacted before her mind could make sense of the sounds, jumping sideways.

The shot was loud. It echoed deafeningly off of the rocks as the bullet sent splinters flying like miniature missiles from the pine she had been standing in front of.

She attacked in a blur of speed, eviscerating the gunman before he could pull the trigger for a second shot. He screamed, a high-pitched, hopeless sound that ended in a wet whistle of air as Cat tore the head from his neck with a single swipe of her ma.s.sive paw.

Too much was happening at once. There were gunshots, screams, and the howling of injured wolves. Cat felt Raphael's rage and panic. There were too many of them... they had him surrounded Cat ran with everything she had, the ground a blur beneath her paws. She'd nearly reached him when the explosion from the first grenade hit. It missed by a fair margin, but the noise was deafening and a rain of rock, dirt, and shrapnel flew through the circling wolves.

Though bloodied, the wolves showed no sign of retreating. Growling their defiance, they turned their attention to Cat.

Yusef, meanwhile, stood in a two-handed stance, firing silver bullets at the blur of motion that was Raphael until his gun clicked empty. Cat felt a surge of power, and a huge black bear rose on his back legs where the gunman had stood.

She felt, rather than saw the first wolf's attack. Low and fast, it was a move meant to hamstring an opponent. Cat rolled out of the way, directly into the path of one of the others. He dove onto her, his bared fangs going for the jugular, but she used her momentum and speed to carry her until she she was on top, her claws digging into the thick meat of his body. She pulled him forcibly away, his jaws snapping at air a fraction from her throat, even as his breathing grew labored from the pressure as she used main strength to try to crush his chest. was on top, her claws digging into the thick meat of his body. She pulled him forcibly away, his jaws snapping at air a fraction from her throat, even as his breathing grew labored from the pressure as she used main strength to try to crush his chest.

There was the thud of impact, and she was thrown off of her opponent by a smaller female wolf. "You killed my son." The animal stalked toward her, its eyes glowing and feral, magic crackling along her body, until each hair stood on end. A second wolf moved to flank her. The injured male had reverted to human form, and was crawling in the direction of a discarded weapon.

Cat positioned herself as best she could, putting a boulder at her back. She crouched, preparing for the attack when the first shot rang out. The injured male went down screaming, blood spraying from the hole in his chest. A second bullet took the female in midleap. It was a clean chest shot, but it did not take her heart. Still, she fell to the ground with a thud, blood spurting from the wound as red bubbles frothed her lips.

Cat glanced over in shock, seeking the source of the gunshots. Holly Sanchez balanced herself against the side of a white van, all her weight on her good leg. Blood oozed from dozens of scratches and bites, but she held a 9 mm Beretta in a cla.s.sic teacup grip and was firing rounds into their enemies.

There was no time to wonder how her friend had escaped, or where and when she'd learned to shoot with such lethal accuracy. The last wolf was upon her.

Cat took the bulk of the impact of his leap on her shoulder. Turning, she bit at his neck. The coa.r.s.e fur of his neck ruff filled her mouth as she struggled to reach the vulnerable skin of his throat. His claws raked down the side of her body in long, b.l.o.o.d.y furrows. She twisted away, emitting a high-pitched yowl of pain and rage as she spit the fur from her mourn.

The wolf darted in, pressing his advantage. Cat spun, lashing out with her claws. She scored along his face, lacerating his eye so that blood and fluid splattered the dusty soil between them. He howled in pain, but continued attacking, keeping his head turned to watch her with his one good eye as he snaked to and fro, looking for an opening.

A shot rang out. Bone and brains sprayed from the wolf's skull. He staggered, and fell to the ground.

Cat looked around the battleground. Holly was hopping on one leg from one to another of the injured wolves, making sure each was dead.

Raphael stood in human form over the corpse of the ma.s.sive bear. Even as she watched, his terrible wounds began to heal but too slowly. Betty. He needs to get to Betty. Betty. He needs to get to Betty. That thought brought another, less welcome one. Where That thought brought another, less welcome one. Where was was Betty? There'd been no fire from her position since the explosion from her firing the grenade launcher. Betty? There'd been no fire from her position since the explosion from her firing the grenade launcher.

She was sending her thoughts toward Betty, her ears ringing. Through the other woman's eyes she saw a huge eagle swooping down, yet again for an attack. She was bleeding badly, her injured movements making her too slow. Raphael's thoughts joined Cat's. We have to help her.

Raphael shimmered and changed forms, limping in wolf form toward the cliff where Betty was fighting. Holly did the same.

Cat turned to follow the two of them, but froze when she heard the whine of an engine coming in fast.

I knew you'd come, kitten.

A white helicopter with a navy stripe skimmed the treetops. It started to slow, then banked turning away from the carnage below.

"What are you doing? I told you to land!"

Cat could hear the argument through her link with Jack.

"It's a G.o.dd.a.m.ned war zone down there!" The pilot announced. "I'm not "

"You will do as your told or you will die."