Read Stormrage for Free Online Page A

home each night.
    The Lieutenant entered a few moments later, his grey suit looking impeccable over his lanky frame. He sat across from Raven and ran a hand through his silver hair. Raven smiled at the gesture; Frost always reminded her of Dick Van Dyke and his mannerisms were getting closer every day. It was almost uncanny.
    Frost flipped open a folder and pulled out the first sheet of paper.
    "Your report indicates you and Levac encountered a 211 in progress while stopping for lunch, is that correct?" he asked.
    Raven straightened in her chair. "Yes, sir. We stopped at Wonderdawgs for the usual cop lunch and Nadia, the clerk, managed to alert us to the crime in progress."
    Frost consulted his notes and glared at Raven. "By putting sugar in your coffee?"              
    "Well, she wrote a message on the cup as well," Raven said. "It was collected as evidence."
    The lieutenant frowned. "You then proceeded into the restaurant without backup, killing four suspects in the process and doing two thousand dollars in damage?"
    "No sir. The only damage I did was to the suspects," Raven replied, matching Frost's glare. "Those idiots shot up the restaurant. You know I hit what I aim at, Chris, what's with all this hassle?"
    Frost glared at Raven a moment longer and then nodded. "The Chief will make us pay for the damage, regardless, you know that. I'm also going to put a reprimand in your file for going in without backup. I've told you about that shit before. You have a partner for a reason."
    Raven's eyes glowed and she almost snarled at Frost. "You know that cops who back me up end up dead or in the hospital! I am not letting Rupert get blown away due to some dumbass regulation!"
    "I know," Frost said with a sigh. "So maybe you could try working within regulations instead of being so trigger happy. You could try actually arresting someone for a change."
    Rave n did snarl this time, her vampire side struggling to come free. "Maybe you can tell that to my dead partners! If I'd been a little faster, maybe Cruze and Davis would be alive, Wilson wouldn't be a damn junkie and Owen wouldn't be in a wheelchair!"
    "Suspects have rights, Storm," Frost said, leaning away from Raven's angry glare.
    "So do victims and I didn't hear any complaints from the m!" Raven replied. "Are we through, Lieutenant or do you want to fire my ass?"
    Frost looked up at her. "There's one more thing, Storm, and you're on the edge of another reprimand. The Shevlin case. Those Thirst vials had to come from somewhere and they look a lot like the ones we have in evidence. I want you to check with Wilson and see what you can come up with."
    "Whatever," Raven replied.
    She exited Frost's office, letting the door slam behind her, drawing the attention of every detective in the squad room. She ignored their surprised looks and walked toward the exit. She knocked on Levac's desk on her way out and said, "we're up, partner," before grabbing her purse and walking down the back stairs.
    She was opening the door to the Shelby when Levac joined her.
    "What happened back there?" he asked, opening the passenger door.
    "I got dressed down by Frost, a new reprimand in my file and a possible lead," Raven replied, bringing the Shelby to life.
    "A reprimand ? What for?" Levac asked.
    Raven shook her head and drove out into traffic. "Putting victim's rights ahead of those of the scumbags that call this city home. Don't worry about it. We're heading out to see Wilson."
    Levac gave a half frown and looked over at Raven.
    "Wilson? Out in The Dark?" he asked.
    "Yep. Frost thinks he might have a lead and we haven't much else to go on."
    Raven guided the Shelby through afternoon traffic, eventually leaving the other vehicles behind as they got closer to the noisome area of the city known appropriately as The Dark. Years ago a large section of the city had been rendered almost lifeless in an accident, the cause of which remained unknown. Wilson lived in a battered trailer near the