“Yeah, he would. I talked with both of them over night. First Andreas, and later Gabriel. They didn’t mention they were away from the compound or in any kind of immediate trouble. Then Andreas called Lt. Foster about dawn, so we can assume he was fine as late as six o’clock. Whatever they’re up to, they must have been caught too far from home to get back before dawn.” But why hadn’t he called her? Ari’s voice came out smaller than she intended. “Andreas is all right. I would know if he wasn’t.” Brave words, but her stomach churned.

After an awkward pause, Russell promised he’d call as soon as he heard from Andreas, and they disconnected.

Willing herself not to panic, Ari sat motionless and fidgeted with a broken fingernail on her ring finger. Where was he? He knew they’d worry when he didn’t return. Why hadn’t he called someone? She pulled out her cell, and punched his number on speed dial. Voice mail, as expected. Damn, that was stupid. At this hour he’d be asleep, wherever he was. She needed to get a hold of herself.

“He didn’t sound like he was hurt or in distress,” Ryan said softly. “Only worried about you. It wasn’t the kind of call you’d make if you were in a tight situation. There must be a good reason he’s gone underground.”

“Good thinking,” she said, nodding. “I’m sure he’ll call when he can.” She had to stop imagining the worst. Andreas was a clever and resourceful vampire, and the indefinable magic link between them was still there. She’d learned to sense it, magic speaking to magic, even when he was sleeping. It reassured her he was alive—or the acceptable vampiric version of alive during their sleep cycle.

But it worried her that Gabriel was the only one with him. Andreas was so sure about Gabriel’s loyalty, but they hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Had Gabriel betrayed him? And what about Gabriel’s call to her? Genuine or part of some devious plan?

“The sooner I find Steffan, the quicker I get to Toronto and figure this out,” she finally said.

Ryan seemed to recognize her need to focus on the here and now. “That brings us back to a believable story for collecting the cell phones,” Ryan reminded her.

“Make up something.”

“Since these are, in fact, hostage negotiations you’re involved in, let’s treat them that way. As law enforcement, we would ordinarily cut off all possible ways the hostage takers could contact the victims, except through us. I’ll insist on following protocol.”

“But it doesn’t explain your sudden presence. We’ll have to deal with that first.”

“Blame it on the feds?”

Ari shook her head vigorously. “Huh-uh, I’d rather not. If the coalition goes through, the wolves have to work with them. Robert’s been praising the feds for their restraint.”

“Then it’s got to be the old anonymous call,” he said with a tinge of amusement in his voice. Ryan was trying his best to lighten the mood. “It’s worked for police agencies for a couple centuries. Why pass up a good thing?” She managed a smile, encouraging him to go on. “I’ll say I got a call that Steffan had been kidnapped, and I came to find you before I assigned officers to follow up. That should explain why I’m the only cop involved. I’ll threaten to call in more cops, if you don’t include me. That’s when I’ll demand the cell phones.” Ryan ended on an upbeat note, obviously warming to his role.

It was such a bad script, it just might work. If official chutzpah was all it took, Ryan could handle it. She gave him the thumbs up, and they started down the hall to spin their tale to the others.

When they walked into the room, Robert speared Ari with an accusing look. She could almost hear him thinking, “And this is how you take care of it?” She avoided meeting anyone’s direct gaze. After she introduced Ryan, they went into their dog and pony show. They argued; Ari rolled her eyes at him a couple of times. Without a rehearsal, it wasn’t bad, but the demand for the cell phones still didn’t go over without an argument.

“You have no jurisdiction here,” Robert said. “This is exactly why we didn’t want the police involved. You start pushing people around.” He glared around at everyone.

Ari looked at the wizard, hoping his more pragmatic instincts or the plea on her face would win his support. His returned gaze gave nothing away, but he cleared his throat and asked, “Why fight about it? We didn’t ask for the police, but they’re here now, and we don’t have time to waste arguing. Ari has worked with Lt. Foster before and trusts him to protect our privacy. If the lieutenant wants my cell phone, he can have it. I’m not going to fight over the little things.”

“There’s something you’re not telling us,” Robert said, eyeing the two cops.

“Quit being so suspicious,” Jena said. “Here. You can have mine, too. It’ll be kind of nice not being bugged all the time.”

