Page 62 of Dark Victory

“Hey, good morning to you, too.” Sam was instantly uneasy. “I assume she’s out and about.”

“You helping her keep secrets, Rose?” Nick sounded pissed.

Sam could not read minds, but she didn’t have to. Nick knew all about Macleod. She was certain. “What’s up? Because I need my beauty sleep and I am a bitch when I don’t get it.”

“A really big man, who might be a magician—because he seemed to create lightning with his hands—robbed the Met.”

Sam went still. “Shit.”

“Oh, and another cop is dead. And a priceless friggin’ necklace is gone. So where did you say your sister is?”

Holy shit, Sam thought. “I’ll call you right back.”

“Rose,” Nick shouted, but Sam hung up. She jumped into her jeans and was pulling on a crewneck tee as she ran barefoot into the loft. She didn’t even bother to call her sister’s name, because she knew she was gone and so was Macleod. The loft was empty.

She breathed hard. There was no way Tabby had left the city and gone back in time without saying goodbye. She would never do such a thing. It sounded like Macleod had robbed the museum. If so, they’d probably walk through that door at any moment.

She breathed harder, shaking. She never trembled; she had nerves of steel. But now, she stared at the garbage bags taped across the living-room windows. Her cell rang.

She had it in her back pocket and she picked up. “I don’t know where Tabby is. But, Nick, something tried to get in here last night. Tabby swears it was a demonic energy.”

Nick was silent. “First some demonized kids, and then a demon ghost?”

Sam wet her lips. “Can a demonic ghost command subs?”

“How the hell would I know?”

“Gee, I don’t know, you seem to know just about everything,” Sam said, suddenly furious.

“Have you seen Macleod, damn it?”

“Yes,” Sam gritted, “and I lied. Tabby asked me to keep it quiet, so I did. Fire me. Like I give a fuck.” She realized she was choking, as if on the verge of tears.

Nick’s tone softened. “I might suspend you, but I’m not firing you. Come into HCU so we can figure this out. And, kid? You’ll hear from her.”

Nick was being kind. Sam’s rage knew no bounds. “She didn’t leave—she’s coming back!” She almost threw her cell across the room, but at the last moment, jammed it back in her pocket, instead.

The doorbell rang.

Sam was instantly wary. No one could get up without buzzing up from the exterior lobby first. She went to the door. Halfway there, she felt evil—and recognized it. Her surprise vanished as she opened the door and stared at Kristin Lafarge.

Kristin smiled, holding a bag from a nearby French bakery in her hand. Her attention went to the garbage bags on the windows and back to Sam. “Hello. I hope I’m not disturbing you. I couldn’t sleep last night because of what happened. I tried to call your sister this morning, but she didn’t answer. I became worried. I thought I’d drop by on my way to school.”

“It’s noon.”

“Vanderkirk told me I could take a half day. At first I refused, but this morning, I changed my mind. Is Tabby here?”

“Come on in,” Sam said, smiling. But inside, she was ice-cold. This bitch was going to talk before she was allowed to leave and Sam did not intend to play nice. “Neighbor let you in?”

“Yes, the sweet elderly lady who lives on the second floor.” Kristin set the small paper bag on the kitchen counter. “Is Tabby here? Is she all right?”

Mrs. Morris would never let anyone in whom she did not know. She’d been mesmerized by Kristin. “As you can see, we had a bit of an altercation last night—the good, old-fashioned, horror-movie kind.”

Kristin sighed. “Sam, should we get to the point?”

“Oh, yeah,” Sam said, licking her lips. “Why are you after my sister?”

“Payback is a bitch,” Kristin said softly. Her eyes glowed and a dark wave resonated from her body. “Bitch get down, in so much pain.”