Page 7 of Shadow Seeking

“I’m still digging on the Dark Web. It’s like following a labyrinth, and I have to work slowly so I’m not detected by the slavers.” He cleared his throat, unlocking his tablet. “As you know, Sylvie Megani vanished three weeks ago.”

Sylvie Megani was a wolf shifter who had disappeared from her home one night. She was sixteen. While the cops said she probably ran away, we’d discovered evidence that pointed to her being abducted by Tortious, a white slavery group focused on providing sex slaves who were Supes to sell on the Dark Web.

There were purchasers waiting around the world, and the practice was found in all countries. We were working the case, but it was slow going given we had to move cautiously so as not to endanger other victims. If the members of Tortious thought they were under surveillance, they’d go deeper underground with all of their victims.

“All right, keep at it. Let us know what we can do to help.” I hated that we couldn’t go charging in and save the girl before she was sold off to some perverted freak as a sex-toy, but we were doing our best.

“Benny pulled a stupid stunt last night.” I told them about the party and how Benny had managed to get in and steal the bracelet. “Let’s try to find him some job to keep his nose out of trouble. He’s a pain, but he’s also useful.”

“I think I could use some help with catching the gargoyle,” Orik said.

“Okay, you know how to contact him.” I checked that off the list. “Onto our new case. Dante, why don’t you sum up what we know?”

Dante consulted his notes. Sophia would transcribe the meeting this afternoon, but we had taken enough notes to start with.

“All right, Dante and I’ll go look through the house. Carson, can you research the academy? Also, see what you can dig up on Letty. Sophia, find out who worked the case at the police station and see if we can look at their records.” I glanced at my watch. “I think that’s it for the meeting, unless I missed something?”

“I think that’s it,” Sophia said.

Orik stood, yawning. He was six-eight and a mountain of a man. “I’ll try to catch the gargoyle tomorrow. They don’t do well in cities, even on the outskirts.”

“You’re right about that,” I said. “Okay, let’s get back to work.”

As I headed back to my office, Dante caught up to me. “Dinner tonight?”

Dante and I had tried dating once. It had been a disaster. But we made great friends, and we were as close as siblings. I watched what I calledDante’s Dating Follieswith amusementand a shoulder for him to cry on, and in return, he was there to cushion the depression I sometimes spiraled into.

“I’d love it, but I’m meeting Penelope tonight.” Penn was my other best friend. She was also mixed-blood, part Fae, part human, and all witch. For her, it pretty much guaranteed she was an outcast. The Fae were incredibly snobbish about their heritage, and Penelope had grown up with no connections to the Fae community. The few times she had approached them, they had rebuffed her with a rudeness that had pierced her heart.

“Okay, we can catch up later,” he said. “I want to tell you about my latest date.”

I snorted. “That should be good. Let’s face it, you’re gorgeous, hon, but you have the worst taste in women. At least for dating.”

“Rub it in,rub it in!

“You love my teasing and you know it,” I said, flicking his head with my thumb and forefinger.

He ducked, but laughed. “Be nice, woman, or I’ll sneak into your house and steal your chocolate. I know how to get back at you.”

“You do that and I’ll steal your hair gel,” I countered. “Now get busy. And be on time tomorrow.”

With a wink, he vanished into his office. I paused, staring at the door as he shut it behind him. Dante might be a handful, but he was one of the good ones, and I was grateful that he had chosen to work with me. He had a keen eye and a perception that belied his looks. He was far from the glam rocker that he looked like.

As I headed back to my desk, I thought about Angela. I liked the woman, and I wanted to help, but I had a gut feeling that this case was going to be a lot more trouble than we anticipated, and I wasn’t sure that we were going to be able to dig up much.

CHAPTER THREE

The rain was still pouringwhen we left the building, beating a steady rhythm on the pavement. I said goodnight to the others and jogged to my Jeep, covering my head with my backpack as I hurried to open the door and duck inside. I sat there for a moment, watching my breath flow out in front of my face, then turned the ignition and waited for the engine to heat up. I turned up the heat and rubbed my hands. It was time to dig out my gloves from the dresser.

I pulled out my phone and texted Penn.hey, where do you want to meet for dinner? i’m done with work.

I waited for a moment and Penelope texted back.what about garden’s steakhouse? i wouldn’t mind a meat-and-potatoes meal tonight. it’s not far from where you work.

sounds good to me. i’ll meet you there, I texted. Then, plugging my phone into the voice-activation system, I fastened my seatbelt and pulled out of the parking lot.

The driveto the Garden’s Steakhouse wasn’t far in terms of distance, but rush hour traffic turned a fifteen-minute drive into a thirty-five minute drive. Luckily, Penn faced the same dilemma, and we arrived in the restaurant parking lot within five minutes of each other. She saw my car and eased into the spot next to mine.

Penelope Fircrest drove a Toyota Camry, and she owned a magical shop, selling herbs and oils and soaps and spell components. She was what I’d call a pretty woman—not stunning as in drop-dead gorgeous, but truly pretty. Her Fae blood came out in her eyes, and her connection with nature. Her human side came out in her temperament and her ample curves. Most Fae were willowy, though strong, but Penn was plump and curvy. Her father had vanished the moment Eileen, her mother, got pregnant, and when Eileen went to the Fae for help, they rebuffed her, denying Penn’s existence. So Penelope had grown up among humans and other Supes.

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