The Night Beat

going. I figured I was going to see that a lot, too. “You okay?”
    “Never better. I think we have another hospital overload situation, but I don’t think anyone on our side dusted.”
    “Glad those prayers worked.”
    The rest of our team gathered around us. I saw a variety of undeads and some humans being loaded into the available vehicles, heading for the hospitals without a doubt.
    “I saw Bobby and the others,” Sexy Cindy said. “When all that lightning was going on. Because they tried to help us, they were forgiven. At least as far as I could tell.”
    Freddy nodded. “They’d been resurrected to fight, but you wouldn’t have spotted them, Victoria, because they were focused on the humans. But they wouldn’t attack, and in fact tried to keep the fallen angels away from their families.”
    “Even the hookers were protecting their pimp,” Sexy Cindy said. “Go figure.”
    “Whatever works.” My wrist-com went live. “Yes?”
    “Agent Wolfe, how goes it?”
    “I think we won, Count. At least for right now.”
    “Excellent news.”
    There was something in the tone of his voice. “And that’s excellent news because?”
    “Your police chief asked me to pass this along. We have a situation in Prosaic City’s religious quarter. Seems small and human-created, but one never knows, does one?”
    I took a deep breath. “All available personnel who aren’t badly injured will head on out, Count.”
    “Not necessary. I understand the Reverend Johnson has donated his car to the Prosaic City undercover unit. I’d suggest just a small team until events are known.”
    “Gotcha. Over and out.” I looked around. “Who’s up for it?”
    Sexy Cindy, Freddy, and Benny, still holding tight to the bag, all raised their hands. Ralph put up his paw.
    “I think our vamps need some medical attention,” Sexy Cindy shared.
    “Amanda and Ken do, though they’re waiting until they get all the humans taken care of,” Maurice said, landing behind Freddy. “But I’m in perfect shape. Fallen angels, ha! They’re not so tough.”
    “Good to know. You’ll do aerial support?”
    “Vicki, I live to serve.”
    I shrugged. “Then, let’s roll out and do what we do best.”
    “Drive in a terrifying manner?” Benny asked.
    “Avert the end of the worlds?” Ralph suggested.
    “Bring order out of chaos?” Freddy offered.
    Sexy Cindy snorted. “Dudes, we kick icky butt and take unpronounceable names.”
    I smiled. “Isn’t she the greatest? And, she’s right. Per the boss, duty shift’s not over. So, let’s head out to protect and serve.

Chapter 74
     
    I was running, but not too fast. I didn’t want to get away, after all. But not too slowly, either -- I didn’t get to frolic in wolf form all that often that I wanted it to end immediately.
    After a few more minutes Ralph landed on my back and we rolled around. There was a lot of foliage, and the smells were nice, all earthy and natural. We were playing, wrestling, nipping, that sort of thing. Nothing too rough, nothing remotely threatening.
    He rolled me onto my stomach. “Give up?” he growled in my ear. The sexy-growl. The one that made me pant for all the right reasons.
    “Mmmm, maybe.” I stretched out and Ralph rolled onto his back next to me.
    “It’s nice to be here, instead of the park.”
    “Yeah. Benny really needs this place tenanted and I can’t complain about the size of the yard or the privacy.” I nuzzled his ear. “Think we can afford it?”
    “Well, I’m never living where you had sex with Wagner, and I think we’ve removed all traces of Nero here. Besides, the Estates were affected badly by the last big attack. The Count thinks it might be a good idea for us to base out of here. So, yeah, I think we should see about affording it.”
    “The neighbors are nice. Not nosy.”
    “And we have a personal relationship with the Reverend, too.” Ralph snorted. “Though I like Helen a lot more.”
    “Oh, Jeremiah Johnson’s not so bad, once you get past the stuffed-shirtedness.”
    “Yeah. I have to admit that the itchy werewolf suit bothers me a lot more than Johnson does. And I hate having to spend at least half my existence now in human form.”
    “Not my fault I needed a new partner on Night Beat.”
    “Explain how you ended up with three of them, then?”
    “Well, Sexy Cindy’s a natural, and until Freddy shows that gray zombie look, he’s invaluable. Covers us for the three different undeads rule even while on