Hearts In Darkness

You needed the shock of her appearance to see her as she is, not as she lives in your memory. It worked, did it not?

Yes.Or maybe it hadn't been the shock of seeing Elizabeth, but rather the shock of seeing the hurt and anger in Nikki's eyes and suddenly realizing she meant a hell of a lot more to him than Elizabeth ever had.

He might have given up life for Elizabeth, but he would give up eternity for Nikki.

Amusement shimmered down the line. Always knew you had the makings of a romantic somewhere in that dark heart of yours.

And you, witch, know better than to intrude on my thoughts like that.

She chuckled. We ran that check on Lucas and Ginger Rodeman and came up with some interesting results.

He raised an eyebrow at the wisp of excitement in her mental tones. It usually meant she was on the verge of cracking a big case, and that certainly wasn't happening here. Not that his was the only case the

Circle had on their plate. Hell, Doyle had been in Utah sorting out some disaster there, and they had close to twenty other agents currently scattered throughout America and Europe.

What did you find?

For a start, that image you gave me came up as a match for three separate people— Michelle

Hannerman, reported missing by her husband some three months ago. Frances Baker, reported missing some two months ago by her husband, and Mary Gordon, who's car was found smashed into a tree some eight months ago.

Hannerman and Baker were two of the fifteen men who had been lost, then found, at the resort. Ginger had told Nikki she was a lure, and she obviously hadn't just meant Rodeman. Is Mary Gordon still missing? If she was, then maybe they'd found Ginger's true identity.

Yes, and police suspect foul play, as there was blood all over the car.

It wouldn't have taken a bright mind to reach that conclusion . There would be, if she'd just had a car accident.

Yes, but there was more blood than the accident would account for.

What about Ginger Rodeman? Any chance that she's really Mary Gordon?

According to the marriage license, Ginger's maiden name is Holemont. So far, we haven't been able to find her in any records. What we have discovered is that in recent months there's been some unusual cash transactions in all the abductee's accounts.

He's stealing their money?It was hard to believe someone would set up such an elaborate plot just to steal a few dollars.

It's not just a few dollars, Michael. These men are all incredibly rich, and we're talking millions from each. But it's heading to a charity that appears perfectly legitimate.

Appearing legitimate didn't actually make it legitimate. You're checking it out, I gather? He glanced out the side window. A sign indicated they were nearing Moose-Wilson Road.

Yes. I'll get back to you as soon as I have anything. In the meantime, as I said, be careful.

If she was repeating her warning, she had to be seeing some bad shit headed his way. I will. Thanks.

The link closed. He glanced up and met Nikki's gaze in the rearview mirror. Her eyes sparkled with gold fire in the darkness and were filled with an odd mix of anger and understanding.

'All sorted?' she asked.

'Yes. Turn right at the intersection. The Triple T, from memory, is only a mile or two down on the left.'

He'd heard Doyle talking about it a couple of times and just had to hope he'd heard the directions right.

What they didn't need right now was to be wandering up and down the road looking for a damn ranch.

She nodded. He ripped the tape from Rachel's mouth. She hissed, but otherwise managed to control the fury he perceived in her mind. 'We're giving you both the chance to live.'

Rachel snorted. 'We do not want your charity. We do not want your help.'

He leaned back, regarding her steadily. 'So you're happy to continue doing Cordell's bidding until you literally melt away? Which, from what we've seen, is only a matter of months away.'

Rachel stared at him for several seconds, then licked her lips. 'What do you mean, melt? We are not melting.'

'It happened to the chauffeur at the airport,' Nikki said, watching Rachel through the rearview mirror rather than watching the road. 'And it killed both the imp and his vampire host.'

'No. It's not possible. He told us there would be no danger.'

Nikki raised her eyebrows. 'And you believe a man who has already killed eight of your number?'

Michael leaned forward, tapping her on the shoulder, redirecting her attention to the road and the sign she was about to sideswipe. She straightened the car and flashed him a grin that burned his soul.

'Who told you this?' Rachel asked, crossing her arms and glaring at the back of Nikki's neck.

Lust rushed in heat waves through her mind, and the look in her blue eyes changed to hunger as her canine's lengthened.

Michael grabbed her face, squeezing her cheeks hard enough to fracture bone. 'Don't even think about it,' he warned flatly, forcing her to look him in the eye. 'You touch one hair and you're dead, understand?'

With most fledglings, the threat would have been useless. They were too caught up with their cravings, too consumed by the need to explore who they were and what they had become, to understand threat.

But Rachel nodded and gulped. Maybe it was the imp in her, giving her the sanity it took most fledglings years to attain.

Nikki slowed and turned into a driveway. There was a man at the gate. She opened her window and spoke to him for several minutes. Michael touched the man's thoughts, erasing all memory of

Rachel—just in case Cordell came looking for them. 'Runway's lit and ready,' she said, driving on.

'Park nearby and wait.' He turned his attention back to Rachel. 'What else can you tell us about

Cordell?'

'Nothing. We know nothing.'

'How did you meet him, then?' he asked.

Rachel crossed her arms, her look petulant. 'We met him on the Internet.'

He glanced at Nikki . Didn't Matthew meet his abductor via the Net?He didn't mention Elizabeth, though her name hung in Nikki's thoughts. Elizabeth hadn't exactly admitted to being involved—hadn't denied it, either—and her burned hand was an ominous sign. But he wasn't ready to accuse her when they had no definite proof. He owed her that much, at least.

Yes.Nikki's annoyance was a black cloud that stung his mind. And isn't it odd that the link seems to open every time you have a question that can't be asked out loud. You wouldn't happen to be blocking it, would you?

Now is not the time for this, Nikki.He slammed the link closed again, but nevertheless felt the surge of her anger. Ignoring it and her, he looked back to Rachel. 'And you became lovers?'

'We were before he turned me.'

Meaning, obviously, they were no longer. Why? Did Cordell lose the taste for them once he had turned them? 'He must have told you something about himself in the time you were lovers. Where did he live?'

'He had an apartment in The Heights.'

'A plane is coming,' Nikki said. She stopped and craned her head out the window.

Michael saw the lights beginning to descend. He glanced back at Rachel. 'If he could afford to live in

The Heights, why is he kidnapping these millionaires?'

She shrugged. 'He hates them. He thinks they owe him.'

He frowned. 'Why would he think they owe him?'

'We don't really know, do we? Probably something to do with his accident.'

'Accident? What type—'

'Michael,' Nikki interjected. She was staring out the rear window, and there was fear in her tone, her face, and her thoughts. 'He's here. He's somewhere behind us.'