and in the three of them went, to a parlor with as much character as a blank sheaf of parchment. 160
As was always true in big estates, the family's rooms were done up to luxurious effect. And the staff's were nothing but utility. 161
TWENTY-ONE
As Rehv's Bentley pulled off Route 149 North and eased onto a narrow dirt road, John leaned forward toward the windshield. The headlights hit bare tree trunks as the sedan snaked closer and closer to the river, the landscape overgrown and unwelcoming.
The small hunting cabin that was revealed was absolutely, positively nothing worth noticing. Small, dark, and unassuming, with a detached garage, it was rustic, but in perfect condition.
He had the car door open before the Bentley was in park and he was walking for the front entrance before Rehv was out from behind the wheel. The overriding sense of dread he got was actually a good sign. He'd felt the same thing up at the symphath camp and it made sense that she would protect her private quarters with a similar force field. The sound of his boots was loud in his ears as he crossed the packed earth of the drive and then all went quiet as he hit the scruffy brown grass of the shallow lawn. He didn't knock, but reached for the knob and willed the lock free.
Except . . . it didn't budge.
"You're not going to be able to get in there with your head." Rehv came up with a copper key, put the thing to use, and opened the way. As the stout, solid door was pushed aside, John frowned into the darkness and cocked his head, expecting an alarm to go off.
"She doesn't believe in them," Rehv said quietly -- before catching John as he went to rush in. On a louder note, the male called out, "Xhex? Xhex?
Put the gun down -- it's me and John."
His voice didn't sound right somehow, John thought.
And there was no reply.
Rehv hit the lights and released John's arm as they both went inside. The kitchen was nothing but a stretch of galley with the bare essentials: gas oven, older refrigerator, stainless-steel sink that was functional, not chic. But everything was spotless and there was no clutter at all. No mail, no magazines. No weapons left out.
Musty. The air was still and musty.
162
Across the way, there was a single large room with a bank of windows that faced the water. Furniture was minimal: nothing but two wicker chairs, a rattan couch, and a short table.
Rehv walked right through, heading for a single closed door to the right. "Xhex?"
Again with that voice. And then the male put his palm on the jamb and leaned in to the panels, closing his eyes.
On a shudder, Rehv's huge shoulders lowered.
She wasn't there.
John strode forward, and went for the handle, pushing his way into her bedroom. Empty. And so was the bathroom beyond.
"Goddamn it." Rehv turned on his heel and strode off. When a door slammed on the river side of the cabin, John figured the guy had gone out onto the porch and was staring at the water.
John cursed in his head as he looked around. Everything was neat and tidy. Nothing out of place. No windows cracked for fresh air or doors that had been recently opened.
The fine dust on the knobs and the fastenings told him that. She might have been here, but she was gone now. And if she had come, she hadn't stayed long or done much, because he could detect nothing of her scent.
He felt like he'd lost her all over again.
Christ, he'd thought that her being alive would be enough to carry him through -- but the idea she was somewhere on the planet and yet not with him was strangely crippling. Plus he felt blinded by the situation; he still didn't know the hows and whats and wheres of any of it.
Flat out sucked, to be honest.
Eventually, he went out to join Rehv on the little porch. Grabbing his pad, he scribbled quickly and prayed to hell the symphath could understand where he was coming from.
Rehv looked over his shoulder and read what John held up. After a moment, he said, "Yeah. Sure. I'll just tell them she wasn't here and you came with me to go eat at iAm's place. It'll buy you a good three, four hours of space minimum."
John put his palm over his pec and bowed deeply.
"Just don't go out fighting. I don't need to know where