“Hands where we can see them. On your knees, now,” commanded the voice from behind him. Conrad obeyed instinctively, dropping to the floor, his hands upon his head. He felt his arm being pulled behind him and the sharp cut of cuffs being fixed into place. He knew better than to speak, than to agitate the Blue Coats who flooded the area, moving from room to room relaying orders. “All clear, Detective Mendel.”
Conrad heard his father descending the stairs and hung his head. Despite his gaze being fixed upon the floor, he noticed the medical stretcher being wheeled from the right as other medics—identifiable by the Rod of Asclepius clearly displayed on the front and back of their body armour—continued to weave in and out of the rooms.
“What did you think you were playing at, boy?” His father was enraged, he could feel the heat radiating from him. “Coming down here on your own, disobeying my orders? Of all the—”
“Did they find Ashley?” he whispered, fearing he already knew the answer. He had watched the medics wheel two sealed bags from the only room he had yet to enter. His father’s hand fell heavily on his shoulder before he felt the restraints on his hands slacken. He rubbed the ache from his wrists. The metal used by the Blue Coats had been specially crafted to ensure no preternatural being could utilise their abilities while in custody.
“There’s no way of knowing yet.” His father’s voice held a soft compassion, a tone usually unheard during a scolding. His vision strayed towards the staircase. She couldn’t have been there
“Please, I checked all the rooms but that one.” He gestured towards the departing gurneys, who froze as his father raised his hand. “Please, I need to know.”
He could feel the dampness on his cheeks as his mind reeled in turmoil. Should he hope to gaze upon the dead and find her, or pray she had been sold into a life of abuse and suffering? Which fate should he wish upon her? Life! He had to hope she was out there somewhere, because if she was, he would find her, no matter how long it took. He felt his shoulders sag as the medics resealed the bags. He would find her.
Chapter 14
When Conrad was escorted from the premises, the noise on the streets was almost overwhelming. Sirens blared, vehicle doors slammed, instructions were relayed, all amongst the uneasy chatter of the confused crowd and growing number of spectators. His head hung low as he wondered where they could have moved Ashley to, and when. His gaze sought Will, wondering if he had betrayed them, alerted them of their plan, but as he gave a statement to a Blue Coat, he seemed distressed. Good, he thought.
His fists clenched. He wished they could have arrived sooner, that he had met her from work like he’d intended to. If he had, then none of this would have happened. He should have made her stay, made her wait. No one would have laid a hand on her with him there. He winced as his nails caught his scalp as he passed a hand through his hair, while images of all the horror awaiting her assaulted his every sense. Nausea rose and rage followed. His other-self was becoming harder to restrain. It cried out for him to find her and destroy anything that got in his way. He knew a rampage would help no one, achieve nothing, but holding back the tide building within him was becoming impossible. She was his.
He had wasted too much time—time spent fretting that he would hurt her, ignoring the fact she felt like home, like a missing part of himself. He should have known better, he should have trusted himself and because he hadn’t, she could be lost forever. Tess had mentioned an auction, so perhaps there was still time. If she was sold, the chances were they would never see her again, and if they did, it was doubtful she’d be the same. He drove back the despair, the sadness. He needed his anger, and he had plenty of it. It would be his crutch, it would keep him going, drive him onward until she was safe.
Two arms were suddenly embracing him. He became aware of Tess talking, pulling him back from his thoughts as she told him how the Blue Coats had appeared without warning with a seek-and-recover missive, and that the call about the located Tabus had not come from them, but from an undercover P.T.F. agent who had been assigned there due to telepathic abilities. Apparently this person had heard Conrad’s thoughts before Tess had even had a chance to take action.
Glancing through the crowd, Conrad saw Jack sitting on the bonnet of his car, talking with one of the agents. His dark combat gear had the P.T.F.’s distinctive emblem on the back. The figure turned as Conrad emerged, fixing him with a stare that demanded answers whilst also possessing another quality—hope.
“She wasn’t there.” He glowered as he approached Jack and the agent.
“Now what do we do?” Tess questioned, jumping when Detective Reuben’s voice spoke from his position directly behind her.
“You leave this to the professionals. Don’t make me lock you up. What you did was brave, but it was
