Page 11 of Soul Sucker

While Tom set up the video game, she glanced around the room. The bed was against the interior wall and faced the door. The windows were on either side along with a double fitted closet. She gauged the distance between the bed and the various escape routes and considered where best to bait her trap.

“Tom, can you think of anything you do that makes the thing under the bed appear?”

“I don’t do anything.” He hunched a defensive shoulder and refused to look at her.

“I meant is there a particular time when the thing turns up?”

“When I get into bed.”

“Have you usually turned the lights out at that point?”

“I used to, but not anymore.”

She hated the vulnerability in his voice and understood it far too well. “So it doesn’t wait for it to be dark, then.”

“Not anymore.”

She hunkered down beside him on the rug. “We’ll play some games, wait until your gran checks in on you, and then we’ll set a trap, okay?”

He finally turned to look at her, his expression intent. “Do you really think we’re going to catch it?”

“Sure I do.” She hesitated. “Don’t tell anyone, but it’s my job to catch stuff like this. That’s why I was glad when you told me what was going on, because I knew I could help.”

“Your job?”

She had his full attention now and she really didn’t want it. “Yeah, I can see the monsters. Because I know where they come from, I can send them back. It’s a secret, right? You can’t tell anyone, not even your family.” If it came down to it, she could wipe the memory from him quite easily, but, considering what he might be, that wouldn’t be her first choice. If he was an empath, he needed to understand his world and start to protect himself from it. She would help him build his shields without him even realizing it, because if her suspicions were correct, this wouldn’t be the last monster the kid saw.

“Okay.” Tom nodded. “Let’s play.”

* * *

“Mr. Morosov.Come in and shut the door.”

Vadim walked into Madame Dubinsky’s office and took the seat she indicated without a word. As usual, his boss looked impeccable, her dark hair drawn back into a neat ponytail, her tailored blue suit and brooch reminding him of uptight royalty the world over. She didn’t smile but he’d hardly expected her to. He was in deep shit and he knew it.

Her office was so heavily warded against magical interference that it always felt as if he was being smothered. He appreciated the fact that nothing could get in—he had family who just loved to interfere with his life—but it made it hard to focus. Although that was probably intentional too.

Madame studied her folded hands for a long moment before finally looking up at him. “We have a situation that requires international cooperation of the highest order.”

Vadim still didn’t speak but he allowed himself to look faintly interested.

“Yourcooperation as it happens.”

“But I’m suspended.”

“I know that, but I’ve been ordered to send you on this mission. Apparently no one else will do.”

The dryness of her tone indicated her skepticism as to that, but he didn’t care. “Exactly what is the mission?”

“The U.S. SBLE authorities have contacted us about a situation in the San Francisco Bay Area. They believe they have anOtherworldserial killer who is targeting empaths.”

Govno. “I hope not.”

“Apparently, when the SBLE in San Francisco were researching their supposed killer, they came across some similar traits to the last series of cases you worked on with Natasha. Alexei picked up the connections as well, and reported them to me.”

The mention of Natasha surely wasn’t a good sign. Due to the worldwide shortage of empaths, anyone who was involved in the death of an empath was viewed with extreme suspicion, whatever side of the law they were supposed to be on.

Madame looked him right in the eye. “They want you, and despite my reservations, I have been ordered to send you to aid their investigation. You will not fuck this up. You will represent your country and me, and do a good job or die trying. Do you understand me?”

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