Night's Master (Children of The Night 3)

“Jackson and McGee—damn their eyes.”

“Rick McGee?” I shook my head. “You must be mistaken.”

“We can't afford to be mistaken about things like that.”

It couldn't be true. If Rick was a hunter…the possibility of what that might mean to Susie's future was frightening. But surely Rick wouldn't kill his own wife! Even as I tried to reassure myself, I knew Rick wouldn't have to. Travis Jackson would destroy her without a moment's hesitation.

I had to call Susie, I thought desperately. I had to warn her before it was too late, but what could I say? How could I convince her that her life might be in danger from her own husband?

I didn't think Cagin was ever going to leave but, finally, he picked out a couple of sci-fi books and left the store. As soon as he was gone, I grabbed the phone and punched in Susie's number. After four rings, her answering machine picked up.

“Hi, this is the McGees' home. We can't get to the phone right now, but you know what to do. Ta-ta for now.”

I broke the connection. Just because she didn't answer the phone didn't mean she was in danger. She could have gone to visit her kids again or run to the market. Maybe she'd gone for a walk…and maybe she was lying dead in a ditch somewhere.

As the day went on, I tried her number half a dozen times, until I wanted to scream in frustration.

I was thinking of closing up at five when I was suddenly inundated with customers all clamoring for the latest installment of the young adult series titled Ghost Wind. Written by a nineteen-year-old boy, bookstores all over the country were touting it as the next Harry Potter.

For the first time since I'd opened the store, I was praying for customers to leave. Instead, they seemed determined to hang around, exchanging stories of how Ghost Wind had turned their nonreaders into fanatics. I listened, I rang up sales, I bagged books, and all the time I was silently screaming at them all to go home so I could lock up.

It was almost six when I ushered the last customer out the door and turned out the lights. I was locking up when Rafe appeared. I'd never been so glad to see any body in my life.

“What's wrong?” he asked.

“Susie doesn't answer her phone.”

He lifted one brow. “That's what has you so upset?”

“Is that why you're here? You knew I was upset?”

He nodded, sniffed the air, and then frowned. “Cagin was here.”

“He came in to buy a book. He told me there are two hunters in town, and that Susie's husband is one of them! I've been calling her house all day, and she doesn't answer. You don't think he'd…” I couldn't say the words aloud.

Rafe rubbed a hand over his jaw. “It's possible.”

“You know something. What? Tell me?”

“My grandfather and I followed McGee the other night. He met up with Jackson.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding with dread. “And?”

“Jackson asked McGee if he could take her out, or if he wanted Jackson to do it.”

“I don't believe it! How can they expect Rick to kill her! How can Rick even associate with someone crazy enough to expect him to kill his own wife! It's…it's insane!”

“All the hunters I've known are dedicated to destroying the Supernatural. They take a blood oath to do their duty or die trying.”

“I can't believe you didn't tell me this before!”

“I don't want you involved in this.”

“I'm already involved. Susie's my friend.” I grabbed Rafe's arm. “We've got to stop them before it's too late.”

“I'll see if I can find her. You stay here.”

“No! I'm going with you.”

He shook his head. “Not a chance. These guys are killers. If you get in their way, they won't hesitate to kill you, too. You got that?” He slipped his arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “For all you know, she could be at the movies.” He kissed my cheek. “Stay here,” he said again. “I'll be back as soon as I can.”

I grabbed his arm. “I need to go. If you won't take me with you, then I'll…I'll…”

“You'll what?”

“I'll find someone who will. Someone like…Cagin.”

Rafe glared at me. I knew he was trying to intimidate me, but I refused to back down.

“Dammit, Kathy…”

“We're wasting time.”

With a shake of his head, he stalked out of the building.

I turned off the lights, locked the door, and followed him outside, half expecting that he would be gone. But he was leaning against the front fender of his car, waiting for me.

I told myself not to worry, that if anyone could find Susie, it was Rafe. After all, he'd done it before.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Chapter Twenty

I gazed out the window as Rafe drove up and down the streets of Oak Hollow. I was counting on him to find Susie, but as it turned out, I was the one who found her, in a roundabout sort of way.

We had been searching for over an hour and were about to give up and go back to my place when I sensed the presence of a Were.

“Slow down.” I glanced up and down the street. “Over there.”

Rafe pulled up in front of the house I indicated. A large FOR SALE sign hung from a post in a corner of the yard. A smaller sign read VACANT. I thought I recognized Susie's car in the driveway.

I glanced at Rafe. If it was Susie's car, what would she be doing here, in the dark, in an empty house? I was surprised at the number of ghastly possibilities that quickly flitted through my mind, each one worse than the last.

“I'm going inside to have a look around,” Rafe said. “Any point in my telling you to wait here?”

“Probably not.”

“Stay behind me.”

I didn't have any problem with that. I followed him up the walkway to the front porch, waited while he listened a moment, then tried the doorknob.

It opened at his touch.

Apparently, he didn't need an invitation to enter a vacant house. He crossed the threshold on silent feet, and I tiptoed in behind him, my heart pounding as I glanced around. I couldn't see much, but even in the darkness, I could see that the room was empty.

Rafe stood just inside the doorway for a moment, then moved unerringly through the living room and down a narrow hallway, with me close on his heels.

There was the sound of a scuffle followed by a sharp cry that was quickly cut off, but not before it lifted the short hairs along my nape. The scent of blood brought the taste of bile to the back of my throat.