Meat

Chapter Twenty

Priya grumbled under her breath as she descended the steps at the front of the club. Darren sat on a low wall on the other side of the road, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze trailed along the pavement, watching a pretty woman in fire engine red heels walking along the road. He was still watching her go when Priya slumped down next to him.

"No joy?" he asked, not taking his gaze from the woman's backside.

Priya smacked him in the shoulder. Chuckling, he rubbed his hand against the spot and turned properly to her.

"No joy," she repeated. "Carl can't remember the last time he even saw Spencer, and I can't exactly bring up that he'd have a police officer with him."

"If Carson lives long enough to attempt to keep his job. Way I hear it, both Kaleb and Jemima are gunning for him on this one."

Rolling her eyes, Priya grasped her hands in her lap and wrung her fingers.

"They'll forgive him. They'll have to; he's family."

"He's a grown ass man who put their only son in danger, Pri," Darren said.

"Who is also a grown ass man."

"Try telling Jemima she should stop worrying about her son, I dare you."

She knew that Darren was right. While Vince was eighteen years old, he was still considered a baby by a deal of the pack, especially since he hadn't turned. Admittedly, it wasn't like turning had made any difference for her. Kaleb still viewed her as a child in many ways, he called her 'pup', after all.

Darren got to his feet, turning in a slow circle. He ran his fingers through his scruffy blonde hair, pulling it out of his eyes. It was the fifth place they'd tried and they were running out of options. Spencer wouldn't be able to move about during the day and despite her position in the city, Priya didn't know nearly enough about where the vampires hung out. She supposed they could try the coffee shop where the massacre had occurred, but that was a long shot. From what she'd seen of the vampires over the years, they were smart enough not to return to the scene of such a notable crime.

"Where next, boss?"

Priya brushed her hands over her thighs and stood. Letting out a deep sigh, she stared down the road in the direction she hadn't wanted to go.

"Vince got any spots he goes when he visits?" Darren asked.

"None that we've not already checked," she said. "Plus, Matthew spends more time with him. I'm sure he and Jack will have hit those."

"Alright, so we're on Carson, right?"

Priya sighed.

"Yeah. I didn't really want to check it out and risk his cover, but come on."

Priya set off at a quick walk. Darren had no trouble keeping up with her and he fell into stride beside her, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Where we going?"

"Where else?" she asked, glancing sideways at him. "The police station."

***

Darren wouldn't accept her suggestion that he wait outside. While he'd been fine without going into the club she worked in, he had no intention of being left behind as they talked to the police. Whether it was curiosity over Carson's day job, or he just wanted to poke fun at the people who missed their race every month, he was grinning broadly as she pushed open the door to the station and went straight to the front desk.

"Hi, I was wondering if I could speak to Officer Embrey," she told the stern looking woman behind the counter.

The woman glanced between them and then at the computer beneath the high counter.