Page 5

“Yes, good, do not do that until I give you the all clear.”

“I’m not even tempted, trust me, and I’ll warn everyone else. That said, I know a lot of detail is lost just from footage, but what’s your guess here?”

It was a sort of catch-22 with situations like this. There was only so much a camera could pick up on, so if the energy had a strong visual element, a psychic could see something from captured footage. But there’s also a lot of information lost, so I knew why he asked.

“I’m very afraid that thing’s a sacrificial power bank, in essence. Someone’s enslaved people’s life forces to it, to power it, and that living blood in the bowl is how you’re able to read anything. My guess is there’s a lot of coma patients being used unwillingly to create and maintain that thing. You’re also looking at someone who’s got strong psychic ability to create portals.”

“That’s a rare talent.”

“It is.” And it was being used for evil, which was mind boggling.

Most portal specialists couldn’t do anything big—small, like the size of a coin, but even then there were some amazing applications. Surgery, for instance, as a doctor could perform the procedure without actually piercing skin, so the recovery time for a patient was leagues faster. There was one case in history where the psychic was a spy, and excelled at it, as he could pass small messages and information directly to the intended person without ever being caught. There were some amazing uses for portal talent.

And I wished to god this psychic had chosen one of those instead of using that very rare talent to hurt so many people.

Jon blew out a noisy breath. “Borrowman’s detective on scene here, I’m having Donovan text you his contact information after we’re done talking, and he’s shut the scene down completely. I won’t touch it either until you’re back here. That said, Seiji, how fast can you get here?”

“I don’t know, but I leave within the hour, I’ll text you my ETA. I’ll probably drive, as I’ll need some very specialized tools.”

“All right, we’ll quarantine this place in the meantime. Thank you for dropping everything and coming.”

“Rather, I can’t give this situation more time. If I don’t shut it down fast enough, it could kill the donors by completely draining their life force.”

“Fuck me, I hoped that thought was off base.”

“Sorry to confirm your worst fears, but that’s likely the situation. And we don’t want the psychic who set the portals up to realize we’re onto him, he’ll not be fun to track down later.”

“A good point all by itself.”

“If you do see some sort of hint of who’s behind this, exercise caution. Knock him out, first and foremost, don’t let him be conscious without some kind of barrier sitting around him. He can do a lot of damage to you.” Especially Jon, hot as he ran. From what Mack had shared, the man was practically a walking battery.

“Right, good to note. I’m not reading anything that will give me a lead on him, but I’ll keep it in mind. That said, Seiji—Gwyn?”

“Do not let her anywhere near.” The idea of my very sweet natured, vulnerable apprentice near this horror show made my spine shrivel in on itself. Absolutely not. “Don’t even tell her about it until I get there. I don’t know if I want her involved in this case at all.”

“More than fair, man, I won’t let Abby or Skylar near this either. Just double checking.”

“I’m hanging up for now, I’ll be in touch shortly.”

“Don’t worry about getting a hotel, okay, you can stay with the family while you’re here.”

I hadn’t thought hotel rooms yet, but the offer took me a little by surprise. Then I realized, it shouldn’t, the Havilis were the epitome of hospitality. “Thank you.”

“See you soon.”

I hung up and blew out a long breath. Quickly checked flights, realized it really would be faster to drive, which was insane. Too many layovers, by the time I got packed, through security, on a plane, and through the layovers, I could almost drive the distance. Plus, I really did need to bring multiple things, and it wouldn’t all fit into two suitcases. While not entirely sure what I was dealing with, I had educated guesses. The portals made sense to me based on what I saw, but I could get there and it be something else, something that just functioned the same.

I quickly packed a week’s worth of clothes, threw toiletries in there, and zipped it shut before shuttling quickly to the back door. I raced back to my workroom, pulled out another suitcase, but this one was especially built with compartments to handle some of my more fragile elements. Mostly the glass.

Halfway through packing it, my fiancé called. I answered and kept it on speaker. “Hi, Lachlan.”

“Why hello, my handsome one,” he came back and while the tone was cheerful, exhaustion laced the words.

I paused, concerned now. “You okay?”

“Love, the only thing doing its job right now is my shadow. I’m flat worn out, I am. But job’s done, the beastie’s dead, I’ve money in my pocket, and a song in my heart. No one got hurt either but the beastie. All in all, a good hunt.”

“Very glad to hear it.” I was, too. I could breathe a little easier with him in the safe zone once more. I knew his career, like mine, came with its own unique dangers. I would never try to keep him safely at home, that wasn’t the man I’d fallen for. Still, I worried. I think anyone in my position would.