Page 19 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

A few days after Devon made enforcer, I came home from work and on my way in the door I stepped on a piece of paper that had been slipped under it.

The unexpected difference in traction sent me sliding.

After catching myself, I picked up the paper.

I immediately saw that it was another white envelope like the one I'd found under my windshield wiper.

I set it on the end table in my living room, dug my PCD out of my purse and dialed Devon.

"What's up, Little Warrior?" He answered.

"I got another one."

"Another what?"

"Another note."

"Where?"

"I found it in my apartment when I came in from work today, someone slid it under the door."

"What does it say?"

"I don't know, I haven't opened it yet. When I picked it up and saw it was the same kind of envelope I didn't want to contaminate any possible evidence so I set it on the table in the living room, and called you."

"All right, that makes sense. I'm almost home. I'll come straight to your place if you want, but I'm grimy." He warned.

"How about you stop by your place and get some clothes, then you can shower and change here."

"That sounds good. I'll do that. Why don't you call Raine, and have him come take a look at it, we can get his opinion and see if he can recover any evidence that might be there."

"All right, I'll do that while I wait for you." I disconnected from Devon and immediately dialed Raine. Unable to stand still and look at the letter, I wandered aimlessly through my apartment while I waited for him to answer.

"Hey, Nickie," Raine said as he picked up. "what's up?"

"Are you busy?" I asked.

"Not particularly. What's up?"

I sighed, knowing I was going to have to start at the beginning.

"Last week at work I left the office to pick up lunch one afternoon, and felt like I was being watched.

The sensation lasted until I got back to the office.

That evening when I got off, I found a note stuck under the windshield wiper on my car. "

"What did it say?"

"'Stay away from the impostor'." I recited for him.

"Impostor?" he asked.

"That's what Brandon's been calling Devon."

"Do you think Brandon left it?"

"I'm not sure. I didn't pick up his scent on it, but that doesn't mean he didn't have some friend watch me or leave it."

"Right. So what do you need from me?"

"I just walked into my apartment and found another note. This one had been slipped under my door while I was gone."

"What does this one say?"

"I don't know, I haven't opened it yet. I don't want to destroy any evidence that might tell us who left it."

"Have you touched it at all?"

"I stepped on the envelope and almost fell. I picked it up off the floor, but as soon as I recognized the envelope, I set it on the table and haven't touched it."

"That's good. I assume you're alone?"

"For a little bit, Dev's on his way home. He's gonna stop by his place and get something then come here, so I won't be for long."

"Good. It will probably take me thirty or forty-five minutes to gather up what I need and get there. Don't touch the note or envelope until I get there."

"All right. Thanks, Raine. It means a lot that you'd drop everything to come help me out like this."

"What else would I do?" He asked as though he wouldn't do anything else.

"I don't know, but thanks anyway."

"Don't open the door to anyone but me and Devon. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I won't, I promise." I rang off and went into the bedroom to change. I couldn't see any reason to stay in the suit I'd worn to work, and I wanted to be comfortable.

I'd finished pulling my tank top on over my head and was settling the hem around my hips when a knock sounded on the front door. I approached the door warily, scenting the air as well as looking through the peep hole, before opening it and letting Devon in.

"I need to add your print to the locks." I closed the door behind him. "Oh, wow, you weren't kidding when you said you were grimy."

He set a bag on the table next to the door.

"Yeah, a tractor broke down in the middle of the field, so I spent the day crawling under it, in the mud, trying to fix it.

I'm filthy." He carefully toed his muddy boots off on the tiled entryway.

"I'm not saying I don't like the idea, but are you sure you're ready for me to have full access to your place?

" He pulled his muddy tee shirt over his head.

"Why not? We spend most of our time together, either here or at your place." I shrugged. "You might as well lose the pants too, or you'll trail that mud all the way to the bathroom."

"I guess you have a point. Did you call Raine?" He stepped out of his jeans and handed them to me when I held out one hand.

"Yeah. He said it would take him a little while to get here and not to touch the note or the envelope until he did."

"So I have time to shower, real quick?" He asked.

"Go for it. I'm gonna go take care of these, and dig up something for us to eat. Is there anything in particular you want?"

