Out of the corner of her eye, Kat saw movement. She spun and raised the stake, then saw it was the dogs not a zombie. She hit them kinetically, tossing them across the picket fence. It wouldn't stop them long, but her only other option was hurting them, and she wasn't about to do that.
The Mara had seeped through the window. Kat swore and hit it kinetically, but drew the glass backward rather than pushing it forward and spraying the room. Inside, a child began screaming — a terror-filled sound that was quickly cut off.
Because the soul sucker had her.
'Don't you be moving, little lady.' The harsh warning was overridden by the sound of a rifle being cocked.
Kat swore again and hit the man kinetically, thrusting him onto his ass. The gun went off, the shot blasting the house dangerously close to her head. Wood splintered, tearing past her cheeks. She dove through the window, hit the carpet and rolled to her feet in one smooth movement.
Neither the child nor the Mara was in the bedroom, and the trail of evil led into the hall. A nightie-clad woman was hurrying towards the bedroom, but she froze, eyes widening in fear when she saw Kat.
Kat threw out her hands to show she held no weapons.
'Did you see anyone run past here?'
The woman's gaze flickered. In that instant, Kat realized someone was behind her. She spun, but it was too late.
Something smashed into her head, and the lights went out.
'The least you could do is get me a wet cloth to clean her face with.' Ethan's tone was brusque, and seemed to be coming from a great distance.
'No one is doing anything until the sheriff gets here.'
The second voice was harsh and low and filled with so much anger it quivered. But it was a voice Kat recognized. It was the home owner who'd tried to shoot her. The father of the little girl the soul sucker had taken.
She opened her eyes and blinked several times, trying to get her bearings. She was still lying on the floor, but she was no longer in the hall. Her head was cradled on muscular thighs, and warm fingers touched her cheek, gently caressing. There was so much pain in her head it felt like her brain was about to explode, and the same could be said for the air, which was sharp with anger and tension.
She tilted her head and met Ethan's gaze. 'You're here.'
She hadn't expected him to be. She'd thought he'd be chasing the soul sucker.
'I am.' There was concern in his voice, but the fury she could feel in the air was visible in his nut-brown eyes.
'How are you feeling?'
'Like shit. What about the Mara?'
'Gone with the kid.'
She struggled to rise. 'We have to go after them — ' Ethan put a hand on her shoulder, but it was the sound of a rifle being loaded that made her freeze.
'We're being held at gunpoint in the living room by the father and the oldest son,' he explained, voice clipped.
'The sheriff has been called.'
Her gaze met his again. 'Have you told them you're a cop?'
'Yeah,' he said dryly. 'They aren't buying it.'
'You showed them your badge?'
'They're not buying that, either. And they took my gun.'
She raised an eyebrow. 'And you let them?'
He hesitated. Something flashed in his eyes. 'They had a gun to your head. I had no choice.'
'Ah.' She was tempted to ask why that had stopped him, but she knew the answer would be anything other than an admission of caring. 'Is there a football hanging off the side of my head? It feels like it.'
A smile touched his mouth and did strange things to her pulse. 'It's more like a golf ball.' His fingers moved from her cheek to her head, gently probing her scalp just above the temple. 'Nasty looking, but there's no cut.'
'Good.' She'd had more than her fair share of cuts already on this case. She raised a hand, touching his stubble-lined cheek. 'We'll find her. Before the three days are up, we'll find her.'
Just for a moment, his anger and fear and torment surrounded her, strong enough to almost taste. Then it shut down, as he shut down emotionally, until all that was left was his cop face. 'Don't promise.' His voice, though soft, was harsh. 'Because promises like that are almost never kept.'
'Mine will be.'
'Don't.' The sound of sirens touched the air, and he asked, 'You up to trying to track down the Mara's scent once the sheriff releases us?'
She nodded and couldn't help wincing in pain. 'Don't suppose anyone would give me a pain killer?'
Silence greeted her request. If it wasn't for the heavy breathing, she might have thought Ethan and she were alone in the room. She certainly couldn't see anyone else from where she was lying.
The sheriff and his men arrived about five minutes later.
The big man's gaze swept the room, hesitated on them briefly, then moved on. 'Jesus, Frank, put the gun down.
What in hell do you think you're doing?'
'Kathy's gone.' The home owner's voice was defiant.
Shaky. 'And these two know about it. They broke into my house — ' 'These two are part of a special task force trying to stop the kidnappings. Deputies, grab those damn rifles.' The sheriff strode toward them. 'You two okay?'
Kat nodded and sat up with Ethan's help. 'Do you mind if we look around? There's still a chance we can find the kidnapper's trail.'
'Sure. Just come back and give me a full report. I particularly want to know why you didn't call for help.'
She nodded again and tried to ignore the pounding ache in her head. She needed pain killers and rest, and she wasn't likely to get either of those any time soon. Ethan helped her rise and kept hold of one hand as he led her past the white-faced trio near the hall door. His fingers felt good against hers, warm and strong.
He stopped near the little girl's bedroom. 'Is this where you were knocked unconscious?'
She nodded, then took a deep breath and completely lowered her shields, seeking whatever emotions might lie in the hall. Death was a slither of darkness staining the air. She couldn't feel anything from the little girl, but then, she wouldn't. Not until Kathy was dying.
'This way,' she said, untangling her fingers from his.
She followed the trail through the kitchen and out the back door. The dogs barked, but someone had chained them, and they were no longer a threat.
Rain began to fall, big fat drops that hit with the intensity of hail. Overhead, thunder rumbled. If the heavens opened up, she'd lose the scent completely. She hurried across the yard and leapt the fence. The storm hit as they entered the trees, and within minutes, the thread of evil had evaporated. She stopped, cursing long and loud.
'I'm gathering you've lost it,' Ethan said, amusement momentarily warming the frustrated anger still evident in his voice.
She nodded and rubbed her arms as she studied the trees above them. 'Where exactly was that cabin you found?'
'To the north.'
