Micah Read Free

hello. What was it about police work that made you have bad phone manners?
    â€œThis is Federal Marshal Anita Blake. You’re expecting Marshal Kirkland this morning?”
    â€œHe’s not coming,” Fox guessed.
    â€œNo, but I am.”
    â€œWhat happened to Kirkland?”
    â€œHis wife is in the hospital.” I wondered how much I owed him on the phone. I decided not much.
    â€œI hope she’s going to be all right.” His voice had lost some of its edge. He sounded almost friendly. It made me think better of him.
    â€œShe probably will, but they’re not sure about the baby.”
    Silence for a moment. I’d probably over-shared. That girlness again. Harder to be terse.
    â€œI didn’t know. I’m sorry that Marshal Kirkland couldn’t make it and even sorrier for the reason. I hope things work out for them.”
    â€œMe, too. So I’m filling in.”
    â€œI know who you are, Marshal Blake.” He was back to not sounding entirely happy. “Your reputation precedes you.” That last was definitely not happy.
    â€œAre we going to have a problem here, Agent Fox?”
    â€œSpecial Agent Fox,” he said.
    â€œFine, are we going to have a problem here, Special Agent Fox?”
    â€œAre you aware that you have the highest kill count of any legal vampire executioner in this country?”
    â€œYeah, actually, I am aware of that.”
    â€œYou’re coming here to raise the dead, Marshal, not execute anyone. Is that clear?”
    Now I was getting pissed. “I don’t kill people for the hell of it, Special Agent Fox.”
    â€œThat’s not what I’ve heard.” His voice was quiet.
    â€œDon’t believe all the rumors you hear, Fox.”
    â€œIf I believed them all, I wouldn’t let you step foot in my city, Blake.”
    Micah touched my leg, just to be comforting, while he drove one-handed. We were already on 70, which meant we’d be at the airport in moments.
    â€œYou know, Fox, if you’re this unhappy with me, we can turn around and not come. Raise your own damn zombie.”
    â€œWe?”
    â€œI’m bringing an assistant,” I said, voice angry.
    â€œAnd exactly what does he assist you with?” And his voice was full of that tone, that tone that men have been using against women for centuries. Thattone that manages to imply we’re sluts without ever saying so.
    â€œI’m going to be very clear here, Special Agent Fox.” My voice held that calm, cold anger that I used in place of screaming. Micah’s hand tightened on my thigh. “Your attitude makes me think we won’t be able to work together. That you’ve listened to so many rumors that you wouldn’t know truth if it bit you on the ass.”
    He started to say something, but I cut him off.
    â€œThink very carefully about the next thing you say, Special Agent Fox, because depending on what it is, I may or may not be seeing you in Philly today, or ever.”
    â€œAre you saying if I don’t play nice, you won’t play at all?” His voice was as cold as mine had been.
    â€œNice, hell. Fox, I’d just take professional at this point. What has got your panties in a twist about me?”
    He sighed over the phone. “I researched the federal marshals who are also animators. It’s a short list.”
    â€œYeah,” I said, “it is.”
    â€œKirkland comes in, does the job, leaves. Every time you get involved in a case, it all seems to go to hell.”
    I took a deep breath and counted to twenty. Ten didn’t do it. “Go back through and look at the kind of cases that I get called in on, Fox. No one calls me in unless things have already gone south. It’s not cause and effect.”
    â€œYou have worked some rough shit. I’ll grant that, Marshal Blake.” He sighed again. “But you’ve got a reputation for killing first and asking questions later.