“Right.” Kat nodded. God, she was so tired. Have to get out of here. “And as anyone knows, a good night’s sleep is really important before getting a soul-divorce. So I’m going to hit the hay.”
Sophie gave her a hug. “We’ll be there to see you off, tomorrow,” she promised.
“You don’t have to do that,” Kat protested. “I’m sure we’re leaving at some ungodly hour.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Olivia hugged her too. “We wouldn’t miss it.”
I hope I don’t miss it either! Hope I’m not too weak to get there. Or in too much pain… The beginnings of a headache were throbbing behind her eyes ominously. Kat tried to smile. “Okay, you win. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
It took every ounce of strength she could muster to stand straight and walk out the door as though nothing was wrong. But somehow she managed. She even managed to get to her own suite without falling over. Once there, however, she collapsed on the bed and put a hand over her eyes.
Oh God, the pain…The rusty iron spike was back, digging into her brain just behind her eyes. Kat knew she ought to call for help but the only two people who could help her were Deep and Lock.
And after the scene the three of them had been through on Twin Moons, she knew she would rather die than ask. We’re getting our divorce tomorrow, she told herself, gritting her teeth. Surely I can make it until then…She hoped.
Chapter Twenty-four
Detective Adam Rast was a big, imposing man with dark green eyes and golden brown hair, cut short and neat. From his image on the viewscreen, he looked to be in his early to mid thirties. If Liv hadn’t spent so much time around the Kindred, he might have intimidated her. But though he was nearly as tall as Baird and built like a linebacker, she was used to big males now. And besides, he was back on Earth—there was nothing he could actually do to them.
Though it certainly looked like he wanted to try.
“I’m sick of these evasions and half answers.” His deep voice was a menacing growl. “Your aunt hired me to find your cousin and I know you know more about her disappearance than you’re telling me.”
“What makes you think that?” Liv asked coolly. “My husband tells me the Kindred have cooperated with you fully.”
“He’s also not telling me everything he knows.” The detective gave them a frustrated look. “Look, I know you girls have never met your cousin but she may be in real danger so—”
“She is in danger,” Sophie said quietly, looking up at the viewscreen.
“What?” He frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
Liv sighed. Here we go. But if Sophie had decided to let the truth come out, she had to support her. “We believe Lauren was taken by the Scourge,” she said clearly.
Detective Rast glowered at them. “Why wasn’t I told this immediately?”
“Because there’s nothing you can do about it,” Liv said. “Hell, there’s nothing we can do about it.” She pointed a finger at the viewscreen. “And don’t think for a minute that we don’t care just because we’ve never met Lauren. Both Sophie and I have been held by the Scourge and we’re well aware of what a horrible experience it is.”
“Which is why we didn’t want to tell you—or Aunt Abby,” Sophie added. “We thought it would be better for her to go on thinking that Lauren was just missing rather than actually knowing that she’s a prisoner of that…that…” She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “Poor Lauren.”
The anger in Rast’s face faded to be replaced by concern. “And you’re sure they took her?”
“Not positive, no,” Liv said. “But the way she was taken—with all her clothes left behind—is consistent with the way the Scourge kidnapped Sophie here. They have this device called a molecular transfer beam that can only transport living tissue—that’s why the clothes get left behind.”
“And she has a mark between her breasts,” Sophie added, sniffing. “We saw it on the pictures Aunt Abby showed us.”
Rast frowned. “What does that have to do with it?”
“We’re not completely sure,” Liv said. “But the Scourge have a prophesy that seems to have something to do with an Earth girl who has a special mark between her breasts. They checked both me and my sister for the mark when they kidnapped us. Lauren is related to us and she has it—we’re pretty sure there’s a connection.”
“What can we do? How can we get her back?” Rast asked.