"Not really." He headed into the bedroom. I heard the bathroom door close and I went into the kitchen to deal with the muddy mess in my hands, and find us some dinner.

I put together one of my favorite chicken dishes and I was putting it in the oven to cook when Devon strolled into the kitchen, his feet bare and his hair hanging wetly around his ears.

"I hope you don't mind, I used your brush."

"Why would I mind if you use my brush? I let you use my pillow, remember?"

He chuckled. "I kinda thought you'd see it that way."

He came closer and wrapped both arms around my waist. Bending down, he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me, a deep searching kiss that I didn't want to end.

"I wanted to do that when I came in," He said, lifting his head. "but I was so dirty, and you were all clean."

"Mmm. Do it again." I wrapped my arms around his waist, not letting him move away.

He lowered his mouth to mine again and gave me another kiss, this one was lighter and a little teasing.

"Better?"

"Uh-huh." I rubbed my face against his chest, inhaling the smell of him mixed with the subtle scent of the special shampoo I get from another pack member. It had only a very light, scent especially for our sensitive noses.

"What did you make for dinner?" He glanced around the small kitchen.

"Creamy chicken and rice." I enjoyed the feel of his arms around me.

"That sounds good, how long till it's ready?"

"An hour, hour and a half. We should have plenty of time to deal with the note before then."

"Sounds good. What did you do with my clothes?"

"I tossed them in the washer."

Devon winced. "My PCD was in the pocket of my jeans."

"I know. I emptied the pockets. It's all on top of the washer." I grinned up at him.

He shook his head, smiling. "You did that on purpose."

"Yep." I stretched up and planted a quick kiss on his cheek before moving out of his arms and heading for the living room.

"Where you headed?" Devon asked.

"The door, Raine's here."

"What makes you say so?"

"I heard his radio. Unless there's another cop on the stairs, it's Raine." I looked out the small window next to the door and saw my brother making his way up the stairs to my third floor apartment. I turned back to where Devon stood in the doorway, watching. "See?"

I opened the door just as Raine reached the landing. "Hey. Thanks for coming." I let him inside, and closed the door.

"No problem." Raine set the small case he carried onto the coffee table. He glanced at Devon and nodded, acknowledging him without speaking. "You haven't touched it since you picked it up?"

"Nope, I picked it up and set it down there." I pointed to the envelope on the table near the end of the couch. "I called Devon, then you, and I haven't touched it since."

"Good. Let's take a look at it." Raine opened the case and pulled on a pair of gloves before picking up the envelope and looking it over carefully. "Devon, have you tried to pick up a scent from this yet?"

"No, I only got out of the shower a few minutes ago. I hadn't even looked at the envelope."

Raine flipped the envelope in his hands. "It's not sealed, so no chance of DNA there." He noted.

"The last one was the same way, the flap was just tucked inside." I said.

"Do you still have that one?" Raine asked.

"No, I gave it to one of Bill's enforcers. He said he'd look into it."

Raine nodded, but I don't think he was happy that I'd given away the first note.

"Devon, why don't you come see if you can pick up a scent off this." Raine opened the folded flap of the envelope, so Devon could smell the contents.

Devon moved close, bent over the upheld envelope, and inhaled, carefully scenting the contents.

He concentrated on what his senses were picking up, without over loading them by taking too deep of breath and overpowering his nose.

A crease formed between his eyebrows and he took a second, deeper sniff, then backed away, shaking his head.

"It's the same scent that was on the first note, but I still can't place it."

"Do you want to try, Nickie?" Raine asked, holding the open envelope toward me.

I shook my head. "I trust Devon. I don't know enough of the pack to place the scent."

Raine nodded and gently slipping the folded paper out of the envelope, setting it to one side. He laid out a piece of plastic sheeting and put the envelope on top of it. He sprayed the envelope with a small bottle from the kit.

"This is a chemical that will react with oils from the skin, making any fingerprints show up in blue." Raine explained.

A few seconds later several fingerprints appeared on the envelope. Raine used a small scanner from the kit to scan each of the prints. I stepped closer and pointed to one blue print on the corner of the envelope.

"This is where I picked it up." I said, careful not to touch the paper.