Page 64 of White Raven (Nevermore Duet #2)
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
“How in the hell did this happen?”
Rachel Foster dragged her teeth over her bottom lip in frustration, standing with two other members of the investigation team—the team she’d been leading for the past couple of months since leaving Boston with a hunch.
That hunch had thrown her down the rabbit hole, and promised a nice fat promotion if she could close this case.
But for any of that to become a reality, she’d have to find the lead she’d been chasing for weeks…
the lead that had since vanished from the radar altogether.
“We had her,” Jonas groaned, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve kept close tabs on her ever since—”
“Obviously not close enough, Wright,” she snapped back, cutting him off. “We’ve been tracking her every move for weeks. She was gonna lead us to that pack, and now she’s all but disappeared? What was the last you had on her?”
Amy spoke up next, jumping to Jonas’s defense.
She’d had it bad for the guy for over a year, now.
Of course, she’d try to relieve him from the crosshairs.
“We’ve got a clear shot of her on top of this building, Foster.
She was sitting right there,” she said, pointing to the edge of the rooftop that overlooked Seattle.
“That wasn’t even an entire week ago. She’s gotta be here somewhere. ”
“Lemme see that photo,” Foster demanded, thrusting her hand out.
Amy handed it over, and she studied it carefully, comparing the shot to where Ryan Sykes would have been sitting.
She stepped over to that exact spot and looked down several stories to the traffic below.
The sky began to shed its miserable drizzle over the city.
“She was on the phone. Looks like a cigarette in her hand, too.”
“She either tossed it over the edge, or she’s covering her ass. I’ve not found a single cigarette butt on this roof,” Jonas offered.
“And did we trace the call?”
“Negative. She was using a burner,” Amy followed up.
This was about the millionth brick wall they’d hit since getting a solid lead and uncovering a lot of mystery surrounding werewolves and vampires, and the shady shit they did behind the doors of a completely invisible world.
“A burner…” Foster whispered under her breath, staring at the Seattle Space Needle. She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed the person she’d never admit she was looking forward to speaking with.
“This is Sarah.”
“St. James. Been a while.”
“Agent Foster? Gotta admit, I’m surprised to see you initiate contact. To what do I owe the displeasure?”
Always a snappy little piranha. Foster smirked and turned away from her colleagues.
“Good to hear your voice, too. I’ve got it on good authority that you and your hunky detective are digging your ambitious hands into the wrong pots these days.
I warned your captain to butt out. I don’t know why I bothered. ”
“Is that so?” St. James seemed to exaggerate her response as if the captain were close by…
or maybe Detective Kane. “Interesting. We never got the message. What exactly are you accusing us of digging into, Foster? I’ll be frank, I really don’t fucking have time for pissing contests right now.
Athan is missing, and if that’s not bad enough, we’re down another player. What do you want?”
Foster drew her brows. “What do you mean he’s missing? ”
“Not sure what part of that was difficult to understand. He’s gone. Somebody kidnapped him from my house, and we’ve got absolutely nothing for a starting line, short of two bleak cases. So, unless you’re trying to team up, I’ve got no room for you in the inn. Try the stables.”
“I’m assuming Northwood’s chomping at the bit on this one, right? That is her partner.”
“No. That’s what I meant by ‘down another player’.”
Foster’s mouth dropped open, and she turned on her heel. “She’s dead?”
“Jesus, Foster! No, she’s—she’s indisposed.”
“Well get her un-indisposed. I need to talk to her.”
“We can’t, I—look, she won’t wake up, okay? What is it you’re trying to keep me out of? Because if it involves giving up my search for Athan, you can blow it out your ass.”
“Does any of this train wreck have anything to do with Ryan Sykes?” There was a pause, and it seemed she had her attention now.
“Sykes…of fucking course! It’s gotta be her! Dammit, I need Rhaena.”
“St. James, what do you know about Ryan Sykes? I hate to ruin your ‘aha moment’, but you need to steer clear of her.”
“Why? Because she’s a vampire? Yes, I know. What other being could take Athan down, and drag him off somewhere? God, when I find that bitch…”
“Sarah!” Foster yelled, slapping a palm to her thigh.
