Thirteen (Otherworld 13)

"Directions" was pushing it. The spirit had done exactly what you'd expect from a being that doesn't have a lot of experience communicating with humans. He'd given lots of details that were useless until you plugged in the theory that the place was in or near Indianapolis and had magical properties that would keep out trespassing major entities. Then you could start plucking out the geographic references and making sense of them.

Benicio called the entire research department in early, along with a few people from HR, and put them to the task of finding all staff--from janitors to managers--who'd lived in Indiana.

By seven, the research wing was busier than I'd ever seen it. The employees weren't thrilled to be dragged out of bed so early, but they were a bit happier when they found a gourmet breakfast buffet waiting for them, and a lot happier when Benicio promised them all three paid days off for the inconvenience, plus bonuses for anyone bringing him useful information.

I hoped Adam qualified for those bonuses, because he showed up the Cabal's entire team. He focused on sites that supernatural historians called "spirit blocked." In other words, sites that higher order spirits were said to be unable to locate.

Most were on ley lines and other geographic locations that humans think have special powers. They don't. But like ordinary humans, supernaturals hold a mishmash of beliefs, human and otherworldly. So they, too, often seek out these "special" spots to conduct powerful rituals. Maybe out of honest belief or maybe like clutching a rabbit's foot while picking the lottery numbers--you're pretty sure it's not going to help, but it can't hurt.

Now if your average person is asked to locate the nearest ley line, he's going to have some trouble. Same with supernaturals. So there are about a hundred "hot spots" that get passed along among practitioners. When supernaturals flock to these sites and conduct rituals for a century or two, mystical or not, you're going to screw with the mojo of that place. It becomes spirit-blocked, which is great, because then you don't have to worry about unwanted guests. Which means the places become even more popular.

There were six spirit-blocked sites within a four-hour drive of Indianapolis. With that list, and staff familiar with the areas, plus researchers analyzing satellite photos, we soon found our spot.

Karl was out of surgery. He'd survived, but now the surgeon was saying it would be a miracle if he made it to noon.

After she left, Clay said, "Bullshit. You know what she cares about? Same thing everyone else here cares about. One, impressing the boss. Two, not pissing off the boss."

"They do appear to be erring on the side of caution," Jeremy said. "Extreme caution. Before you arrived, I tried to get more details of his injuries. I may not be a doctor, but she knows I understand the terminology. She stayed vague, which suggests his condition wasn't as bad as she feared before she started operating."

"She just doesn't want us to know that," I said. "If she says the bullet wounds weren't critical, and he dies, she's in trouble. If she pretends he's at death's door and she saved him, she gets a big bonus."

"Either way she's motivated." Adam glanced toward the ward. "Is Karl still sedated?"

Jeremy nodded. "He should wake in an hour or two, but I'm considering asking them to keep him under until we have news. Preferably good news."

"Yeah," Clay said. "He wakes up and Hope's gone? He's not staying in that bed. I wouldn't."

"He'll kill himself going after her," Elena said. "I say keep him under."

Jeremy nodded. "Agreed."

Elena drew Clay aside for a moment. She whispered something to him, and he whispered a response, and then she stepped back to us, turning to Jeremy.

"I'm not going to Indiana. Karl should have someone here who knows him, to speak for him if things go wrong. As Alpha, you need to lead the rescue. As Alpha-elect, I should stay with Karl."

"No," Jeremy said. "You're more capable of taking an active role in the field. You'll go in my stead."

Elena shook her head. "I don't bring any skills that Clay doesn't have. You do. If Hope's in an underground compound, your kitsune powers are going to be a lot more useful than my nose."

Jeremy looked uncomfortable, as he always did when someone brought up that side of his heritage. "They didn't help when you were trapped in an underground cell, and I'd really rather--"

"Elena's right," Jaime cut in. "We know the place is warded, and that was the problem when Elena was captured, too. Maybe your powers will work this time; maybe they won't. Point is that it can't hurt to have you there."

"So it's settled," Elena said. "Now, please go. In order to keep Karl calm when he wakes up, I really need good news."

FORTY

Three hours later, we were in the middle of freaking nowhere.

"It's not nowhere," Adam said as we paced outside the crumbling farmhouse the Cabal had declared mission headquarters. "It's Indiana."

"It's a cornfield," I said, waving my arms. "Even the people who lived here had the brains to bail."

"The land is owned by a farming conglomerate," Adam said. "The farmers sold their fields--"

"I'm venting," I said. "Not looking for a lesson in modern agriculture."

"Believe me, I feel your pain. And I'm going to do something about it."