Kissing Sin

'That's a bit of a leap.'

'Maybe not.' I hesitated, remembered my initial reaction on seeing Mrs. Hunt last night—a reaction I'd almost convinced myself to be the result of scrambled brain cells. But put those memories next to Misha's guarded words, and maybe the memories weren't that scrambled after all. 'Misha said last night that Mrs. Hunt and the man who used me in the breeding center were very close indeed. What if that was his way of saying they were one and the same person?'

'ltd have to be a long shot, surely,' Kade commented.

'Would it? They have the same eyes, and more importantly, they have the same scent.'

'Not two spoors smell exactly the same,' Rhoan commented. 'Even in a family unit, there are slight differences.'

'Maybe.' Jack didn't sound convinced, but added, 'Though it would certainly explain why the various members of the pack have slipped through the traps we've set.'

'It could also mean the man in overall charge of the labs can assume any shape,' Rhoan commented grimly. 'Which means he could be anyone, anywhere.'

'It would also explain what happened last night,' Quinn commented, his voice totally devoid of emotion.

Yet the heat of his anger whispered across my skin, fleetingly burning. Thankfully, this time it didn't seem to be aimed at me.

'So what happened last night after I left?' I asked curiously.

Quinn still didn't bother turning around. 'Mrs. Hunt went straight home after making her statement to the police. The chauffeur put the car away, then went upstairs to the small apartment above the garage. Twenty minutes later, the garage doors opened and the chauffeur was driving back out. Only if the heat signatures were anything to go by, the chauffeur was still in the flat, and the man driving the car was actually Mrs. Hunt.'

'You followed the car?'

'To a small house in Gosford.'

'He's still there?' And if so, why was Quinn here?

'Guardians now watch the place,' Jack said, as if reading my thoughts. 'I thought Quinn might be more useful back here.'

Where Jack could keep a close eye on him, obviously. 'Has Roberta got a daughter?'

He nodded. 'Nasia. She was a research scientist at the Holgram Pharmaceutical Laboratories, but quit about seven years ago. According to tax department records, she hasn't had a job since then.'

'Or simply hasn't paid tax.'

He nodded again. 'If she's in charge of the second lab, that's logical.'

'So,' Kade said heavily, 'we have several people who are either full or half Helki, and all of them are probably able to take on any damn form they like. How in hell are we going to catch them?'

'We grab the man at Gosford first—'

'The minute you grab him, any useful information will be burned away,' I butted in. 'He'll be another Talon.'

'If we grab him fast enough, we might be able to stop that from happening.' Jack shrugged. 'We cannot take the chance of him escaping.'

'Better a fried mind than letting him go free to milk more specimens,' Kade murmured.

With that, I had to agree. 'What about this Roberta?'

'We snatch her as well.'

'But won't that raise the alarm for the rest of them?'

'I'm hoping it does, and that in their scramble for cover, they'll make a mistake and reveal themselves fully.'

'So how do you intend to snatch Roberta? I wouldn't recommend you sending people in there, because not even guardians could get a pack leader out unseen.'

'Fortunately for us, she drives down to Melbourne every Monday night to meet with various friends.' He paused, frowning lightly. 'Of course, if the daughter is also able to take various shapes, maybe it has been her the mother has been meeting all along.'

'Which would imply they might know they are being watched,' Kade commented.

'Or it might be that they're taking no chances after Talon's capture,' Quinn said.

'Then why wouldn't Roberta take another form?' Kade said.

'Easy,' Rhoan said. 'She's an alpha, and would think she's more than capable of defending herself. They're arrogant like that.'

Maybe that was where Talon had got it from. Maybe even Misha had Helki genes, though if he was able to take on other shapes, I doubt it was something he'd ever admit to me.

'It doesn't matter,' Jack said. 'We snatch Roberta tonight, and we place a tail on whoever is at that restaurant to meet her.'

I raised my eyebrows. 'How will you know who is meeting her?'

Jack smiled. 'Even the most cunning make simple mistakes. They book the same table every week because it's in a corner, and apparently presents a nice view of the St. Kilda pier and beach.'

I glanced at the clock. 'It's nearly five-thirty now—surely Roberta will already be on her way down?' Especially considering Bendigo was almost two hours away from Melbourne.

Jack nodded. 'She usually reaches the domain tunnel about seven-fifteen. That's where we intend to hit her.'

'In the tunnel? That'll make you popular with the rush-hour motorists.'

'It's the last place she'll think we'll try.'

'Hadn't we better get moving then?'

Jack gave me the look that said, 'Don't try telling me how to do my job.'

'We aren't going anywhere, because you have a meeting with Misha tonight.' I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand. 'You want answers, don't you? Misha is certainly giving them, and we can't afford to forsake that right now.'

'We may just be helping Misha take over the whole shebang.'

'I think you'll find Misha's reasons for this are a whole lot more personal,' Quinn commented, looking over his shoulder and meeting my gaze. 'It may be a conquest he desires, but that conquest has nothing to do with his clone brothers or his maker's son.'

Meaning what he wanted most was me? I snorted softly. 'Misha doesn't love me, Quinn. And in case you've missed what's been happening, he still has me in his bed.'

He raised a dark eyebrow. 'Who mentioned love? This isn't about love—it's about possession.'

'Whether it is or isn't is beyond the point,' Jack interrupted. 'Fact is, you will go to him tonight and continue questioning him. Meantime, Kade, Rhoan, and myself will join the team at the domain tunnel.'

'While I do what?' Quinn said remotely.

'The Sydney team should be here at eight with the Gosford man. I thought you might like to help with the interrogation.'

The slow smile that touched his lips sent a chill up my spine. If the man who was Mrs. Hunt had any secrets left, Quinn would find them. And he had no intentions of being gentle. If Mrs. Hunt had any sort of reasoning capacity left at the end of it, I'd be very surprised indeed.

All he said was, 'Willingly.'

Jack thrust to his feet. 'Then we should go. Riley, I've arranged a car to take you into Lygon street. We still have the place staked out, so you should be perfectly safe.'

Should and would were two entirely different things. I had an odd suspicion that things were going too right for us, that the wheel was about to turn yet again. I rubbed my arms and ignored the premonition. It was only fear—or a simple reluctance to be with Misha again. Clairvoyance wasn't a talent I'd shown the slightest aptitude for—despite what Jack's test had said—and it certainly wasn't one I wanted to be developing.

'I'd prefer to drive myself.' Especially given I had no intention of hanging around here with only Quinn and guardians for company. There were better things I could be doing—like checking out a certain restaurant.

Jack raised an eyebrow. 'Given your record with cars, I do not think that advisable.'

'Have I ever crashed a Directorate car?'