The Alpha - Joel Abernathy Page 0,46

per se, he did as far as protecting the city from wayward ghouls went.

He waited while Andrew's secretary went to announce his arrival to her boss, and fully prepared to be reamed out for not making an appointment. Then again, he was acting on Jason’s behalf, and whether Colt liked it or not, Andrew was definitely interested in Jason’s wellbeing.

“Come in,” Andrew said, motioning for Colt to follow him into his office.

Colt looked around the stately room, which had been cleared of most of the clutter Jason told him Carver had left behind. “Nice renovations.”

Andrew snorted. “What can I do for you? I take it you’re not here to discuss my office decor.”

“I’ve got a lead, and I need your help,” Colt admitted. As he explained the situation, Andrew’s face didn’t change, but Colt knew what was going on in his mind. Andrew wasn’t shy about bending the rules to get the job done, but kidnapping and murder were different from extortion. Even if it was ghouls he was talking about.

When Colt had finally finished outlining the plan to him, Andrew waited a few moments to respond. Colt wasn’t sure if he was considering whether he was going to help, or whether he was trying to figure out a justification for putting cuffs on him there and then.

“And you really think he’ll just hand Jason over if you deliver this Plague Doctor?”

Colt shrugged. “He gave the kid back. Seems like the only option I have at this point.”

Andrew’s expression grew even more somber as he finally answered. “I’ll help you.”

“You will?” Colt asked, unable to hide his shock.

“We’re talking about Jason here. Plus, I’m not exactly concerned about the ghouls. They’re your problem. I can get you an in with Christopher’s daughter, and his wife’s number, if there’s even a chance it’ll get Jason back.”

“That’s more than enough,” Colt assured him. “Thank you.”

Andrew reached for the jacket draped over the back of his chair and seemed to be preparing to leave.

“You don’t need to come. You can just give me the info.”

Andrew gave him a look. “I know Stephanie. We’ve already been through this with Christopher, it’ll be easier if I’m the one doing the talking.”

It was a fair point, and Colt really didn’t have time to quibble over the details. He walked out of the office with Andrew as the DA instructed his secretary to cancel his appointments for the rest of the day. By the time they made it out to the parking lot, Andrew had gone silent.

When Colt went for his truck, Andrew finally spoke up. “We should take my car. Yours isn’t exactly inconspicuous.”

Colt looked back at his monster of a truck and sighed. “Fine,” he said, deciding he’d have to get over his aversion to being a passenger.

“What are you doing?” Colt asked as Andrew took out his phone to type out a message.

“I’m asking Stephanie to meet me at a bar.”

“And you really think that’ll work?” Colt asked doubtfully.

Andrew gave him a wry look. “You really have been out of the dating game for a long time, haven’t you?”

Andrew’s phone buzzed a second later, and he immediately answered the text. “Alright. She’s meeting me in twenty."

“That soon?”

Andrew just smirked and pulled out onto the road. He drove in silence, and Colt found himself wondering if he was having second thoughts. The first words out of his mouth didn’t help. “How are we going to do this?”

“It won’t be as rough as it was with Christopher,” Colt assured him. “I brought sedatives from the hospital. All you have to do is get them into her drink, assuming she actually shows up.”

Andrew grimaced, his knuckles going white on the steering wheel. “I hate this.”

“Trust me, this isn’t how I wanted to start my day either,” Colt muttered. “It’s for Jason. And remember, she’s a ghoul.”

“Right,” Andrew sighed.

Neither of them spoke another word until they arrived at the bar. Colt pulled the small plastic bag full of sedatives out of his pocket and handed them to Andrew. “Try to be subtle about it.”

Andrew glared at him, tucking the bag into his pocket. “I already feel like a fucking creep doing this, ghoul or not. You don’t need to tell me how.”

“Fair enough,” Colt said, holding up his hands.

“Stay here until I text you,” said Andrew. “Pull the car around and meet me at the back entrance.”

Colt nodded his assent. And then he waited.

And waited.

He was actually contemplating whether to go in to see if something had gone