The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,39
was being treated by Kincaid and some of the others.”
“I know, but he’s managed to convince a couple of them. Not enough to do anything but… I’m worried, Marcus. He’s been meeting in private with his allies, and I’m concerned he’ll somehow force Garcia and Voight off the Council. I don’t know how, but if anyone could do it…”
“It’s him,” he finished, stomach revolting at the idea of Kincaid staging some sort of coup and taking over the Council. The man was a sadist and would revel in torturing any pack that tried to stand against him. “My request for some old documents in the archives seems unnecessary now.”
She hesitated, almost like she was surprised that had been what he was contacting her about, then she said, “Okay. I have something for you though.”
That brought him up short. “You do?”
“Yes, Councilwoman Voight slipped it to me a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been trying to find a way to get it to you, but I didn’t want to risk leaving Mehko to find a place to mail it in a human city.” She paused, and his anxiety ratcheted up. “It’s… from Councilman Gregson. He tried to mail it to you right before his death, but apparently he was stopped. I’m not sure how Voight got her hands on it.”
He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath to try and calm his raging emotions. His office door opened slowly, and Nico’s scent calmed him a little. “What is it?”
“A letter, I think. I didn’t open it.”
He peered at Nico’s worried face, then shut his eyes again. “Read it to me, please.”
Wendy cleared her throat, and he heard a tearing sound. She quietly read him the last thing Mikel had probably ever written, the back of his mind wondering if it was what had gotten him killed. The Council had declared his death from natural causes, but Marcus and the rest of his pack didn’t buy that. Mikel had called Rick right before his death and told him not to trust the Council and that he was coming to see him so he could talk to him freely. They’d never heard anything else from him. Marcus wondered if the letter was written before or after his call to Rick.
When Wendy finished, she said there were some numbers on the bottom of the page.
Marcus croaked out, “What do you mean?”
“Some sort of code. He told me he was being watched. At the time, I thought he was perhaps just being paranoid. You know how eccentric he’d always been.”
Marcus grunted in agreement as he slowly sat forward, mind running fast. A code. Holy shit. “I think… Never mind. Can you read the numbers to me? I’m going to copy it down.”
“I don’t think I should,” she whispered, “just in case.”
Just in case Kincaid or one of his minions were listening.
“Can you get me the letter?” he asked carefully, guilt souring his stomach at putting her at risk. “I don’t want you taking unnecessary risks though.”
“I’ll do my best.” She crinkled the paper a little, then opened and closed some sort of cupboard or drawer. She lowered her voice even further. “I think I may have to bring the letter to you in person.”
He sat up straight and met Nico’s wide eyes. “Wendy, do not put yourself at risk. It isn’t worth your life.”
She didn’t say anything for a long moment, just quietly breathing into the phone. “If you find something important enough in it,” she said softly, “then it just might be. If we don’t stop Councilman Kincaid… Marcus, I’ll do everything I can. Once I leave Mehko, I’ll purchase another phone and contact you. Don’t use this number again unless it’s an emergency, okay?”
“Wendy…”
“I know what I’m doing,” she said, voice a little firmer.
Nico’s grim face probably matched Marcus’s own. “Okay,” he said gruffly. “I won’t contact this number again.”
She took a shuddery breath. “Thank you. I’ll see you in a couple weeks, okay? If you don’t hear from me by then… don’t wait for me. Come up with a new plan.”
She hung up before he could say anything or try and convince her not to put herself in danger for him and his pack. His chest was heavy with guilt and fear.
“What did I just do?” he whispered, looking up at Nico. He thought he might be sick. “She’s going to get herself killed playing hero, and it’ll be my fault.”
“Stop that.” Nico stood and came around Marcus’s desk, pulling