Saving Dakota (Vampires of Blood and Bones #19)

CHAPTER ONE

"H e's been missing for eight days now, as far as we can tell." Able, one of the elders explained to Dakota. "His sister Paula lost touch with him on Sunday, and she hasn't heard anything since." Dakota understood that Eric had gone south to lower Michigan to the Traverse City area on a short fishing trip with his friend Ivy.

"What about Ivy? Has she been contacted?" He asked.

"No, neither of their phones are active. Ivy often fails to pay her bill, and her phone gets shut off, but Eric never lets his phone out of his sight, and it is always on. Paula reported him missing on day five, but the police in Traverse City don't seem to be taking it very seriously. They think he's a runaway."

"He's nineteen. How can he be a runaway." Dakota shook his head.

"Any answer is good enough if you don't care." Able looked away and walked over to take a seat on one of the straight-back chairs in the main room of the Tribal Police Station.

“Why didn’t Paula come to us?” Dakota asked curious as to why she didn’t seek their assistance sooner.

“She thought she had to contact the police station nearest to where he was last seen.

“Yes, but we can also help. I’ll look into it and get back to you this evening.” Dakota promised.

“Thank you, Dakota. Eric is a good kid, and I’d hate for something terrible to happen to him.”

"I'll do everything I can, sir," Dakota swore.

"I know you will." The old man stood and patted Dakota on the shoulder, then turned and left without further discussion. Dakota had his work cut out for him. He needed to have something to present to the family by evening.

Dakota Winters held the rank of Detective Lieutenant at the Lac Vieux Desert Reservation Department of Public Safety also referred to as Tribal Police. He’d been an officer for the past four years and at Twenty-three years old was one of the youngest to reach that level of rank. He was good at his job, and he took pride in serving.

The situation with Eric was not uncommon, and often, as the police in Traverse City claimed, it was a case of a person simply wanting to get away from their home, family, responsibilities, or perceived pain; it could be anything. But Able wasn't one to raise the alarm for no reason, and he was not one to jump to conclusions. If he believed there was a problem, then there was a problem. He was the tribal shaman and was intuitive and able to see things that many others did not.

After speaking with Paula and a few of Eric's friends, he found out that he'd intended to stay no longer than a couple of weeks in the Traverse City area, camping, and fishing with Ivy before returning. He had a job lined up at the casino, which was to begin on Monday, and he wouldn't have missed that. It was a dealer position for which he'd already completed the training and was eager to become part of the team. It was a good job with good pay and benefits.

The police station in Traverse City did not provide much and their disinterest in the case was made obvious. They reported that both Eric and Ivy had checked out of the motel where they’d been staying on Sunday. That was the same day that Paula lost contact with Eric.

According to the officer he was speaking with, the attendant at the motel told him that Eric mentioned they were going further south. The investigation was left there. Everything they had was half-assed and barely there, and Dakota was not filled with confidence in regard to their concern for the welfare of this young man.

They were convinced he simply wanted to get away from the reservation and his people were overreacting. It was a belief they were not willing to budge on and Dakota figured he needed to pick up this case himself and that’s what he reported to Paula and Able when he met with them that evening.

“As you know, I’ll have to do this on my own with no backing of the force. I will have no jurisdiction, but my position should afford me some respect and access.” Dakota explained. “It looks to me like he may have headed in the direction of Mt. Pleasant. Ivy has family there and reported sightings have placed them near that area. I’ll start in Traverse and head south from there and will keep you updated.” He promised.

He felt for Paula, who, at ten years Eric's senior, had taken custody of the young man when he was eleven and had worked hard as a single woman to raise a strong and emotionally healthy young man. There had been too much tragedy in that family, and he wasn't going to give up on Eric without a fight.

“Come to my place tonight and I will prepare you.” Able told him before parting and Dakota agreed. Able was their shaman and a deeply spiritual individual with powers that went well beyond the natural. He would provide Dakota with blessings and protections for the journey.