“You’re getting into something way bigger than you.
Do you understand? Ryan Sykes isn’t just a vampire.
At least that’s what I’m on the verge of proving.
If I’m right, she’s a lot more than that, and whatever puny research you, or Northwood have got your hands on?
It’s just the tip of the iceberg, and you need to stand down.
She’s dangerous, and unpredictable, and she’s working for even more dangerous, unpredictable fucking people. ”
“Like my father?” Sarah asked, matter-of-factly.
“Dammit, St. James.” Foster yanked her ponytail and paced the rooftop. “I told you to lay low. I told you not to go looking for trouble!”
“I didn’t go looking for trouble! That cunt came to Boston, left a dead bird on my doorstep, and snaked her way into the fucking precinct, posing as a cop! She came here for me. And if she’s the one that took him from me, you’ll be damned sure, I’ll fucking find her and rip her throat out!”
“I understand your need to stand by your man, St. James. It’s admirable, and he’s pretty, but I can’t let you do that.”
“Then you better listen when I tell you, that if she’s involved, and you decide to stand in my way…I’m a hell of a lot stronger than the last time you were in Boston, Agent Foster. I won’t think twice about rolling your fucking head.”
Foster smiled to herself. “You’re not gonna let this go, are you? Have you ever considered that you may not like what you find at the bottom of the rabbit hole?”
“If he’s in danger, I’m not inclined to give a fuck.”
“So you say,” Foster sighed, palming her forehead. “I really can’t afford to leave this post and fly out to Boston to save your ass— again .”
“I’m not the one that’ll need saving. And I didn’t ask you to toss in your two cents.”
“And if I help?”
Sarah got quiet for a long moment. “Then you better take a red-eye, and refrain from being a judgy bitch when you get here. I’m not in the mood for ‘I told you so’.”
“What the hell did you do, Sarah?”
She hesitated before hanging up in her face, and Foster cursed under her breath as she shoved her phone into her pocket.
“What are you thinking?” Jonas asked, standing by the door to the roof access.
“Looks like I’ll be chasing the lead by myself. Call the boss. I need the first flight out to Boston.” She stormed past Amy, who watched her carefully as she headed for the door.
“What about us?” Amy asked.
“If I’m wrong, then fucking find out where she’s hiding in Seattle.”
“Either you can go, or I can. But I’ll level with you, Wren…
my patience is thin. Rhaena isn’t getting any better.
I’m not gonna sit by and watch her rot. If your friend skirts around the truth, she’s gonna have a bad fucking day.
” Wren tensed as Brandon perched on the arm of Rhaena’s couch, crossing his arms as Sarah meticulously added things to the whiteboard.
“I can go,” Sarah offered, marker in hand.
“No,” Wren snapped, stepping forward. “Leigh is my idiot friend. While I can’t say much for her taste in romantic partners, it doesn’t mean that she voluntarily dragged herself into the middle of this. The only thing she’s guilty of is unknowingly sleeping with the enemy.”
“What do you think Foster meant by ‘she’s more than that’?” Brandon directed his question at Sarah, who kept her back turned toward him as she drew lines on the web.
“I dunno, but she seems to think there’s something we’re obviously missing.” She paused and turned toward Foley, who was unusually quiet as he watched Sarah at the board. “Why didn’t you say anything? Foster said she warned you to back off. What are you not saying?”
He sighed heavily and wore an expression of tremendous guilt.
“If Sykes was responsible for Athan’s disappearance, then I guess it’s time to play my part in the blame game.
Northwood tried to tell me she felt off about her, and I practically told her not to follow her instincts.
All because I was being selfish and wanted answers about the wolves. ”
“That doesn’t explain why you kept information like that away from Kane and Sarah,” Jenkins shot, eyeing Rhaena’s bedroom door from his spot on the couch.
“I didn’t hear Foster say anything that screamed danger. She was just being her usual, cocky self. It seemed like she was more worried about a promotion than anything else, and so I didn’t give it another thought. It wasn’t because I was trying to hide anything.”
“Before I go and pry into Leigh’s personal life, what are we thinking Sykes is capable of…other than kidnapping a fucking vampire ,” Wren rolled her eyes.