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spot on the leather upholstery. Explain that to the car rental agency!” Keisha opened the door and stepped inside.
    “Oh, damn.” Xandi paused at the threshold. “I left the bag of groceries in the trunk. Let me have the keys.”
    Keisha tossed her the keys as she leaned down to unlace her boots. Xandi closed the door and ran back down the steps.
    Keisha hoped she’d hurry. She was hot and wet, her pussy so ready for more of Xandi’s talented fingers, it wasn’t even funny.
    Xandi, make sure you lock the doors. I can’t remember if I did or not .
    Hell, she’d barely been able to remember where her condo was, as turned on as she’d been while they drove along the crowded streets with Xandi’s fingers beneath her skirt, slowly stroking her very receptive clit.
    Xandi? Did you hear me ?
    Xandi ?
    Dread curled, dark and potent in her gut. Keisha raced back to the front door and yanked it open.
    Groceries lay scattered on the sidewalk in front of the condo. The rental car was gone.
    So was Xandi.
    * * *
    “Ms. Rialto, you don’t know for certain it was Carl Burns who took your friend.”
    “Who else would it be? The man’s been following me for weeks. You’ve got to find her!”
    “We’ve got people working on it. If you hear anything, call me.” The burly detective handed his card to Keisha. “My cell phone’s the best way to get hold of me.”
    The detective had been gone less than a minute when the phone rang. Keisha burst into tears when she heard Anton’s voice. She needed him with an almost paralyzing desperation. Needed both of them -- Anton’s steady strength, Stefan’s quick humor and compassion.
    After a short conversation, Keisha slowly set the phone back on the table. Anton and Stefan were already at the airport. Somehow, they’d heard her, somehow, in spite of the distance, they’d known something terrible had happened.
    Her pack mates were due to arrive in San Francisco shortly after midnight. They’d cancelled their morning meetings, left their luggage to be shipped later by the hotel.
    They’d dropped everything to protect their women.
    There was nothing she could do now but wait. Once more Keisha sent out a quick mental search for Xandi. Nothing .
    Wrapping a faded afghan around her shoulders, she curled up on the end of the long couch. Fog settled over the city, muting the sounds outside, sending the afternoon into an early dusk. Keisha opened her mind, searching blindly for Xandi.
    It was frightening, after so many months of sharing thoughts, to have no one answer when she called, but she kept her mind open, the plea to Xandi running in a steady litany, time meaningless, the silence oppressive.
    She glanced at the clock over the fireplace. Almost seven. She’d been huddled here for almost three hours. The men would be in the air by now, completely out of touch. Sighing, she settled deeper into the soft couch, closed her eyes. Once more she silently called out.
    Xandi? Why can’t you talk to me? What has he done to you ?
    Keisha? What …?
    Stunned, blinking in surprise, Keisha leapt to her feet. Finally! Contact!
    Where are you? You can’t be too far or we couldn’t connect! What happened ?
    I’m not sure. Someone must have hit me on the head. I’m just now waking up… How long have I been gone ?
    About three hours. But where …?
    Smells like fish… Near the ocean, I think. I’m handcuffed, tied and blindfolded. Other than a headache from where they conked me, I’m okay. I don’t sense anyone else around. If I shift, the bindings might come off and …
    Don’t shift! If it’s Burns, he’s watching you. I know he is. Anton and Stefan are on their way. They should be here after midnight… it’s just after seven. Keep your mind open to me. I’m coming to find you .
    There was no time to consider, no time to worry if this was the right course of action or not. The fog was growing thicker, the night darker. She called the detective’s cell phone. Left a message that