Chapter 21
Kane revved the motorcycle and headed down the road away from the site of the ambush.
The black SUV was still there, though it had been towed to a side street out of the way.
Ethan had been in contact—they’d found traffic cameras showing the white van heading north after it had left the scene, but they’d lost it soon after.
Right now, all he could do was head north and hope he could find her.
This was how he had located the Kindred four years ago.
He’d crisscrossed the whole of London until he’d caught a whisper of their thoughts.
It had been Jake he’d picked up first, back then.
He hadn’t known it, but Kaitlin had already been imprisoned in a cell specifically made by the colonel to ensure her thoughts couldn’t get out.
Jake had been the most powerful of those left outside, and Kane had eventually stumbled upon him.
Tonight, he didn’t have the time to search the whole city.
And what if they’d made her wear the reflector device? Or shut her in a cell like before? It was clear they had access to technology that was way beyond anything available now. Technology from the future.
His panic was rising again, his palms sweating. This was his only chance. And he was going to fuck it up.
His cell phone rang, and he pulled over and took the call. It was Rose.
“Tell me you have something,” he said.
“Ethan picked up the van again, still traveling north. It was just passing Highgate Cemetery. That was an hour ago.”
“Jesus. It’s too long. They could be anywhere by now.
They could have gone straight to an airport and left the country already.
Or shit, they could have questioned both Kaitlin and Josie, found out everything they know, and then killed them.
” He didn’t even want to consider that they might have taken Kaitlin to the future. That was definitely beyond his reach.
“They haven’t killed them. We’d know.”
“How? How the fuck would we know?”
“We just would. You need to calm down. We’ll find them. You just have to stay focused. And believe. Come on, Kane. Don’t choose now to go all fucking soft on us.”
He bit back a growl but then took a deep breath. She was right, he was losing it and that wouldn’t help anyone, certainly not Kaitlin or Josie. “I’m okay. I’m going to head to Highgate. Let me know if you hear anything else.”
“I will. And we’ll be close behind you. Ethan also has some of his guys on standby. They’re heading this way and they’ll be with us in thirty. Just find her. We’ll get them out.”
He ended the call and sat for a moment, focusing his mind, searching, reaching out. Not a flicker. He kicked the bike into gear and headed north. He was well acquainted with the city—he’d lived here on and off for a century and knew his way around.
As he passed the cemetery, he paused and concentrated again.
And there it was, faint but definitely a flicker. He recognized the flavor of her. Kaitlin. It had to be her, though right now, he wasn’t reading her clearly. It was as though something was blocking her thoughts. He kept going and the thoughts got weaker and finally disappeared.
Damn.
He did a U-turn and headed back to the spot he had first picked her up. Then turned in the opposite direction. This time the signal got stronger.
He stopped the bike and closed his eyes concentrating.
“Kaitlin?”
“I’m here!”
“Josie?”
“She’s here as well. Is Steve alive?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Fine. They drugged us both. I think that’s why I’m so fuzzy. It did something to my brain. But Kane, they know everything. I’m sorry.”
“Did they hurt you?”
“Not really. Or at least, not physically. Some sort of brain probe. I couldn’t keep them out.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll stop the fuckers. But first we need to get you two out. Do you know where you are?”
“No. But we’re on about the tenth floor. So somewhere with at least ten floors.”
“We need to narrow it down more.”
“Wait. I’ll go look out of the window.”
He bit back his impatience, his hands tightening on the bike’s handlebars. He couldn’t even tell how close she was. As she’d said, she was still fuzzy, not transmitting at her normal strength.
“I think I can see a cemetery. Not sure which one though.”
“Highgate. Where is it in relationship to you?”
“About half a mile away and to the west. And the building opposite us is white, about fourteen floors with blue windows.”
“Okay, that should be enough. I’m by the cemetery now, so I’ll head east. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Ha. Hey, don’t think this means you can go inside my head anytime you want.”
“I won’t.”
“Shit, I think they’re coming back. I’m going silent. I don’t know what they can pick up. But Kane, be quick. They’re planning on leaving, and I’m not sure how soon.”
“Try and stall them.”
“I will.”
She went quiet. He headed off east and had only been driving a couple of minutes when he spotted the building she’d described.
It was a block of apartments. He pulled the bike up on the side of the wide road.
The traffic was busy. Opposite was another building the same height but pale ocher in color.
That must be where she was. He counted the floors, fixed on the tenth.
There was nothing to show one way or another, but this had to be the one.
He took off his helmet, pulled one of the reflector devices from his pocket and slipped it onto his head.
There was no point in taking the risk that they might pick him up.
At least he would have the element of surprise on his side.
He supposed if they read Kaitlin again, they would find out he was close.
He could only hope they had gotten the information they needed from her and wouldn’t go back into her head.
He pulled out his cell and called Rose.
“I found them.”
“Really. Are they okay?”
“They are for now, but Kaitlin thinks they’re going to be on the move any moment, so we need to be quick.”
“We’re on our way. Only a minute behind you, wait for us there.”
“Then we go in.”