Thomas nodded, and Kash continued. “From there, we’re going over to Jason Barton’s apartment to see if he ever had Keagan at his place. The team checked it out extensively and found nothing indicating he’d been there, but I know that you have perception ability far and above anything the team might have used. Then we’ll finish with a visit to Keagan’s apartment and see what you might be able to pick up.”
Thomas Casey, the beloved of Lando Ricci, a high-ranking Coven Guard, was a rare and mystical black jaguar shifter. His tracking skills were without equal, and there was magic in his bloodline, which gave his ability an extra boost. He hadn’t been brought in to track the young human because normally there was nothing on this earth easier to track than a human.
Then when time wore on and there was no resolution to the search, the team shifted their efforts to simply searching for a dead body, and Thomas’ skills were not required for that either. But Sergio knew that Kash saw it differently. He saw Thomas as a means to possible further information, however small and seemingly inconsequential.
There had been no sign of this young man in months, and there was nowhere to go with the search, so the hope was that Thomas would give them a direction. If they had something, just something, perhaps they would find him and be able to give everyone concerned peace of mind.
CHAPTER TWO
Sergio hadn’t been back to the Ruby Light since that fateful night that the guilty were brought to account for their crimes, and the innocent were saved. Kash had forced the criminality taking place at the bar to light, and Master Hadden dispatched the guilty in a wild and messy fashion. It had been quite chaotic, but it all worked out in the end except for the dancer who disappeared. Keagan was the loose end that kept this case open and kept people searching.
Sergio pulled up to the curb out front of the bar and parked. The bar was still going through a renovation and was not open for business. Once inside, they turned their backs as Thomas disrobed and shifted into his jaguar and began going over the entirety of the building, not just Cruise’s office. The workers weren’t there yet, so they had the place to themselves. Both Sergio and Kash stood back and just observed as Thomas continued throughout the building.
“He is one impressive beast,” Sergio commented softly.
“Hard to believe someone as small and delicate as Thomas can turn into something so large and lethal.” Kash agreed. They followed until Thomas gave them the signal that he was going to shift back. They brought his clothing to the room then left, allowing him again the privacy to shift and dress.
“His scent is all around the place, which is understandable, but his scent is different in the office. Out here, it’s like the others tense and uncomfortable, but in the office, he was terrified. His scent was off the charts with fear in there and out the side door and down the alley.” Thomas explained as he slipped his shoes on and came over to stand beside them.
“So, he left the office alive?” Kash asked.
“Yes, he was alive, but his scent tracers end at the adjacent roadway,” Thomas said.
“A car could have picked him up.” Kash offered.
“Or he was forced into a car,” Sergio responded less hopeful than Kash regarding the possible outcome.
“Either way, he was alive when he left here,” Kash added, and everyone nodded.
Sergio was not going to point out that unless he caught a cab at the roadway, his survival was unlikely. Kash wanted to find Keagan alive and be able to bring him back to Kyler and Gage. He understood his friend’s drive and need and would stand with him throughout this search no matter the outcome.
“I’d contact Jacque and have him do a cleanse on this place before it’s opened again. There’s some pretty bad juju in this building.” Thomas shook his head and blew out a harsh breath. “Some terrible things took place here over the past couple of years, and you don’t want dark shadows or ghosts coming back and causing problems.” With that, Thomas proceeded out of the building, leaving Sergio and Kash just staring at one another and mouthing the word, ghosts.
“Lando is a good friend of Jacque’s beloved Ian. I’ll ask if he could put in a request for us.” Kash said as they followed Thomas outside.
“Do you think that Jacque is necessary wouldn’t a Wiccan suffice for a cleansing?” Sergio was speaking to Kash, but it was Thomas who answered.
“There is no Wiccan who could handle what’s in there. The darkness is too depraved and too deep. You’ll need real power to get rid of it, and Jacque has a lot of power.” Thomas stated casually as he climbed into the backseat.
“I’ll talk to Lando when I get back to the Center, and my beloveds will not return here until it has been cleansed.” Clearly, Kash was not going to take any chances since his two beloveds were taking over the management of the new Ruby Light.
Jean Jacque Batiste was a legendary wizard, sorcerer, and man of magic. He was a man who, until he bonded with a vampire guard from the Hadden Coven, had resided nearly exclusively in an alternate realm of his own construction. He was that powerful.
The next stop was Jason Barton’s apartment.
