bullshit. You wanna know who introduced me to these guys first? Ned. Turns out the old guy wasn’t just sitting in that house after all. Lancroft had a lot of knowledge to pass along, and them runes are only a part of it.”
“You’ve been learning about those runes for a while,” Paige said. “Does that mean you were working with these Lancroft assholes all that time?”
“Why do you think they’re assholes?”
“Because Lancroft’s Mud Flu got a bunch of innocent people killed! Lancroft created Henry! He was a murderer!”
“He was all about the greater good,” Rico explained. “You think things are bad now? How bad do you think they would have been years ago if Lancroft hadn’t done his best to hold back the tide? He’s always had Skinners following him, but he wasn’t stupid enough to work with just anyone. You met those pricks in Philly. What about those bastards who accepted Nymar in their ranks?
“So you’re probably going to say that Lancroft prophesized about what’s happening today?”
Rico chuckled. “There ain’t no prophecies, just like there ain’t no Chosen Ones. Lancroft’s predictions weren’t any more impressive than predicting the weather by using a
“And when did you come to these conclusions?” she asked.
“Yesterday. I’ve been checking on Ned’s death ever since it happened. I got people who can look into these sorts of things, friends I worked with since before I met you. I kept looking until I found out what drew Ned to Lancroft in the first place. Lancroft wasn’t just a Skinner. He was a pioneer. He believed in taking steps to keep things from getting out of our control. You think it’s a coincidence that the world went to shit after he died?”
“That’s putting a lot onto one man’s shoulders.”
“Maybe,” Rico grunted. “But he kept some damn thorough records. You know what the Breaking Moon is?”
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“When someone is turned into a Half Breed, all their bones are broken and stitched together with muscle. You and I know this because we seen it happen. We’ve gutted the poor bastards and taken a closer look for ourselves.”
“I don’t have time for this,” Paige said.
“Full Bloods call that first change the Breaking. Mostly, it’s a random thing when people get attacked and turned. There’s a time when those Breakings spike. Lancroft coordinated with other Skinners, cross-checked some notes, and realized it happened when the Full Bloods returned to the middle of their territories and stayed there. Records were pieced together over seventy years documenting people who weren’t attacked changing into Half Breeds. They were just healthy, random folks who dropped to their knees and shattered inside. According to Lancroft’s journal, that time’s about to happen again and the Full Bloods ain’t sticking to their territories.”
“So what?”
“So, there’s somethin’ going on, Paige. We need to be united. If we all run around half-cocked, there’s fewer of us to make a stand when the time comes. The bloodsuckers already tipped the scales enough. We need to close ranks and start acting instead of
She stood up and gripped the phone tighter. Somewhere along the line, she’d drawn her weapon with her other hand and held onto it with a tight enough grip to bury the thorns into her palm. “So that’s why you’re calling. You need the info I downloaded about Cobb38.”
“What are you gonna do with it?” he asked. “Hand it over to MEG? Too late for that. Let Daniels take a look at it? After all that’s happened with the bloodsuckers, I wouldn’t be surprised if all of their house-cleaning involved sweeping out the rats of their own kind. If he is still alive, he’s on borrowed time and probably bein’ watched even closer than ever right now. So what other choice does that leave you? How the hell are you gonna put that information to use?”
“I could give it to some allies I can trust.”
“Like who? Your helicopter buddies? The Gypsies?”
“At least the Amriany are up front about where their loyalties are.”
“We both fought to track down Cobb,” Rico growled. “We both stormed them houses, and both of us did what needed to be done even with Kawosa fucking with our heads! You, me, and Cole, we work well together. Now’s our chance to finally pull Skinners together into what they need to be instead of the splintered bunch of petty assholes that squabbled over the scraps left behind in Philly. Just think of what can be done if Lancroft stayed alive long enough to pass on how he managed to stay alive all them years.”
“How can you be sure the Lancroft we killed in Philly really is that same guy?” she asked. “Did you find his formula for living to be centuries old?”
“Not the whole thing, but we’re closing in on it.”
The Full Bloods were still roaming outside. Paige could feel the burning in her palms intensify as one of them came closer to the autobody shop. A deep, lingering howl was answered by scratchier ones that seemed to come from all sides. Heavy footsteps rumbled down the street above, and the heat in her scars faded. She knew it wouldn’t be long, however, before the freshest batch of Half Breeds would roll through the area like a storm of fangs and claws.
“Sounds like you got yer hands full there, Bloodhound,” Rico mused.
“I do.”
“Where are you?” When she didn’t answer, he asked, “What the hell do you think I’d do to you, anyway? We both fought and bled in the same battles. I carried you and Cole out of some death traps, and you guys saved my ass plenty of times. All I wanna do is help, just like I always done.”
“You want to help? Then I’ve got someone who needs help. He’s the guy who flew me into Denver. His name’s Adderson. You call him and tell him you want to help. He’ll put you to work.”
“You mean those guys in that helicopter?” Rico growled. “If they’re cops or military, they’ll just toss my ass into a cell.”
“They’re not cops. You said you want to be more proactive. You said you want to do more than you’re doing now. Call Adderson and tell him you want to join the IRD.”
“IRD?”
“Inhuman Response Division,” she explained, waiting for the inevitable backlash.
“Jesus Lord Almighty,” Rico lashed. “Are you kiddin’ me? If you think more men in helicopters are what’s needed, then just call an air strike to burn all those werewolves that are howling around you right now.”
“I’m not sure how far I can trust them,” Paige admitted. “Cole was almost killed when he was in their custody, but I’m not sure if that was the IRD’s fault.”
“You mean that place in Colorado that was leveled on the news?”
“That’s the one. Cole made it out, but—”
“Where is he?” Rico asked. “If he’s on the run, I can help him! I know all about keeping out of the cops’ sights!”
“No. Call Adderson. Check out the IRD. Things are taking a turn, Rico. You’re right about that. We do need to evolve, but Skinners aren’t enough to set things right again. I know Kawosa screwed with us. He’s here, Rico. If you stay away, he can’t screw with us again. Check out the IRD. If you think we can work with them, we may be able to put together some heavy artillery that can be enough to drop a Full Blood.”
“We were never supposed to drag the real world into this,” he warned. “Remember all the times that happened before? Panic. Confusion. Mass hysteria. Any of this ringing a bell?”
“Things have gotten beyond that already,” she said as she dropped back down onto the boxes where she’d been sitting. “There isn’t a precedent for dealing with something like this because it’s never happened. The Full Bloods are gathering, but there’s only two of them here. That’s all it took to tear apart this whole town.”
“What town?”
“Atoka, Oklahoma.” Even though she knew Rico had been tricked to cross her in Canada, it still felt like she was leaving herself open for attack when she said those words now.
