filled with cardboard boxes, piled high as the ceiling. Xeon walked over to the cages. He smelled the shifters that had once been inside. He examined each cell. His sister’s scent was strong in the fourth cell on the right. Reaching his hand into the cage, he ran his finger along the top of one of the boxes. No dust had settled on them. They hadn’t been there long.
“Looks to me like your witness may have been wrong.” The Sheriff went back to the door.
“She couldn’t have been wrong,” Xeon snarled at him. “Since when do you see cages in a hospital? That’s not normal.”
The sheriff shrugged. “One of the employees said that they’ve been there for years. Apparently they used to do clinical trials on monkeys a long time ago and when they stopped, they never got rid of the cages.”
“These are human sized,” Xeon snapped. “There were shifters here. I smell them all over the place. Trina’s scent is still here.” He pointed at the cage bar he still held on to. “Mara was over there.” He pointed to the next cage over.
“Well, no one’s here now. I can’t do anything with an empty room.” The Sheriff opened the door.
“Her scent is here, damn it!” Xeon yelled and ran to the door, pushing it shut in the sheriff’s face. “My sister’s too. They were treated like fucking lab rats!”
Kyro placed his hand on Xeon’s shoulder to calm him. There’s still another level to look at, Kyro said telepathically. Xeon took a deep breath. Kyro was right. There were still more places to search. With one last look around, he walked out with Kyro.
Sheriff Langley had a smug look on his face, as they got onto the elevator, one that Xeon wanted to punch off him. They rode in silence. If he said anything at all, he wouldn’t be able to hold back his temper. Right now, he wanted to rip the man’s head off for his lack of concern for the people being harmed.
When the elevator door slid open, a long corridor revealed itself. Doors lined both sides of the hallway. Silence met them as they walked down the hall. The rooms were filled with empty hospital beds. Two of the rooms were filled with equipment.
“This isn’t right.” Xeon ran his hands through his hair. “This doesn’t make sense. How can everyone be gone?”
“As I said, your witness seems to be wrong.” Sheriff Langley shook his head. “I can’t believe I got out of bed for this.”
“Then go get back in your damn bed,” Xeon said through gritted teeth.
“I will, soon. After you leave this hospital.” He walked down the hall and stood at the elevator.
“There’s nothing more we can do here.” Kyro placed his hand on Xeon’s shoulder. “Let’s go home.”
Infuriated, Xeon knew Kyro had it right. Their pack mates weren’t there. Maybe spending a little time with Mara tonight will help him recoup for a fresh start tomorrow. If she was still awake.
Chapter Seven
While the guys were gone, Mara sat on the couch and flipped through the magazines stacked on the coffee table. Finishing another one, she dropped it on the table. Sighing, she grabbed her nearly empty whiskey glass and drank the last sip. Xeon and Kyro were gone for hours. Before they got back, she wanted to freshen up.
She stopped briefly by the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. She headed down the hall through the master bedroom to get to the shower Xeon suggested she use.
His bedroom didn’t have a lot of furniture. Only a dark oak dresser, a chest of drawers, and a bed large enough for three completed the room. The bed, of course, was unmade, a typical man. At least there weren’t a ton of clothes lying all over the room. She entered the bathroom and looked around. It was a lot bigger than she expected. A double vanity, a huge tub that could easily fit a trio, and a large walk-in shower with three shower heads took up the majority of the space. She couldn’t wait to feel hot water wash the grime off her body.
Mara took a small sip of water then set the cup on the vanity. Nasty. She stripped down and folded the clothes, laying them on the counter by the sink. She hadn’t been wearing them long and could put them back on after her shower. Reaching in, she turned on the water and waited a moment for the water to heat. Looking