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  “I guess,” she said slowly.

  “So he’s just being protective and, well, vampire-y. Cut the guy some slack, maybe?” Greg shrugged. “To be honest, I agree with him. We don’t know this Lucas guy, or how he’s connected, or anything. The timing of all this is incredibly suspect, and you’re a pretty attractive target for anyone trying to snag college girls.”

  “Not to mention anyone trying to manipulate this investigation,” Point said. “Now, all that having been said, get Ollie to outfit you with a tracker so we can keep tabs on you tonight. I want regular check-ins with Greg, by text or phone call. And get up to medical and give them a few fresh blood samples. It wouldn’t be the same as an actual blood bond, but if you go missing tonight, D could possibly use a fresh sample to forge a link to you and narrow down a search area.” Point scrubbed a hand over his face and turned to his computer. “Now get out of my office, both of you. I’m getting a nasty headache from all this yammering.”

  7

  Caroline dutifully let Ollie put a tracker in her cell phone, and left several magically preserved vials of blood in the medical suite. Greg kept after her about staying safe, until she left the building, working hard at shredding her patience, but Darien was notably absent.

  Julia was giddy to pick Caroline’s outfit for the evening. Even over the phone, Julia’s excitement over Caroline’s sorta-date was practically a physical thing, reaching through the cell towers and grabbing outfit options straight from the closet. Caroline’s roommate was equally excited.

  “You’ve never been to a party with a guy before! Not even one of those two hotties you hang out with!” She’d said. “I’m going to hide nearby and check this guy out. Where do you find all these men?”

  Caroline could only roll her eyes and try to hang on to her patience. It wasn’t a date! Not a real date, anyway. Sure, okay. She was eighteen and had never dated once in her life. That wasn’t so much pathetic as it was just how things were. She’d get there. Eventually.

  Which is how she ended up standing in front of her dorm, in a denim skirt, a black long sleeved blouse, and heeled sandals. It was easily the strangest feeling she’d ever had, and she couldn’t stop fussing with the small bag her roommate had lent her. The evening was still warm, despite the distinct smell of autumn in the air, and a slight twist of nerves curled through her stomach making her shiver despite the weather.

  “Wow, you look fantastic!” Lucas’ voice startled her from her thoughts.

  “Oh, um. Thanks?” She didn’t need to be this nervous. Really. It wasn’t a date date. Was it? Lucas grinned at her, good humor sparkling in his eyes.

  “I’m rather flattered that you got all dressed up for me,” he said. “Shall we?” He held out his arm in an old fashioned gesture and she huffed a small laugh before tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.

  “Oh, I should let you know that the agency has officially started looking into Sara and Janine’s disappearances. There was a suspicious magical substance on Janine’s bag and two girls going missing at roughly the same time made my boss suspicious,” Caroline said as they headed into the parking lot.

  “Oh? I don’t think you mentioned where you work, exactly. Law enforcement related, I guessed, but not the local precinct. I know that. Not with the attitude those guys have,” Lucas grimaced at a memory. From what Caroline knew of the local cops now, she couldn’t blame him.

  “No, I intern for the FPAA. The chief there wants to train me to be a full agent, but I can’t start that, officially, until I have my degree,” Caroline said.

  Something flashed through Lucas’ eyes, but was gone before she could identify it.

  “That must be fascinating,” Lucas said. He stopped next to a dark blue Prius and pulled a key fob from his pocket. “This is me, then you can tell me all about your job on the way.”

  They chatted about work as he drove, and she told him what she could about the investigations she’d been involved in, and Lucas asked relevant questions that showed he was actually listening to her, which was novel outside the office.

  She learned that he wrote books for a living, and had actually put his writing on hold to come up to Virginia and look for Sara. When they pulled up to the curb and parked down the street from a house where a bunch of students were sitting on the front steps clutching red plastic cups, a thought popped into Caroline’s head.

