Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael 2)

"And it's the only reason your ass is not currently parked in a cell."

"For what? Having the audacity to defend myself?"

MacEwan smiled grimly. “Blowing someone's brains out is manslaughter, regardless of whether it's done in self-defense or not."

"I didn't blow anyone's brains out—a fact I think you'll discover once you run prints on the gun." They wouldn't find Jake's prints, either, as he'd been wearing gloves—gloves that were now sitting in her jacket pocket. She'd taken them off him before the cops arrived. MacEwan snorted. “Like I can take that at face value. The gun's registered in Jake's name, isn't it?" It was, but they still had to prove Jake had pulled the trigger. Which would be rather hard, seeing she and the vampires were the only witnesses. “If the case is so clear-cut, why haven't you charged us?"

"Not saying I won't. I was just stating that Mrs. Kincaid backed part of your story, and it's the only reason you're still sitting here."

Great. Now she was going to spend the next twenty-four hours wondering when MacEwan was going to bust her butt and throw her in jail. Just what she needed on top of everything else. She ran a hand through her sweat-heavy hair. “Don't suppose you saw anything in the warehouse that would give us some clue as to where Matthew might have gone?" She hadn't had the chance to look herself. She'd stayed with Jake until the ambulance arrived, and the cops had pretty much followed the paramedics in.

MacEwan blew a smoke ring skyward. “Nothing that I can see on first glance. We do have witness reports of a car speeding down Ocean Road away from here at approximately the time you gave us." She raised an eyebrow. “Don't suppose these witnesses saw how many people were inside?"

"Three. One woman, two men."

"Your witnesses had rather good eyesight, didn't they?" MacEwan gave her a smile that was all teeth and no warmth. “It was a patrol car that spotted them. They gave chase, but the perps managed to lose them."

"Back to driving school for them,” she muttered. “What about the plate number?"

"Wyoming plates. We're checking it out."

She crossed her arms and frowned at MacEwan. He was being just a little too helpful. Usually he only provided information in small dollops—if that. “What are you after?" He crushed his cigarette under his heel and gave her another wintry smile. “Help. Jake told me some time ago about an ability of yours ... physiometry?"

Nikki's smile was tense. “Psychometry. The ability to touch objects and get some sense of the owner." He nodded. “He said you can use it to trace people—that that was how you kept finding Monica Trevgard."

She rubbed her arms. They'd been nowhere near quick enough to save Monica, and she hoped the same wouldn't be said about Matthew. The woman in the warehouse had given her the impression that Matthew's death wasn't a first option, so maybe she had some time to find him yet.

"It's a talent that's a little shaky. It doesn't always work." He shrugged. “At this stage, I'm willing to give anything a try." The edge in his voice suggested this was something personal. Her frown deepened. “What do you want me to do?"

He raked a hand through his dark hair then glanced around. “My niece was abducted three months ago. We've tried everything we can think of to find her—gone through every official channel. There's no sign of her. My sister's going crazy. I thought that maybe...” He shrugged. “You help me, and I'll help you." She frowned. “Why are you so convinced she's still alive?” He'd been a cop long enough to know the chances of that were remote—especially given the fact it obviously wasn't a ransom-induced kidnapping.

"She is alive.” His voice was flat, but there was desperation in his eyes. Clutching at straws. “I can't guarantee anything.” After three months, whatever psychic resonances his niece might have left on her personal items would probably be fading.

"Just try."

She nodded. MacEwan had to be frantic if he was coming to her for help. In the past, he'd been the biggest denouncer of her gifts. Yet he hadn't mocked her months ago when she'd called him for help with Jasper and his zombies, nor had he mocked when she'd mentioned that the bodies in the warehouse were vampires. MacEwan wasn't a man easily figured out, that was for sure. He took a business card from his jacket and handed it to her. On the back was a handwritten address.

"I should be finished here by six,” he said. “You can reach me at home anytime after seven." She nodded and tucked the card in the pocket of her jeans. It looked like she wasn't going to head home and grab that shower after all. She'd barely even have enough time to go see Jake at the hospital.

“I'll need something of your niece's—something she wore all the time." MacEwan frowned. “Like what? Jewelry? Clothes?"

She shrugged. “Jewelry works best—metal seems to hold the resonance of its owner longer. But I can sometimes get quite good readings from a bra."

"I'll talk to Sondra, see what she can come up with.” He half turned away, then stopped, looking back.

“I know you'll want to see Jake once you leave here, but don't screw me around on this." Nikki snorted. As if she would. She knew better than anyone how stupid that would be. Though she'd never felt MacEwan's wrath herself, she'd seen it fall on others. Fair cop or not, he had a mean streak wider than the Mississippi when pushed too far.

"Just don't expect me to perform miracles."

He nodded and reached for another cigarette. “I won't. I just have a feeling time is running out for her. If we don't find her soon, we won't find her alive."

"I'll be there as soon as I check on Jake.” Hopefully, he was fine. Hopefully, the wound wasn't as bad as it had looked. “Don't suppose you could talk to Matthew's mother and see if you can convince her to part with something of Matthew's?"

The chances of Mrs. Kincaid being willing to see her, let alone touch something of Matthew's, weren't likely to be high right now. Hell, they'd be lucky if she even bothered paying them—not that Nikki could really blame her.

MacEwan nodded. “I'll talk to her.” He took a drag on the cigarette, then crushed it under his heel and walked away.

She wondered why he bothered smoking. In all the years she'd known him, she'd never actually seen him finish a cigarette.