Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael 3)

Nikki climbed out of the car. For a minute, everything whirled and her knees felt like water. She grabbed the door for support and took several deep breaths. The sensation slithered away, but unease rose in its place. The strange old blind woman had suggested that she and Michael were capable of sharing energy. Was he so badly hurt he was beginning to siphon her reserves?

God, she hoped not. She couldn't survive losing him.

She took another deep breath then turned to study the building in front of her. Though it made no sense, the sensations emanating from the bra were coming from an empty shop in the middle of a busy shopping strip.

Why would Farmer choose a place like this? It wasn't what she'd call safe, particularly if his victim tried to scream....

Mary had tried to scream. No sound had come out—maybe because her voice was lost to the horror of her situation. Nikki's stomach churned, and a chill crept down her spine. She didn't want to think about that chill. Didn't want to think about the instinct that suggested there could be other reasons why Mary hadn't screamed.

Jake told the driver to wait then joined her on the sidewalk. “This the place?" She rubbed her arms. She didn't want to go inside. Didn't want to find what she suspected she might find. Tears stung her eyes, but she tried to ignore them. “Yes."

"Not exactly what I expected."

"No."

She looked to her left then right. No one sitting at the nearby café tables was paying any particular attention. And they wouldn't, as long as both of them looked as if they had every right to be here. She strode up to the door and raised her hand, as if inserting a key. Instead, she pushed kinetically at the lock and opened the door.

She stepped through but stopped just inside the doorway, listening to the silence. Searching the darkness with her psychic senses, trying to find the scent of evil. Farmer wasn't here at the moment. Jake closed the door behind them then flicked on the flashlight. The bright light cut across the shadows, highlighting old bits of furniture and lots of dust. “Where do we go?"

"Up. She was chained to a bed, and the darkness had an airy feel. It certainly wasn't a basement or anything like that."

"There's some comfort in that, I guess."

It was no comfort—not to Mary, not to her and certainly not to him, if the crack in his voice was anything to go by. She walked to the other end of the narrow shop and found a set of stairs behind a half wall. Jake handed her a flashlight, and she shone the light upwards. Nothing but shadows and cobwebs. If Mary was up there, she was making no sound.

Because she couldn't...

Bile rose in Nikki's throat. She swallowed heavily and edged up the stairs, pausing between each step, listening to the silence and testing the air for the approach of evil. Three steps from the landing she paused and carefully peered through the railings. The room beyond was dark and quiet. No sound of breathing. No sound of life.

Not that she had truly expected any.

She swallowed a sob. Holding back guilt, holding back pain, she forced her feet up those final three steps. The beam of her flashlight cut across the darkness and centered on the bed. Mary lay on it. Naked, chained and bloody.

Dead.

Chapter Sixteen

Nikki didn't say anything. Couldn't say anything. For several seconds she just stared, taking in the bloody evidence of horror. Taking in the open, screaming mouth and the stump that had once been a tongue. A sob escaped. She raised a hand to her mouth and put out her other hand to stop Jake. He pushed past angrily then froze. For several seconds neither of them moved. Then with a sound that was half groan, half anguished denial, he rushed towards his wife. Dropping to his knees, he touched her neck, feeling for the pulse Nikki knew he would never find.

He made another broken sound and gathered Mary's lifeless body in his arms. Nikki bit her lip, battling for control. She couldn't give in to anguish just yet. She had to stay alert in case Farmer returned. She glanced at her watch and saw they had less than forty minutes to get back to the hotel. Or she did. She doubted if Jake would leave Mary's body so soon.

Tears trickled down her face. She took a deep, shuddering breath, then dragged her phone out of her pocket and called the ambulance and the cops.

"Jake?"

He didn't answer. Just continued to sob and cradle Mary.

"Jake, I have to go. I can't be here when the cops get here, or I won't get back in time to catch Farmer's message. He can't know.... “Her voice broke. She swiped at her eyes and continued, “He can't know we know."

"I'm going to kill that bastard,” Jake muttered.

"We'll get him, don't worry."

"Not we. Me.” He looked up. His face was ravaged, eyes bloodshot. “Promise me you won't go after him without me."

"Jake—"

"Promise me!” His voice was savage, his eyes intense.