Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

kit, and the vampires have given me one of their own to guard my back.” Going after Littleton was probably suicidal, even with a vampire to back me up—it hadn’t helped Warren any—but I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for Adam’s body to show up in Uncle Mike’s garbage.
    â€œYou trust this vampire?”
    No. But I couldn’t tell him that—and I knew better than to try to lie to Bran. “He wants Littleton permanently dead.” I was sure of that much, I’d heard the anger in Andre’s voice, the hunger for vengeance. “He was a friend of one of the sorcerer’s victims.” I could almost say “sorcerer’s victim” fast enough that I didn’t think, “Stefan,” or “Adam,” or “Samuel.” A victim was someone nameless and faceless.
    â€œBe careful,” he told me, finally. “Remember, the walkers may have taught vampires to fear them, but there are still lots of vampires, and only one walker.”
    He hung up.
    â€œHe’s right,” Zee told me. “Don’t get too cocky.”
    I laughed. It came out sounding tired and sad. “You saw my trailer, Zee. I’m not going to get cocky. None of your people know where he is?”
    Zee shook his head. “Uncle Mike is looking into it, but he has to be careful. If we find anything, we’ll tell you.”
    The phone rang again, and I answered without looking at the number. “Mercy.”
    â€œYou need to get over here.” Kyle spoke very softly, as if he didn’t want anyone to overhear him—but he was in a werewolf ’s house.
    â€œThey can hear you,” I told him. I could hear Darryl saying something in Chinese. It was a very bad sign that Darryl was speaking Chinese because he only did that when he was really ticked off. “I’ll be right over.”
    I turned toward Zee.
    â€œI’ll work the shop today—and tomorrow, maybe longer,” Zee said. “And you won’t pay me.”
    When I started to object, he raised one hand. “No. I cannot hunt Littleton, but I can help this much.”
    Fixing the trailer was already turning next month into a macaroni-and-cheese month. If Zee donated his time, at least it wouldn’t be a ramen noodle month. I kissed his cheek again and ran for my car.
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    Remembering the fate of the wolf who’d tailed me yesterday, I drove exactly five miles an hour over the speed limit down the highway. Getting a ticket would eat up a lot of time.
    My cell phone rang again as I drove past the traffic cop who was parked on the other side of the bridge over the train tracks. This time the phone call was from Tony.
    â€œHey, Mercy,” he said. “I got all six messages. What did you need?”
    â€œIs there anyway you could get me a list of all the violent incidents the police were called to over the past month? I need it for all the Tri-Cities, not just Kennewick.”
    â€œWhy?” The friendliness had left his voice.
    â€œBecause there might be something causing them, and it might help stop it if I can find out where the incidences are taking place.” I watch TV. I’ve seen the way the police track serial killers—at least in detective shows. It made sense that demon-caused problems might center around the demon. Stefan had apparently run into success using that method.
    If I ever become a serial murderer, I’ll be very careful to kill people in a pattern that centers around a police station—and not my home or work.
    â€œWe have a map,” he told me as I turned down Adam’s road and put my foot down. Sure the speed limit on the road was thirty-five but I’d never seen a police officer out here. “Why don’t you come over to the station and I’ll show it to you—if you answer a few questions.”
    â€œAll right,” I said. “I have a few errands to run first. Can I meet you in an hour or so?”
    â€œI’ll be here,” he said, and hung up.
    Honey opened the door of Adam’s house before I got to the porch.
    â€œThey’re upstairs,” she said unnecessarily. Darryl was still saying something rude in Chinese.
    No, I don’t speak Chinese, but some things don’t require translation.
    I ran up the stairs with Honey on my heels.
    â€œI talked Darryl into coming downstairs after Kyle called you,” Honey said. “But just a few minutes ago Warren