Page 124 of Bloodhunter

“Let me take him home. We may be able to save his life. Andif—when—he heals, you can take him back into custody.”

“If it were up to me, I’d send him home with an order totake some anger management classes.”

I scowled at him. “You’re all about people taking classes.”

“Look,” he said. “Things are calming down. Bring his kids tovisit. I’ll see to it they’re not accosted. But he’s not leaving this placeuntil he’s been sentenced. And he won’t be leaving this place for home. He’sgoing to prison, Trinity. Accept it now. Get used to it. Because that’s whatwill become of Angus Stark.”

I fought back sudden tears. “You know what those places arelike, Captain. They’ll kill him there. They’ll kill his spirit. It’s what theydo.”

“I’m sorry.”

And he really was. But as he’d said, it was out of hishands.

“He’s strong,” he said, gently. “He’ll survive, and he’llreturn home to his children.”

I appreciated that he was trying to comfort me, but I couldnot be comforted.

“As what?” I stood. “I’m going to go see him.” But at thedoor I stopped. “Is Gordon Gray still alive?”

He frowned. “He is. Why?”

“I promised him I’d visit him. He had something he wanted totell me. Can you take me to him after I check on Angus?”

A flash of surprise rippled through his eyes. “No. Not agood idea.”

“Why not?”

He stood. “You were hired to bring him to me. You did that.Your part in this is over. Close the door on your way out, Sinclair.”

I went without arguing, because I didn’t care that muchabout Gray. He was a vampire. But something nagged at me as I jogged down thehall. Gray had told me he hadn’t killed Lucy, and something made me believehe’d been sincere. And if he hadn’t been the one to kill Lucy, wouldn’tCrawford want to know? Wouldn’t he want to investigate the matter just a littlefurther?

But those were questions for another day.

The cop who would let me into Angus’s cell was a man namedShaun something or other, and he was one of the few cops who seemed able tomaintain a professional composure when it came to Angus.

He searched me quickly, confiscating every weapon I had onme. I’d left Silverlight at home for that very reason. I didn’t want themtouching her.

“He’s doing better today.” Shaun shoved my weapons into alocker, then walked me toward Angus’s cell.

“That’s great,” I said, a little surprised, then I forgotall about Shaun when I turned to look at Angus and found him watching me.

And there was a spark of life in his eyes.

“Angus.” I rushed to his side, then sat down beside him andgrabbed his hand. “Hi.”

In the last couple of weeks, Captain Crawford had brought indoctors—one human and one supernatural—and Angus had begun to look a littlebetter almost immediately.

He’d awakened a week and a half ago, but there’d been no recognitionin his eyes when he’d looked at me, and when I’d talked to him, he hadn’tresponded.

But today, his eyes were brighter, and he was smiling. “Hey,beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rusty.

“You’re back,” I said, thickly, then tightened my grip onhis hand as I glanced around the room, trying to concentrate on something elseso I wouldn’t cry.

I didn’t want him to know how scared I was, or how hopelessI felt.

One of the doctors had hung fluids, and as I peered up atthe bag, a young man stuck his head into the cell. “I’m Eric, his nurse untilfive. Let me know if you have any questions.”

“He’s doing better,” I said.