Page 124 of Soul Sucker

At the sound of Vadim’s voice, she almost dropped her backpack.

“I’m at the records office in Otherworld.How the hell are you talking to me here?”

“I’m on my way.Is Liz with you?”

“No,the portal shifted when we were in it.Liz ended up about twenty miles away in a place called Netherfield.She’s going to join me here as soon as she can.” From the corner of her eye she saw the door at the back of the office start to open. “I’ve got to go.The guy’s coming to pick up the paperwork.”

“What paperwork?Ella,listen to me,don’t do anything until I get there.Sit tight,talk to no one.”

“Yeah right,like I’m going to be attacked by a mild-mannered civil servant.”

“Fuck it,Ella,listen to me,I…”

She frowned as she caught a hint of fear in his voice. “What’s wrong,Morosov,what…”

It was the same nondescript guy who’d picked up the paperwork before. Ella nodded at him. “Thanks, could you make it snappy? I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

He stared at her for a long moment and then reset the clock, scooped up the paperwork and left her alone again. She slumped back in her chair, drumming her fingers on the wooden desk in front of her.

“Morosov?”

Her thought echoed weirdly inside her own head and bounced back. Where had Vadim gone? Had someone detected their communication and shut them down? Considering his reluctance to enter Otherworld it wasn’t surprising. But why had Vadim come after her? And why was he so uncharacteristically afraid?

“Morosov.”

Again, nothing. She rubbed her forehead as a headache threatened. It felt as if there was a thunderstorm about to break inside her. She needed to get out of this place and back to work. She glanced impatiently at the clock. Where the hellwasthe clerk?

The door at the back of the office opened and Ella waited as the guy came toward the counter. Outside, real thunder boomed followed by the gentle patter of rain on the closed, shuttered windows.

“Miss Walsh?”

Startled, Ella stood up. “Yes?”

“Would you mind coming through to my office?”

“Why?”

“There is some paperwork you might wish to see.”

“Can’t you give it to me here?”

“Unfortunately not. I’m not even supposed to let you see these items, but I’m trying to be helpful.” He lowered his voice. “It concerns Geoffrey White.”

Ella left her backpack on the seat and allowed the man to usher her through the silent office and out into the hallway beyond. There were at least twenty matching oak doors all currently closed, except for one right at the end of the hall. Despite the booming thunder, the pressure in Ella’s head hadn’t receded at all. In fact, the farther she went down the corridor, the worse it got. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was aware of Vadim trying to reach her. Somehow it didn’t seem to matter.

She smiled at her silent companion. “I appreciate your help.”

He shrugged and she noted how perfectly ironed his shirt was. Vadim would approve. She frowned as she tried to picture him and found it increasingly difficult. She had to concentrate; there was a killer at large.

“Please take a seat, Miss Walsh.”

Ella sat in the proffered chair and rested her linked hands in her lap. There was something about the man that made her feel relaxed—as if she didn’t have to worry about Morosov, or the Siren, or anything really… He took off his glasses and she realized he was way younger than she had thought. His gray eyes were kind and crinkled at the corners. “Firstly, may I congratulate you on turning in your OCOS paperwork? I’m sure you are looking forward to meeting your mate.”

“Yes, I am.” Ella nodded. He didn’t need to know that she’d done it as a show of faith so Vadim would know she was taking their relationship seriously—well, as seriously as she could take anything.

“I know it is always a struggle for an empath to decide what path to take—to commit to a stranger, or to allow nature to take its course and send you plummeting into madness.”

“I wasn’t going to do it,” Ella found herself saying. “I was convinced I’d rather go nuts.”

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