“And mine,” said Warren. “On one condition.” He looked at Ryan. “No one turns them on or checks any private information stored on them. They should be locked up until you return them.”

Huh. Taking a peek at those call lists would have been nice to see who the leaders had been talking to. Ari sent Warren a furtive look. Was he being cautious, paranoid about his privacy, or concealing his guilt?

“Not a problem,” Ryan agreed. “I have a small gun safe in my car. I’ll lock them inside. Since I have no interest in your private information, that condition is good with me.”

The phones were quickly collected and locked out of sight—and Ari’s reach—in Ryan’s off duty car. They’d pulled off the deception, but it left the wolves disgruntled. At least most of the animosity was directed toward Ryan’s broad shoulders.

It was almost fun letting someone else take the blame.

* * *

Walking Ryan out to his car a few minutes later, Ari heard Lilith call her name. The lioness was jogging after them.

“Don’t you dare leave me alone in that toxic atmosphere,” Lilith said, falling into step. “You guys sure know how to make friends.”

Ari gave her a quick look. “We didn’t have much choice.”

“I know. The kidnapper was learning too much about our activities. The rest of them know it, too. That’s why they’re so snarky.” Lilith nodded at Ryan. “Nice to see you, Lt. Foster, but I don’t think the others feel the same.”

Blinking in the early morning sun, Ari pulled up her jacket collar as a cold wind whipped around the corner. “Where’s your car?” she asked.

“On the next block. Since I didn’t know what was going on, I left it out of sight.”

“Let’s walk. I’m not eager to go back inside.” Ari hunched her shoulders against a chill that was more mental than physical. She had to get away from the overwhelming anxiety in the Magic Hall.

“Do you mind if I ask why you’re really here?” Lilith asked, looking at Ryan. “The anonymous call didn’t work for me.”

“Andreas asked him to come,” Ari said, with an instant frown. “But let’s not talk about Andreas or what’s going on in Toronto. Not right now.”

Lilith accepted the brush off on that topic but came back with a new one. “OK, then who’s working with the kidnapper? It’s one of the wolf leaders, isn’t it?”

Ari elbowed the lioness. “You’ve been itching to ask that, haven’t you? But it sure looks that way. I don’t know which. Every one of them has done something suspicious but nothing decisive.”

“I didn’t like Robert’s attitude,” Ryan said.

“Vita was really pissed about the phones,” Lilith offered. “And Warren seemed worried about what we might find on his. Didn’t you think that was odd?”

"I don't suppose we could take just a quick peek?" Ari suggested, glancing at Ryan.

He gave her his cop look. "That's why they're going in my trunk."

Ari sighed and silently scuffed her boot against the sidewalk. They were going over the same facts and speculation, getting nowhere. She looked up at the cloudless sky of a crisp, fall morning. It was close to eight o’clock. Even if the Council president brought in a new negotiator at noon or took over the negotiations himself, the kidnapper wouldn’t know since she’d taken the phones. That should give her nine hours—until the 5:00 p.m. phone call. So far he’d been prompt.

Her cell rang, and Ari sworn under her breath when she looked at caller ID.

“Is it too early to call?” asked a familiar voice. “He still isn’t here. I went outside and looked all around. What do I do now?”

“Claris.” Ari grimaced. Ryan gave her a sympathetic shake of the head and took off for his car, which was only a dozen yards up the street.

Ari covered the phone with her hand. “Hey, Ryan! Don’t get lost. OK?” With all the men in her life missing—first Steffan, now Andreas, even the damned cat, she thought a little caution was called for.

He looked startled, then grinned and waved.

She turned her attention back to the phone. “Have you called the shelters yet?”

When Claris admitted she hadn’t, Ari bit her lip to stop herself from snapping at her friend. “Then try them first. Have you asked Brando to help you look?” If he wasn’t helping her, he should be. That’s what boyfriends were for. Then Ari wouldn’t keep getting these calls.

“He’s out of town at one of his wizard conventions. Oh, Ari, when will you be home? I’m really worried. What would Yana think if she knew I’d lost her cat?”

So that’s what was making Claris crazy. Guilt that she’d let down a dead friend. A sense of responsibility. Ari understood the responsibility part, and she heard the misery in her friend’s voice, but she couldn’t abandon the men to go looking for a cat. Even Hernando. She had to tell Claris the truth.