Ethan made a sound of frustration, his hand shaking as he took his phone out of his pocket and dialed. I’d never seenEthan’s hands be anything but steady, no matter what was happening. “Don’t worry, Bob. We will find her.”
“I’m on my way. Please, Ethan.” Bob’s voice cracked. “Don’t let him hurt them.”
My heart squeezed at the sound of despair and fear in Bob’s voice.
Ethan closed his eyes and tilted his head to the ceiling. He looked crushed, but the lie came out strong. “We won’t.”
Chapter 68
I’m Not A Dog
Georgie came back to the room and announced that BJ and his mother and aunt were going to Marg and Bob’s house to get some hair samples to try to track her.
Monique called back moments later. Michael put the phone on loudspeaker.
“He purchased abandoned warehouses by a river three weeks ago. He had fences built to keep people out.”
Michael and Ethan locked eyes. “It’s as good a place as any,” Ethan said. “Where are they?”
Monique gave the address, and told us she’d call Rodney and meet us there.
Michael’s voice was heavy as he said, “If Sarah does turn up, she won’t come alone.”
Worry creased Ethan’s brow. “I don’t know, if Karson told her he has Marg and to come alone, I think she would. She’s a psychopath, but she wouldn’t risk her mother.”
“Still. It would be stupid to walk in unprepared—I don’t want to turn up and meet an army of vampires,” Michael argued. “I will gather some troops as backup just in case.”
“We want to avoid a fight, Michael,” Ethan said tightly.
“I agree,” Michael responded calmly, his hand resting on Ethan’s shoulder. “I will make sure they hang back unless we need them.”
Ethan rubbed a hand over his lips, concern weighing heavy on his face. “Alright,” he agreed finally, his eyes glittering with determination.
“How do you even know he has Marg?” Georgie asked. “She might just have forgotten to charge her phone or left it at home. Old people don’t live with their phones attached to their hips.”
Marg was centuries old, and she made herself look aged to go unnoticed in the world. Because humans were less likely to take notice of the elderly, as if looking at them was an unwanted reminder of an uncomfortable future for all of us. But she had remained the same age physically and mentally since she had drunk from the spelled waters. If she left her phone at home, age wouldn’t be the reason. Knowing her daughter was being hunted by another vampire would be hell for any mother. Especially when the vampire was Karson.
“I don’t think a mother with a missing child would leave her phone at home,” I answered.
“Has anyone thought to track it?” Josh asked.
“Bob has a tracking device, and it says she’s still in the house she was staying at.” Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. “He’s sent someone to check it out. But I know Karson, and I don’t need to know where her phone is to know he has her.”
Georgie bit her lip, her eyes glistening with tears. “What about Karson’s phone? Can we track that to make sure he is where we think he is?”
Ethan shook his head. “No, Karson makes sure his phone isn’t trackable.”
My fingers shook as I reefed my phone out of my pocket and called him—no answer. I tried again—still no answer. He alwaysanswered when I called, or he called me back as soon as he could. Unless he had figured by now we knew what he’d done.
“We need to get going,” I said, rushing for the door.
“Not you,” Ethan said, snagging my arm. “You stay here.”
I yanked myself from his grip, and he let me go, even though we both knew if he didn’t want to, there was no way I would be able to pull free. Not without stabbing him, at least. “I’m not staying here. I’m coming with you.”
Ethan blocked my path. “It’s not safe for you to come with us.”
I raised my chin and glowered at him. “I’m coming.”
