Unbinding by Eileen Wilks Read Free Book Online

should have melted the officious young officer into a puddle of cooperation. Instead the man stood even stiffer. “I’ve told you twice now to move on.”
    “It’s a public goddamn sidewalk, asshole.”
    A sidewalk currently crowded with curiosity seekers and a couple reporters, one of whom was eyeing Cullen. He was certainly photogenic, but it was also possible the woman recognized him. Nathan touched Cullen’s arm to get his attention and jerked his head to the left, where Benedict waited. For a moment he thought Cullen was going to stay and argue himself into getting arrested, but Benedict said his name. Cullen huffed out an impatient breath and obeyed.
    Benedict and his men had arrived a bare five minutes ahead of Nathan. They’d been told to move along, too, and Benedict had chosen to seem to obey. Though he’d deployed his squad, only two of them were visible, and Benedict himself was waiting about twenty feet away. It was a good decision. This young cop was the type to react to intimidation by doubling down, and all Benedict had to do to look intimidating was breathe.
    “I’m going to call Kai,” Nathan said as they headed for Benedict. “Cullen, maybe you should call Ruben.”
    “Damn straight I will. I’m betting the FBI hasn’t been called in at all. Whatever idiot is in charge decided to shut them out for some stupid reason, though this is clearly a Unit 12 matter. If—”
    Dell spoke suddenly. “Kai pissed. Wants us come in.”
    Nathan glanced at her. “I imagine so. But she doesn’t want you to do anything, does she?” Such as break the young officer’s neck so she could get inside.
    Dell growled softly. Nathan took that for an affirmative.
    They’d reached Benedict. Cullen pulled his phone out. “Dell, you going to be okay waiting a little longer? Ruben can get us in, but it may take—”
    “No need,” Benedict said. “Arjenie already called him.” He nodded at the barricade, where a dirty white Ford was pulling up. “Guess he sent us this guy, since Lily’s in France.”
    Cullen stopped and shook his head. “Huh. Who’d have thought I’d ever be glad to see the Big A?”
    “He’ll admit us?” Nathan asked.
    “Yeah. He’s an asshole, but he’s not stupid.”
    The four of them headed back toward the barricade, where three people were getting out of the car—two men and a woman. It was obvious which one was in charge, but not because he looked the part. Derwin Ackleford, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s local office, was a middle-aged Anglo, neither short nor tall, fat nor thin. He wore a suit the color of bland and a grade-A scowl.
    Nathan had met Ackleford during the legal sort-out of the events that brought him and Kai back to Earth. The man was regular FBI, not part of their Magical Crimes Division, much less the special unit that investigated the most serious magical problems. While he had a smidgeon of a Gift, he preferred to think of himself as a null. He didn’t like magic, didn’t trust it, and knew damn little about it. Still, if he was reasonable about using the resources at hand—i.e., Nathan and Cullen—his ignorance didn’t have to be a major problem.
    “Ackleford,” Cullen called as they drew near. “We need to get in there, and Dickhead over there isn’t listening.”
    Ackleford, as usual, stank of cigarette smoke. He aimed his scowl at Cullen. “I know why you’re here. But you two—” He pointed at Benedict, then at Nathan. “You two can go away. Believe it or not, I’m not here to reunite everyone with their girlfriends.”
    Benedict said, “You might find my nose helpful.”
    Ackleford considered that. The idea didn’t make him any happier, but he said, “All right. But it’s my turf, so my rules. As for you.” He turned the scowl on Nathan. “Your girlfriend doesn’t need you to hold her hand while someone sticks on a bandage or two. If she even needs bandages. Didn’t sound like it. You can wait out here