Awaken Me Darkly Read Free Page A

sexual. And would never become sexual. Sex destroyed more male/female partnerships than death, and God knows it would completely negate my authority, something I would not allow.
    I stared down at the body for a long while, a new crop of questions running through my mind. “I want you and Jaxon to interview the victim’s family in the morning,” I said. Jaxon was another member of my unit. Whereas Dallas was all intimidation, Jaxon was a man who could ask the most private of questions and somehow convince interviewees they were happy to answer. “I want to know every sexual secret Mr. Steele possessed, every woman he ever glanced at. I even want to know the brand of underwear he preferred.”
    Dallas’s handsome face twisted in a wince, his full lips pursing in feigned pain. “That should be fun.”
    “If you’d prefer, I’ll assign you to PADD.” Paper and Desk Duty.
    “Hey,” he said, smiling like he was about to do me a huge favor, “you want me to talk to Steele’s family in the morning, I’ll talk to Steele’s family.” Before I could comment, he added, “What’s next for tonight?”
    I cast another glance around the scene. It was about to start snowing again, the night suddenly thicker than before. “Boys,” I loudly called, “go ahead and erect the force field, then call homicide. They can finish searching the area. We’ve found what we need.”
    To Dallas, I said, “Let’s go to the car.” I pivoted toward our unmarked black sedan. I only set my feet in select places, using the same path I’d taken to get here. “I want to search the database.”
    He fell into step behind me. When we reached our destination, I placed my index finger on the passenger ID scanner. After recognition the door popped open, and I slid inside. With a tug of my wrist, I slammed the door. Moments later, Dallas occupied the driver’s seat.
    “Start,” he commanded, and the vehicle immediately roared to life. “Heat. High.” The heater kicked into action.
    I glanced out the window and watched Ghost and the other men assume positions around the edges of the crime scene. Each man withdrew a small box, placed it at his feet, and pressed a button.
    Blue lights sparked from every box, and the air around them appeared to solidify, becoming liquid and spreading upward and out, until meeting and creating a protective dome.
    “We need names,” I said, turning to Dallas. “Specifics.”
    “That I can do.” Features tightening with concentration, Dallas unfolded his computer console, located where steering wheels were once positioned. Within seconds, he was plugging away at the keyboard.
    Pensive, I removed my gloves and massaged the back of my neck. “Pull up a list of every Arcadian hunted, questioned, or wanted for interrogation in the last year.”

    “Males, too?
    “Yes.”
    “Already done.” He punched a few more buttons, and twenty-six names popped onto the screen.
    Ignoring the names, I scanned the crimes committed. Prostitution. Robbery. Vandalism.
    “Cross-reference this list with all Arcadians questioned for sex and human hate crimes. Delete those that have already been exterminated.”
    His fingers again flew over the keyboard. Mere seconds passed before the names dwindled to five. I nodded in satisfaction. Very few aliens linked to violent crimes ever lived long enough to gloat.
    Since alien supporters had yet to push through a law stating that other-worlders were entitled to a trial, hunters were often judge, jury, and executioner.
    Instead of thanking us for keeping them safe, however, the supporters continued to fight us. Didn’t they realize that if aliens weren’t controlled, if their numbers weren’t kept to a minimum, they could overrun us? That they might one day have the power to wipe us out completely? Didn’t they realize that species with extraordinary powers like weather control, levitation, and the ability to absorb energy needed to know they would be punished if they harmed a