“Suzie and her exotic cat, Mittens, were gone without a trace.”
“An exotic cat… a tiger?”
He nodded.
“Her tiger is the same one that did that to your neck?”
“Tigers are territorial, and I was teasing her even after I read her mind and knew I was pissing her off. I was a dumb punk when I was younger.”
“So why do you think Mittens would do that to your stepdad?”
“In the guard dog division, my sister trains everything with four legs, including other exotic cats. She trains each animal with attack commands. The doctor said he believes the marks are from a canine, but I’m not sure how many animals were involved. It was hard to tell with all of the bite marks. That’s where you come in.”
“Okay,” I said, thinking about this. “If this psychic told you that you can hear and I can see by touching pictures, why not just give me a recent picture of your stepfather instead of that Christmas picture? We wouldn’t have even had to leave town.”
Harlon’s deep sigh filled the cabin. “The psychic told me the connection would be even stronger if we touched the live person. I need to know what happened so I can help my sister.”
Assuming his sister hadn’t done this. “How do you know it’s not an animal your sister trained for one of her clients?”
“I don’t know,” he answered. “That’s why I need you to help me see who did this, even if it’s just seeing the animal. That can help narrow it down. I need to find my sister and make sure she doesn’t end up with the same fate, and in order to do that, I need answers.”
That was something I could understand. I’d do more than kidnap someone if it meant saving my sister’s life. I got that, even if I didn’t like it.
“You saw what it did to me last time. It knocked me out,” I said.
“I promise I’ll keep you safe, Nina.”
“I’m not worried about me. I know how I’m going to die; you just promise not to put me on a plane again or let anyone else try.”
His lips quivered at the edge. “You have my word.”
“Good,” I said, turning my gaze out the window, watching the world pass by below as I continued to remind myself, four passengers instead of five. Four instead of five.
The plane landed on a private airport where an SUV was parked and men were waiting.
I stepped out onto the plane stairs. My nose twitched at the scent of hot sidewalk trash mixed with a hint of salty air. It wasn’t the foul smell that had me pausing on the steps. Two men stood in the distance. The bulges created by the guns in arm holsters were evident under their suit jackets.
“Welcome to New York.” Harlon said.
“I wouldn’t have pegged a big guy like you in need of bodyguards,” I said and continued walking.
“They aren’t my bodyguards.” He huffed. “You think I need bodyguards?”
I shrugged.
“I don’t.” He responded as a voice of authority.
I fought back a smile at his defiance.
“They’re my best friends and coworkers. They’re security specialists like me. And those guns will keep us safe, not kill us.”
He rested his hand on my back, and it sent a shock wave of tingles down my spine.
“It’s about time you sealed the deal.” One of the men clapped Harlon on the back, and I quickly stepped away from Harlon’s touch. I didn’t want to know what that man was thinking.
Harlon swung his gaze to mine, and I lifted a brow. “We’re not quite sure how all of this touching stuff works yet.”
“Right.” They exchanged a confused look. “Let’s get you two on the road.”
