Inevitable Series 06 The Unavoidable Read online

  Simon knew who the young man was talking about without being told. Reaching out, he placed a hand on Blair's shoulder. "We'll find Jim. Don't worry."

  Blair shook his head. "No, Simon, you don't understand. I can't find him. Me."

  "I don't think I'm following you."

  Blair let out a long breath, brushing hair back from his face. "Jim and I, we have this connection. We've just really realized it but it's been there as early as Lash." He paused, his gaze turning inward as he tried to find the best way to explain what he needed to say. "Whenever I've gotten into trouble, Jim has shown up. We never really thought about it much. I figured it was just cop instinct or good old-fashioned police work. But it's not. It's deeper than that." He looked up at Simon again. Certainty burned behind his eyes. "Simon, as long as I know where I am, somehow Jim knows too. Maybe not right away but he gets a sense of it and eventually, he can find me."

  Simon wanted to tell Blair that he was wrong, that there was simply no way that he and Jim could possess such a connection. But as he ran recent events through his mind, he knew it was possible. Even probable. "That's how he knew you were being held at that lumber mill," he said, remembering Jim's call out of the blue claiming that he just suddenly knew where his partner was.

  "Yes. Jim knew I was there because I knew I was there."

  Simon nodded. It made sense. Explained a lot. Hell, with everything else that had gone on between the two of them, it really didn't even surprise Simon. Instead, it felt right to him. Like it was something he'd known all along but just had never put into words.

  "But I can't do it, Simon," Blair said quietly, his words drawing the captain away from his thoughts.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I'm not sure but I think for Jim, it's like a sixth sense or something. He somehow knows where I am. I can even feel it, Simon. This certainty that he's coming. That he'll find me. But I can't do that for him. I've been trying but I just don't feel anything." He dropped his gaze, shame clear in his voice. "I can't find him, Simon. I can't help him."

  "Blair, you said that Jim can find you as long as you know where you are. Maybe Jim doesn't know where he is and that's why you don't feel this….link to him. Maybe he's still unconscious."

  "I don't think so. I don't think it's ever worked that way for me." He looked up again. "Remember Colonel Oliver? I had no clue where Jim was. If he was dead or alive. I just don't think it's the same for me." He shook his head, his brow furrowed. "I shouldn't have run," he whispered. "Shouldn't have left him like that. They wanted me. I should have stayed and just let them take me. I should have watched out for Jim first."

  "Then I'd be standing here with Jim instead of you," Simon said softy.

  "You don't understand, Simon. The Guide is supposed to protect the Sentinel. That's my job and I didn't do it." Blair rubbed a hand across his forehead. "He's the sentinel. He's the important one. The special one. He—"

  "That's enough," Simon snapped. "I don't want to hear that kind of talk, Sandburg."

  "Simon, it's true. You know it's true."

  "You are just as important as Jim is."

  Blair shook his head. "Jim says the same thing but he's wrong. You're both wrong. He would do fine without me. He's in complete control of his senses. He doesn't need--"

  "You have no idea what he's like when you're not around," Simon said, his voice overriding Blair's. "Sandburg, you are his control. I don't even think it's his senses anymore. It's just you. He loses his temper, his patience. He's a different man when you're missing."

  "That's just worry, Simon."

  "It's not, dammit. Listen to me. You don't know how Jim was before you came around. He was cold. Detached. Alone. You changed that. I don't know how but you did. He's not the same man but, if you were gone…" He hesitated briefly, shaking his head, unwilling to complete the sentence, the thought. "Blair, it's like you're his humanity. I don't know how but you are. Somehow you anchor him." He squeezed his shoulder again. "He needs you, Blair, more than you know."

  Blair stared up at him, unblinking. "I don't know if that's true or not, Simon. But to be honest, none of that matters right now. All that matters is finding Jim. Making sure he's okay."

  Simon nodded. "I agree with you there. I just don't want you putting yourself at risk to do it."

