Page 20 of The Devil You Know
The knife is gone.
Evan knew that Seth wouldn’t have removed the knife in a public place unless he believed he or someone else was in danger.
Did someone harm the librarian to get her out of the way? Or was she the bait to draw him out?
She wasn’t bleeding.
A sudden fall should have left marks, a broken nose perhaps, or some other injury. The librarian looked flustered but unhurt.
Magic could make a person lose time and forget.He shivered, wondering if whoever had tracked them to the library had been looking specifically for Seth or if they had considered grabbing Evan first.
There were more people around where I was. Someone couldn’t have taken me away without being noticed.
Evan circled the building, hoping to find anything that might explain Seth’s sudden absence. Although he wished for evidence that Seth had followed someone suspicious, Evan felt increasingly sure that his partner had been kidnapped.
He found a rear door left ajar. When he followed the service corridor, it led to the back of the special reference section.
It wouldn’t be easy to drag Seth out if he was unconscious, but if someone could handle him, they could take him out through here, and no one would be the wiser.
Evan hadn’t seen blood near Seth’s chair or anywhere along the back hallway. That just made him all the more certain magic was to blame.
He had both sets of keys to the truck—his own and Seth’s from the messenger bag. At least he didn’t have to hot-wire their vehicle. Evan chose to leave before Officer Nelson decided to blame him somehow for the librarian’s fall.
Fear spiked through him for Seth’s safety.I don’t have time to be afraid. I need to find Seth and bring him home.
Evan drove to the campground by a roundabout route in case anyone tried to follow him. He parked the truck and checked the wardings on the RV, but nothing had been disturbed.
Once he got inside, Evan called Milo and Toby. “Seth’s gone—and I think Osborn had something to do with it.”
“Slow down,” Milo said. Evan could hear Toby in the background urging him to put the call on speaker. “Start at the beginning.”
Evan paced as he recounted everything that had happened. “We thought we were ahead of the game,” Evan admitted. “And we thought we were being careful. We were just in the library. It’s supposed to be safe. Kids go there, for fuck’s sake.”
“Everything you’re saying sounds like someone whammied Seth,” Toby replied. “And since you’re on the witch disciple’s home turf, it doesn’t take much to figure out who.”
“It doesn’t help to have Nelson out to get us,” Evan said. “Usually, we have some time before the cops notice us.”
“Nelson’s the next victim? Maybe Osborn or one of his minions passed along a ‘helpful’ tip—like a warning about troublemakers who were new in town. It takes a twisted sense of humor to pit him against the guys who are trying to save his life, but I wouldn’t put it past Osborn,” Milo added.
“I was nearly done with my research before everything fell apart—good thing, because I don’t think I can go back there,” Evan told them. “And I’ve got everything Seth found. We think we know where the anchor is—just not how to open the hiding place.”
“I’m assuming you sent that photo of the seal to Teag and Travis? We couldn’t come up with anything, but they’ve got connections. If anyone can figure it out, they will,” Toby said.
“None of that matters if we can’t find Seth.” Evan knew the men could hear the worry in his voice.
“You will,” Milo assured him. “This could be a good time to call in reinforcements.”
“Can you—”
“Milo is in the hospital. I’m sitting with him right now,” Toby said, and it sounded as if he’d taken the phone. Milo protested loudly, and Toby shushed his husband. “It’s his heart again. They’re running tests. It could be serious.”
Milo bellowed his displeasure, and Toby must have covered the microphone with his hand, although Evan could still make out his words. “We can’t leave,” Toby said. “You know we would if we could. And no, I’m not going anywhere without you, you old coot.”
“Milo’s right. You belong there with him. Who do I need to call?” Evan’s heart sank.
“We’ve got a connection for you. Name is Joe Mack. I told Seth about him. I’ll text you his number. Mark Wojcik vouches for him, and that’s good enough for me,” Toby said. “Couple things you need to know. First—He’s pretty much immortal.”
“He’s what? How did no one think to mention that before now?”
