completely trust to help and I know you can.”
Alone. A bell rang in his mind. A warning bell.
“All right.” Reese raised his left arm and glanced at his watch. Nearly midnight. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Thank you.” Monique sounded genuinely relieved, and he wondered if he had just overreacted. “Hurry. Please.”
“Be right there.” He snapped his phone shut and started to slip it into the holster on his weapons belt.
Instead he opened the phone again and dialed the number for one of the Trackers who covered the more-than-four-thousand-acre park. Katy answered on the third ring.
“Are you at home right now?” Reese asked.
“Yep,” Katy answered. “What’s up?”
“I need you on backup right away, just around the corner from your place,” Reese said to the Witch. He explained the call he’d just gotten from Monique and added, “Stick to the shadows and don’t let her know you’re there.”
“Gotcha.” The Witch’s soft voice belied the power she wielded in the spoken word. “I’ll leave right now. I’ll be waiting and watching.”
“Thanks, Katy.” Reese flipped the phone closed and shoved it into the holster.
Reese visualized an eagle, picturing its beauty, its strength, everything about it down to the last feather on its body.
A rush of sensation washed over his skin, like ice water, followed by warmth that reached every nerve ending in his body. One moment he stood in the parking lot and the next he took to the sky, shooting up until he was high above the city. A sense of exhilaration filled him as he rode the wind until he was over the main entrance to Griffith Park.
Reese circled above but didn’t see Monique, or any other being for that matter. He let out two piercing cries to let Mo—as well as Katy—know he was there. He doubted he’d see Katy, who likely would have cloaked herself in a Witch’s glamour. Being Elvin, Monique would be virtually impossible to spot, too. But if anyone else was around, he should hopefully see them.
Monique stepped from the shadows and looked up. Reese soared downward, straight for her. He landed in human form at a jog about twenty feet from where she stopped. With a quick sweep of his gaze and an outreach of his senses, he slowed and walked to the Elvin Proctor.
Reese hadn’t thought it possible for one of the Light Elves to look so concerned that she appeared almost frightened. The Elves were known for their stoic beauty, even during the worst of times.
Monique was lovely in jeans and a red blouse, her dark curls wild around her delicate, exotic face. Her completely feminine features belied the amazing skills she had as a Tracker and a Proctor. With her Elvin strength and intelligence, she was as tough mentally as she was physically.
She looked pale yet radiant in what little lighting there was at the park entrance. It was so good to see her, and he felt a flood of relief that she was alive.
“Where have you been, Monique?” he said, “The paranorm world is on its ass about all the missing Trackers—and you, a Proctor. It’s all anyone’s talking about.”
“Reese,” she said as she moved toward him. “Thank you for coming so quickly.” She went on before he could say anything. “There’s so much no one knows. I’ve been working undercover to find the other Trackers. It had to be kept secret.”
Reese cocked his head as she neared him.
“It all had to look plausible to those who have taken the missing Trackers,” she said.
“Rumors and speculation abound on who is responsible for this,” Reese said.
Monique nodded. “I have something important to talk with you about. I need you to be a part of this operation.”
Reese raised an eyebrow but let Monique continue.
“No one can know,” Monique said. “You must turn up missing like all of the others.”
“I’ll consider it once I hear more from you,” Reese said. “Who or what do you think is responsible?”
Monique lowered her voice, even though they were alone. “You’re right in part. But this isn’t the place to get into details.”
Reese gave a nod as he studied Monique. Something stirred within him. Like the feeling of setting out on the hunt. He was going to be in on the action from the inside.
“I have a place where I’m staying near Anaheim.” Monique gestured in the direction of the city. “I want you to come with me now and meet with our small undercover team,” she added. “I want to make certain, though. You have told no