V.K. Forrest - Immortal

Eternal

Undying

Immortal

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

KENSINGTON BOOKS

www.kensingtonbooks.com

H ow was Florence? Fia stood directly in front of Fin, pushed his hands aside, and grasped his thin, navy blue tie. Let me do this before you hurt yourself.

Florence was He shrugged, letting his hands fall obediently to his sides. He was roughly sixteen hundred years old and still taking orders from his big sister. It was Italy: motorbikes, nice leather, sexy women, superb pistachio gelato. He had to speak loud enough to be heard over the sound of the SpongeBob SquarePants cartoon blasting from the living room. The tiny cottage he and his brother had rented for the summer was already feeling too small.

Much trouble? She looked into the green eyes that mirrored her own as her fingers deftly manipulated the fabric.

Fin exhaled, surprised he was nervous about his first day on the job. Especially since he didnt even want the damned job. Assignment went fine. Were tracking this guy who belongs to an organization here in the U.S. called The Brotherhood . Its like a serial killer club. He laughed but without humor. Bunch of freaks.

And were not? she teased.

He grimaced. Guy was on vacation . I saw him stalk three different middle-aged women in four days, just from my chair at a caf on the palazzo.

Fia looked down at her handiwork as she slid the knot snugly beneath his light blue collar. I have no doubt in your abilities to fact-find. Youre the best. Im talking about the visions.

Fin pushed her hands away, suddenly having had enough of his sisters fussing. Theyre bad. He touched the knot of the tie and drew his hand downward over the fabric. The memories were still so fresh in his mind, he didnt have to close his eyes to see the blood slick on the stone tiles of the town square. You sure its straight?

You look great. She stepped back and smiled. Then her gaze flickered to his again. You should see Dr. Kettleman about the visions.

A shrink? I dont think so. He picked the hairbrush up off the sink and drew it through his still-damp dark hair. Ill be fine.

She stepped back, giving him room. But you said they were starting to affect your work.

He tried not to think about the decapitated heads rolling through the rivers of blood. Theyre only bad when I dematerialize.

She crossed her arms over her chest, her facial expression one of annoyance, impatience, and worry all rolled into one big-sister grimace. And thats not affecting your work? Every time you dematerialize you fall into some kind of karmic bloodbath and youre saying thats good for business?

Theyll subside. They always do. Theyre always worse just before and after I make a trip to Italy. You know that. The visions had plagued him intermittently since the incident in the sixteenth century, but they seemed more vivid this trip. More real. He didnt know why.

He glanced in the mirror over the sink in the tiny bathroom. He looked too young to be a cop. His youthful appearance was an advantage when traveling abroad for the sept. It was easy to make people believe he was a college student, but he had warned the chief of police that this was a bad idea. Fin was going to take a load of crap on the boardwalk. He just knew it. I have to go. Thanks for stopping by. He stepped around her into the hall and had to squeeze between the wall and a stack of cardboard boxes to reach the living room. You going to do something about the rest of the boxes? he shouted to Regan, who lay stretched out on the plaid couch theyd picked up at Goodwill.

Remote in hand, his identical twin stared at the TV atop a cardboard box marked sheets & blankets in black Sharpie. On the screen, SpongeBob was flipping Krabby Patties as he argued with his pet snail. Loudly.

Regan! Fin barked.

Remaining prone, Regan glanced at Fin. He looked him up and down. Nice outfit.

Ignoring his brothers jibe, Fin stepped in front of the TV, shut it off, and turned around.

Hey! Regan clicked the remote control in his hand, but Fin was blocking the transmission to the TV. It didnt come on. I havent seen this episode.

I asked if you were going to get those boxes unpacked and out of the hall, but I guess the TV was too loud for you to hear me.

Ill take care of it. Now, can you move? Patricks having a crisis.

Patrick?

SpongeBobs best friend, Regan explained.

And a job? Hows looking for a job going?

Jezus, Regan groaned, sitting up. Barefoot, he wore boxers and a T-shirt. It was three oclock in the afternoon. Im still in a delicate state here. Fee, help me out. He gestured to their sister with the remote. Im just out of rehab. Can you explain to my brother how difficult the transition back into the world can be after ninety days of detox?

Two hundred and thirty, give or take, she said dryly. If you count the other time and a half you were there in the last year. She walked toward the front door. Fin, you want a lift to the station?

Fin stood in front of his siblings in the uncomfortable uniform, wishing he was anywhere but here. At this moment, even the palazzo in Florence, with its rolling, decapitated heads of children, seemed a better alternative. Im only doing this out of duty to the sept. He glared at Regan. And to my family. Im doing it because I was asked, not because I want to.

Maybe youll get some kind of award at the end of the summer from the Council. You know, for finding lost dogs and toting beach bags to cars for tourists. Regan got up off the couch, tossing the remote on the indentation in a cushion. You going to the grocery store? Theres nothing good to eat around here. He headed for the kitchen.

Fia held open the front door. Come on, Fin. Youll be late.

Reluctantly, he followed her onto the porch.

You know, this is a good thing youre doing here, she told him.

Babysitting my brother for the summer when I should be on assignment making the world a safer place?

Helping Uncle Sean fill the summer vacancy on the force, and keeping an eye on Regan. I really do think hes going to stay clean this time. He just needs some family support.

Fin followed her down the porch steps. You could take a leave of absence from the Bureau and keep an eye on him. He halted on the sidewalk and pointed to the shiny shield on his uniform. In fact, you could have this badge. You know Im not cop material, Fee. But you are.

She reached out and straightened his tie one last time. Sorry. The family took a vote. You won fair and square. You were appointed Regans keeper for the summer.

And where was I during this vote?

She walked toward her car, parked on the street. UmBrussels, I think. She smiled, giving a smart-alecky salute. Have a good first day at work.

You know, I havent been able to stand you since you and Arlan hooked up, he called after her as she climbed into her car. Youre way too damned happy!

Fins radio crackled in his ear and he groaned. Four hours on the job and he had walked at least ten miles. He had carried two beach umbrellas to a car, pushed a wheelchair and its octogenarian occupant in a red bikini out of the sand, chased down a runaway shih tzu on a pink leash, and shown a teenager how to shut off the car alarm in her new Mustang. Twice. That was the sum total of his police work. No kidnappings. No assaults. No armed robberies. The only citizen complaint he had fielded concerned the portion of fries a retired woman on a fixed income got for her four dollars and seventy-five cents these days.