“They’re in here.”
It was a whirlwind of people untying our hands, the paramedics checking to make sure there were no injuries past minor scrapes and bumps as well as what would have been caused by partial starvation and dehydration.
“How did you know where to find us?” I asked after I drank an entire bottle of water in one gulp.
“Those two brought us here,” the EMT said and inclined his head toward Leo and Simon. “Once we could tear the boy away from his mother, that is. He insisted on coming with us to help rescue the others.”
“I’m sure she was glad to see him.”
“The mothers of the other boys will be happy to see their sons too,” he said. “That’s why we’re checking them here. We don’t want them to be away from their families for a minute longer than they have to be.”
Iain pushed his way into the cave. “Gentlemen, please do not dismantle any of the equipment. Try not to touch it. The FBI and FDA agents are going to examine it.”
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up into my grandfather’s eyes. He had a weary smile on his face. “How’s the house?”
“Still in one piece as far as I know.”
“Did you find the surprises I left you?”
“I think so.”
“And the cats?”
I pulled the silver chain out of my shirt. “Yep, here’s Mishka.” He put an arm around my shoulder and squeezed me tightly.
“I thought I wasn’t going to be able to do that ever again,” he said, his voice gruff. I looked away so I wouldn’t see him cry.
“Me too.”
Leo came over. “Are you okay? How’s the wrist?”
“Decent.”
“Sir, how are you?” Leo asked and gave my grandfather a hearty handshake. He cocked his head as if to ask how much he could give away.
“I’m doing much better now I know my granddaughter and all the children are safe. And you can say anything. She’s a smart girl—I’m sure she’s figured it all out.”
“Are you ready to assume the pack alpha role? We could use you on the hunt.”
“In time, Leo, in time. Where’s your cousin?”
Leo frowned, his handsome features distressed. “I can’t find him.”
My grandfather put his hand on my shoulder. “Then it’s a good thing we have a spirit-walker among us. She’ll be able to find him more quickly than anyone.”
“A spirit-walker?” asked Leo.
“It’s the term for a shape-changer who does so with spirit rather than physically, like you did. Not everyone has the talent. With a spirit form, you can move much more quickly and silently.”
I thought about my escape from Robert, and my stomach turned when I thought about how, for a moment, I had been tempted.
“The wolfsbane?” Leo asked. “How does that work?”
“It both helps and hinders the transformation. It prevents the transformation physically but facilitates the spiritual one.”
Leo shook his head. “That’s amazing.”
We walked out of the cave into the waning sunlight of another day. Iain continued to direct the federal agents, but one broke off from the crowd and followed us.
“Doctor Fisher? Doctor Landover? We have some questions for you.”
My grandfather’s brows drew together. “Can’t we go home, get hot showers and a good night’s sleep first? Have mercy on an old man.”
“It will just take a moment.”
“I’ve got to get Simon back to his family,” Leo said. “I’ll catch you later at the Manor. I can give Gabriel and Lonna a ride.”
The two of them hadn’t met each other’s eyes the entire time we were in the main cavern, and I wondered what, exactly, had transpired between them before they were kidnapped. But I didn’t have time for speculation now. The federal agent led us out of the ravine and away from the river to a clearing, where a lone black SUV with tinted windows sat.
I turned to the agent—a nondescript fellow with sandy brown hair and blue eyes—who I had nicknamed “Buddy” in my head, to ask what was going on, but got the answer even before the words came out of my mouth. He pointed a gun at us and gestured to the car.
“Someone wants to talk to you.”
“I’m guessing there are silver bullets in that thing, aren’t there?”
“Of course.”
The window rolled down to reveal Sheriff Knowles in the driver’s seat. “Come on in, Doctors. I’ve got someone here who’s been dying to meet you.”
The back door opened, and I saw Ron as well as a guy who looked like he’d been up all night waiting for us. His salt-and-pepper tufts were messy over his ears, and his greasy comb-over zigzagged in disheveled strands across his shiny head. Bags the color of green tea hung under his eyes, and his jowls wobbled as he introduced himself.
“I’m Agent Marius. I have a proposition for you.”
We climbed in, and Buddy closed the door behind us. The SUV started up with a purr, its hybrid engine making all the noise of a large golf cart. One more vehicle leaving the scene wouldn’t be noticed, especially one as quiet as this one. I didn’t know how long they’d been there, but I could guess from the collection of fast food bags on the floor and the empty drink cups it had been a few hours.
“That took longer than we thought,” Ron said. He faced the window and wouldn’t meet either my or my grandfather’s gaze.
“Not that you were any help,” I said. “And where is Kyra?”
“She’s around. She wanted to find Leo.”
I tried not to think of Kyra and Leo and how close they had looked that first evening. He had said there was nothing between them, but was it true?
“That was you last night, wasn’t it, coming out of the cave? How did you do that?”
I held up my hand. “All in good time. Now, can you guys please explain why we’re getting kidnapped— again?”
Agent Marius made a sound combining a cough, harrumph, and sneeze. “This isn’t a kidnapping, Doctor Fisher. We just want to have a little conversation.”
“About what? And what does Ron have to do with all of this?”
“All in good time.” His tone mocked me.
The vehicle went over a rough patch, and we were thrown from side to side. I hit my left wrist, and the pain made me hiss.
“Are you injured, Doctor Fisher?”
I glared at Ron. “As you well know.”
I heard Knowles chuckle from the front seat. The road evened out.
“What can we do for you, Agent Marius?” My grandfather’s tone was even and charming, but I heard the steel beneath it. I had heard the same steel the last time I saw him and my mother together, and she had told him I wouldn’t be spending summers up there anymore. She got her way, but at the cost of losing her inheritance.
“Well, Doctor Landover, we’re interested in some of the experiments you’ve been doing.” He pulled a manila folder out of his black briefcase and handed it to my grandfather.
“How did you get these?”
I saw they were the documents Galbraith had given me and Iain, my grandfather’s notes on his aconite research.
