Chapter Ten

After their morning run and showers, Eoghan and Ari drove the rest of the way to Tahoe and then stopped at a bakery which claimed to make the world's best coffee. As far as Ari was concerned, that offer was too tempting to pass up. They picked up tall cups of the warm brew and bran muffins which looked delicious. Eoghan insisted that there was no time like the present for them to start eating better and admitted he'd become lax over the past few years. When the muffins and coffee did indeed live up to the bakery's promise, Ari wasn't about to argue with the logic. He realized that Eoghan was right.

In Lexington he'd had a regular exercise routine broken up only by outings to the gun range and the occasional visit to a local paintball field with his buddies from the office. That entailed a lot of running and was great exercise. He never worried about what he ate because he burned it off. And when he went home every Sunday for dinner, his mama always cooked up a pan of cornbread flavored with bacon grease to go along with the best fried chicken he'd ever tasted. Since joining the I.S.R., Ari had come to the conclusion that he was going to have to carve out time to exercise and try to adhere to a better diet. Being on the road all the time, would eventually kill them both if they weren't careful.

"It's so pretty here in spring," he said, glancing over at Eoghan whose cheeks were blushing red from the cold air coming into the car from the window he had cracked. Eoghan's complexion was pale, and he always flushed that sweet shade of pink whenever he was cold, exercising, or busy with him between the sheets…the latter activity, being a personal favorite of Ari's.

Eoghan glanced down at their cell phones sitting in the cup holder. Ari knew he was probably making sure their Faraday cages were in place. They'd shut off their phones and disabled them before even turning around. The chief would be able to get a hold of them on one of the burners if she really needed to. "I've always loved Tahoe. The lake is creepy as shit, but the mountains and scenery are beautiful."

Ari chuckled. "Why is the lake creepy as shit?"

Eoghan's lips formed a thin line for a few seconds before he shot him a serious glance. He darted his gaze back to the road. "Rumor has it that the mobsters used to dump bodies in there back in the 40s."

"What?" Ari sat forward.

"Have you ever been there?"

"No," he replied. "Did they find the bodies?"

"No. It's almost seventeen hundred feet deep, and from what I understand, it's the biggest alpine lake in the U.S. It's also the second deepest lake in the U.S. after Crater Lake in Oregon. By volume, it has nearly as much water as some of the Great Lakes. It's a freshwater lake but the one time I swam in it after taking a boat out with some friends, it felt creepy as hell. Really cold. And when I was bobbing in the water, I kept thinking of Tahoe Tessie. Knowing your legs are down there, and something could be huge and creeping up on you is creepy as shit…like I said." He gave a visible shudder.

Ari gave him a skeptical look. "Wait, what? Is this another alien species that lives in the lake I don't know about?"

"No." Eoghan looked at him like he was crazy. "Like the Loch Ness monster." He threw up his hands.

"So, let me get this straight. Alien cepha-things are considered normal. But this Tahoe Tessie monster or monsters isn't and could be down there?"

Eoghan nodded. "Yeah, that's what they say. Maybe because of my job, I'm always wondering what might possibly live down there where I can't see it. It's why I don't do any kind of diving and caves are off limits with the exception of the Bronson Caves in Griffith Park which aren't really caves at all. I don't like the uncertainty of things like that."

Ari laughed. "For a guy who doesn't like uncertainty, you sure as hell picked the right profession, Eoghan."

His partner smirked as he glanced over at him. "Touché."

"Of course, you could have become a librarian or an accountant. Numbers aren't uncertain," Ari said.

"You're such an ass, but yeah, you're right." Eoghan seemed to think about it. "I did choose a job which requires a lot of trust." He grinned. "But, I'm still never going swimming in Lake Tahoe again."

Ari laughed, pointing to a road sign announcing the entrance to the reservation. "There we go. I hope the chief and his deputy are there. Maybe we should have called first."

"I thought about it. If they're not in the station, we'll just wait until they get in. I don't think they will object to two marshals hanging out in the lobby."

"Yeah, okay."

Ten minutes later, they drove up to the tribal police station which shared a building with the tribal council. As much as Ari looked forward to meeting up with the chief and his deputy to ask for help with King John's situation, he dreaded meeting with the tribal council. He and Eoghan had already discussed the inevitability of a meeting with people who'd worked with Colt Wilkins to plead for help. Whether they'd be resentful that he and Eoghan had somewhat unwillingly orchestrated Wilkins' downfall or be grateful for it, he couldn't be sure of their reception. One thing was certain in Ari's mind. They wouldn't be keen about helping a vampire clan. Even if the two clans had no beef between them, their very essence as shifters and vampires meant they were sworn enemies. Ari really hoped they'd have enough sway that the king and his people so desperately needed.