  “Hey! I just remembered. I don’t even know your last name! I don’t think we really introduced ourselves at that last party.” She stretched out a hand and grinned. “Caroline Peters. Nice to meet you.”

  Lucas laughed and took her hand to shake it firmly. “Lucas Gerard, and it’s truly my pleasure. You should let your work friends know. I’m sure they’re nervous about your safety, if they’re anything like my friends.”

  She laughed, but did pull her phone out and texted Greg that they had arrived, Lucas’ name and occupation, and what car he was driving.

  “Good, now that we’ve got that sorted out, shall we?” Caroline said and popped her door open. At nine thirty, it was early for a party, but latish for the neighborhood and she had to wonder how the neighbors felt about the noise. Though, for all the general fuss, it wasn’t as raucous as the last party she’d been to.

  The Thursday Night Throwdowns were pretty infamous, though: they were both weekly, and stretched down the whole street, encompassing about six houses full of party. This was a much more reasonably sized Friday night party, and only involved one house and yard, and the music didn’t thump nearly as loudly as she expected.

  “Wow. I might actually be able to hear myself think at this party!” She said. Lucas laughed and stepped to her side, his hand on her back. She had to remind herself that they were there to work. Darien’s not the only one undercover on this case, she thought with some satisfaction. Although, I wouldn’t be mad if it was less work and more fun…

  They spent a few hours wandering around the party, together and separately, and Caroline was somewhat comforted when she realized that Lucas never actually let her get out of his line of sight. Even when she managed to duck into the bathroom, he was nearby when she came out, and made eye contact with her for a second before turning back to the guy he was talking to.

  A familiar laugh from the other side of the room bubbled up over the noise of the music and Caroline came dangerously close to growling. She made her way over to the source and tried not to sneer at the girl simpering up at a man with red gold hair. She closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath before reaching up and tapping one of the man’s broad shoulders.

  “Hey, Greg. Funny seeing you here,” she managed not to snarl. Barely. She had a tracker on her phone and was checking in every fifteen minutes. Did they actually not think she was capable of going undercover at a college party? It wasn’t exactly rocket science.

  “Oh, um. Hey, Caroline! What’s up?” Greg at least had the good grace to look embarrassed. “I was just showing, uh, Rachel here my balls. Er, my juggling balls. The rubber ones I juggle with.” He held up the three brightly colored toys that he’d been carrying around the office for the past few weeks.

  Rachel smirked and leaned into Greg’s arm. “I was enjoying the show, what can I say? Want to tell me about all your other party tricks?”

  “Can I convince you to give us a moment, please?” Caroline asked the girl.

  “Honey, you can’t keep your own date’s attention. What on Earth makes you think you can attract his?”

  “The fact that I’ve known him for months and let him bleed all over me while I patched him up in a shady motel room tends to lend me a bit more security here than just getting drunk and showing off too much cleavage,” Caroline sent Rachel a glare. “And let’s not forget the fact that the only reason he’s at this party in the first place is because apparently he’s been following me since I left work.” she turned to Greg, “Haven’t you?”

  “Um… maybe?” Greg looked like he wanted to fade into the background but was trapped by R
achel’s grip. When she let go, he seemed suddenly unsure of whether he was safe to escape or being tossed to the wolves.

  “Ugh, y’all have fun with your drama. I don’t need this.” Rachel turned back towards the kitchen counter where the drinks were being poured.

  “Well?” Caroline raised her brows. “Are you going to explain why you think I need a babysitter? And if you absolutely had to tail me, why come into the party and sink my chances of getting any actual information? Why not sit outside and watch from the shadows like a good kitty?”

  “Well, um…”

  “Because I was actually having a fairly nice time, for a change. Not a very productive one, granted, but still. It is a party. I was enjoying myself.” Caroline scowled.

  “We just thought—”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” Lucas slid up beside Caroline and spread a warm hand over her shoulders. She glanced up at him and he smiled, but something in his eyes made her play his game.

