Page 16 of Immortal Unveiled

Manus turned on his heel and headed for the men’s room in the police station. Still invisible, he passed through the door and looked around. He was alone. With a sigh, he made himself visible and looked in the mirror. What he should see was a satisfied expression on his face. He’d done his job. The police as well as Kim had bought the story he’d so carefully crafted. It was just a formality for the police to close Nancy Britton’s case. Kim would stop digging into the possibility that supernatural forces were behind her mother’s murder, and the Stealth Guardians were in the clear. Their secrets were safe.

So, why was he looking and feeling like a man who’d just run over his own dog? Why was he feeling like he’d betrayed someone who deserved better?

You’re getting soft!

Better not let any of his colleagues know about his scruples, or they’d be ribbing him until they found another convenient victim to tease.

With a resolute move, Manus pivoted and marched to the door. It was best to forget the whole thing, forget Nancy Britton’s murder and avenge her death by killing every demon he encountered, and forget Kim Britton and the lies he’d had to tell her. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to lie to a woman, and it sure wasn’t going to be the last. Besides, she meant nothing to him, and he meant nothing to her.

Manus pushed against the double doors that led out of the police station and bumped into somebody who’d had the same intention. Their hands met, the other person’s landing on his. He whirled his head to the right, jerking back to apologize.

The words got stuck in his throat. Only a sound akin to a grunt a mute could make rolled over his lips, while his chin dropped. Even though he knew Kim was at the station, he hadn’t expected to run into her. In fact, he’d thought she would have left while he’d been in the restroom.

“Uh, Kim…”

Very smooth, man, very smooth, his inner voice commented. Just as well that he didn’t have the two hybrids in tow. They would have a field day seeing him act like a babbling fool.

“Manus…”

He couldn’t tell if Kim was just surprised or annoyed, or maybe both.

“Yeah, uh.” He motioned behind him to the corridor that led to the different departments. “Working on a case. Catching up with a detective.” Could he not even form a proper sentence?

Kim looked away as if she couldn’t bear looking at him. “Uhm, yeah, of course.” He saw her swallow visibly.

“Excuse me, please,” a man in a fine suit and looking like an attorney heading for the exit suddenly said, his cell phone clutched to his ear.

Manus stepped aside when the doors suddenly swung open, and a police officer dragged in a man. The filthy-looking drunk stumbled on the last step and catapulted forward, slamming into the man in the suit, who was caught unawares. He lost his balance and tumbled backward in Kim’s direction. Without thinking, Manus jumped into action, vaulted behind the attorney, and caught him, thus preventing him from crashing into Kim and possibly taking her down with him.

While several police officers came running, alerted by the commotion, Manus put the attorney back on his feet and turned his head to Kim.

“You okay?”

She nodded.

“Hey, watch your hands, man, that’s a new suit,” the attorney said, glaring at Manus.

Was the ungrateful idiot talking to him?

“Fuck, you made me drop my phone!” He bent down and picked up his cell phone. “Damn it, the screen is cracked! See what you did.”

Anger welled up inside Manus. His hand curled into a fist. So much for being the good Samaritan. He made a step toward the guy he’d just saved from a fall when he felt a hand on his arm.

“Manus?” It was Kim. “Can we talk?”

As if stung by a hornet, he spun his head to her. “Talk?” Fuck, another incomplete sentence.

“Yes. Maybe a drink? If you have time, that is. If you don’t, I’d understand. I mean, you must be busy with your cases and—”

“I’ve got time,” he interrupted her before she could withdraw the invitation. He motioned to the door.

“Hey, what about my phone?” the suit called after him.

Manus looked over his shoulder. “You’re welcome.” Then he followed Kim down the steps.