Found(97)

Rast frowned. “Not on purpose, maybe. But yeah, something like that.”

“How dare you say that to me? How can you refute what I saw so easily?” Nadiah demanded. “You even asked for my help. You asked me to touch her clothes and try to find her.”

Rast threw up his hands. “Call it temporary insanity on my part. I was desperate, all right? And besides, what did you see—that she was dead, right? Anyone could have predicted that.”

Nadiah was getting angrier and angrier. “What about the giants I saw in my vision—the statue? That turned out to be true.”

Rast shrugged. “I don’t know—the statue is a famous local landmark. Maybe you were reading about Sarasota or talking about it with one of your friends. Haven’t Sophia and Olivia both been there at one time or another?”

“I have no idea,” Nadiah said coldly. “And I also have no idea why you’re so anxious to discount what I’m telling you. I saw the first girl taken and she was. I have seen the second girl as well and she’s going to be taken too. Why won’t you listen to me?”

“Fine, I’m listening.” Rast took a step forward, frowning down at her. “Let’s review the facts, shall we? You said the AllFather took the first girl—Tabitha Grady—up to his ship, correct?”

Nadiah nodded. “Yes.”

“He transported her, tortured her, and killed her there—up on the Fathership, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“So she should still be missing, right?”

“Well…yes.” Nadiah frowned. “Why?”

Rast leaned toward her. “Because we found her.” He frowned. “Found her body, anyway. So you see, Nadiah, these fantasies you’re having can’t be true. Tabitha was taken here on Earth and someone here on Earth killed her. They left her body for us to find, right on the same spot where she was snatched. End of story.”

“What?” Nadiah could barely believe what she was hearing. “But…but it still could have been the AllFather. He could have transported the body back to where he took her from using the molecular transport beam.”

He frowned. “I’ve been looking into the whole ‘transport beam’ theory. I thought it could only transport living flesh.”

“I don’t know.” Nadiah threw up her hands. “Maybe he modified it somehow to send nonliving flesh too.”

“Why would he bother?” snapped Rast. “What is he trying to prove? All this time we’ve been at war with the Scourge, they’ve never pulled a stunt like this. Why start now?”

“But Detective—”

“No more!” His words were almost a shout and Nadiah jumped at his angry tone. “Look, I’m sorry.” Rast stepped back and pinched the bridge of his nose, as though trying to drive back a headache. “I’m sorry but I don’t have any more time to indulge your fantasies.”

“My fantasies?” Nadiah stared at him in disbelief. “You think I like seeing the things I’ve seen lately? You think I enjoy knowing that he’s going to kill again and the only male who might possibly be able to help won’t listen to me?”

“You do need help.” Rast gave her a pitying look. “But not the kind I can give you. Go home, Nadiah. Back to the Mother ship or wherever.”

Nadiah crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not leaving until you listen to me.”

“I’ve listened as much as I have time for.” Rast looked suddenly drained. “Now I have to go tell Tabitha’s parents that she’s never coming home. That she’s dead. All right?”

Nadiah wanted to say more but it was clear he wasn’t going to listen. Inside she seethed with impatience and irritation. How could he be so dense? Why was he so set against believing anything she saw with her gift? But as angry as she was, she refused to lower herself any further. Slapping him last time had been a mistake—it only dragged her down to his level. “Fine,” she said tightly. “I’m leaving. Call me when the next girl is taken. Maybe then you’ll believe me.”

Rast gave her a long look and then shook his head. “You’re fucking gorgeous, you know? It’s too damn bad all that pretty has to come with crazy attached to it.”

“Why, you—” Nadiah couldn’t think of anything bad enough to call him—not in English, anyway. She let loose a string of curse words in her native language that made his piercing green eyes widen in surprise.

“I’m guessing that wasn’t a blessing,” he said dryly. “Unfortunately, I don’t have time to stick around for the translation. Goodbye, Nadiah. Take care of yourself.”