We look each other in the eyes for what feels like a long time. He finally breathes out through his nose. His body relaxes some. “Let me think about it.”
“What?’ I scrub a hand over my face. I was so sure I had him. “Why do you need to think about it? I’ve got this. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
“You need to learn when to close your mouth. Give me a day or two. You take some time. Think things through.”
That’s just it, I don’t want more time. I don’t want to think.
“It’s already been a week,” I counter, trying hard to be calm. “Her trail is getting colder by the second.”
“There are already people on this.”
I want to be on it. I want to find her. I have to. I don’t say any of that. I bite my tongue. I have to take his advice, or I’m out.
“Give me a day or two, and I’ll see what I can do. I don’t have anyone to partner you with.” He rubs a hand over his chin, breaking eye contact.
No one wants me. He’s trying to hide it. I can tell. No one wants to partner with me after what happened to Andy. I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want me either. “I’ll be fine on my own.”
“No…now that isn’t happening. I’ll see if I can pair you with an existing partnership.”
“Anything,” I say. “Anyone. I don’t care. I need a shot at this.”
He nods once. “Don’t go doing anything stupid in the meanwhile.”
“Don’t take too long…please,” I add when his eyes narrow.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you,” I push out. I don’t know if I can wait a couple of minutes, let alone a couple of days. I’ll find a way to get through it. “We’ll talk soon, then?” I raise my brows.
“Yes, we will.”
I leave. Worry clawing at my gut. So many ‘what ifs’ rolling around my head, I feel weighed down by them. I need to push all that aside. I’m doing this with or without the help of the Order. I am a Seeker. I will find her.
4
One week later…
Lyre
The scent of Chinese takeout is pungent as I get out of my car. It makes my mouth water, and my stomach twist. I’m on edge. I close my car door and push the lock button.
I hope Luke has something for me. Anything. I’m desperate. It’s been two weeks since I lost my power. All of it. Every shred. The last two weeks have felt like two years. I feel naked without it. No…naked isn’t quite right…I feel empty. I feel half of…of…well, of me. I hate how it feels. I was cheated. Taken advantage of. I keep running through the events of that night. I get headaches from trying to piece things together. From trying to understand.
I walk past the entrance to the takeout place and make my way through a glass door, which leads up a flight of stairs. I head down a hallway. I pass a couple of doors until I reach the one that has ‘Luke Roberts PI’ on it in gold lettering. It was so clichéd the first time I came here that if I wasn’t as desperate, and if he hadn’t come as highly recommended, I might just have turned and walked away.
I knock once and enter since he is expecting me and I’m two minutes late.
Luke is tapping on the keyboard of his laptop. He looks up. “Hey. Take a seat.”
“Please tell me you have something for me,” I get right to it as I sit down across from him.
“I do.”
I push out a pent-up breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. “Oh, thank god!”
“It’s not what you think, though.” He frowns. “I still have no leads on our mystery lady. None of the street cameras picked her up. I had hoped to get a registration on a vehicle, but nada. The barman remembered her, but it was the first time he had ever seen her. All he could tell me was that she left with some guy. That would be you.” Luke nods his head in my direction. “She hasn’t been back since.”
“All dead ends.”
He nods. “Yep. I canvassed the area, including bus stations, the train station, and the closest airport, and no one remembers seeing anyone matching her description.”
“You used her picture?” I ask.
“I did. So far, I’ve come up empty-handed.”
“What is this lead you referred to?”
“I don’t know if it’s a lead. It could be nothing. A woman called me wanting information. She said she’s looking for the same woman.”
I frown. “How could she know that?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe she spoke with someone I approached. I left my card all over. You’d be surprised how often a lead comes in from that. Especially if you offer a reward. Also, I called in a favor with a detective friend at the police department. I had him run facial recognition on this.” He picks up the photograph of Gabriella.
“Surely they can’t trace someone with that?” The photograph is pixelated. It’s a side-view. It isn’t great unless you’ve met Gabby. You would most likely recognize her then.
“In this instance,” he shakes his head, “they were unable to identify her. I told them what went down, how she lifted your wallet, your watch, and some electronic equipment. They’ve put a BOLO out on her.”
“That’s handy.” I’m hoping it will pan out, but this woman is elusive.
“The woman caller mentioned the picture. She called the woman by another name, though.”
“Oh?” I sit up taller in my seat.
“Lilith.”
I shrug. “All it tells me is that she has more than one identity. Anything else? Did this woman caller give you her name, at least?”
“Nope. She clamped up tighter than an oyster about to be shucked when I asked.”
“What did you get?”
“Her number. She gave me a number to call if I had any information to share. She said she was looking for Lilith. Wouldn’t say why. All I can say is that she didn’t sound like there was much love lost.”
“I’m going to assume you traced the number.”
He nods once and smiles. “Of course. It’s a burner.”
“So, all we have is another mystery woman, a cellphone number, and the name Lilith.”
“I’m afraid so, but it’s more than we had yesterday.”
Damn.
That’s nothing.
Less than nothing.
Who is this person who called Luke? Who is Gabby…Lilith? More importantly, what is she? There’s only one thing to do in a situation like this. “Call her,” I say. “Put her on speaker.”
“Now?” he asks, sounding bewildered.
“Yes, now.”
“I tried to get her to talk to me. I tried to get her to agree to meet but got nothing. I don’t think it’ll help if I call her.”
“There’s only one way to find out.” I look down at his phone. I’d take her number and call her myself, but I’m afraid she won’t answer if she doesn’t recognize the number. In fact, it’s highly likely that’ll be the outcome.
“Okay. I guess we have nothing to lose.” He picks up his phone and starts scrolling. Then he swipes at the screen a couple of times and puts the phone on the desk.