Chapter Eight
Officer Kincaid
Dr. Cranston was less than pleased with Stephan and me for our disturbance, and he happily signed my discharge papers the next morning.
“We will mail your results. Good luck to you, Miss Sinclair,” he said. “I sincerely wish you well.” Fear was hidden beneath his words. Almost as if he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.
Stephan was not permitted on hospital grounds anymore unless he was being escorted inside either in handcuffs or on a gurney.
He drove me to pick up my rental car before heading to the club he owned downtown.
When I got home, I climbed into bed with Seth’s sweatshirt wrapped tightly in my arms. It smelled like him. I held back my tears and slowly summoned my clairvoyance.
There were flames all around me, flames that singed my flesh and poisoned my air. I couldn’t breathe past the smoke. I couldn’t scream. I could see nothing but the fire.
As I sat panting on the bed, my phone rang.
“Hello, Jade.” Madam Stella’s soothing voice greeted. “How are you feeling, sweet child?”
“I feel overwhelmed, but I am taking it one day at a time,” I answered. “I’m trying to see Seth, but all I can feel and see is fire. What does that mean?”
“I do not know.” She confided. “Perhaps the accident has altered your power. You suffered a head injury after all.”
“Could an injury do that?”
“Perhaps. Let me do some research. I will be in touch.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Jade?”
“Yes?”
“The officer that saved you, have you thanked him?”
“No. Why?” I asked, curiously.
“Maybe you should.” She urged and hung up.
Until that moment I had pushed out Officer Adrian Kincaid from my mind, but maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to seek him out and find out why he stayed with me. What did he want? Did he know anything about the case Faust was working on?
Perhaps if I buried myself in work, I could be distracted enough until the authorities in Romania returned my phone call about Seth.
I took in a deep breath and looked around my bedroom. It felt empty. It held memories I didn’t want right now. Slowly, I got out of bed and headed for the shower. The steaming, hot water running down my body helped loosen my tight muscles and protesting joints.
After my shower, I brushed my teeth and the feel of the toothbrush on my tongue made me wince. It was sore. I tried to find the culprit by looking in the mirror, but all I could see was a healing bruise. Inspecting myself in the mirror I took in my reflection for the first time in days. The bruises on my cheeks were gone, and the brown in my eyes seemed lighter – almost golden. Like caramel.
I got dressed in faded blue jeans, white t-shirt, and black ankle boots. I wrestled my hair into a messy bun and grabbed my black faux-leather jacket and walked out the door.
It was time to visit Officer Kincaid.
***
Officer Ryan Duran was a young rookie eager to be on patrol, but his ties to the chief kept him safely tucked behind a desk for now.
“Jade!” he said with a grin as I walked into the station. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Ryan. I am here to see Faust. Is he in?”
“Actually, he is out right now. Is there someone else that can help you?”
I shook my head. “Nope. I need him.”
“Oh. I’m sorry,” he said. “I can have him call you when he gets back.”
“Yes, do that, please.”
He smiled again. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“Actually, yes. I’m looking for Officer Adrian Kincaid.”
“Ahh, the head of the M.T.U,” he said.
“The what?”
“Adrian is head of the Monster Tactical Unit. He should be finishing up his paperwork. Down the hall to the right. You can’t miss him.”
I should have known he would be part of a different division. Their uniforms are not navy blue like the rest of the officers.
“Thanks, Ryan.” I gave him my best smile and headed in the direction he suggested.
The station was quiet as day shift finished up and night shift emerged.
I walked into the room and noticed only one officer sitting in a chair with his back to me. He sat up straighter as if he could sense me but didn’t turn to meet my eyes.
“Excuse me,” I said softly.
He stiffened in his seat.
“I’m looking for Officer Kincaid.”
He turned and looked at me with those bright green eyes, but it wasn’t their hypnotic color that threw me. It was the way he was looking at me. Like I was the only thing he could see. His dark brows gave him a near-permanent scowl on his golden-tanned, stubbly face. His raven hair was tapered on the sides with a slight quiff on top.
“You found him.” He reported. “I’m Adrian Kincaid.”
He stood up, towering over me.
“I’m Jade Sinclair.” I offered my hand.
Hesitantly, he took it and the moment we touched, it was like a jolt of lightning through my core. My knees buckled and my heart accelerated, but he pulled his hand away too quickly.
His brows narrowed briefly. “Miss Sinclair…” He avoided my eyes. “I hope that I have not…”
I nodded. “May I see you outside, Officer Kincaid?”
He thought for another second. “Of course.” He agreed with a bogus smile. The gesture brightened his face and gave him a certain appeal. Okay, a lot of appeal. I can admit that.
I lead him through the emergency exit near his desk and out of the building.
When I heard the door shut behind him, I tightened my fist and struck him square in his jaw.
“What the fuck did you do to me?” I snarled.