He stood quickly, touching her elbow as she swayed slightly. She smiled her thanks and moved into the office, aware of Ethan close behind her. Ready to catch her if she fell, she thought wryly, though her weakness was no joke.
ben placed her coffee on the desk. Ethan accepted his cup with a nod and sat on the edge of her desk.
Larson swung around to face her as ben returned the coffeepot to the hot plate. "So tell me, did you find Merry or not?"
Shirley sighed. "Yes, I found her." She didn't mention the fact that Merry might be dead.
She didn't have the strength to face the old man's fury right now.
"And?" he demanded.
"And I'll try to bring her back with me."
Not alone, you won't.
She looked at Ethan warily, wishing she knew more about him. Instinct told her to trust him, yet there was something about him that made her uneasy. She would not refuse his help, however. Nothing on this earth could make her go into that building alone to find Merry. Not with a young crazyman on the loose, wanting her.
"Then you really can find my daughter?" Larson's voice was an odd mixture of hope and anger.
She returned her attention to him. "I think so. I've got a general idea of direction; it's just a matter of driving around until I find the right building."
"Then what went wrong before?" ben asked, moving back to his desk.
"Ever heard of out-of-body experiences?"
ben nodded. "Never believed them, of course."
She smiled. He hadn't believed in psychic talents, either, until they'd saved his life. "It was something akin to that. Except my spirit, soul, metaphysical body—whatever you want to call it—was forcibly drawn away from my body and trapped."
"How?"
"I honestly don't know." But she wished she did, so she could prevent it from happening again.
"It took a lot of psychic power to create and hold that net," Ethan commented quietly.
Shirley regarded him thoughtfully. "And a lot strength to pull me in. Yet he still had enough left to hold the intensity of the web as long as he did."
ben's eyebrows rose. "Web?"
She took a sip of her coffee, then nodded. "Yes. A net of some sort held me captive. I don't know what he was trying to achieve. I wasn't really there. He couldn't physically harm me."
Though he could have killed her, had he held the net long enough.
"Control." Ethan's expression was grim when it met hers. "He was after control."
"So I wouldn't be able to fight him if we ever met." Cold fear ran down her spine. She had come so close.
"The man's a fiend," ben swore and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't suppose you can give a description to the police?"
"Yes. Whether they'll believe it is another matter."
ben grimaced. "Our reputation's not exactly solid where they're concerned."
Larson made no comment, but she knew from the look in his eyes that their reputation was not one hundred per cent where he was concerned, either.
Smiling grimly, she said, "And it's not a man we're after, ben. It's a boy."
Only Ethan showed no surprise. Shirley had a feeling he'd known about the madman's youth long before she had.
"A boy?" ben asked incredulously.
She nodded. "All of maybe sixteen. As solid as a brick wall and as mad as a March hare."
ben sighed and scratched at the ginger stubble lining his chin. "Just what we need. Another psychotic in Aquila."
"Aquila specializes in this sort of thing, does it?" Ethan asked, the mild amusement in his voice at odds with the sudden interest in his face.
ben gave him a sour look. "Lately it seems to."
"Enough!" Larson's gravely voice cut in. "This is not doing anything to find my daughter."
Though she hated admitting it, he was right. She finished her coffee and rose. Larson took several steps forward, his body radiating the anger she could feel in his thoughts. He was ready for a confrontation. Wanted it.
"I'm coming," he announced. "I'll not run the risk of losing her a second time."
His company was the last thing she needed. She'd be too aware of his anger and disbelief to concentrate on the fragile images that would lead her to Merry.
"No," ben said. "Leave this to the experts."
"And I suppose he's an expert?" Larson sneered, jutting his chin in Ethan's direction.
"Well, he's not someone I'd tackle on a dark and gloomy night," ben replied with a wry grin.
Larson grunted and looked away. She glanced across at Ethan. He stood beside her desk, arms crossed as he regarded Larson thoughtfully.
He looked casual, yet there was something menacing about him, something that spoke of a fighter ready to step into the ring. He certainly wasn't someone she'd want to tackle on a dark night, either.
He met her gaze and raised an eyebrow, a slight smile tugging one edge of his generous mouth. She licked her lips and looked away. Damn. She'd have to remember to watch what she was thinking.
She grabbed her keys and jacket and walked towards the door.
"Remember, use the damn phone," ben called. "Let me know what's happening."
She acknowledged his order with a wave of her hand, and stepped outside. A blast of wintry air greeted her. She shivered and quickly put on her jacket. Ethan stopped beside her, his gaze searching the streets, as if looking for someone.
And while the light cotton sweater he wore emphasized the width of his shoulders very nicely, it couldn't have held much warmth. She frowned and hurried down the steps to her car. Lots of people didn't feel the cold, so why was she bothered by the fact that he didn't?
"Would you prefer it if I drove?" Ethan asked as she opened the passenger's door.
She hesitated. If he drove she could concentrate on finding the right building, and Merry. Nodding, she handed him the keys, then climbed in and fastened the seat belt.
"Where to?" he asked, starting the car.
She closed her eyes and tried to pin down the elusive images. "Head for the docks. I'll know more when we get there."
"That's not where I expected him to be." He swung the car around and headed east.
An odd prickle of unease ran down her spine. Ethan knew her attacker. Knew him well enough to know his habits. "Why?"
He shrugged, "No reason. I just didn't expect him to be there."
"It sounds as if you know him."
"We've met before."
His voice gave little away, and the shadows hid any reaction there might have been in his face. "Then why in hell haven't you said anything before now? You might know something that could have helped Merry—"
"Nothing can help Merry. The child has chosen her own path."
"But before—"
"Was still too late."
"Will you let me finish a damn sentence!" she demanded in exasperation.
Ethan smiled slightly but didn't respond.
She chewed her lip absently and studied the street ahead. "Why are you in Aquila?" she asked after a moment.
"I came to Aquila to stop the boy." He met her gaze briefly. "As you have already guessed."
By stop, she knew he meant kill. She shuddered. Was this the darkness she sensed—an ability to kill as easily as he breathed?
"Trust me, Shirley," he said gently. "I'll explain when I am able."
Yeah right, she thought. Heard that one before . "Then tell me about yourself."
He hesitated, and in that instant, she sensed he'd give her nothing but lies. He was here for the boy and nothing else mattered. Not her, not anyone.
"I am a bounty hunter, of sorts. I have been on the boy's trail for several years now."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "Because he is a killer who must be stopped."
She frowned. The slight edge in his voice suggested the reason was something more personal. But it was also a warning to go no further.
She returned her gaze to the street, and her stomach lurched. They were nearing the docks. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, reaching for the images of the old building. The certainty of its position came instantly, and with it, fear. He was there, waiting for her.
"Turn right into the next street," she murmured, letting her instincts take control. "Then left. We're nearly there."