"This is it. I really hope they're willing to help, because without their cooperation, I can't imagine who else we'd ask," Eoghan said as he shut off the car and glanced over at him.

Ari nodded and reached over, patting his knee. He smiled. "I had the same thoughts, but we're pretty persuasive, Eoghan."

"Well, if anyone will help us, it'll be the chief. I know the tribe will be happy to see one of their citizens back on the reservation safe and sound with her kids, especially after they hear about why she ran," Eoghan replied. "And I'm not above asking Riversong to help convince the tribal council."

"Do you think they had any idea what Colt was doing to her?" Ari asked.

Eoghan shrugged. "Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe it happened once, maybe multiple times. Who knows if it was even ongoing. I'm pretty sure the oldest child is Colt's kid based on what she wrote in the diary, though."

"I'm sure you're right. I really hope she's free of his crap in the future. If the law works the way it should, the man will go to prison, but who knows." Ari looked around the parking lot, spotting the Chevy Blazer parked under a tree. He pointed. "Isn't that the chief's truck?"

"Yep, sure is," Eoghan replied. "Let's go."

The minute they walked into the station; someone shouted a greeting. "Hey, strangers, what are you two doing back here?"

Deputy Alo Uwaite, his arm raised in a wave, stood behind a desk, about thirty feet away from the front counter. Eoghan waved back as Ari's eyes adjusted to the dim interior of the tribal police station after leaving the sunshine outside.

"Deputy Uwaite," Eoghan said, smiling at the tall Native American man who walked toward them. He wore a ponytail today and Ari noticed his expression was a lot more pleasant when he smiled than when he was being kind of a jerk.

"You're back," Uwaite said, shaking their hands.

"Well, we hadn't planned on making another visit so soon, but something's come up and we could sure use your help," Eoghan said. "Is the chief here? We'd like to talk to both of you."

Uwaite nodded. "Sure." He glanced around. "He went for a refill," he said, pointing to the cups they both held. "I see you guys stopped at High Place Bakery."

Ari smiled, holding up his cup which bore the logo, angry with himself for forgetting to buy them cups as they'd planned to. "Next time we'll bring some for you guys. It really is the best."

"Don't I know it," Uwaite said. "The owner, Marilyn, is my cousin. High Place is one of the original names for Lake Tahoe."

Ari smiled. A second later, he heard a shout from the back of the station and he looked up, spotting Two Trees walking toward them, coffee mug in hand.

"Come on back or the boss won't let me hear the end of it," Uwaite said, walking to the end of the counter where there was a half door. He glanced over at the clerk sitting behind a computer screen and nodded. A second later, there was a buzz indicating the lock disengaging, and Ari and Eoghan followed Uwaite back.

"What's happening?" Two Trees asked as he caught up to them and shook hands. "I thought you two were headed home." His expression was serious as he glanced down at his watch before looking up again with a puzzled expression on his face. "Riversong is due here shortly. She and the kids are being escorted. Do we have unfinished business regarding her?"

"No. No." Eoghan reassured him. "This is a totally different thing that came up while we were driving home. We turned around when we decided you and your clan might be of help." He glanced around. "Is there somewhere we can talk privately?"

"Yeah, of course," he said. "Why don't you come back to my office?" He frowned at Eoghan before flicking his gaze between Alo and him. "Should Alo join our conversation?"

"Definitely," Eoghan said, clapping the deputy on the back.

"Good enough. Follow me." He led them to a large office in the back corner of the station and offered them seating in front of his desk. The three of them pulled up chairs, while the chief took his desk chair.

Ari could feel Eoghan practically bristling as he took a seat beside him. Handing over power to the tribal chief of police when they were there to pretty much beg for help wasn't great but they really had no choice. They'd come this far and didn't know any other way to do this.

"So, tell me, what's so important that you drove all the way back here?" Two Trees asked, holding out his hands. "You know we're in your debt, so please, ask."

Eoghan exchanged a glance with Ari before leaning forward in the chair. "I'm afraid you're not going to like this but I'm going to ask anyway," he began. "There's a vampire clan in Flagstaff, Arizona which is in terrible trouble."

Two Trees held up his hand. "If you're about to ask if we can help you, frankly, that's probably our only dealbreaker with the I.S.R. I just can't ask our clan to help." He shook his head. "I'm sincerely sorry."

