The tang of salt air grew heavier on the wind. Michael listened to the waves breaking across the wharf supports, an angry sound that matched his mood. Jasper ran down a wooden walkway and into a building.
Michael studied it. The warehouse appeared deserted. There was no one about, either inside or in the nearby buildings.
A trap waiting to be sprung.
He stopped near the door, then moved around to the left. Turning a corner, he saw a small building in the shadows of the next warehouse. He walked across, keeping watch on the building to make sure Jasper made no attempt to escape.
The door was padlocked. But from inside came the smell of gasoline. Michael wrenched the door open. How fortunate, he thought, seeing a dozen or so cans.
Picking up two, he moved back to the warehouse. Jasper hadn't moved. He could see his red haze hunkered down in one corner.
Michael opened the can and splashed the gas across the building's wooden wall. Then he stepped back, reaching into his pocket for the matches he'd picked up earlier. The fire wouldn't kill Jasper, but it would make him sweat. Make him relive the horror of his childhood. Make him fear, as he'd made Nikki fear.
Lighting a match, Michael flicked it at the wall, then stepped back quickly as the wall exploded into flame.
Fear hit him, almost suffocating his senses. Only it wasn't Jasper's fear. It was Nikki's. He immediately opened the link and reached out, demanding to know what was wrong. Her mind was closed to him, refusing to acknowledge his call. He cursed softly. When he'd shared his psyche with her, he'd not only strengthened the link between them, but he'd also strengthened her ability to ignore him as well.
He glanced back at the fire. Hungry fingers of flame were beginning to spread along the roof. It wouldn't be long before the whole building was ablaze. Jasper hadn't yet moved. He would wait until the last possible moment. But Michael couldn't.
Nikki was in danger. He had to leave.
At least dawn wasn't far off. With a bit of luck, Jasper wouldn't have the courage to do any hunting tonight.
And that, in turn, would weaken him, make them a more even match. When Michael had shared his psyche with Nikki, he'd lost a lot of his strength. If Jasper fed, he would be hard to beat. Not that it mattered. If Michael had to die, then so be it.
As long as he took Jasper with him.
He turned and broke into a run, heading for the hospital and Nikki.