Federal Paranormal Agency 6 - Leannan Read Free

posing as a concerned parent.
    Rolling his eyes heavenward, Thomas muttered, “Coach sucks.”
    Lionel chuckled. “I was just calling to make sure you made it there in one piece. If you need anything, give me a call.”
    “Thanks, Dad, I will.” Ending the call, Thomas buried the phone inside his backpack.
    If you need anything? Code for “if you get any leads on Duncan Ó Branagáin, give us a call.” They’d swoop in and take care of business. Otherwise, he was on his own.
    “Fuck this,” he grumbled.
    The rain and the phone call soured his mood.
    Thomas didn’t have a lot of cash, but with the weather getting worse, he realized that he didn’t have many options. Stepping out from under the overhang, he strode toward the curb and lifted his arm, hailing a cab. A vehicle pulled to the curb, and Thomas opened the back door, climbing inside. Warmth instantly surrounded him.
    He rattled off the street name, not giving the driver his exact location. Keeping his face out of the rearview mirror, Thomas ducked down, pretending to be invisible as he stared out the window. The rain pounded down against the vehicle, fat droplets running along the glass, as the car sped down the street. When the car came to a stop at the corner of the street, Thomas handed off a few bills before stepping out of the car. He waited for the cab to pull away before he started walking down the sidewalk.
    The rain continued to pour down, soaking through his clothing as he made his way toward the end of the block.
    Thomas paused out front of his destination, a pub owned by Duncan. From the outside, the pub didn’t feel very inviting. In fact, the brick and mortar building appeared unfriendly and cold, telling all those who passed to stay away. Large black letters prominently displayed across the top of the cement building read The Temple, with an intricate Celtic design on each side. Lifting an arm, Thomas wiped off his face, but it was useless. He was a soggy mess.
    He took a step toward the main entrance but stopped suddenly when he heard a soft whine, followed by a series of whimpering cries. Thomas walked toward the sound, around the side of the building. As the sky darkened, the only thing Thomas could spot was a line of dumpsters. There weren’t any lights illuminating the alleyway, but with his supernatural senses, Thomas could see clearly. He stepped over a few broken beer bottles, discarded cigarette butts, and trash. The sad little noises grew louder as he walked closer. Kneeling down, Thomas peeked between two large metal bins and found the source.
    “ Hey, there little guy.” He kept his tone sugary sweet, coaxing the chunky little puppy to come to him.
    The fur ball didn’t hesitate for even a moment. He jumped into Thomas’s arms, licking his face and wagging his tail. Thomas couldn’t help himself. He laughed.
    “What are you doing out here?” A deep, Irish brogue washed over him, sending a jolt through Thomas.
    Thomas jerked his head up. He slowly rose, holding the puppy against his chest. The side door was propped open, and Duncan was standing in the threshold. Thomas had been so focused on rescuing the animal that he didn’t even hear the man’s approach. His mouth dropped open, excitement warring with uncertainty. The man was wearing a suit, and truth be told, he looked even better in person.
    “I–I heard a noise.” Thomas used a small voice, shrinking back.
    Duncan stared at him, the man’s intense eyes searching, studying. “Come inside.”
    “But…” Thomas’s looked down at the puppy. He couldn’t leave the helpless little creature outside in the cold all alone.
    “You can bring the little beast.”
    Duncan stepped back, creating enough space for Thomas to pass. Thomas pulled his lower lip into his mouth, gently biting down on the flesh. He took a moment to think about his situation. This wasn’t exactly how he’d planned on meeting the notorious Duncan Ó Branagáin, but it was an opportunity he