“Things have been pretty quiet these last few weeks. I think I could get used to it.” Terrance commented as he and Raul headed for the Zen Bar. They ran the local private investigation office in downtown Mt. Pleasant. It was a cover the Coven used to keep a presence in the town proper and also be on the cutting edge of any problems that might arise.

They had been field agents for most of their careers but came home when the opportunity presented itself. Raul had since found his beloved while working a local job involving rogue wolves, but Terrance had yet to find his forever lover. Raul's beloved Colin was a lovely young man, and the center of Raul's life, and Terrence often found himself anxious to have some of what those two owned.

The love, support, and sense of owning someone’s heart touched Terrance and he wanted it all. But as always Fate worked in her own time and the years passed and Terrance was still alone. Soldiers and leaders and even Chef Reid found their forever lover and Terrance was left watching and waiting.

He took a job in Detroit and even accompanied the Coven Second to a meeting in Los Angeles in the hope of maybe connecting with his beloved, but each time, he returned alone. He decided that Fate would bless him when the time was right, and he needed to get his mind off the fact that everyone was finding the one except for him.

“Colin and I are going to the country house for the weekend. We’d love to have you join us if you don’t have other plans.” Raul mentioned as they entered the Zen and took a seat at the bar.

“Why would you want me to come along on a romantic weekend?” Terrance shook his head. “I’m not that pathetic, am I?" He laughed.

"Colin worries about you, Terrance. He said you're spending too much time alone."

"I appreciate his concern for me and your willingness to allow him to invite me along on this getaway, but honestly, I'm fine." Terrance was touched by their thoughtfulness but smiled when Raul patted him on the shoulder.

“I would have loved to have to come along but I have to admit I was looking forward to having Colin all to myself in those dark woods.” He laughed and Terrance joined.

"Enjoy your time together because things have been quiet for too long, and we both know what that means," Terrance interjected. "I'll keep watch on the town this weekend because I have a feeling the quiet is about to end."

“Yeah, I feel it too.”

It was Friday morning, and Dakota was sitting on the edge of the bed at the Starlight Motel in downtown Mt. Pleasant. He had been on the road for two days now, and as he'd expected, all the signs pointed to Eric and Ivy being in this city. Ivy's debit card had been used for gas twice, once in Traverse and again about fifty miles from Mt. Pleasant.

His heart and his instincts were telling him that they were there they were somewhere in this town. He got up and showered and dressed before putting in a call to the local police station and asked about the Eric Blackbird missing persons case that was originally filed in Traverse City. He didn’t identify himself as anything other than a friend who was making inquiries on behalf of the family.

They had little only what came through the wire from Grand Traverse County, and they claimed to have done a search of the area and found nothing. The officer he spoke to was Deputy Lawson who sounded capable and intelligent but also came off short and distant with little patience to be given to an outsider looking for answers.

He advised Dakota to go back to Grand Traverse County because the likelihood was that Eric was still there. Dakota thanked him for his time and hung up. He was useless and out of touch Deputy Lawson cared nothing about Eric Blackbird and did not hesitate to make that clear.

He had a strange feeling about this town. Able had told him during the protection ritual he conducted the night before Dakota left on this journey that he would encounter others. By that he meant something other than human. Able had referred to them as nightwalkers and that they controlled this area of the state. But he also mentioned others that shared their spirit with the animals, and he said that the guardians of the nether world, the black dogs, also existed in this territory.

Dakota felt the energy in the atmosphere the moment he drove into town. The magic, the mystery and the shadows abounded. This was the territory of the unearthly and Dakota would have to walk with care and attention. Eric would have felt the shift and would not have lingered, but his heart was telling him that Eric was there . . . somewhere and he had to find him.

He decided to have breakfast that morning at the café across from the bookstore and show Eric’s picture to see if he got any recognition from anyone. During his walk last night, he found the least mystical energy to be in that area. That would mean the others don’t frequent the area often and Eric would have felt that too so if he was in town he would go there. Someone might recognize him and know where he is or where he went. He decided to walk.

