Hidden Talents

Someone broke in through the window. Trashed the place.”
    “Oh, my God,” Serenity whispered. “Maybe she did see him after all. Maybe he's come after her.”
    “Who?” Caleb demanded.
    “The man she told me about this morning. Her ex-fiancé, Royce Kincaid. She said she was terribly afraid of him. He's one of the reasons she came here to Witt's End. Today she told me she was afraid she'd seen him at her window last night. She told herself it was just her imagination, but she was so scared, Ariadne invited her to spend the night at her place.”
    “Hell,” said Caleb. “If it isn't one thing, it's another.” He took her arm and started through the trees. “Let's get Serenity home, Blade. Then we'll go take a look at Zone's cabin.”
    “Right.” Blade turned to lead the way. Styx and Charon moved off on silent paws. The dogs had a distinctly businesslike air about them tonight.
    “I'll come with you to Zone's place,” Serenity said.
    “No, you will not,” Caleb said. “I want you where I know you'll be safe and sound. I'm going to have enough to worry about as it is.”
    “You mean because you're going after a prowler?”
    “No, because I'm going to spend what's left of tonight running around out here in the fog with a crazy conspiracy buff who's armed to the teeth.”
    “Told you before, I ain't crazy,” Blade said without any show of annoyance.
    “I know you did. I forgot.”
    Serenity saw the glow of her porch light in the distance. “I'd rather come with you, Caleb.”
    “It makes a hell of a lot more sense for you to go into the house, pick up the phone, and call Ariadne and Zone. Warn them that there's a possibility of trouble, got that? Make sure they check all the doors and windows.”
    “Yes, of course.” Serenity instantly saw the sensibleness of that suggestion. “Zone has a gun.”
    “Tell her to barricade herself in a room with Ariadne and her gun. Tell them to stay there until they get the all-clear from one of us. Tell them not to answer the door for any reason. Then start calling everyone else in town. Make sure they're awake and alert.”
    “I understand.”
    “Fine.” Caleb halted at the bottom of the porch steps. He pulled Serenity close and kissed her with rough urgency. Then he handed her the folder he had taken from Ambrose's files. “Go.”
    Serenity hurried up the steps. Caleb, Blade, and the dogs waited until she went inside the cottage and closed the door.
    She threw back the hood of her jacket and crossed the living room to the phone. She had her hand on the receiver when the silk scarf came from out of nowhere. It looped around her throat before she even realized what was happening. In the next instant it was jerked taut, cutting off her voice, threatening to cut off her breath.
    “Not a sound, bitch. Not one, single sound. Or you die.”

13

    F OR A SHATTERING MOMENT PANIC NEARLY OVER -whelmed her. Serenity's hand fell away from the phone. She could feel the scarf circling her throat like a garrote, but so far it was only a threat. She could still breathe, still swallow. Barely.
    “Who are you?” she whispered. “What do you want?”
    “Never mind that.” The intruder's voice sounded as if it were being filtered through a potato grater. Everything came out shredded. “Where is she?”
    “I don't know who you're talking about.” Serenity remembered the self-defense lessons she had been taught. Her instructor's words came back to her, just as if he were standing beside her.
    It all happens first in your head. If you let the fear and panic take control, it's all over. You're dead meat. You got to step into another place where you can think clearly. Just do it .
    “Marion.” An uncontrolled rage throbbed deep in the man's voice. “Where is she? Tonight is the night. I'm going to teach her she can't ever leave me. Where is she?”
    “I don't know anyone named Marion.” Serenity's hand crept up to her throat.
    “She calls herself some crazy name now. Zone or something. And don't tell me you don't know where she is. I traced her here. She works for you. Last night I let her see me. Knew it would scare her. Make her think she was going crazy.”
    “You're Royce Kincaid, aren't you?”
    “She told you about me?” He sounded pleased.
    “Yes. Said you were mentally ill.”
    “I'm not sick, damn you,” Kincaid hissed. “I'm only doing what I have to do. It's her fault. She made me to this.”
    “Is that so? She has that much power over you?