  “It’s fine, we were just talking about how overbearing and obnoxious our coworkers can be.” Caroline sent one last glare towards Greg, who winced. He was heading back into work mode, though, and unfortunately, so was she. “Lucas, this is Greg Barnett. We work together. Greg, Lucas.

  “Good to meet you,” Lucas nodded towards Greg with a friendly smile but leaned to whisper in her ear, “There’s another missing student. A guy named Mike has gone missing. He headed out on a beer run to another apartment about an hour ago with two other guys. The other two just got back and everyone is pulling an ‘I thought he was with you’ routine. You, uh, want an escape from your friend or do you want to bring him along?”

  “Really? That does sound interesting,” Caroline said. She hoped that her smile implied that he was flirting, and flicked a glance at Greg, who was frowning. He was going to follow her anyway, but that didn’t mean she was going to make it easy on him. They wanted her to be an agent? That meant they had to trust her to actually do the damn job.

  “Why don’t we get out of here?” Lucas grinned. “I’m about all partied out.”

  “Good idea. Hey, do you know anything about juggling?” Caroline sent a saucy wink to Greg and took Lucas’ arm like she had on the way in. He led her through the party and out the door where she shivered in the cool night air.

  “Here.” He shrugged off the hoodie he’d been wearing and draped it over her shoulders. “I don’t understand why women’s clothing has to be made specifically to prevent living life. It’s getting too cold at night to not have a jacket.”

  “At least this skirt has pockets,” Caroline laughed. “Thanks. Do you know where they went?”

  “I think I do, yes. The apartment with the beer stash is only a few blocks away, just off Decatur Street. I assume your friend will follow us soon if he isn’t already?” Lucas grinned at her surprise. “Come on, your stories on the way here were all about your partners at work. Greg featured in several of them, but you seemed less than pleased to see him. I thought you were fairly good friends?”

  She laughed. “Yeah. Greg and Darien seem to have appointed themselves Massively Overprotective Big Brothers or something. They don’t like that I was coming out with you tonight.”

  “Hey, considering that people are being snatched, I won’t take offense. I don’t mind a chaperone too much,” Lucas said. “At least, not for this sort of thing.”

  They walked like that, with his arm draped over her shoulders, talking about seemingly nothing, for about ten minutes, until Lucas slowed to a stop and frowned at the sidewalk.

  “What’s up, are we near the place?”

  “The apartment building in question is about a block further up the street, but look at that.” Lucas pointed to the corner of a different apartment, where a small alley held the dumpsters for the residents. On the ground, just at the corner of the building, was a beer can.

  “Huh, what…” Caroline shoved her arms through the hoodie’s sleeves and pushed them up to her elbows before bending over the can.

  “Oh, here’s the rest of the six-pack, just back a bit in the shadow. Do you think this Mike guy dropped it?” She asked.

  “I think it’s entirely possible.” Lucas frowned into the alley. “Hey, do you think you can stay here and wait for your friend? I’ll go look in the alley and see if I can find anything.”

  “Yeah. Greg is probably here already. You wouldn’t believe how good he is at following someone.” She watched as Lucas frowned uncertainly and cast a glance back the way they’d come before nodding.

  “Okay. Stay alert. Get your phone out and ready just in case, I’ll be back in a minute.” Lucas turned and within a few steps was swallowed by the shadows.

  “Seriously? The guy left you alone when there’s people disappearing?” Greg’s voice seemed to come out of thin air.

  “Dammit, Greg.” Caroline jumped and rubbed her chest over her racing heart. “We both knew you were following us. He wasn’t leaving me alone, he was leaving me with you, you jerk.”

  “What kind of date is this guy?” Greg grumbled, but she could tell he was somewhat mollified. “Where’d he go, anyway?”

  “Into the alley. Look.” Caroline pointed at the beer cans and Greg peered at them, then down into the darkness.

