This was only her second day here. Would it be this easy for her to discover the perpetrator of the thefts? That would be ideal for the U.S. government, and even for Alpha Force. But Grace had hoped to utilize her very special shifting powers more to fulfill her mission …
Her back against the wall, she slid along the hall toward where the click had originated—the opening of one of the many doors along this corridor?
Yes—one only a few feet away from her swung inward. Grace reached down toward her weapon, a small revolver she’d retrieved from Kristine before heading down here this night and hid in a holster strapped to her waist beneath her loose white medical jacket. As a doctor in addition to her other assets and skills, she believed in preserving life—except at the expense of another’s … or hers.
She hadn’t really expected to need to use the gun, but she was prepared, just in case.
In another instant, a man opened a door and strode into the hall. It was Simon.
Chapter 3
“What are you doing here, Grace?” Simon demanded, knowing he sounded defensive. Was she following him?
If so, how? As always, he’d checked around the area carefully before going into the lab. Listened. Scented the air. No one had been around.
He’d have known, especially if it was Grace—wouldn’t he?
But he was imagining her everywhere now. He’d already acknowledged to himself that the tour he’d given her had been far from the first time he thought he sensed her after learning she’d be around.
Even early yesterday, when he shifted back to human form at daybreak, he had thought—worried—that she was nearby. Had even believed he caught her addictive scent.
He was often hazy, though, during and immediately after a shift, especially an uncontrolled one at the full moon. And now, even a partially controlled one. That was something he intended to fix by perfecting what he had just been working on in the lab behind him.
His formulation would not, however, help his imagination.
Grace had motioned for her dog to sit on the hallway floor beside her. Now she regarded Simon coolly yet with a hint of amusement. As if she recalled the old days, when he’d made such an effort to answer each of her questions with another question.
Or to otherwise turn the discussion around against her.
It hadn’t worked well then. It wouldn’t work now.
“Tilly and I have been on a walk, exploring our new environment,” she finally responded. “And you, Simon? What brings you to this floor so late at night?” She peered around his shoulder toward the door from which he had emerged, now closed behind him.
He didn’t want her going in there and snooping—or even reporting his presence to anyone else. Of course he still had his stock, planned answers if—and, most likely, when—he was questioned about being here at this hour. He was simply too busy during the daytime to mix the homeopathic healing formulations he was working on to help his patients. When he had applied for the job at Charles Carder more than a year ago, he’d brought samples of some energy tablets and nutritional supplements he’d been working on to help recuperating infectious-disease patients regain their strength. Testimonials, too, from physicians and nurse practitioners and others who had used them. Harmless stuff that wouldn’t require any government approvals.
Genuine? Sure. But also a good cover for what he really was working on.
Though authorized to be present, he had carefully selected a lab outside the area surveyed by security cameras. Not that he would do anything obvious outside the lab that shouldn’t be caught on camera.
He had an ulterior motive for being at this location, sure. But he wouldn’t admit it to Grace. He had a feeling she had an ulterior motive, too—and was just as unlikely to spill it to him.
“Not over that old curiosity of yours, are you, Grace?” He attempted to sound amused. “Don’t worry about me. I’m approved to be here.” Partly. “I’m conducting officially sanctioned business that I can’t get to during the day. But you? Since you’re in the military and probably got briefed about this place, you may already have heard about some local thefts recently. For the safety of this hospital and its personnel, I’ve got the right to ask questions of people who may not be authorized to be in this area, and to report to those in charge. So tell me, what are you really doing here?”
Her lovely brown eyes had widened slightly before her demeanor grew bland once more. “Interesting. May I ask whom you report to about unauthorized visitors?”
She hadn’t answered his question—again. “No,” he responded to hers, “you may not.” Mostly because he’d lied. He reported, in this as in the rest of his life, only to himself—as much as he could get away with.
He had gathered, from her brief change of expression, that she was at least familiar with the thefts. Involved? Maybe. That would explain her questioning his presence. He’d keep an eye on her, just in case.
At least that gave him a good excuse. He only hoped he wouldn’t come to regret her presence any more than he already did.
Grace wanted to scream. To kick Simon right in his smug, gorgeous face—or somewhere else he’d notice.
He’d dared to remind her of the old days, even as he was baiting her all over again. Not answering her questions. Asking his own.
And still managing to get her hormones all stirred into a cauldron of seething, sexually arousing juices.
“Have a good night, Simon,” she finally said, signaling to Tilly to stand. They started briskly down the hall.
Grace wondered immediately if Simon would spend this night, or any others, alone. Someone as hot as he undoubtedly had a significant other waiting for him, panting, in bed. Maybe not a wife—she’d checked, and he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. But a lot of married physicians didn’t wear rings because it was hard to keep them sanitized, or to avoid catching them in sensitive equipment.
Did she believe anything he said? Oh, she felt certain he had rigged some arguably legitimate reason to be in this area, even at night. But could she trust that he was keeping an eye out for whoever was stealing the biohazard samples, rather than doing it himself?
She would keep close watch on him. It was part of her mission.
She’d love every minute—especially if she could prove that Simon was the thief she was after.
Early the next morning, all four Alpha Force members, plus two dogs, gathered upstairs in the furnished quarters assigned to Grace.
As they all took seats in her compact living room, Grace asked Lt. Autumn Katers, a recent recruit, “How’s your alter ego?” Like Grace, Autumn always brought her cover animal along on missions—a female red-tailed hawk who was initially trained for falconry.
“Venus is fine. Wonderful, in fact.” Autumn settled into her seat on the bland umber sofa.
“We’ll take her out for some fresh air once we’re done talking,” said Sgt. Ruby Belmont, who had opted for one of two stiff wooden chairs dragged in from the small kitchen. “We’ll give her as much flying time as she wants.” A tall, thin woman with glasses, Ruby was Autumn’s aide on Alpha Force missions. Like all shapeshifters’ backups, she helped take care of the cover animals—and watched their shifters’ backs while they, too, were in animal form.
Grace was continually pleased by how well her aide, Kristine, accomplished her job, and believed Ruby and she got along well. Right now, Kristine sat on the other kitchen chair, and Bailey lay on the floor next to Tilly.
“Okay, are we ready to report in?” Grace had selected the rust-colored armchair at the end