Page 85 of Bad Medicine

“There are no other choices,” Isaid. “I’m going to end this today. Then we’ll concentrate on the daywalkers.”

“He needs to be put out of hismisery,” Zach told me. “Don’t feel bad about taking out a nonhuman killer,Kait. It’s what you do. The serial killer is no different just because he had arough childhood or goes after abusers. He’s killing humans, simple as that.Once upon a time, that was clear to you.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Once upon atime.”

Max got up from behind hisdesk, where he’d been silently listening to us, and hurried to me. He threw hisarms around me, surprising the hell out of me, and he forgave me for nearlydying because of him. He let go of his guilt and his anger, and I could see itas clearly as if he’d said the words.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, hisvoice thick. “I’m so sorry.”

I squeezed him hard. “You havenothing to apologize for, Max.”

“I do,” he said, looking up atme. “Thank you, Kait, for saving my life. Thank you for being willing to die tosave me.” Then he burst into tears.

“I got him,” Joe said, and pulledhim away from me and into his own arms. Max went willingly, and I couldn’t helpbut smile to see the big mean Joe turn into a soft pile of mush with a bigheart as he forgot Zach and me and took care of the man he loved.

When my cell phone rang and Saul’snumber came up, I turned to Zach before I walked out of the room. “Call Lucy,”I told him. “See if she has any idea of where Sam might be. I have to take thiscall.”

“Lucy,” he said, frowning. “Whywould she know where Sam is?”

I answered the phone. “Saul,” Isaid. “Give me a moment.” Then I pressed my fingers into my aching stomach as Ishook my head. “I don’t know,” I whispered, then, “Get her on the phone, Zach.”And I hurried into my office and shut my door, eager to get Saul off the phoneso I could find out why I was so damn worried about Lucy.

Something wasn’t right.

“Saul. I’m just heading out.What do you need?”

“The daywalkers have shownthemselves,” he told me. “A vehicle transporting six males to a correctionalfacility was intercepted on Kamar Road. All six prisoners were killed, as weretheir two escorts.”

I looked heavenward, then blewout a hard breath. “How do you know it was daywalkers?”

“The driver wasn’t quite deadwhen our people got to him. His description left no room for doubt.”

“I thought you said they wereall killed.”

“They were,” he said. “Thedriver died soon after.”

“The finders killed him, didn’tthey?” I said, surprised my voice was so calm. “The council—”

“Is growing impatient,” heinterrupted. “Kait, you must hunt. Nothing else matters as much as stopping thedaywalkers. Or,” he continued, his voice growing smooth and somehow dark, “doyou believe that because the men they killed were criminals, the daywalkersshould go unpunished?”

“Of course not,” I snapped.“You’re being an asshole, Saul.”

“Then hunt, Kait. And catch thefucking shapeshifter. It is not for you to decide whether or not his victimsare worthy of life.”

“I am going after him before Ideal with the daywalkers,” I said, my jaw clenched. I didn’t like being spankedby Saul. “He’s not exactly easy to find.”

“Especially not when you delayat every turn,” he said. “You have the magic inside you. Use it.”

“I’m going to kill him,” I toldhim. “I’m not turning him over to your fucking council to torture.”

“Do as you will, but considerthe consequences of your actions very carefully, Kait. You agreed to work forthe council. You belong to them now. Do not for one second believe they won’t…”

“Won’t what, Saul? Tie me to atable and experiment on me? Take my freedom? Torture me?” I laughed, and thesound was bitter. “After what they did to Farrow, I wouldn’t put anything pastthem. They’re not the good guys, are they?” And yes, I heard the pleading tonein my voice. I didn’t want to believe the elders were evil.

And finally, he softened. “Theyprotect our existence. Even if they see some beings as disposable, in the end,they do what they must to maintain the status quo. You will, too, eventually.They are not your “bad guys,” Kait. The council keeps the humans safe. And thatis exactly what you want.”

“Why though,” I murmured. “Whydo I put the humans’ safety before the safety of my own kind? Why am I notloyal to nonhumans? Why am I so determined to kill a shapeshifter who onlykills women who abuse kids?”

“Because he’s too powerful, hemurders humans, and he’s a rogue supernatural,” he told me. “You know that. Butyour wish is to understand yourself, so I will tell you this. You feel the needto protect child abusers because you could not protect your father. You will changeas you grow. It is only—”