Flirting Under a Full Moon - By Ashlyn Chase Page 0,5
first. Either you’ve been promoted to detective or you have a brand-new job altogether.”
“The latter. I’m a PI now.”
“Wonderful. Police work is dangerous, and you’ll have a family counting on you…someday.”
He chuckled. “You’re not going to hijack this conversation, are you? Because I didn’t come here to ask about my love life. I know that’s your specialty, but…”
“Not at all. Just stating a fact. Besides, you’re better than a beat cop.”
“Thanks, I think. What’s wrong with being a friendly, neighborhood police officer?”
“It’s the uniform. It’s like wearing a target on your chest. As I said, you need to watch out for your safety.”
The word “target” hit him like a shock wave. Is that some kind of prediction? A moment later, he decided, nah, it couldn’t be. After all, she was talking about the uniform. He’d left the force and wasn’t going back.
“Okay. Message delivered. Back to business, then.” Wendy interrupted just long enough to deliver Sadie’s drink, then flitted away. She’d forgotten Nick’s water, but he really didn’t care.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Nick continued. “It’s my first case. What I tell you has to remain confidential. Can you do that?”
“I keep all of my readings confidential.”
“I don’t need a reading, just your vibes or premonitions or something. You’re supposed to be psychic with or without the cards. Right?”
Sadie’s lip curled up on one side, and she began shuffling the cards anyway. “Go on.”
“The mayor’s little girl has been kidnapped. There’s no ransom demand—so it seems as if they have another purpose.”
“I hate to say it, but there are a lot of things they could want with a public figure’s daughter. Blackmail, maybe?”
“I doubt it. The mayor’s afraid to involve the police. He’s worried he’ll never see Katie again if this goes public. He’s still hoping some sort of demand will follow, but none has.”
Mayor Bennett had let his good friend the police chief know about the situation, as well as the delicacy with which it had to be handled. It turned out to be the right call. Chief Stone spoke to Captain Hunter, and Hunter spoke to Nick. But they’d let him know that if he screwed up, they’d never use his services again. Neither would anyone else.
Nick tapped his foot in frustration. How much does Sadie know about the paranormal side of Boston?
“I know there are many paranormal factions in this city,” she said, as if she’d heard his thought clearly. “If neither ransom nor blackmail are involved, I get the feeling this girl might be gifted in some way and her captors want to exploit her gift for their own purposes.”
Nick straightened. “Bingo. That’s what I was thinking. What else can you tell me?”
“What else can you tell me?” she parroted.
Nick shifted uncomfortably. Still, this was important enough to take a chance on Sadie’s discretion. “The little girl is a fire mage. She has no idea what’s about to happen to her. Her mother never told her about their inherited curse, much less taught her how to control it. Now that she’s entered puberty, her power will be triggered on the next solar eclipse—eight days from now.”
Sadie nodded. She spread the cards across the table. “Pick seven.”
Nick huffed. “I don’t think those cards can pinpoint her location.”
“Is that what you wanted?”
“I had hoped you could sense her, but if not…” He started to get up.
Sadie reached over and covered his hand. “Don’t leave. If you have something that belongs to her, I might be able to help you.”
“Okay, good.” Nick got comfortable again and pulled a small plastic bag out of his pocket. “This is her hair. Can you get anything from that?”
Sadie took the bag and opened it.
She didn’t ask how or why he had the girl’s hair. Maybe she already knew. As a wolf, Nick could sniff out any victim. A reminder of her scent would help if he didn’t locate her quickly. There was another reason to have a hair sample…one he didn’t want to think about. So when he’d seen the girl’s hairbrush in her bedroom, he’d snagged a few.
***
Brandee trotted down the stairs from her apartment over the bar to start her shift. As she breezed in, she noticed Nick leaning over the table toward Sadie. They were talking in hushed tones.
That’s weird. Nick never consults Sadie. He doesn’t seem like the type.
But there he was. Sadie had spread the cards out and he was turning over a few of them. Brandee wondered what would change a skeptic’s mind