Free Beyond the Grave by Lina Gardiner Page A

morgue. And, Britt, wear some B&E clothes. We've got to get inside and liberate a cadaver and quick."
    She looked at her watch again. It was nearly midnight. The woman had been killed the night before, if her blood had been depleted to the point where VNA would jumpstart her new life form, she could be waking up very soon. And she'd wake up hungry!
    Britt was already outside the morgue when she arrived. “Why are we breaking into a building we have passes to enter?” he asked.
    Britt's haunted expression cut her to the tiny piece of soul she had left. A tiny tinge of guilt surfaced, but she didn't have time for that right now. She still wished she could tell him why she had to do this to him.
    "I don't know about you, but I really don't want the authorities to know I was in the building the same night a body was stolen. Beverley Kellerman is in there. She was taken from Sampson earlier this evening. Problem is, besides the obvious holes in her neck, he didn't have time to do the autopsy or check the VNA levels in her blood."
    Britt's eyebrows shot up. “Not good."
    No way in hell could he possibly understand the full impact of what that meant. Or how dangerous it could be. “There's something else, Britt. She might be waking up at any time. And if she does, she's going to be very hungry."
    "Christ.” The hurt left his face, and her best Black Ops team member took over. “Let's get in there, then."
    "Wait. Doesn't the staff take a break at midnight for a little supper in the coffee room?"
    "Last time I was a regular cop, that's the way it was. They were never too thrilled if we brought in a DB when they were having their half hour."
    "Can't blame them. They don't get much down-time in this city.” She looked at her watch. It's nearly midnight, now. I'll go in ahead of you, and if they see me, I'll use mind fogging to make them forget. That'll give us a little longer to get her out."
    "Good idea. While you're doing that, I'll liberate Ms. Kellerman,” he said. “How'd you get here?"
    "Regent's SUV,” she said.
    "I'll put her in the back of Regent's SUV, and we can take the body back to Sampson from there."
    She grabbed his arm before considering her actions. Or before she thought about how good his warm flesh, and taut muscles would feel against her cold skin. She told herself to pull away, but she couldn't make her fingers obey the order.
    "She could be very dangerous if she wakes up, Britt. She won't have any ability to reason. She'll be wild and terribly thirsty. You might not be able to control her alone."
    "I'll manage until you can join me at the vehicle. Besides, you said it takes a very special talent to turn a vampire. The odds of her becoming one are pretty low, aren't they?"
    "I learned a long time ago that vampires are creatures that should never be underestimated.” She moved closer to the back door and knocked out the light with a rock. “But I hope you're right."
    Jess jammed her hand through the outside wall and ripped out the wiring for the alarm system. The door opened quickly. “We're in."
    They moved down the hall in unison. She motioned Britt toward the morgue, then indicated she'd go straight to the coffee room.
    With a nod, he slipped through the double doors into the morgue. She prayed Beverley wouldn't wake up and consider Britt her midnight snack.
    Laughter filtered down the hall from the coffee room. Someone bit into a crunchy apple. Even from this distance Jess's hearing and sense of smell were acute. “Red delicious,” she muttered under her breath. She prided herself on her abilities, and ‘good news’ they seemed to be working okay tonight.
    She wouldn't attempt mind control unless she had to. If she left them too foggy and with lost time it would be an easy jump for the Chief to figure out that she took the body. He probably would anyway, but he'd have no solid proof to hang on her. She pressed against the wall just outside the coffee room door, listening for any movement or