[Anita Blake 17] - Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton Page B

put my hands on my waist and fought to control my breathing; it would all be for nothing if I looked dizzy or unsteady now.
    Someone said, “Oh my God.”
    I looked at the lieutenant and the sergeants where they stood off the edge of the mat. “I can carry my own weight, Lieutenant.”
    â€œHell, you can carry me,” Mercy said.
    Santa said, “How did you do that? There’s not enough of you to lift that much weight.”
    â€œCould you do it again?” Grimes asked.
    â€œYou mean reps?” I asked.
    He nodded.
    I grinned. “Maybe, but I wouldn’t want to try.”
    He gave an expression that was almost a smile, then shook his head. “Answer Santa’s question, Anita.”
    â€œYou’ve heard the rumors. Hell, you checked up on me before I stepped off the plane.”
    â€œYou’re right, I did. So you really are the human servant of your local Master of the City.”
    â€œThat won’t make you this strong,” I said.
    â€œI saw your medical records,” he said.
    â€œAnd,” I said.
    â€œYou’re a medical miracle.”
    â€œSo they tell me.”
    â€œWhat?” Santa asked, looking from one to the other of us.
    â€œSo, you really are carrying five different kinds of lycanthropy, but you don’t shift.”
    I nodded. “Yes.”
    â€œWait,” Santa said, “that’s not possible.”
    â€œActually,” Grimes said, “there have been three documented cases in the United States alone; you would be the fourth. Worldwide there have been thirty. People like you are what gave them the idea for the lycanthropy vaccines.”
    Someone must have made a movement because Grimes said, “Yes, Arrio.”
    â€œIs her lycanthropy contagious?”
    â€œAnita,” he said.
    â€œShapeshifters are only contagious in animal form, and I don’t have an animal form, so, no.”
    â€œAre you sure?” he asked.
    â€œNot a hundred percent, no. I wouldn’t drink my blood, and if you have a cut, you might not want me to bleed on you.”
    â€œBut you’ve got five different kinds in your blood, right?” Santa asked.
    â€œYes,” I said.
    â€œThen if you bled on me, I wouldn’t get just one, I’d get them all, or nothing, right?”
    I nodded. “Yes.”
    â€œWould it make me be able to do what you just did?”
    â€œYou can do what I just did.”
    He shook his head, frowning. “Able to curl over twice my body weight, so, six-ninety, seven hundred pounds.”
    â€œI’ve seen a shapeshifter about your size that could do it, but I’m not as strong as a real shapeshifter. If I were, I could do reps easy, and I can’t.”
    â€œSo a shapeshifter your size would be even stronger?” Davey, the tall blond with the nice mouth, asked.
    â€œAbsolutely.” I looked back at the lieutenant. “That’s what I mean about the vest and helmet. It just won’t protect you from that level of strength.”
    â€œIt will protect you if you get hit in the chest or head.”
    â€œSome.”
    â€œYou’ll wear the full gear when you go out with us, Anita.”
    â€œYou’re the boss.”
    He smiled. “Reports say you aren’t much for following orders.”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œBut I’m the boss.”
    â€œFor these men, this unit, you are, and if I want to work with you, that makes you the boss.”
    â€œYou have a federal badge. You could try to be the boss.”
    I laughed. “I’ve seen the way the men react to you. I could have a dozen federal badges, and that wouldn’t make any of these guys see me as their boss.”
    â€œIt will let you take all your weapons into the main station if you want to rub their faces in it.”
    â€œI’m trying to make friends here, not enemies.”
    â€œThen you’ll be the most polite fed we’ve met in a