If the closet door was locked, I had a backup plan, but I really hoped—
“Here,” I said.
He waved at the door. “This one?”
I nodded, and he reached for the handle. I slid my hand into my purse, crossed my fingers, and …
The door opened.
“Seems to be a janitor’s closet,” he said. “How far in did you—?”
I pressed the gun barrel against the small of his back. He stiffened, as if recognizing the sensation. At this point, he could call for help, even just cry out, but in my experience, no supernatural likes calling attention to himself. Either that or our powers make us cocky where others would panic. Whatever the reason, he did as I expected—only sighed, then walked into the closet. I flipped on the light and closed the door behind us.
Once the door closed, the man turned to me and smiled. “Nicely done. An excellent trap, and I admit myself caught. My cufflinks are gold, and you’re welcome to them, but if you’d prefer cash, there’s a few hundred in my wallet. No banking or credit cards, I’m afraid.”
“I believe you have something more valuable. Check your inside breast pocket. The left side.”
Surprise darted through his blue eyes, but he masked it with a laugh. “Well done again. And again, I surrender and offer my forfeit. Your choice of the bounty.”
He started to reach into his pocket.
“Uh-uh. Hands out,” I said. “I don’t want any of your ‘bounty,’ but I think the museum does.”
“Ah, private security, I presume. I believe you might find my offer more lucrative than the pat on the back the museum will give you.”
“Nice try. I’m not—”
“Interested in a bribe? I’m impressed, and I’m sure your superiors will be as well. You see, they hired me to test their security system. They didn’t inform your team, naturally, to test your efficiency and, if possible, your integrity. You’ve exceeded their expectations, and I will personally recommend you for a bonus.”
“Oh, stuff it. I’m not museum security.”
He only gave a small smile, still unfazed. “So this is a citizen’s arrest? Admirable, but police won’t appreciate being called for an authorized test of museum security, so I’d suggest you reconsider. And I do hope you have a permit for carrying that gun.”
“I’m not calling the police. As I’m sure you already know, our sort have special ways of handling our special problems, problems better dealt with internally.”
Normally this was enough, but he only arched his brows, feigning confusion. “Our sort?”
“The sort who can jump thirty feet and bend metal bars with their bare hands.”
“Ah, that. I can explain—”
“I’m sure you can. Save it for the council.”
“Council?”
The jingle of the handcuffs swallowed his last words.
“You carry handcuffs in your purse?” He chuckled. “Perhaps, when this misunderstanding is cleared up, we can get to know each other better.”
I drowned him out by snapping open the cuffs. He only sighed and held his hands in front of him, as helpful as could be. That, too, is typical. I’d only apprehended four supernaturals so far, but three of them had done exactly this: surrendered and let themselves be taken into custody. The council had a reputation for fairness, and even criminals trusted them. As for the fourth arrest, the witch … I pushed that thought back. That one had been a lesson to me—not every supernatural would come along easily.
“You said council,” he said as I fastened the cuffs. “That wouldn’t be the interracial council, would it?”
“Had some experience with them, have you? Surprise, surprise.”
“And you’re a … delegate?”
“I’m a bit young, don’t you think?” I said as I tested the cuffs.
“No, not really,” he murmured. “So you’re a …”
“Contract agent.”
His brows shot up. “I hope you don’t really expect me to believe that.” He continued, “I’m afraid whoever you’re working for has underestimated my knowledge of the interracial council. They don’t employ contract workers.”
I lifted my scarf.
He looked at it. “I’m already cuffed, and I can assure you, I don’t need to be bound in any other way.”
“Oh, I think you do.”
I jammed it into his mouth. His eyes widened. He looked at me, eyes narrowing, making a noise almost like a snarl.
“Wait here,” I said. “I’m going to make a call.”
FIVE
One last check to make sure my quarry was secure, and I slipped into the hall. I didn’t dare go far, not when I wasn’t sure of his powers.
He wasn’t a vampire. The Samson routine with the metal bars disproved that theory. Contrary to some legends, vampires don’t have superhuman strength. My guess was that he belonged to the most complex of races—my own. I couldn’t recall a half-demon type with his particular skill set, but we were a varied lot, with plenty of rare and poorly documented types, like my own.
One thing I did know. This meeting had been no accident, and I kicked myself for not seeing a test the moment Tristan offered me tickets to the gala. Granted, he did that kind of thing often—the perks that came with this job were phenomenal, and I sometimes felt guilty accepting them, even telling Tristan and, through him, the council that I didn’t need any extras to boost my job satisfaction. But he assured me they were all freebies, like these gala tickets, a gift from a grateful supernatural that would go to waste if I didn’t use them. Still, this was the second time Tristan had sent me someplace and I’d “stumbled” onto a supernatural crime in progress.
They were testing me. The council wanted to see how well my chaos nose worked, and I guess I couldn’t fault them for that, but when I called Tristan, I couldn’t help snapping.
“Okay, okay,” he said, laughing. “No more tests. Can you blame us, Hope? An Expisco half-demon? We’re like kids with a new toy, dying to see what it can do. And you outdid yourself, as always. Karl Marsten, caught by a half-demon rookie agent.”
“So the council’s been after this guy for a while?”
“They have, which is why I should stop my backslapping and remind you that you really shouldn’t take down targets on your own. That’s why we provide backup. You’re too valuable.”
“It wasn’t much of a risk. He did as he was told. Superhuman strength or not, he didn’t even try to fight.” I paused. “Those handcuffs will hold him, won’t they? You said they’re specially made to hold anything supernatural.”
A moment’s hesitation. “You cuffed him?”
“So they won’t hold?”
“He can’t break the cuffs, Hope. That’s not the problem. I thought you knew. You usually know what kind of supernatural you’re dealing with.”
“This time, I didn’t get a vision—”
Oh, yes, I had. Standing in line at the buffet, with him behind me, a vision of forest and fur and fangs and blood.
“He’s a werewolf,” I said.
“Yes, an extremely dangerous one. You need to subdue him now.”
“If he’s dangerous, don’t you want me to wait—”
“No time. As charming as Marsten seems, he’s a werewolf—the most brutal and unpredictable kind of supernatural—and now he’s cornered, which makes him ten times as dangerous. If he knows it’s the council who captured him, he’ll do anything to get away—kill anyone in his path.”