Page 52 of Signs and Wonders

“We’re a long way from anywhere, so even if you could make noise, no one’s around to hear it,” Travis added. “The silver should stop you from shifting, but just in case, my ghost friends are going to make sure you don’t leave the cabin.”

The shifter didn’t try to fight them as Seth snapped another pair of silver cuffs around his bare ankles and ran a chain Drake supplied through the cuffs to a support post for the loft. Tyler found a dish towel in the kitchen and used it as a gag.

“He’s not going anywhere,” Travis said. “The ghosts will make sure of that. Now we’ve got to figure out where they really took Cameron.”

Drake locked the cabin, and they gathered by the cars. “What now?” Drake asked.

“There’s no reason for Cameron to be at the Hub,” Seth said. “It’s too public, and there’s too much risk of exposure. Swain is highly unlikely to do the sacrifice there for all those reasons. We know he stopped using the campground. So the most likely place is the resort.”

“That makes sense,” Travis agreed.

“If Swain wants us to go to the Hub—maybe we should,” Seth said with a crafty smile. “Only not the way he expects. We go ahead with the DOS attack, set off the alarms, and clear out the place. Swain thinks we’re going in after Cameron, but we do everything remotely, so we’re nowhere in sight. His operation grinds to a halt, we cut him off from his illicit data, and while he sends his goons to intercept us at the Hub, there are fewer of them to come after us while we go into the resort.”

“I think you’re right,” Tyler said. “And I’m coming with you.”

Seth opened his mouth to argue, but stopped. He and Evan both knew what it was like when the other was captured or missing.

“All right, but you follow our lead,” Seth warned.

“I was in the Army. I know how to go on a mission,” Tyler snapped.

“Against normal people, yes,” Seth replied. “How many century-old witches did you fight? How many times did you have to dodge spells or actual monsters? We’re trained to deal with supernatural threats. So while what you know is valuable—it’s what you don’t know that can get you killed.”

Tension rose as the two men faced off. Tyler looked like he might take a swing at Seth.

“You want Cameron back.” Travis stepped in to break the impasse. “But Cameron wants you to be alive when he gets rescued. He’d never forgive himself—or us—if you got killed trying to save him.”

Tyler’s bravado waned. “Okay. I hear you. But I want to be in on the operation.”

“Done,” Seth replied, happy for the de-escalation. “We need to get moving. We don’t know when Swain intends to do the ritual.”

“I’ll call Teag and let him know it’s a go once we get back to the campground and have a signal,” Seth said.

“What will it take for you to get your part set up?” Travis asked.

“Pushing a couple of buttons. I had it ready last night,” Seth said, still being cagy around Drake. While the FBSI agent had proven helpful so far, if he turned on them they could be in big trouble.

“So we’re all going to the lodge,” Drake said. “If we need to tramp around in the woods looking for a cave entrance, we’d better bring good flashlights—and night vision equipment.”

“I’ll go back to the RV and start the program,” Seth said. “I’ll take Tyler with me; Travis and Drake can go on ahead in the Crown Vic. We’ll meet up where Evan’s map said the cave opened. If it doesn’t—or if the cave isn’t passable, we’ll need time to find another entrance. Once we’re at the resort, we don’t leave without Cameron, Brent, and Evan.”

“That’s for fucking damn sure,” Tyler said. “Now let’s go rescue my man.”

11

EVAN

Several hours earlier.

Evan managed notto sleep through shavasana—or at least, not through all of it. Brent didn’t snore, so perhaps no one noticed he was out cold. Evan had to admit that between the calm music and the restful pose, he did feel refreshed, and the stretches afterward worked out knots in tense muscles.

The guests filed into Summit’s auditorium and took their seats, quietly buzzing about the day’s activities. Evan was curious to see what Brent made of Paul Wellington since he hadn’t gone to the lunch meeting. Evan wanted to get a second impression now that he knew more about Summit and Renou-Vous.

“People seem pleased with what they’ve seen,” he remarked to Brent.

“It’s had a vacation feel so far. What’s not to like?”

“It reminds me a lot of church camp,” Evan mused. “The first day was all fun and games. We didn’t get into the guilt and hellfire until day two.”

---