“Yeah, but you killed Dwayne Fenster,” his deputy pointed out.
“Shut up, McCall! I couldn’t help it—he ran right at me!” Wainright snarled defensively.
“And it looks like Mike killed Clancy himself—at least if the gunshot wounds match up with that shotgun,” Deputy McCall continued. “It’s just a big ol’ clusterfuck up in here.”
“Which is why I don’t want anyone taking my suspects!” Wainright exclaimed.
“I promise you, officer, that the prisoner will be held in the Monstrum Mother Ship for as long as your investigation continues,” Commander Rarev said smoothly in a deep, purring tone that seemed designed to soothe ruffled feathers. “We won’t send him to the prison planet until you’re finished. At any time you can come and interview him—though I am afraid it won’t do you much good. As you can see, this warrior is locked in a state we call ‘the Fury’ which makes him unable to speak or understand.”
He spoke to me! He understood me! He loved me and I loved him! Christine thought. She tried to speak but this time all she could make was a moaning noise. It was loud enough, at least, to get Commander Baird’s attention.
“Holy shit—you have a wounded female here!” he exclaimed, coming over to kneel by Christine. “This oughta be your first priority! What’s wrong with you two?”
He shot a glare at the Sheriff and his deputy as he severed the zip-tie around Christine’s wrists, which allowed her arms to flop free. Commander Rarev was doing the same for Jenny, who seemed to be in some kind of shock. She just watched the Monstrum commander with wide eyes and didn’t say a word as he freed her.
“Please,” Christine whispered, but her voice came out all slurred and strange. Something like, “Puleeeze.”
“You okay?” Baird studied her bruised face anxiously. “I can tell you’ve been beaten—were you badly injured?”
“Hit…head,” Christine managed to say in a hoarse whisper.
“Goddess damn it, we have a seriously injured female here!” he exclaimed, looking up at them. “Do you have any medical facilities around this area?”
Sheriff Wainright frowned.
“Closest hospital is over the mountain.”
“In other words, no,” Rarev said, frowning. “I think we had better bring her with us, Commander Baird. I’ll drop the two of you off at the Kindred Mother Ship and bring the prisoner back to the Monstrum Mother Ship for safe keeping.”
Baird nodded shortly.
“Sounds like a plan. Come on.” He scooped Christine into his arms gently, speaking softly as he did. “It’s all right, little female—I’ve got you,” he rumbled reassuringly. “We’re going to get you the help you need.”
“What about the young one?” Rarev asked, nodding at Jenny who was staring around herself with wide, horrified eyes.
“I…I’m all right,” Jenny whispered, obviously forcing herself to speak. “I just…just want to go home to my mom and dad.”
“We can take her home,” Deputy McCall told the Kindred.
“All right—but be gentle with her,” Rarev said, frowning. “It’s clear she has been through a lot today.” He gestured at the three dead bodies and the blood everywhere. “This would be difficult for a seasoned warrior to deal with—let alone an innocent child.”
“I still don’t like you taking my suspect,” Sheriff Wainright began, as Rarev pressed another button on his black box and the golden net, containing the still-snarling Roarn, rose into the air and floated at about waist level.
“That’s too fucking bad,” Baird said shortly. “Commander Rarev told you we’ll keep the suspect until you’re done with your investigation. He’ll be at the Monstrum Mother Ship if you want to see him. Now move out of the way—this female is badly injured and I need to get her some help!”
Christine wasn’t sure if the Sheriff was going to move out of the way or not. He was still standing there with his hand on the butt of his gun, glaring self-importantly at the two Kindred. But then Jenny began to sob. Her face, which had been pale and calm, abruptly crumpled as she burst into tears.
“Take me home!” she begged him and Deputy McCall. “Please—I want my mom!”
“Of course you do, sweetie.” Deputy McCall put a comforting arm around the girl’s shaking shoulders. He looked at Wainright. “Sheriff?”
“Oh, all right,” Wainright sighed and stepped out of the doorway. “But I still don’t like letting a murder suspect go.”
“He’s just being moved to another location,” Rarev said in that low, soothing purring tone of his. “We’ll be in touch.”
He produced a card like the one the two Kindred had given to Christine when they were first looking for Roarn and handed it to the Sheriff. Then, using the controls on the black box, he maneuvered the still-struggling Roarn, wrapped in the glowing net, out of the trailer and down the front steps.
Baird followed with Christine in his arms. She still felt limp and her thoughts were getting more sluggish. She couldn’t even struggle as she watched the two big Kindred put the net-wrapped Roarn in the back of a golden spaceship and close the door on him.