Illuminati?”
Jason gave him a withering look. “I’m serious. I could lose my job if it gets out that I had any part in this.”
“Jason, I’m not going to do anything that would put you in danger or compromise your reputation, but you’re the one who came to me,” Colt reminded him. “And if it helps, I already know about the last kidnapping.”
“You do?” Jason frowned. “How? It hasn’t even been reported to the press yet.”
“Anette and Christie were my foster parents for a while,” Colt replied. “I went over to see Mom, and Anette was there. She told me what happened to Richie.”
Jason’s eyes widened as Colt spoke and for a moment, he looked the way Colt thought he might if he knew he was sitting across from a monster. “Richie was their foster child?”
“Yeah. One of about a hundred of us over the years,” Colt said, wincing at Jason’s use of the past tense. He knew it was a long shot they’d find Richie alive, but he wasn’t ready to give up yet, and if it wasn’t for Jason calling him, he’d be out on the streets looking himself. “What’s wrong?”
Jason took a folder out of his bag and handed it to Colt. “These are the police reports of the other missing children,” he said quietly. “Richie is the first one who was taken from his home. The other five were all last seen around the same location. Two of them were sighted near Junction Road, Colt.”
Colt stared at Jason, processing the information he didn’t want to make sense of. “That’s not possible. That’s where they found me.”
“I know. It’s a coincidence, I know it has to be, but now knowing how you’re connected with Richie...”
“It’s a little too much for coincidence,” Colt muttered, standing. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
“Colt!” Jason cried, rushing to the door. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll explain later. Just trust me, okay?”
“Colt!”
Colt ignored him, running to his car. He could see Jason in the rearview mirror as he drove away, yet again. He was getting tired of running away from the one person he wanted to run toward, but if there was even a chance this changeling was sending him a message, he had to keep Jason at arm’s length now more than ever.
Chapter 8
Colt didn’t even bother going down to the sheriff’s station. He knew Roland would be at home, since that was where he did most of the work that went in direct opposition to his obligations as the appointed guardian of the city. Colt was so blinded by rage that he failed to notice the other familiar car in the driveway.
The doorknob snapped in Colt’s grip as he shifted his hand. He wasn’t in the mood to knock. He burst into the living room and found that Roland was far from alone. Seated on the couch and standing by the fireplace respectively were Susan and Stan, their expressions stern with worry.
“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t family dinner?” Colt asked, striding into the room.
“Colt,” Susan cried, standing. “Is everything alright?”
“Oh, everything’s just swell, Sue. Except for the fact that all six of the missing kids the changeling kidnapped have some weird connection to me, ranging from them being taken near or on the same street I was found on to one getting snatched out of my old foster moms' house. Other than that, I’m fine. How’s the sewing circle?”
Susan and Stan did that thing where they looked at each other and seemed to be communicating without words. If Colt didn’t know better, he’d think they were twins, and not the cute kind that had their own TV shows. The weird kind that made everybody uncomfortable at Thanksgiving dinner.
“So you found out about Junction Road,” Roland said, standing. “This is why I didn’t tell you, just a little FYI.”
Colt moved before he could think and had Roland up against the wall, his shifted claws digging into the sheriff’s throat. He could feel his eyes burn as they turned red. That was the one part of the shift he still had a hard time controlling when he was pissed enough, and Roland was nothing short of a savant when it came to getting him there.
“Colt!” Susan cried, rushing toward her brother. Stan held her back.
Colt ignored her, his attention fixed on the man in front of him. “I’m sick of you, Evelyn, and every other bottom feeder in this city keeping shit from me. When it comes to your own bullshit