There was no answer to his question, and every instinct told him something was horribly wrong. He threw the blankets aside and ran across to the bathroom, flinging open the door.
The room was cold and empty. He took a quick glance behind the door then walked to the window. It was latched, and the cobwebs he'd noticed earlier still trailed across the corners, indicating it had not been opened. He swung around and moved back into the bedroom. Where the hell was she? For one brief, horrible instant he thought she'd left him, had gone from his life without saying goodbye. Then he saw her canvas overnight bag, still on the chair where she'd flung it. The sick tension in his gut increased. Eleanor had her. He was certain of that much, if nothing else. Somehow, the witch had crept into the room and spirited Maddie away. He swore and stalked across to the clothes he'd left lying on the floor. Something burned up his leg as he pulled on his jeans. With another curse, he dug his hand into his pocket. The ring he'd taken from Hank was burning hot. He dropped it quickly on the bed and stepped back.
Smoke curled up from the gleaming red eyes of the panther, gradually forming a wraith-like image of Eleanor. But it was an Eleanor who suddenly looked haggard and old— and very desperate.
"I have your woman, Shapeshifter."
Despite her appearance, Eleanor's voice was still smooth and warm. He wondered how much magic she was using to keep it that way. Wondered how badly Maddie had been hurt. "Maddie's not my woman, witch. Do what you want with her." Eleanor's laughter was high and inhuman. "Lie to yourself if you wish, but please refrain from doing so to me. And I prefer to be called a sorcerer, not witch. So, shall we talk terms?"
He clenched his fists and somehow resisted the temptation to shatter the wraith's smug face. "I'll talk no terms with the likes of you." Eleanor sighed. "This denial of yours is becoming tedious. I think I'll leave."
The mist wavered, losing shape. Fear for Maddie cut deeper into his gut. He had no doubt he could find her. His spirit was now linked so closely to hers he only had to fly around until her soul cried out to him. But he wouldn't find her quickly enough to prevent Eleanor from taking some form of revenge on her.
"No!" he said quickly, then cursed himself for a fool when he saw the flash of amusement in the wraith's dark eyes. "What do you want?"
"I want the boy," Eleanor spat. "And I want him before the night is over. Or you'll not see her again, Shapeshifter."
He stared at Eleanor and saw only death. If he or Maddie escaped out of this mess alive, it would be something of a miracle. "The boy has left with his parents. I have no idea where they've gone."
"Then you had best hurry and find out, hadn't you? Dawn is only two hours away."
Two hours in which to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. "And when I find him?"
"Take my ring with you. My mark is still on the child, and the ring will tell me when you have found him. I will contact you then to make the exchange." He ran a hand through his hair. "I want Maddie alive or no deal, witch."
"Then hurry, Shapeshifter. The snow is threatening, and she wears only a Tshirt." The insane sound of her laughter echoed around the room long after her image had faded.
He stared at the ring for a long moment. If he made any attempt to find Maddie without first getting Evan, he had no doubt that Eleanor would kill her. He grabbed his coat and Maddie's bag and headed for the door. He only had one hope of finding Evan quickly. He just had to pray the FBI agent was in a mellow, helpful mood.
Seventeen
"Well, well, well." Mack leaned his chair against the wall and looked more like a smiling shark than ever. "This is an unexpected pleasure. I'd anticipated having to issue a warrant to get you in here."
"Cut the crap, Mack. I need your help." Unable to stay still, Jon began pacing the width of the small office Mack had obviously claimed as his own. Mack's chair hit the floor with a thump. "What's happened?"
"Eleanor has taken Maddie hostage again. She'll exchange her for Evan." Jon swung away from the intensity of Mack's gaze and stalked across to the window. Ten minutes had passed, ten minutes in which anything could have happened to Maddie. He gazed down at the empty street, watching the rain pelting across the pavement. Imagined it doing the same to her pale skin.
He closed his mind to the image and swung back around. "I need to know where the kid is Mack." His voice was almost savage, but he didn't care. "He's my only hope of getting her back alive."
Mack eyed him neutrally. "You can't exchange one death for another."
"I don't intend to." He ran a hand across his eyes. They felt gritty and sore, as if he hadn't slept in a week. But this was a nightmare only just beginning. He dug the ring out of his pocket and showed it to the agent. "This belongs to Eleanor. Through it, she will know when I find Evan. Only then will she tell me where the exchange will take place."
The big man leaned forward and studied the ring. "It's magical?"
"Yes." He bit down on his impatience and flipped the ring in his palm.
"Through it she used to track Hank's movements. Now she'll track mine." Mack leaned back in his chair and regarded him evenly. "I gather, then, that Hank is dead."
"Yes." He hesitated, then shoved the ring back into his pocket. "If you hurry, you'll find what's left of his remains up near Castle Peak." Mack frowned. "How did he die?"
"Does it really matter?" He slammed his palms down on the desk and glared across at Mack. "He's dead. And Maddie will be, too, if we don't get a move on here."
Mack continued to regard him steadily. He briefly considered throwing the FBI agent against a wall or two to shake the information out of him, but past experience told him it wouldn't make a difference. The big man would budge only when it suited him.
"What if I tell you that I don't know where he is?" he said softly. Jon snorted. "I'd call you a damn liar."
Mack grinned—all teeth and no emotion. "Have you considered the prospect that Eleanor will come for you and the boy once you find him? That Maddie may be dead right now, anyway?"