Part 23 (1/2)

Chapter 30.

H is laptop was in his knapsack in Melissa's office, where he must have dropped it when he'd been clobbered. Once he'd powered up the computer and connected to the Internet, he surfed to a Web site that had a host of webcam locations. Thinking out loud, Sebastian said, ”It's been about half an hour. Given typical traffic, there's a few places he could be by now.”

With Ryder looking over his shoulder, Sebastian checked three of the webcams, but there were so many Jeep Cherokees it was impossible to ascertain if one of them was Sloan's. ”d.a.m.n. That model is way too popular.”

Ryder's cell phone rang. After a look at the caller ID, he said, ”It's Diana.” Answering, he asked her, ”Anything?”

Sebastian waited expectantly, hoping to hear some good news, but it was not meant to be.

”No tracking with the EZ-Pa.s.s. Sloan must have taken it off the winds.h.i.+eld,” Ryder repeated.

”So we have no clue where he's gone. But I know where we can get more information.”

”No way,” Ryder said to Sebastian. He explained to Diana about Sebastian's suspicions about the safe houses.

Ryder was silent while Diana spoke to him. Sebastian heard the low murmur of her voice on the cell phone. Finally, Ryder faced him. ”She doesn't have that info in her file so she's going to call her friend. The one who got her the rest of the NSA info on Sloan. In the meantime, she and Daly are on their way to Sloan's brownstone and, if need be, to Westchester.”

Sebastian nodded. A bad mistake. The room whirled and he had to grip the cus.h.i.+ons of the sofa for stability. Taking deep breaths, he managed to control the nausea that followed. When he opened his eyes, it took a moment to focus again. ”If her friend can't get the info-”

”We'll worry about that when it happens. In the meantime-”

”You need to get your van so we can head to Westchester.”

Ryder nodded. ”Diana thinks he's near the scene of the crash.”

”I remember her mentioning once that most killings happen close to where the killer lives. Sloan might not live there, but he's got to have a place nearby. He knew the area. Where to have the car go off the road for the most damage.” After he spoke, he brought up a screen with cameras that were located along the Saw Mill and other Westchester parkways. Again, the Jeep Cherokees were plentiful and the pictures were too grainy to see beyond the winds.h.i.+elds of the vehicles.

”Anything?”

”Nothing.” Sebastian looked up to see concern in Ryder's gaze. Ryder shot a quick glance at the windows. The sun was way too strong for him, Sebastian realized. With a quick peek at his watch, he confirmed it was just past noon.

”You can't go out to get the van.”

Ryder cursed beneath his breath. ”Can you get downstairs?”

Sebastian wasn't really sure of what he could do in his current condition. Just getting dressed in the scrubs Ryder had scrounged from a supply room had taxed his strength. But Melissa needed him. He would deal with his injuries.

”I can do whatever you need,” he confirmed.

Ryder nodded and rose from the sofa. ”I'm going to get the van.”

”Are you sure?”

”I will do whatever I need to so Melissa is safe. Have your cell on. I'll call you when I'm downstairs or when Diana has news.”

”I'll be ready,” Sebastian said, but was certain that doing so might take all of his resolve.

Pacing himself, Sebastian managed to get his cellular modem set up on his laptop and pack the computer so he could meet Ryder, who'd called about ten minutes earlier to say he was on his way.

As he rose from the sofa, the ground beneath his feet wavered unsteadily, as if he were on the deck of a pitching s.h.i.+p. It was just his legs being wobbly from the blow to his head. If Ryder could head out into the noonday sun, Sebastian could somehow make it to the elevator and down to the lobby, even if he had to crawl.

He managed to get out the door and halfway to the nurses' station before a wave of dizziness a.s.sailed him. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall for support. Sweat bathed his body and nausea rose up again, stronger than before.

”Easy,” he heard and a cool hand pa.s.sed over his forehead.

Opening his eyes, he realized Sara was slipping beneath his arm to offer support. ”We need to get you back to the E.R. They've been wondering where you went.”

”Can't,” he said, his tone determined. ”Need to get to Melissa.”

”You can barely stand,” Sara countered, but even as she did, she was busy walking him toward the elevator.

”Need a favor. Two actually.” He asked her to help him down to the lobby, and to get some blood bags. He wasn't an expert, but Sebastian suspected Ryder would be weak after his exposure to the sun and might need to feed to recover.

Sara gave him a confused look. ”Blood?”

”Please don't ask. If you're Melissa's friend-”

”I am,” she confirmed. Once the elevator arrived, she helped him in, but then stepped away. ”I'll meet you in the lobby.”

Sebastian nodded and forced a smile. ”Gracias.”

”She's like a sister, sabes. I couldn't do any less.”

The door closed on Sara, and Sebastian gripped the wall as the elevator began its descent to the ground floor. Luckily the movement was smooth, allowing him to maintain his faulty equilibrium.

When he reached the lobby, he slung his knapsack over his shoulder and gingerly made his way to the doors. Long minutes pa.s.sed with no sign of the van. Traffic was heavy on York, which didn't bode well for how it might be on the more well-travelled streets.

If traffic was like this all the way uptown...

He wouldn't think about the fact that every minute they lost was a minute Melissa came closer to harm.

He was so intent on looking for Ryder's van that he failed to notice Sara until she laid a hand on his arm. ”I could only get two,”

she said, handing him her knapsack.

”That's great, Sara. It'll help.” He took the bags from her.

Sara shook her head. ”I won't ask how, but make sure she's safe, Sebastian.”

He battled his natural inclination to nod and stiffly replied, ”I will, Sara.” There came a short honk, followed by another longer, more irritated one. Ryder, Sebastian realized. His van sat at the curb, but the windows were so tinted that it was impossible for Sebastian to see the vampire in the driver's seat.

”Let me help you out.” Sara once again slipped under his arm, providing support as they went through the doors and out onto the sidewalk. At the curb, she steadied Sebastian as he climbed into the van.

Once he was seated, she was about to close the door when she looked at Ryder. ”Are you sure you can drive? You don't look too good.”

Sebastian glanced over at Ryder. Sara's comment was an understatement. Ryder was paler than usual and sweating profusely.