Eoghan pulled out his phone and set it on the desk. The chief looked down at it and pointed. "What is that?"

"That's a Faraday cage and the phone is turned off," Eoghan replied. He glanced at Ari before looking back at Two Trees and pointing to the phone. "We have to talk on burners to our chief about the vampire clan because we have a mole."

"Who has a mole?"

"Someone bugged the chief's home and office which means it has to be someone in the I.S.R. They're listening in and we know whoever it is, probably works for the Agency."

"What do you mean? Why would someone from the Agency do that?" he asked, sitting back even as he shifted his gaze down to the device and stared at it for a few seconds.

"Let me give you a quick overview of what we're dealing with because it might affect your clan as well as all the people who reside here on the rez," Eoghan said. "Would that be okay with you?"

He crossed his arms over his broad chest before shooting a glance at Uwaite who had his signature frown back in place. Ari almost felt bad for them because if someone at the Agency was in cahoots with Bradshaw, there was a very good possibility that they were either working with other clans or had plans to do so.

"Please, tell me what's going on," Two Trees said, sounding more receptive than before. He uncrossed his arms and interlaced his fingers over his stomach.

"King John Townsend of the Flagstaff vampire clan escaped torture and captivity," Eoghan said. "He ran to Los Angeles where I caught him and brought him back to the I.S.R. He'd been reported as a fugitive by the new leadership who claimed he was a criminal who'd run from clan justice. Anyway, after interviewing him prior to turning him over to their representatives, he claimed that his whole family had been wiped out along with everyone loyal to him. He said the killer was a newly-turned vampire named Tillis Bradshaw. We didn't take that statement at face value. When we looked into this Bradshaw character, we learned that he's a member of a vicious, outlaw biker club who are into narcotics distribution and a whole host of other criminal activities."

"Okay, so this vampire clan is now run by a criminal," Two Trees said. "A lot of them are. Most vamps can't distinguish the difference between right and wrong which is because they're dead. They're cold-blooded killers."

"They're monsters, plain and simple," Uwaite added with the growl back in his voice. "Why should we care about them or even entertain helping this Townsend guy? He's probably just coming to you with some story anyway."

Ari sucked in a breath when he saw Eoghan go bright red. Eoghan turned in his chair and directed his remarks right at the deputy. "Alo…listen. I told you that I caught this guy when he came to L.A. He was so slow from malnutrition, that I was able to subdue him with a dart even though he should have been able to avoid it. With normal vampire speed, he would have been able to sneak up on me so fast, I would never have gotten off a shot.

"When we finally got a good look at him, he was so underweight, we knew he'd been starved. I should know. I'm the one who carried his skinny ass seven blocks through the sewers that night. That kind of emaciation only happens when a vampire isn't feeding regularly. He went through several crates of synthetic blood while we had him caged, waiting on his escorts that first day. That's no story, Deputy, that's real. We saw how starved he was. He could have eaten me before I put him down, but he didn't. He begged us for help to save his people."

"That's a sad story," Two Trees said. "If he really is a decent guy, which I doubt, I hope he gets his throne back, but we can't help him and why would you think we would, Marshals?"

"Look, this all happened in Flagstaff," Eoghan replied. "King Townsend came all the way to L.A. because he knew not to stop in Vegas. He said there were already spies there. He was praying they weren't already there in Los Angeles."

"It means Bradshaw's poison has spread off the reservation," Ari added. "He's either developed or is possibly piggybacking on an established distribution route for the drug running business. We know whatever he's doing, it has a long reach. That means his drugs and along with them, an army of vampires, will eventually turn up here in Tahoe. It's only a matter of time."

For the first time in the last few minutes, Ari noticed Two Trees squirming in his chair as he glanced over at his deputy and then back at Eoghan. He sighed.

"I'm sure this isn't the first rogue vamp or shifter whose tried this kind of shit," the chief said. "What does the I.S.R. usually do about it? I know you're not a policing authority as such but you're the closest thing to it."

"Normally, we call the Agency, and they give us the resources and go ahead to deal with this type of thing," Eoghan replied. "It involves a lot of marshals and whatever authorities on the individual reservations that we can trust." He pointed to his phone. "This time when Chief Deputy Priest called the Agency, she was told to turn Townsend over to Bradshaw's minions and close the case. Basically, throwing him to the wolves. They wanted nothing to do with the situation even after she relayed what Townsend told us about his imprisonment in a coffin for three months, chained up, and being left to starve to death."

"And this is when she found the listening devices in her office and in her home?"

