Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Why would wanting to fertilize a female’s egg put them in such a violent mood, though?” The Captain sounded confused.
“Mammalians are hot-blooded,” Sky reminded her superior. “And also, I think this male must be mentally deranged. Captain Torin thinks he’s, er, keeping the eyes of his victims as a kind of ‘trophy’—so he can look at them and relive the murders he’s committed.”
“That’s horrible!” Captain Thal’nx said again. “I never knew that having warm blood could cause such mental illness!”
“We’re not all like that,” Torin rumbled, speaking up for the first time. “In fact, such behavior is completely unknown among the Kindred. Though other Mammalian humanoids do seem to have a problem with it,” he added.
Sky glanced up at him. She and the big Kindred hadn’t said much on the way back to the PK Station but she’d felt his eyes on her again—this time more speculative than lustful. Well, let him speculate all he wanted, Sky thought—she was only here to solve the case.
“Well, whoever is doing this must be stopped!” Captain Thal’nx exclaimed. “And our Ruling Council must be protected.”
“I’d recommend stationing guards inside the rooms with them although…” Torin shook his head. “Although that hasn’t helped in the past—at least from what I understand. We heard that all the Sacred Seven had bodyslaves with them inside their chambers—they only choose the largest males for such service—and it didn’t stop the killer. He still got to them—after he killed those that were there to protect them.”
“But how? How did he get to them and kill them if they were in locked rooms with protectors guarding them?” Sky demanded. “We need more evidence—we need to look at the other crime scenes. And didn’t you say there was a survivor?”
Torin nodded.
“The youngest member of the Sacred Seven just barely got away.”
“We need to interview her,” Sky said decisively. “We need all the details—she’s the only one who can tell us what he looked like and how she evaded him!”
“You think I don’t know that?” Torin ran a hand through his hair in a gesture Sky was beginning to learn was one of frustration. “I’ve tried several times, but the Yonnites won’t talk to me because I’m male. Neither will the authorities on Zetta Prime.”
“Well, you have a female partner now,” Captain Thal’nx pointed out, nodding at Sky. “Why don’t the two of you take a trip to Yonnie Six?”
“Really? You want me to go off planet when we have an active investigation and the killer is most probably still here?” Sky asked doubtfully.
“Yes.” Captain Thal’nx nodded firmly. “I have other officers who can protect the Ruling Council—what we need now is more evidence and to interview the lone survivor.”
“I can call the Kindred Mother Ship and ask them to fold space for us,” Torin volunteered. “We can get to Yonnie Six and back fairly quickly.”
“Then let’s go,” Sky said, nodding. “With your permission, Captain?” she added, looking at her superior.
“Go! Get whatever information you can.” The Captain nodded firmly. “We need to catch this evil bastard before he kills again!”
“You should have at least one night to get ready, if the killer continues his pattern,” Torin told her. “He usually takes a day or two off between killings. We don’t know if he’s recharging himself somehow or just taking his time, wallowing in the killing he just finished, but from the records I’ve been able to obtain, he’s never killed two nights in a row.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t change his pattern then,” Captain Thal’nx said. “Good luck, Special Agent Sky’lar! Get as much information as you can and I’ll see you back here soon.”
“Yes, Captain.” Sky nodded and turned to follow the big Kindred as he ducked out of the office.
It seemed the two of them were going on a trip together and while she didn’t love the idea of spending more time alone together with the giant Kindred, it couldn’t be helped—they had a killer to catch.
ELEVEN
SKY
“What in the Underworld are you wearing?”
Sky eyed the strange outfit warily as Torin emerged from the back of his long-range shuttle. They were already in orbit around Yonnie Six, waiting for an answer to the message he’d sent. And then he’d muttered something about having to change and ducked into the back.
She took him in, her eyes wide. He had on tight black leather trousers and he was still wearing his enormous black boots. But from the waist up, he was completely bare…well, except for the black leather collar he wore around his neck. There was even a leash attached to a ring on the front of it, Sky saw. What was that all about?
She didn’t know what the deal with the collar and leash was, but his lack of a shirt exposed an incredibly muscular torso the likes of which she’d never seen before.