Ian walked into the lobby of the DMV, back towards the queue. He was ready to find Phoebe, maybe meet her new friend and then get the heck out of here. But the corner where Phoebe and her friend were at was now empty.
His eyes frantically scanned the room. They probably just stepped aside, he told himself. But as he looked around, he saw no sign of either Phoebe or her strange guest.
Ian’s feet locked beneath him. His panic level started to rise, even as he tried to resist the urge. He took the quick exit path to the side of the queue, which took him right back out onto the streets of River City.
The parking lot was full and cars whisked by on the two adjacent streets. But he saw no sign of Phoebe or the man she talked to inside.
No, no, no. I can’t lose her too.
He started to run down the nearest row of parked cars, his eyes on the interiors for any signs of life. He caught sight of a mother waiting with her child and a pair of young lovers kissing a bit too passionately for the DMV in the afternoon. But still no Phoebe.
Stay calm, Ian. Be rational. She can’t have gone far. She has to be nearby—
—unless her attacker could fly. Or teleport.
Memories of Smith bounced through his mind. Really the messenger god Hermes, he had lured Ian into freeing Caelus before being betrayed by the dark god. He could teleport anywhere in the universe, but it didn’t make sense for him to come back now. Still, what if he wanted some kind of vengeance against Phoebe. Ian couldn’t be sure it wasn’t him that took her, even if the tall handsome man had looked nothing like Smith.
This is getting me nowhere. I have to find her. She has to be here.
Suddenly a cell phone rang. He didn’t have one with him, even though Alli had given him one back at Spirit Cop Headquarters. Yet, he quickly realized the ringing was coming from the back pocket of his jeans. He reached back and pulled out a simple flip phone he never saw before. He opened it quickly.
“Hello?”
“Good afternoon, Ian. It’s been a long time, but you probably don’t remember that. All you need to do is remember this: if you want to see your friend alive, you will do exactly as I say.”
Ian’s gut felt like hot coals weighted it down. He knew this voice, even if he couldn’t place from where. And he knew that this man, whoever he was, meant every word he said: every threat. He offered Ian no choice.
“Yes. I understand.”
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