  “Well, come on.” He reached for her arm and led her slowly into the shadows themselves. She knew that his magical talent for disappearing was cloaking them both now, but couldn’t help the shivers that walking into a dangerous situation sent shivering down her spine. She may be prone to acting without thinking on occasion, but deliberately staring at risk like this was something she wasn’t used to yet.

  They got all the way to the other side of the alley, where it opened onto the next street over and the back exits to the apartment. Lucas was gone.

  8

  “Some date,” Greg growled. “He really did abandon you.”

  “Or he got snatched himself.” Caroline wasn’t sure why she was defending the guy, but the idea that he’d ditched her to wait alone didn’t sit right.

  “Or he’s involved with the snatchers,” Greg said. He turned and started back into the dark alley, his eyes glowing golden.

  “Wow,” Caroline stared after him for a moment before charging after him. “You and Darien seem to be completely fine with me making female friends that aren’t connected to the agency, but the first male friend I make and you’re both ready to convict him of the nearest crime. That doesn’t strike you as particularly obnoxious?” She tried to keep her temper in check.

  “Look.” Greg ignored her accusation and pointed, and she narrowed her eyes at him. Not that she could see anything particularly well, aside from the magical golden glow his own eyes emanated.

  “I would, but my merely human eyesight isn’t as good as yours, Greg.”

  “Oh, sorry.” He fumbled with something for a moment then the alley lit up under his phone’s flashlight. There by the dumpster, just past the discarded beer, was a smudge of what looked like the same rusty brown substance that was on Janine’s purse.

  “Is that…” Caroline reached towards it, but stopped short of touching it, instead pulling out her own phone to add her light to his.

  “Looks like it, smells like it, has the same very faint tingle of magic. I’d say odds are good, but until we get it tested I can’t be sure. I’ll call this in.” The light waved around then went out as he brought the phone up to make his call.

  Caroline frowned at the smudge, then turned and looked at the beer. “Okay, so… Mike was walking down the road this way, with the beer. Someone must have pushed or yanked him into the alley, which made him drop the beer.”

  Greg nodded at her as he hung up. She pantomimed a stumbling step towards the dumpster. “Then I bet he recovered enough to turn and yell at the guy— I’m assuming a guy here— when he got hit with the stunning powder. Some of the powder poofed past him onto the wall and he fell back. Look.” She pointed to where the dumpster and the wall met. There was another smudge of the stuff th
ere, and a squashed box where she was willing to bet he’d landed.

  “I’d guess that they then carried him right into their van right here at the curb.” Greg looked out of the mouth of the alley. “The less time they spent with an unconscious body out in the open, the better.”

  Caroline nodded her agreement. She opened her mouth to continue their speculation when her phone chirped. She glanced down at it in her hand. It was a text message.

  Lucas: What is the best number to call to get someone to trace my phone as fast as possible?

  “What?” She frowned.

  “What, what?” Greg asked.

  “It’s Lucas.” She held the phone up so he could read the message.

  “Why should we find his lost phone for him?”

  “If he’s texting me on it, it’s not lost, is it?” Caroline glared at him.

  Caroline: why? Where’d you go?

  She watched the dots bounce for a moment.

  Lucas: accidentally found a sketchy looking van and took a trip. It’d sure be nice if I knew I had some kind of federal agent coming after me tonight.

  Well, hell.

  “I think he got snatched. I’m giving him the switchboard phone number,” she said.

  “Wait,” Greg dialed his own phone, and after a moment gestured for hers. He took it and thumbed a phone number into it, then muttered something and hung up.

  “He’s calling Shakes directly. If anyone can find him fast, Shakes can.” Greg grimaced. “And, um. I’m sorry I accused him like that. It seems that he thinks almost as fast and impulsively as you do.”

  “I hope he’s okay,” she said.

  Caroline had only heard of Shakes, but the man was a minor mage that specialized in technology and information. Tracking a cell phone that wanted to be tracked would be easy for the guy as breathing. Greg, to his credit, stayed quiet and kept looking around until the crime scene guys showed up.