  ####

  Jim groaned. The sound echoed through his mind and reverberated through his body as he dragged himself back to consciousness. Smells assaulted him – mold, rotting wood, urine. He coughed, choking on the overwhelming odors. Rolling on his side, he struggled to breathe normally, to turn down his sense of smell. {Just dial it down, Jim. Relax and dial it down.} Blair's voice whispered through his mind. Instantly, Jim regained control. After several more calming breaths, he blinked his eyes open.

  Even in the dark, he could make out the cage around him. The memory of the tranquilizer darts hitting him flooded through him. With it came the knowledge that he was now a prisoner of whoever it was who had been after his partner for the last twenty-four hours

  He shifted onto his back again, the ground beneath him hard, cold. His limbs felt heavy, useless. His throat dry. He swallowed and another low groan escaped him. He closed his eyes as the room did a slow spin around him.

  "Don't pass out again, Ellison."

  Jim didn't need to see the face that went along with that voice to recognize it. "Brackett," he ground out.

  "In the flesh."

  Jim opened his eyes again and turned his face to the side. Brackett was two cages over, sitting on the cot in his cell, staring at Jim. "I thought you were down for the count."

  Slowly, Jim sat up. Instantly, he became aware of two things – his jacket and his gun were both missing and he could not sense his Guide in the immediate area. Had Blair gotten away? Had he run as Jim as told him to?

  His gaze shifted to the only window in the room. Stars shown in the night sky. {The same night?} He had no way of knowing. "How long have I been out?"

  "You were brought in six hours ago."

  "Any sign of Sandburg?"

  "No. Why? You think they have Sandburg, too?"

  Jim wasn't sure but he thought he detected worry behind Brackett's words. "Blair was with me when I was taken out. I told him to run...." His voice trailed off. That's all he knew. All he could be sure of at this point.

  "So he got away?"

  "I sure as hell hope so." Jim got to his feet. He stood for a moment, swaying slightly. When he felt he could move without falling down, he made his way to the door of his cell. Reaching through the wire mesh, he grabbed the padlock and pulled down.

  "Hey, you know, I didn't think to do that," Brackett said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wouldn't I look stupid if they just forgot to lock these babies."

  Jim glared at him. "So why are we here, Bracket?"

  "Why? I don't know. All I can tell you is who's behind it."

  Jim waited but Brackett did not continue. "So who?" he snapped.

  "Do you always wake up this cranky?"

  "Brackett!"

  "Thomas Drake," he said simply, as if Jim should recognize the name and everything would now fall into place in his mind.

  Jim rubbed his forehead, a headache pounding against his temples. "He a friend of yours?"

  Brackett let out a short laugh. "In my business, you don't make friends."

  "Except for Sandburg," Jim said quietly.

  "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Jim slanted a glance at Brackett. "When these guys came after Blair, we found a folder with your picture in it. We realized you were in trouble and Sandburg's first mission was to get you out of it."

  Brackett shook his head. "That kid's one of a kind."

  "Yeah," Jim muttered.

  "It's going to get him killed some day."

  "It ended up saving his life in your case."

  Brackett shrugged one shoulder. "A moment of weakness."

  "Right." Jim crossed to the other side of his cell, closer to the on
ly window in the large room. But the window was too high in the wall. All he could see was the star filled night sky. "Do you know where we are?"

  "Haven't a clue."

  Jim cocked his head to one side, listening, hoping to hear a ship's whistle, a church bell, voices, anything that might give him a clue to his current location. But the only sound that reached him was the gusting wind and traffic noise somewhere in the distance. "Dammit," he ground out. "I can't pick up anything that will tell us where we are."

  "What difference does it make, Ellison? It's not like you're going to call somebody on your cell phone and ask them to come get you."

  Jim had been hoping the link he had with Blair would work both ways. That if he knew where he was, Blair somehow would too. He crossed to his cot and sat down, exhaustion pulling at him. "So why are we here?"

  "I don't know about me. But you?" Brackett lay back on his cot, closing his eyes. "I'd say you're bait to lure in Sandburg."

  "For what?"

  "My guess? Revenge because of Therman and Grahm. Guess I pissed off the wrong person with that little move."

