Everything about this damn case seemed to be a long shot. Including finding Janie alive. He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. He couldn't think like that. He had to find her. Anything else was simply unacceptable. "The lab boys find anything unusual when examining the second kid?"
Mark frowned. "Maybe. They found some dirt under a couple of his fingernails."
"Most kids have dirt under their fingernails."
"Yeah, but this stuff was slightly phosphorous. It didn't come from that warehouse in Springfield, that's for sure."
It was a clue. Maybe their first. "They trying to place it?"
"It's going to be a long task, so don't expect miracles."
He didn't expect miracles. He only expected answers. "Nothing else?"
"The kid's clothing and shoes were still damp. He'd been immersed in water a couple of hours before his death."
"No telling whether it was bath, river or sea I suppose?"
"It wasn't sea water, but that's the only thing they are sure of."
Another possible clue that led them nowhere. He glanced at Benton. "What about the old man? Any clues there?"
"No — " A shrill ring interrupted him. The captain swore and dug his cell phone out of his pocket. "Benton here."
It was bad news. That was obvious from the captain's expression. After listening for a few minutes, Benton said, "Where?"
He scrawled down an address then hung up. "Another kid's gone missing," he said grimly. "And this time, the mother was killed in the process."
Chapter Ten
"I'm coming with you."
Ethan's response was almost automatic. There was nothing he could do that Mark and Benton couldn't, beyond finding scents. And this thing left as little in odors as it did clues.
But it was better than standing here. Better than wondering if the soul sucker would follow the pattern it had set so far. Wondering if, in three days' time, they'd find Janie's body, sucked dry or mutilated.
Benton stabbed a finger his way. "You take one step toward that house, and your ass is in the nearest jail cell."
"Captain — "
"I'm serious, Morgan. Keep your nose clear." Benton glanced at Mark. "Let's go."
Ethan looked at his partner, and Mark nodded at the unspoken request. The two men walked out the door. For several minutes, Ethan stood there, weighing his need to follow them against the wisdom of staying put for the moment. He swore and locked the door then headed into Gwen's cabin.
Gwen was at the small table, staring into her crystal ball. He sat beside Kat on the sofa and gently touched her neck. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired. Sore." She shrugged. "It's to be expected."
At least most of the bruising and swelling had gone down. Those herbs were definitely miraculous — either that, or Kat had supernatural self-healing abilities, which he'd seen in werewolves, but never before in a human.
"Where's your boss headed?" she continued.
"Another kid has gone missing."
Her hand caressed his and squeezed gently. "We'll find her. Before the three days are up, we'll find her."
His smile was grim. "I wish I shared your certainty." Wished he could share it with Luke. But he'd learned the hard way that some promises were never meant to be, and he wasn't about to inflict false hope on his brother. Not when they both knew the reality.
She touched his face, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Believe it," she said softly, "because it's the truth."