Last night he got many different impressions as he walked the downtown area, and the worst was near the Zen Bar there were heavy magics there and a depressive heaviness that was so thick Dakota could taste it. The nightwalkers, the animal spirits and the black dogs were all present.

He hadn’t gone inside, and they did not notice him. Most of downtown was touched by the supernatural except for the café and the bookstore. There might be other places within the city, but downtown was usually a good indicator for the town overall.

Able had told him the nightwalkers ruled Mt. Pleasant, and if that were true, they would know Eric's whereabouts. But the likelihood of them sharing that information was small. He didn’t want to think about the possibility that they held Eric for the idea was too distasteful.

The café was busy, but several tables were still available. He took one by the east wall near the front window that looked out on the main street but didn't put him on display. He watched people coming and going, everything looking normal, but in his heart, he knew this town was anything but.

The moment the wolf entered the café, Dakota felt the shift in the atmosphere. There was a sudden charge in the air, and he could see the spirit of the wolf beneath the face of the man. He wore a deputy uniform, and he was looking at him, and there was a strange recognition was almost immediate, damn so much for keeping a low profile.

The officer got his coffee and headed right for Dakota. “Do you mind if I sit here?” He was indicating Dakota’s table.

"There are other empty tables," Dakota stated without expression.

“You’re new in town.” The deputy said with a look that was both derisive and suspicious.

“Is that against the law?” Dakota asked and took a slow sip of his coffee.

"What's your name friend?" The deputy took a wide stance as if thinking he might have to defend himself, and set his coffee down on the table.

“What is your issue with me officer?” Dakota remained calm and detached, and it seemed to infuriate the young man.

“No issue.” He lied. “Just being friendly.” Dakota cocked an eyebrow as he looked up at him but did not comment since his expression said all he needed to say. He was spared further discourse when the Sheriff stepped in and called out to the officer.

“Lawson.” He called and it all made sense. Dakota thought the superior disdainful attitude sounded familiar this was the deputy he spoke to on the phone earlier. The deputy fixed him with a hard stare that Dakota held and returned. He then turned and joined the Sheriff at the door.

Dakota watched as they spoke and then Lawson left the café, but the Sheriff remained, and he was heading Dakota's direction. The closer he came the heavier the air became he was no average animal. The darkness and energy exuding from this man was massive. He was a black dog a fearsome creature and bringer of death. Dakota stiffened slightly in his seat and waited. His fear for the welfare of Eric Blackbird spiked in the face of such creatures.

This man did not ask permission to sit he pulled out the chair and sat down opposite Dakota. They locked eyes and remained silent for several seconds before he introduced himself as Sheriff Kass Keller and then waited for Dakota to do the same but instead merely nodded.

"What can I do for you, Sheriff?" He asked.

“My deputy believes that you may be trouble.” The Sheriff spoke honestly.

"Your deputy is very excitable," Dakota responded with a calm he definitely was not feeling, and the grin on the dog's face did nothing to lighten his dread.

"Yes, he can be but as a rule I trust his instincts." Good man, he didn't discount Dakota's feelings and still supported his deputy. The slow back and forth continued for a few more minutes with neither side gaining any real information. Then the Sheriff stood and, with a full smile that seemed out of place, said goodbye.

There was more to that exchange than appeared obvious. The Sheriff had an agenda, but Dakota was not aware, at this point, of what it was. The town was off, and the citizens closed and suspicious or perhaps it was only the others and not the entire citizenry. Once the deputy and the Sheriff had gone he waited a few minutes and with a picture of Eric and one of Ivy questioned the staff if they had seen either of them.

He identified himself to everyone he spoke with and explained his interest in finding them. He hadn’t shared anything with the others and didn’t plan on it. The Sheriff’s office was clearly a no go since they were all of a similar breed. He wasn’t certain if the others were involved in Eric’s disappearance but it was very possible so he would deal with the humans of Mt. Pleasant as much as possible and avoid the others for now.