Cat Scratch Fever; Blue-Collar Werewolves V by Buffi BeCraft Read Free Book Online

had overindulged on a good thing. At one time, the scent would
have made her feel more protective towards the man, but his kind
had done too much. The psychics had taken their phobia too far.
“Well?” Kemlec’s muddy hazel eyes fixed on the scientist’s
impassive countenance.
    Dr. Drake picked up his clipboard from his
station, his attention fixed on the notes there. “Inconclusive.
Vampires do not contract the virus. You have not been able to
obtain a dragon for—.”
    “Enough!” Kemlec shouted. He swept a tray of
medical paraphernalia to the floor. His face mottled red with his
tantrum. He pointed one finger at Drake. “You are supposed to be
the premier authority on the supernatural biology. Find out why my
super-flu virus doesn’t work. Develop one that does work,” his
finger swung around to point at Naomi huddled in the back of her
cell. “Or join them.”
    Dr. Drake stilled, his face expressionless.
His fingers flexed on his clipboard. “Sir, I am not—.”
    Kemlec snorted, not a pretty sight for the
balding round faced man. “Don’t try telling me you’re not one of us
Drake. I know your family. And I can sense psychic power.”
    Dr. Drake bowed his head. The odd neutrality
of his scent masked what he felt from Naomi, but she imagined he
wasn’t happy about the threat. “Of course, Mr. Kemlec.”
    The standard ring of a cell phone erupted
from Kemlec’s breast pocket. Snatching the phone out, he pressed
the device to one ear. “What is it Marie?”
    The woman’s voice on the other end was crisp
and professional, and clear as a bell with the advantage of
supernatural hearing. “Sorry to bother you sir, but the accountant
that came to our attention yesterday has made progress in
uncovering the various accounts used to fund project Achilles.”
    Kemlec’s beady eyes squinted. With his heavy
jowls, he looked like a TV mob boss getting ready to order a hit.
“Yeah? How much progress?”
    “I believe he just left the underground lab
levels, sir.” The assistant replied.
    “Well, hell.” Kemlec paused, moving the
phone to his chest. “From auditing to snooping in seventy-two
hours. That is progress. Damn, I hate killing good accountants.” He
stared hard at Dr. Drake, making good on that mob boss analogy in
Naomi’s head. “Remember what I said, Doctor Drake. I want a
way to kill off the werewolves by the end of the week. Then see how
to replicate it for the other species.”
    “The feline studies are close to completion,
sir.” The huge scientist’s sir seemed forced. His unaffected
attitude cracked just a bit as his fingers flexed against the
clipboard. “I have been reviewing Dr. Corban’s research. Not all of
his notes were entered into the computer.”
    Kemlec cut a hand through the air. “No.
Corban was useless. I don’t care why cats can interbreed and get
purebred litters. I don’t care why they can’t infect us. That’s a
bonus in my book. If they can contract the Achilles virus, they
will die just fine.” Putting the phone back to his ear, he turned
to leave the laboratory. “Get rid of the cats, Drake, and
commission some werewolves. I want results.”
    The doors swished open as Kemlec returned to
his phone conversation. “Marie? About that accountant. Is he human
or psychic?” Naomi didn’t need to hear Marie’s answer. Kemlec
huffed a put out sigh. “Damn, woman. Lay off hiring the humans. How
am I supposed to get werewolves for the lab if you keep hiring
nulls?”
    * * * *
    Dr. Drake watched the doors close behind
Kemlec. Turning, he made his way back to his station and carefully
set his clipboard down on his desk. Even now, at night in an
emergency meeting with his boss, he wore latex gloves and a lab
coat. Naomi wondered if the scientist was phobic or just using good
sense in the workplace. Without hurrying, he bent to open the small
refrigeration unit that held his vast collection of samples.
    “Nice disguise doc.” The difference in
Nathan’s voice