Seeker (Riders #2)(15)

"Look, Seeker," it says, empty eyes panning the woods. "More than me."

There's only one option that doesn't get me killed.

I trade the knife for the orb. Then, faster this time, I coax the orb to unravel, praying it's not too damaged to still work.

It's not.

The spinning tunnel of limitlessness forms before me-a passage out of here that swirls with threads of all that's possible.

As I hurriedly lead Shadow inside, I brace myself for the tumbling, tearing feeling that will assault me. When it does, I tell myself over and over that it will end, that I can survive this.

I find the place where I came from-the thread linking to rain and melting spring snow. To Isabel, and the high peaks of the Tetons, and the little Smith Cabin with the noisy screen door, and even that black wolf out there somewhere.

Though I know it'll break my heart, I reach for it, doing the only thing I'd sworn not to do.

I leave without Sebastian.





CHAPTER 6

GIDEON

Because of the confidential nature of things, Cordero has Suarez direct the team in setting up a security perimeter when we reach the cabin.

The property is substantial, so this takes fifty minutes. I hate every one of those minutes, but at least they give me a chance to solidify a plan.

This mission is one hundred percent about getting Sebastian back, so. Working with Daryn is exactly that-work.

No more and no less.

Simple enough. Clear enough.

With the perimeter set, Cordero finally gives me the green light to approach. Marcus and Jode come to the door with me but they let me do the honors.

We set off a motion-sensor light as we step up to the porch.

With most of the team watching, I feel like I'm on a stage.

As I reach up to knock, I hesitate and go through a lightning-quick debate-prosthetic or right hand? Which makes no sense because I'm way past this. I stick with robohand, knocking a little harder than necessary.

Seconds pass.

I look at my boots, noticing the worn doormat.

There's a bear image on it, beneath which it says, Please pause to wipe your paws.

It's something Bas would love, this doormat. Guy never met a pun or a play on words he didn't appreciate.

"Gideon," Jode says.

"Right. I'm going."

Cordero has pulled the requisite clearance for us to enter, so I check the doorknob. It's unlocked, which is good and it sucks. Safety, Daryn? Give it a try.

Turning it, I step inside.

"Daryn? Isabel?" No answer again. I flip the lights. As Jode and Marcus slide past me to check the rest of the house, I take in the small living room. The faded furniture and stuffed bookshelves. The hunting trophies on the walls-elk, bison, buck, and so on. Lots of formerly living things in here.

Marcus and Jode return, confirming the house is empty. Relaying that to the rest of the team with radios.

I'm still stuck in the same gear-checking out this living room like I'm an anthropologist trying to figure out what kind of human lived here.

Except I know.

Daryn grew up with money. She never said so outright, but it was easy to pick up. Connecticut. Chief surgeon for a father. Mother who spends her time fund-raising for others instead of earning a living to care for her own kids, like my mom.



       
         
       
        

What did she think of these tired carpets and wood-paneled walls? All these hunting trophies staring down at her with shiny dead eyes?

The rest of the team starts to arrive. Cordero. Two of the MI Trio-Sophia and Soraya. We fan out, looking around in silence. Checking the notes on the fridge, the stack of bills on the coffee table. Searching for clues as to Daryn's whereabouts.

The roof is thin enough that I hear the rain drumming. The wood floors squeak as the team sweeps the cabin, but it's otherwise quiet. Until Ben storms through the front door.

"I found Isabel Banks!" We don't react quickly enough for him. "Daryn's mentor? Isabel? I know where she is right now." He pulls off his glasses and dries the lenses with a corner of his shirt as he talks. "She works at a nearby ranch as a waitress. A city-slicker-type place. Kind of fancy? I couldn't track her down there at first. She's not supposed to have the night shift, but-"

"Good, Ben. Great work." Cordero looks at Jode, then Low. "Go with him."

They leave with him to get her.

As I move through the kitchen, I see an open pack of Twizzlers on the counter. Daryn's sweet tooth obviously hasn't changed.

I head into the first bedroom. It's small. A twin bed and a dresser made of thick cabin pine. A nightstand and trunk-also pine.

Daryn's room. It smells like her. A mixture of fabric softener, flowers, and that smell of fall nights when the weather's just starting to cool-the smell of good things coming.