“Has Claudia called out for help?” Sly asked.
Brandee’s brows knit. “Unfortunately, no. I haven’t heard any pleas from the middle of the Atlantic.”
Sadie sighed. “So, it’s up to me to find her with astral projection. But how do I relate the exact location to you?”
Nick rubbed the stubble on his chin. “It sounds like she might be on a ship. Can you interact with the captain if you’re in astral form?”
“No. Unless there’s a spirit on board, I won’t be able to communicate with anyone.”
“If you can get to the bridge, you may be able to spot the location with their instruments,” Anthony said hopefully.
“I can certainly try,” Sadie said.
Anthony didn’t want to push her, but he couldn’t wait much longer. “When can you go?”
“Well, I need total peace and quiet. May I use your office?”
“Please do,” Anthony said.
Claudia had given up on communicating with anyone onboard. No one could ignore a damsel in distress so completely. She had to conclude that they couldn’t see or hear her. Well, okay, she wasn’t exactly a damsel. She’d even kicked the captain, and he rubbed the sore spot but blamed the ache on his “old bones.”
“Fuck it,” she said. She located “the head,” which was what they were calling the bathroom, and used it. “Finally. Ah…”
If only the thing flushed like a regular toilet, one of the four guys onboard might investigate the noise. Fat lot of good that would do. Everything I’ve tried to get their attention is just spooking them into thinking they have a ghost onboard…and we’re still bobbing out in the middle of nowhere. If only I could figure out how to use the radio and send out an SOS or a Mayday or whatever…
She finally had her “sea legs” and managed to get to the cockpit of the boat—or whatever it was called—without her stomach roiling. Inspecting the instruments, she grew even more frustrated. She saw rectangles labeled GPS, Horn, Anchor Light, DC Outlet, Trim Tabs, Spreader Light, Spotlight, Overhead Light, Navigation Lights, Bilge 1, Bilge 2, Bilge 3, CB, and Radio—which she tried to use without success. Also VHF, Deck Light, Wipers, Depthfinder, Radar, Fishfinder, Windless, Fresh Water, Transom Light, Downriggers, Livewell 1, Livewell 2, Livewell 3, Cockpit Light, Baitwell, Salt Water, Washdown, Accessory, AMP, Spare, Toilet, Underwater Lights, and four dials that were labeled RPM, MPH, Volt, and Fuel, which looked as empty as her hopes.
Maybe an old-fashioned fishing boat would have had low-tech equipment she could figure out, but the instrument panel on this boat looked as confusing as any airplane cockpit she’d seen in movies.
Shit.
From out of nowhere a stray thought surprised her. She wondered if one of the guys had a bottle of rum stashed somewhere.
Anthony watched as Sadie lay on the thick Oriental rug in his office. Brandee said she’d stay with her but promised not to interfere. The others waited in the tea room. He didn’t know where he should be. Here, in case Sadie needed him? Or in the tea room, out of the way? Just then, the phone rang.
Anthony grabbed it and said, “I’ll take this in the other room.” Closing the door behind him, he answered.
“Anthony, it’s Kurt. Are Nick, Sly, and Morgaine there?”
“Yes. Should I put you on speaker?”
“Yeah. I think I found the place.”
Anthony halted. “You found the lab?”
Nick shot to his feet and demanded, “Where?”
“Hang on.” Anthony pushed the speakerphone button and let everyone in on the conversation.
“It’s here in Central Square. We walked right past it a dozen times.”
“Jesus.” Nick breathed. “Which building? How do you know it’s the right one?”
“Well, I’m not positive it’s the right place yet, but I’d bet a thousand bucks on it. I’ve watched a couple geeky types come and go in shifts. They carried some equipment into a white van a few minutes ago. The basement windows of the building are covered in newspapers from the inside and a corner of one came loose. I could see a couple cages but nothing in them.”
“I remember that place. I tried shifting and sniffing those windows with my heightened sense of smell. I even waited across the street in my other form, but there was nothing suspicious that I could see or sniff out.”
“If that paper hadn’t come loose, I’d never have had a clue. The place looked abandoned.”
“Yeah, it did. Someone obviously went to a lot of trouble to make it look that way.”
“Anthony, I should go,” Nick said.
“Of course. Can you two wait until I can join you before you rush in there?”
“The more backup, the better,” Nick said. “But tomorrow night is the full moon. If they have wolves, as we suspect they do, we’ve gotta get to them tonight. Kurt? What do you think?”
“I figured we’d do the bust during the night. There’s apt to be less staff on, and we can include Ruxandra. So, tonight it is.”
Nick gasped. “Ruxandra? Psycho, unpredictable, homicidal Ruxandra? Uh…no offense, Anthony.”
“None taken. Every word is the truth. Kurt, are you sure you want her along?”
There was a long pause on the other end.
Suddenly a loud thump and cheers sounded from Anthony’s office. “Excuse me, everyone,” he said. “I think I should look into—”
The door burst open and Sadie shouted, “Come quick. Claudia’s back!”
Anthony forgot all about Kurt, Nick, and the lab. He charged into his office and saw a damp, confused Claudia, wide eyed and open mouthed, gaping at her surroundings.
“Darling!” he shouted out and rushed over to her. He grasped her and hugged her hard, yet she didn’t react as he would have expected. She went stiff and didn’t embrace him back.
She must be in shock.
When Claudia could speak again, she said. “I know this is a dream, because a moment ago it was broad daylight and Anthony’s here. Also, a moment ago I was on a fishing boat stranded in the middle of the ocean. But I don’t remember falling asleep.”
Brandee hit the side of her head. “Jeez! The guys on the ship need rescuing too. I’ll be right back.” And she disappeared before everyone’s eyes.
Claudia took a step back and shivered.
Anthony gently rested his hands against her arms and rubbed to warm her. “You’re not dreaming.”
“Then how…”
Sadie said to Anthony, “Claudia used the radio and sent out a Mayday.” Then she faced Claudia. “That’s how Brandee located you.”
“But I couldn’t make the radio work.”
Sadie smiled, but a look of concern crossed her face. She turned to Anthony and asked, “Is it all right to tell her about Brandee?”
Anthony nodded. “I think Claudia deserves the truth.” He tucked her damp hair behind her ear. “And I want the truth about how you got on that ship in the first place.”
“Ruxandra found a way around Kurt’s spell, using physics. She surrounded me with her arms and flew. I don’t know how she flew, but…well, I figured it must be another vampire thing.”
Sadie glanced up at Anthony. “So, she knows?”
“Yes,” he said. “She’s been incredibly understanding.”
Claudia pushed at his chest until he reluctantly let her go. “I’m not feeling quite as understanding as I did before I was locked up in a windowless room and then transported to a ship whose crew was hypnotized into thinking we should sail to France.”
Anthony balled his fists. “That’s it. Ruxandra will never bother you again.”
He didn’t know if the murderous rage he was feeling showed in his eyes or not, but Claudia backed up another step.