"Almost the very next day, yeah," Ari said. "Look, Chief, what Eoghan's saying is that there is danger afoot for all clans, vampires and shifters alike. Not only is the distribution of drugs going to be a problem but think about it, there could be more serious consequences. With more territory, Bradshaw's going to need more vampires to help run his business. He certainly can't be in ten places at once. When it comes to more vampires, you and I both know they can crank those out literally overnight.

"Vampires don't procreate like you and other shifters and they don't have to wait until their recruits grow up. They just turn people left and right. No one wants to be overrun by crazed, newly-made, starving vampires and no one wants the Agency cracking down on all shifters and tightening a noose around the necks of other clans. You gotta think long term here but not too long," Ari emphasized. "Bradshaw's been in power almost six months now. Who knows how strong he already is and he's getting stronger every day."

When Two Trees sat forward and looked over at his deputy with wide eyes, Ari knew his words had hit home. "Shit!" he exclaimed, looking over at them. "All right. What can we do anyway? It doesn't seem possible for us to help but tell me what we can do."

"Thank you," Eoghan said.

Two Trees shook his head. "Don't thank me. You still have to convince the tribal council to help and if they say no, which they very likely will, there's not a goddamned thing I can do about it."

"You're going to have to be convincing," Uwaite said. He looked scared and determined all at the same time. To Ari's shock he held out his hand to Eoghan. "I'm sorry for being combative. I know you came here with our safety and wellbeing in mind, just as much as you need our help." After they shook hands, he looked at the chief. "Can we take this to the tribal council?"

Two Trees cracked a smile and nodded before looking at Eoghan. He stood up. "Let me make a call and see how soon we can get a meeting with the council. I take it that time is of the essence?"

"You know it," Eoghan said, standing along with Ari and the deputy. "The sooner we come up with a game plan, the better off we'll be."

"You know what a huge ask this is going to be. I hope you're ready to be convincing."

"Are you convinced?"

He shrugged and then smiled. "I'm convinced." He indicated his deputy with a tilt of his head. "You convinced Alo and that's a nearly impossible task, so I think that's a good head start."

"But you don't know the tribal council," Uwaite said. "Some of them are assholes of the highest order."

"Alo!" the chief chided.

"Come on, Joe. You know they are. Convincing Blackwood is going to be next to impossible and they have to be unified or it's a no go."

"I know," Two Trees said. "Why don't you all let me make some calls. Alo can show you the break room."

"That sounds good. Thanks so much, Chief," Eoghan said.

Ari followed him and the deputy out of the office, shutting the door behind him and crossing his fingers for a positive outcome.

Twenty minutes later, the chief walked into the break room where the three of them were sitting at a small table finishing their earlier cups of coffee. He looked harried. His hair was sticking up on top of his head as if he'd either been pulling it or running nervous fingers through it. When he walked over, stopping at the table, he smiled. "Well, that was a conversation I want to forget," he said.

"Bad?"

He set his hands on his hips and twisted around looking behind him for something. When he looked back in their direction, the relief on his face was palpable. "Well, at least it's all there."

"What?" Alo asked.

"My ass. It was doubtful after Blackwood got finished chewing on it."

"Who is he?" Eoghan asked.

"He thinks he's the tribal chief," Uwaite said. "He's not, for the record. He's just the biggest blowhard and the most unpleasant jerk you'd ever not want to meet." He thinned his lips before looking over at Two Trees. "Why was he chewing your ass? Did you tell him?"

"I had to tell him something. He wanted to put off the meeting for a week because of budgeting deadlines. I'm pretty convinced he says that shit just to get under my skin. The damned budget isn't due until the end of June."

"That's not good," Eoghan said. "How'd you put it exactly?"

"Like you did. That we could soon be overrun by vampires and drugs and all kinds of poisonous shit that threatens our very existence. And that we, as one of the strongest shifter clans in California with close friends in several Nevada clans, have a responsibility not to ignore this."

"You told him the whole thing?" Ari asked.

"I gave him the highlights. We have a meeting with the whole council this afternoon at four."

Ari watched Eoghan take a relieved breath. "Thank you, Joe. I don't know how to convey the importance of what you just did for all clans."

"It's fine. I can't wait to see Blackwood ask you questions and see you shove a few truths down his throat. He's kind of a dick."

"He sounds like one," Eoghan said.

"Just promise me one thing," Two Trees said.

"What?"

"Don't go easy on him."

They all laughed.

"Come on," Uwaite said, standing up. "It's early but the barbeque joint we told you about opens at eleven and we don't have an appointment with them until four."

"That's just fine then," Eoghan said with a smile. "Let's go."