Page 30 of The Vampire and the Case of the Malevolent Mermaid

I knew a big guy had taken the girls from the Robertson’s house because of the size of the footprints I’d found, but there were tonnes of big guys in town. Shifters ran large. And how many different kidnappers did we have in Portlock? Besides the MIB and their black ops groups, how manycreepsdid we have? Sure, it was the place where paranormals ended up when they’d run out of better options, but the population was only slightly over 3,000. Ithadto be the same ring.

Maybe Kate had been targeted not because ofwhatshe was, butwhoshe was. Was someone deliberately poking the Vampire King of America? Did that explain his fiery response? It might also explain why he’d immediately sent in a crack team, not to mention the lack of communication between the Nomo and theRobertsons. And did the Robertsons know more than they were letting on? I’d had the sense that Faye was lying to me: was she just concealing the fact that they’d brought in help, or was it more than that?

I texted Connor.Could it be that the kidnappers wanted Kate Robertson because of who she was? Someone trying to get your dad’s attention?

Can’t talk. Will think. It’s possible.

Damn, his dad’s goons must be in his office.

I had two working theories: one, a prostitution ring; two, a fuck-you to Connor’s dad. Both felt like they fit but my gut said we were looking at door number one. Even so, Cobalt Robertson was acting shady as hell and he was pinging my radar hard. I couldn’t see him kidnapping his own daughter and his rage had seemed genuine, as had his disgust at having to talk to the Nomo’s office. But somethingwasoff there.

I texted April.Did you find anything juicy on Cobalt Robertson?

Her reply was almost immediate.Not a damn thing. He doesn’t seem to have existed before Kate was born. Vampires try to fly off the radar, but his lack of a past is shady. I sent out the search to a PI friend. Used petty cash. BTW, your goons have left now.

Was there any petty cash left?I only half-joked.

There was but it’s all gone now. We’re buying our own lunches, coffee and tea this month.

Thanks, April. Let me know what you get.

I will. Gotta go. Sidnee just came in.

I decided I’d try to sleep; daytime was hitting me hard and I needed my strength and a shit tonne of mental clarity. I drank my tea, changed and climbed into bed. I didn’t think I’d sleep with all the things running through my head, but I hit the pillow like I’d been knocked out.

Chapter 18

I shot out of bed. At first, I thought it was a dream that had sent my floppy heart pounding with two solid beats but it was my phone. If there was one thing I hated about this job, it was the regularity with which I was woken by my damned phone.

I scrambled around and swiped to answer. ‘Bunny – uh, Officer Barrington here.’

‘Bunny!’ It was Sidnee and her breath was coming in short gasps: she was panicking. ‘I need you, now! I sent my coordinates to your phone! This is sooo bad. I went mer, and I don’t remember, and there’s so much blood.’ She started sobbing desperately.

‘I’m on my way, honey. Everything is going to be okay!’

‘Hurry,’ she sobbed and hung up.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK! My heart gave another solid kerthunk before I sprang out of bed and threw on my clothes. I checked the coordinates as I pulled on my boots: her location was miles away. I’d need to get the SUV if it was at the station. This was getting ridiculous; I needed my own car but getting one had been low priority because I liked walking everywhere. Now it had moved up. My best friend needed menow,and I couldn’t get there. Not for the first time, I wished I could teleport like a banshee.

‘Sidneeis in trouble!’ I hollered at the animals as I tore through the house.

Shadow slipped out through my legs as I opened the front door. I swore loudly, but I didn’t have time to shove him back inside or get his pram. Just this once, I’d have to trust him to follow us. If any of his recent escapades had taught me anything about my cat, it was that he could absolutely look after himself. If he separated from us he’d do it deliberately and he’d come back when he was ready.

Shadow seemed to sense the urgency because for once he didn’t cavort and gambol around but kept pace with me and Fluffy.

When we arrived at the car park, the SUV wasn’t there – but luckily Sidnee’s car was. As usual, she’d left her car keys on the front nearside wheel in case of an emergency. Gunnar’s truck wasn’t in the car park, so either he was on a call, with Sidnee or on his way to her, or at home. I hoped he was already with Sidnee because she’d beenscared.

I rang him as I drove but my call went straight to voicemail. I left him a message with the GPS co-ordinates, telling him to get there immediately if he could.

Following the GPS on my phone, I pulled onto a dirt road and headed into the forest to the edge of the barrier.Crap, don’t let it be a breach. We jolted along a track that narrowed and grew more overgrown with every turn; soon it was barely wide enough for Sidnee’s small car. It looked like a quad-bike trail.

A quad bike? My blood ran cold. Had Sid found the girls’ kidnappers?

When I saw Gunnar’s truck and a group of people ahead, I felt a wave of relief. Everything would be okay if Gunnar was there.

After releasing my pets, I jogged into the melee. There were seven people. Gunnar’s bulk was hiding some of them, I didn’t recognise the three I could see – and I couldn’t see Sidnee.

When I reached them, I took it all in. Three men in black combat gear: the vamps. Connor was going to be so mad at me – but Sidnee came first. I’d have to deal with any fallout afterwards.

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