On the Prowl

her arrest based on that witness’s testimony. But you screwed up. Aside from the sheer lack of evidence—”
    “I’ve got plenty to link her.” Roberts leaned forward now, his eyes glowing with suppressed excitement. “Delia Rodriguez—the first victim—lived just two doors down from one of Michalski’s patients. The second victim used to date another of her patients.”
    “Good God, Doug, this is Midland. Half the people here have some second-or thirdhand connection to one or more of the victims.”
    “But half the people here aren’t witches. She is.”
    “No,” Nathan said, his voice steady. “She isn’t. Not that it would be an indictment if she was, but you’ve got your facts wrong.”
    Roberts’s gaze flickered to Nathan—then darted away. Probably hadn’t liked what he saw in Nathan’s eyes. “She sure as hell is. Michalski is friends with that witch out at the college. And don’t tell me Ginger Hemmings isn’t a witch. She’s open enough about her perversions.”
    Nathan kept his voice from descending to a growl. “Wicca is a recognized religion. Ginger is Wiccan. Kai isn’t.”
    Roberts had decided to pretend Nathan didn’t exist. He laced his fingers together on top of his desk and spoke to Browning. “We’ve learned that they had one of their coven meetings last night. Held it at Michalski’s apartment just a few hours before she picked Shaw up at the Bar. That’s when they prepared for their black rites, when they drained Shaw of blood.”
    Browning shook his head. “That’s all assumptions based on prejudice.”
    “Don’t you accuse me of prejudice. No one has a better record of hiring and promoting—”
    “Prejudice against the magical part of the population! Dammit, Doug, you and I have had our differences, but you’ve always been a good cop. You’re so far off base this time you can’t even see the base!”
    “It isn’t prejudice when it’s based on facts. I know they met at Michalski’s place last night. I know Shaw was later drained of blood. I know Michalski left The Bar with Shaw shortly before he died.”
    “No,” Nathan said. “You don’t.”
    Roberts still wouldn’t look at him. “I’ve got a witness who ID’ed her and three more who gave a good description.”
    “Mistaken identity.”
    “What the hell is your man talking about?” Roberts demanded of Browning.
    Nathan had had enough. He didn’t change position or offer threat openly—but he used a voice the other man would not be able to ignore. “Kai Tallman Michalski was with me at the time your witness claims to have seen her at The Bar.”
    Roberts jerked. He narrowed his eyes and for the first time looked directly at Nathan. “You’re lying.”
    He was, actually, but the chief had no way of knowing that. “She was with me the rest of the night, too. You think you can get a conviction with an officer of the law swearing he was with her all night?”
    The man’s lip lifted in a sneer, but underneath it Nathan saw the fear. Smelled it. “You think a jury’s going to care what you say? I don’t know what you are, but you aren’t human.” Relief shaded his voice when he turned back to Browning. “That’s going to cost you in the next election, Randy. Keeping this—this man, for want of a better word—on as a sergeant even though you have to know that…”
    Nathan didn’t hear the rest. He was already out the door and closing it softly behind him.
    He stopped at the desk where Roberts’s secretary sat and forced ease on his voice and body. He gave himself a moment to appreciate the soft floral scent of her perfume so he’d have a reason to smile at her. Humans smiled when they didn’t feel it, but that trick was beyond him. “While my boss dukes it out with yours, I thought I’d see if I could catch up with Knox. Maybe if I’m in on the arrest, the sheriff won’t take it so hard. Do you know if Knox has served his warrant yet?”
    She tapped her pen against the desk, then said, “Guess it won’t hurt to tell you. I haven’t heard from him, so he probably hasn’t.”
    He thanked her and left, taking the stairs, urgency riding him and instinct guiding him. Thoughts floated on that sea of need and knowing, crisp and useful.
    Knox didn’t know where Kai was. Chances were he’d go to the clinic, then to her apartment—and she wasn’t either place. Nathan scented her as much closer. Downtown. He could get to her first.
    He didn’t ask himself what he would do