  "Yeah, and dragged Sandburg along for the ride." Jim leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. {Bait.} The word flitted through his mind, leaving a queasy, uneasy feeling in its wake. He tried to tell himself that Blair would not hand himself over to these people in order to gain Jim's freedom. That he would never willingly put himself into that kind of jeopardy. But even as the thought went through his head, he knew he was wrong. Knew that the only way that Blair would remain safe was if Simon kept a close eye on him. And even then….

  {Don't do anything stupid, Chief.}

  ####

  He hadn't gotten any sleep at all. Blair rubbed his eyes, trying to focus on the reports laid open before him. But after two nights of interrupted sleep, he found concentration nearly impossible. He sat at his partner's desk, his left arm resting in its sling feeling like a dead weight around his neck. He rolled his shoulders but the movement did nothing to alleviate the band of tension that seemed to have wrapped itself around him and was pulling tighter and tighter with each passing moment.

  {"Goddammit! How could that happen?"}

  Blair looked up as Simon's voice boomed through the bullpen. He noticed other heads coming up too, looking toward the captain's office. Then the gazes slid to him. They were all watching him. {Watching out for me,} he corrected. Because they all knew Jim was missing, knew why Blair's arm was broken, knew the threat to him was still very real.

  Knew he would do just about anything to get Jim back safe and sound.

  On the drive over, he'd suggested trying a set-up. Letting him play decoy. Get picked up by the men who had his partner. Then Simon could just follow him to where Jim was being held. But the captain had rejected the idea before he could even finish explaining it. Instead, Simon planned to question Lantry again while Taggert and Brown ran down some leads they had on some of the people working at Therman and Grahm's companies. It wasn't much but it was better than nothing.

  Blair had been relieved when he arrived at the station to find Henri out of the hospital and already back at work. The detective had greeted him solemnly, promising to do everything he could to help find Jim. It was a sentiment echoed throughout the entire bullpen. Blair was grateful for their offer of help.

  But now, as he watched Simon, it was obvious that something had gone wrong. Simon waved a hand, signaling him to come into his office. The captain slammed down his phone just as Blair entered. "Lantry made bail. He was released this morning," he said, the words bitter.

  "What? Simon, he was our only link to Jim."

  "Don't you think I know that!" he snapped. Instantly, his anger was replaced with regret. "Sorry, Blair."

  "It's okay. We're all tense." He looked toward the bullpen as if something there could give him the answers he needed. Tell him where to find his partner. "What do we do now?"

  "We do what we do best. We investigate." Simon dropped into his chair. We check out the leads to Therman and Grahm's companies. We rundown known associates of Lantry."

  "He has no known associates. Kelso already told us that," Blair said, unable to keep the impatience from his voice. "And those companies...you know that won't give us anything. Simon, if there were something to investigate, I'd be all for it. But there's not and you know it."

  "Sandburg--"

  Blair held up a hand stopping his protests before he could state them. "Simon, we have only one option and you know it. They want me. I think we should give them what they want."

  "I am not going to listen to this again." He pushed to his feet. Laying his palms flat against his desk, he glared over the small expanse at the grad student. "The subject is closed.

  Blair returned his hard gaze, unwilling to let Simon intimidate him, knowing his idea might be the only chance they had at finding Jim. "I'm a civilian, Simon. You can't order me to do anything. You can't keep me here. I can take off anytime I want."

  Simon's eyes narrowed. "And I could throw your butt in lock-up until this whole thing is over."

  "You could try," Blair challenged.

  Simon's expression softened. He dropped back into his chair. "Listen to me, Blair. I know you want to find Jim. We all do. But losing you too is not an option."

  "You won't lose me. We can lay the whole thing out and--"

  Simon's phone rang, cutting off the rest of Blair's plan. The captain snatched up the receiver. "Banks," he growled. But as he listened to the person on the other end of the line, the scowl on his face turned to shock. "What? No. No one approach him. We're on our way." He slammed down the phone. "A man fitting Jim's description has been seen down at the docks."

  Blair's heart slammed into his ribs. "Is he okay? Did they say how he looked?"

