Previous Chapters:

A truck driver had an unfortunate encounter with the mysterious Lilith. She killed three men the year before while Greg was dealing with the hag. Now she is back with a vengeance and Wolf Bend Chief Greg Harsen is called to the scene by FBI Agent David Harkins, a man who really dislikes him. What Greg finds awakens him to the realization that more bad things are coming for him and his little town. Further, Harkins managed to wrangle him into Task Force Ash, which was created to capture the killer.

A county wide call-out for a jail riot interrupted the hunt for Lilith. At the riot, Greg finds out that Jenny's violent ex-husband, Lenny Benslow, has escaped from the jail. They race to his cabin, but Greg's beloved wife had been taken. Through good investigation techniques, they may have found the bad guys' hideout. A shootout ensues, with Jesse getting shot while they rescue Jenny. When Greg went after Lenny to finish him, Sheriff Watson convinced him to take the felon back into custody. Batty Betty Benslow was taken into custody for assisting with Lenny's escape.

Greg thought he was in for a rest, but another Lilith victim, 'Satin Shorts' had been found revealing new clues. Then Greg and Jesse found Lilith's lair, getting closer to the killer. Then Greg had a meeting in the alley with Lilith where he barely escaped with his life. At the same time, the taskforce has been getting nowhere. Finally, Lilith revealed herself as Officer Katie Kelsey when she killed FBI Agent Kenneth Lee. An unaware Greg is now walking into a trap. 

New Chapter:

He saw Officer Kelsey seated at the far corner of the bar, her head resting on the counter in front of her. The Stonefish seemed unusually dim, even more so than it had in the past. Greg walked up and grabbed a seat on a barstool next to the woman. It wasn’t lost on him that they were sitting in the same two spots White Feather and he had shared all those years ago. 

The woman was wearing tight faded blue jeans and a white shirt under a black and white checkered flannel shirt. She wore her blond hair in a bun and didn’t appear to be wearing any makeup or jewelry. He could make out faint tear streaks on her cheeks. 

“Drowning your sorrows?” Greg poured himself a whiskey from the bottle on the bar into one of the nearby shot glasses. Odd, this place is eerily quiet.

“Help yourself, Chief.” His female officer raised her head and slammed down a shot, quickly refilling her own glass. “What brings you to this fine establishment?”

“Obviously your situation.” She’s speaking clearly. Is she drunk? “Hand it over.”

“My gun?” Her look would have been comical if Greg wasn’t worried about her safety. “Am I fired?”

“No, you aren’t fired. I’m just going to hold onto your piece until you get through this rough patch.” He held his hand out. 

Kelsey frowned, then pulled her holstered pistol from her waistband and laid it on the bar. Greg took the weapon and put it in his jacket. 

“Katie, just because he’s missing doesn’t mean he’s dead.” But Greg didn’t believe his own words. If Lilith got him, he’s so dead. How’re we going to find him when we can’t even find her?

Kelsey shook her head. “He’s dead. But that’s old relationships. Let’s toast new ones.”

That’s an odd thing to say, but people all grieve differently. The two cops clinked glasses and downed the whiskey. Greg’s bear tattoo immediately started to burn. What the hell? Katie quickly poured two more, which they slung back just as fast. She refilled the two shot glasses immediately. Damn she can hold her booze. I’m already feeling it.

“Things are unraveling fast. Have you ever heard the old Russian saying, ‘Things start slowly but end quickly?’ Seems to fit.” The woman stared at her glass and frowned. “I thought I could keep it together. Keep things under wraps.”

“What do you mean?” They downed another pair of shots causing his bear to burn even fiercer. Why’s she quoting Russian proverbs? And what’s going on with my tattoo? “This isn’t your fault.”

“You know, I’ve wanted you ever since I saw you with your woman in that hospital. I was drawn to you like a bee to honey. It was hard to fight it. To work so close to you, while I craved to have you so badly.” She sucked back another one and raised his glass to his lips, which he drank. 

Okay. That’s it. I’m feeling woozy. “You know I’m in love with Jenny. I won’t cheat on her. She has my heart.”

“That’s the problem, Greg. That’s what makes you so damn desirable. Your strong love for that cute little green-eyed black-haired pixie.”

“Wait.”

“I could smell the guilt on you after we nearly got it on in my apartment. So damn deliciously intense. Especially since you wanted me as badly as I wanted you. Just like now.”

“No. Jenny has my heart.” Guilt? Greg silenced the phone in his pocket, something he had learned to do without looking during his many years of undercover work. He slid his arm around the woman and quickly dropped his cell into Katie’s purse. 

“No, Greg. We’re going to make love tonight. Then I’ll have your guilt-riddled heart.” Katie stood up and took off her flannel shirt revealing her white t-shirt was actually a tank top. “Your scent is making me so very hot, Chief.”

Greg tried to get off the stool, but his legs wouldn’t listen. What’s happening? He glanced at the bottle they had been drinking from. It appeared to be very old and had barely visible faded writings on it he did not comprehend. Why didn’t I see that before?

“I drugged you, Chief. It’s just a paralytic.” She laughed. It was feminine, but somehow sounded very old. “You're simply too damn good, Chief. Discovered my lair, then my footprint and clothing. Damn, Greg, you forced me to take Kenny and now you. I was trying to steer clear of you, but I must admit, I’m going to enjoy this so very much.”

Katie spun his stool so he was facing her. She stepped in between his knees and pushed their mid-sections together, her lips a mere inch from his. She was so close he could smell her lilac scented perfume. In the mirror behind them he could see her lower back, sporting the heart tattoo with wings and horns. It dawned on him that he had never seen her back prior to now.

“Lilith?” Greg’s right hand slipped down to his waistband and slid over Bass. When he tried to pull his gun out, he discovered his fingers weren’t functioning properly. The drug is working quickly. The woman’s hand softly slid over the top of his and tenderly pushed it off the weapon. Shit. His left hand slipped down to his waistband where his feeble fingers managed to unclip his badge. 

“In the flesh. And tonight it’s all yours to do whatever you desire. I’m going to give you a night like nothing you’ve ever experienced. You just have to want it.”

Now the old hag’s last words came back to haunt him, making perfect sense. She said the black blade had been for my partner. She also called her a harpy. The witch was talking about Kelsey. It was Katie all along. How is that possible? How could I have been so stupid? Greg tried to speak, but now his mouth wasn’t working. The only thing he could manage was a slight groan. 

“Oh, don’t be afraid, baby. I have you now. You won’t be escaping this time.” Her aggressive lips found his and meshed with him, her tongue darting into his mouth. 

The intoxicating kiss, combined with his already drugged and foggy brain were more than the man could take. He no longer had any idea what was going on. Why am I here? Why am I holding my badge? Greg’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he lost consciousness.