Free Left for Undead by L. A. Banks Page B

Joint Chiefs to get clearance to do
that, and right now all we have is speculation.”
    Sasha and Hunter stood. “I realize that, sir,” she
said, stepping away from the desk. “We’ll stay in close communication, but we
wanted you to know.”
    Hunter nodded. “Our goal is to investigate, get word
to the Vamps, and try to keep human civilians out of harm’s way.”
    “Thank you,” Colonel Madison said, looking at both of
them. “But just to be on the safe side, we’ll get more boots on the ground with
anti-Vamp weaponry in the highly populated areas, with orders to protect
civilians and clear the streets of pedestrians in the event of open warfare.”

CHAPTER 7
    “That went well,” Sasha said in a sarcastic tone as
they walked into a shadow on the base. “I think the man ages five to ten years
every time he sees us.”
    “He didn’t look well at all when we left, but there
was no other way but to deliver the facts.”
    “Yeah, but remember when we met him? He wasn’t gray at
all. Now he’s really salt-and-pepper.”
    Hunter shrugged. “It could be worse. It could have all
fallen out from the shock or he could be on the verge of howling at a full
moon. Remember, he was passed over and left alive by a demon-infected Were.”
    Sasha just shook her head as they walked deeper into
the misty shadow path. “One day I’ll have to deliver that cheerful tidbit of
information to the man over a beer.”
    A slow smile crept into Hunter’s expression and it
lifted her spirits. It was the first time she’d seen him smile since they’d
woken up and started the day.
    “Okay, you’re the master tracker,” she said as they
came out of a shadow cast by a huge shade tree behind the team house. “How do
we find something invisible that cruised us, and more important, how do we
gather new information from a Vampire crime scene that’s already been
thoroughly trampled through by the Vampires?”
    Hunter shrugged. “Why don’t we ask them?”
    Sasha placed both hands on her hips. “Be serious.”
    “I am being serious.”
    She looked at Hunter hard, but then her attitude
softened as he nonchalantly began walking toward the front of the house. “That
is genius.”
    Hunter turned and looked at her for a moment.
Everything about him seemed calm, and he spoke as though his suggestion were
the most rational thing in the world.
    “If one has nothing to hide, Sasha, then it stands to
reason that one can go in as a neutral party and simply state the facts—we
heard there were crimes committed against the Vampire Cartel. That is a fact.
Peace in the region is in every group’s best interest. That is also undeniable
truth. We do not support any group being attacked without cause, even if they
are our allies. Very simply, the way of the wolf. We also have reason to
believe the Fae whether the good Seelie or the bad Unseelie were not involved,
even though we cannot prove it at this time. Also a fact. We can offer to help
investigate as neutral parties, especially if it can avert the unnecessary waste
of resources and lives. Humans caught in the cross fire are expensive
collateral damage and could bring in the human military, which is already
panicked and prone to extremes. That is in no one’s best interest. The Vampires
know this, even if they don’t admit it to us. They can reject the concept of us
investigating, but the question will linger long enough to maybe buy us enough
time to learn more.”
    “And you just came up with this out of thin air?”
Sasha folded her arms, amazed.
    “No. I’d been thinking about it all along.  
ever since whatever I’d chased eluded me back at the cabin.”
    “But you never said anything.”
    Again he shrugged. “I don’t speak until I’ve fully
formulated my opinion or theories.”
    She tried not to smile and only narrowed her gaze. For
the sake of peace she’d let the quiet dig slide. “’Nuff said.”
    “Okay, this is freaky,” Clarissa whispered, pressing
her nose to