  "No one's been able to approach him. They said he seems out of it. Volatile."

  "Like his senses are messed up," Blair muttered, his mind racing through possible scenarios. "Those darts," he continued as an explanation cemented itself in his mind. "Those darts must have just stunned him. He didn't get picked up at all….he just walked away." The image of Jim wandering through the darkened streets of Cascade, his senses off-line drove into Blair like a spike. "I left him out there all night, Simon. How could I be so stupid?" He turned toward the door. "Let's go."

  Simon's hand on his arm stopped him. "You're not going anywhere."

  He shrugged off the captain's hold. "The hell I'm not."

  "Blair—"

  "Simon, if he's zoning, if those drugs are affecting his senses, I am the only one who will be able to get through to him. You know that. I have to be there."

  "And whoever is behind this could just be using Jim as bait to lure you out in the open. Did that ever occur to you?"

  "Yes," he answered truthfully. "But I can't let that stop me. I won't. He is my partner and he needs me. You can come with me, Simon. Back me up. Or you can get out of my way."

  Simon glared down at him, his face set in stone. Blair stared back, his resolve just as strong. Finally, Simon shook his head, grabbed his jacket and said, "Why do I think I'm going to regret this?"

  #######

  Jim Ellison paced the length of his small cell, turned, paced back, turned…

  "Will you sit down!" Brackett shouted. "You're driving me nuts, Ellison."

  Jim glared at him. "Do you think I give a damn about your comfort level?" he growled and began pacing again.

  "How the hell does Sandburg put up with you?" he ground out. "I mean, he lives with you and works with you. He's got to be a saint."

  "Shut up, Brackett." He tilted his head to the side listening. The sounds of traffic had increased but were still quite a distance away. He had managed to hear enough of a radio station playing from a passing car to know they were still in Cascade. He had no idea where in Cascade but it was more than he'd known yesterday.

  "How does he put up with you?"

  Jim turned at the sound of Brackett's voice and looked at him. He sat s
taring at the ground, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. Slowly, he looked up at Jim, his expression contemplative.

  "He does because you're different with him." His eyes narrowed as he looked at Jim. "Calmer somehow. Settled. Why is that?"

  Jim stared at him, saying nothing.

  Brackett stood, his eyes never leaving Jim, slow realization dawning on his face. "I know what the Lowry's thought he was. Therman and Grahm told me. They thought the kid was a shaman. That's why they abducted him." He shook his head, his gaze staring past Jim, turning inward as the possibilities ran through his mind. "Why didn't I see this before? How important he is?" He returned his focus to Jim. "He is a shaman, isn't he? But it's not just that. Somehow, he's something more to you."

  Jim tensed, not liking the direction of Brackett's thoughts. "Your voice is beginning to annoy me so why don't you just shut up."

  "When I first met you," Brackett continued, as if Jim had not spoken at all, "I called him your guide. I really just meant that like a teacher. Someone who helped guide your senses." He paused, tilting his head to one side as if studying Jim. "But now that I think about it, think about Sandburg's paper on sentinels…he's more than that, isn't he? Like a…a…focus," he settled on. "I've seen it. I've just never put it together before. You actually {need} him, don't you? He's as important to this whole sentinel thing as you are."

  Jim's hands fisted at his sides. His stomach clenched. "This conversation is over."

  "Oh man, is that how you found him at that mill when Alex and I took him there? Because of what he is to you?" He smiled, his eyes sparkling with each new bit of knowledge that spilled from him. "That's why Grahm and Therman insisted he be brought in unconscious and kept blindfolded the second time. Because you have some kind of a link to him, don't you? I heard Grahm and Therman talking about that but I didn't know what they meant." He shook his head in wonder. "It all makes sense now. You knew the first time where he was being held but not the second time…because he didn't know the second time." He slapped his palm against the wire mesh of the cage. "I'll be damned! That's incredible."

  Jim grabbed the mesh, his fingers gripping tightly, almost painfully. "Listen to me, Brackett. I don't want you to mention Sandburg's name again. Do you understand? No theories. No conjecture. Nothing. He is off limits from this point on."