Chasing The Shadows

'I guess this'll be another black mark in the book,' he continued, a touch bitterly.

'Mary will understand,' she said, even though she knew the lie. Mary was past understanding. Or perhaps tired of understanding. She hungered for something Jake couldn't—or wouldn't—give her, and though Nikki didn't really understand what that something was, she could certainly understand Mary's frustration. And she'd only put up with her own frustration for four months. Mary had been battling it for thirty years.

Official-sounding voices drew close. Michael squeezed her fingers lightly, then stepped past Jake and disappeared into the shadows still filling the bedroom.

She glanced up at Jake. 'We're not going to make it to Harris' place by nine-thirty.'

'No. I'll give him a call and let him know what's happened. We'll just have to get there when we can.'

He touched a hand to her back and ushered her out into the living room. As he'd said, there wasn't much damage to the room as a whole, except for the fact that everything was soaked. A gap stood where the door had once been, but other than a chunk of missing plaster on either side of the door and scorch marks, there was nothing else to really indicate someone had tried to blow the hell out of her.

The police turned as they entered, notebooks in hands and questions she could almost read evident in their eyes.

She rubbed a hand across her eyes. Talking to the police had never been a favorite pastime, but it was something she seemed to be doing a lot of lately.

Sighing softly, she plopped down on one of the sodden sofas and got herself comfortable for a long few hours.

* * *

Michael crossed his arms and leaned a shoulder against the wall. From his position in the bedroom, he could see Nikki and not much else. She was sitting on the sofa, legs tucked underneath her, dark chestnut hair drying in waves that fluffed around her expressionless face. She looked absurdly young and almost delicate— neither of which she truly was.

A cop sat in front of her, writing notes and occasionally asking a question. He didn't appear inclined to hurry. Michael bit down on his frustration. Needing to do something, he reached out to Seline instead.

'Bout time, she grumbled. Been waiting for hours .

What, the cat's suddenly grabbed your tongue, has it?Actually, knowing her cat, it was more than a possibility. It was a big black-and-white monstrosity that only possessed one eye and half a tail, and was the meanest thing on four legs he'd ever met.

I was being discreet. Didn't want to interrupt you and Nikki at a delicate time.

He smiled. You and discreet are not two words I've ever associated before .

Her amusement swam down the mental line. That's because most times I don't want to be. It's more fun being a pushy old witch.

And you do it so well.

Thank you.Her voice was prim. Schoolmarmish. Which she had been, at one point in her life. We've discovered there are eight women who attended Boston High currently either living or visiting San Francisco .

I gather the first three victims were from this eight?

Yes.

And would one of the remaining five be Mary Morgan?

I'm afraid so.

Which meant they had to get Mary out of San Francisco, and the sooner the better. No easy task when the only other place she wanted to go appeared no safer. Did you run a check to locate the other classmates?

Certainly did. One disappeared in Boston last year and has never been found. Two disappeared from New York, though the body of one was found floating in the river. Apparently she bore mutilations similar to the first two victims in San Francisco. Another woman was found drained of blood in a hotel room in Albuquerque two years ago.

But not mutilated?

She hesitated. Not to the extent of the rest. The police put it down to rough sex.

Any before that?

No. She was the first.

So what was the trigger? What did this woman do that started a madman down his bloody path? Did the police reports say anything else?

Yep. Apparently, she'd lost her husband a few months before and decided to do the tour they'd always planned. She'd stopped at the hotel for the night, and the manager said that while she booked in alone, she came back later with a man.

She picked up her killer?

So it would appear.

But was that man the same man who was now kidnapping and killing women here in San Francisco?

Was there a description?

Medium height, medium build, brown hair.

Mr. Joe Average, in other words.

Well, that's what he made the manager see, at least.

Is there any connection at all among these women, other than the fact they all attended the same school?

None that we can see, beyond the fact the current three victims all attended that fundraiser. But he's not going after all the women who attended that year of school, though. There are still at least one hundred girls living in or around Boston, and none of them have been attacked.

So what is it about these women?

Discover that, and we'll discover our motive, I think.

Nikki glanced his way, an intent look on her face. Listening in again. He raised his mental shields a little more, and annoyance rumbled through the link, a distant but threatening thunder.

When you were going through the Boston High records, did you find any reports about a couple of girls suiciding on a prom night?

Yeah, I did.Curiosity swam through Seline's mental tone. Why?

Just a feeling I've got. When I was talking to Mary, she said there was no alcohol in the building, yet both girls were apparently drunk. Might be worth investigating.

Seline paused. Michael, when did you start developing precognition?

He raised his eyebrows. I haven't .

You said you had a feeling.

It was just an insight, a guess, nothing more.

It was more. I can see it in your thoughts. Has Nikki any precognition skills?

He hesitated. She can sometimes sense danger or evil, but beyond that, no.

Which could mean this merging is bringing out latent talents in you, as well.

All I've ever had are telepathy and telekinesis.And his telekinesis wasn't anywhere near the strength of Nikki's.

That doesn't mean there aren't more talents. It only means they're the only ones you've acknowledged.

You've tested me more than once over the years, Seline.

But you are a far stronger telepath than I'll ever be. It's possible that you could have been subconsciously blocking me.

Why would I want to do that? You know more about me than any man or woman ever has—alive or dead.

But still I don't know all your secrets. You were a man used to keeping his own council when we met. I doubt whether that man has entirely disappeared, even after I've spent over a hundred years civilizing you.

He smiled. According to Nikki, that man had not disappeared at all. I met a vampire last night. He