"He did that?" Jim looked back over his shoulder, anger setting his jaw. "Why didn't you say something? Dammit, Blair, I would have stopped the guy."

  Blair shook his head. "He left his card. I think if he were planning to do something to me, he wouldn't have come here and introduced himself first."

  Jim snatched up the card from the desk. "What else did he say?"

  "Told me I should stay away from Jarred Lowry."

  Jim looked up, his brow furrowed at the name.

  "It's the guy I went to see this morning," Blair supplied.

  Jim's scowl deepened as the implication of the words sunk in. "He followed you there? Sandburg, I can't believe you just let him walk right past me without saying a word." He pulled out his cell phone. "I'm having Taggert run his name through the computer."

  "Have him run Lowry, too," Blair said before he could stop himself.

  Jim hesitated. "Why? What happened with Lowry?"

  Blair hesitated. He hadn't meant to say anything. The meeting with Jarred Lowry had been odd but nothing that Jim needed to worry about. But as he sat staring up into his friend's expectant expression, he knew it was too late to turn back now.

  "Man, Jim, this has been the weirdest day." He spent the next several minutes filling his partner in on his very short, very strange meeting with Jarred Lowry. He told him everything from his first impressions of the house to the sense of dread he'd felt before meeting the old man to the absolute feeling of panic he'd experienced when the guy touched him. The only thing he left out was the way the touch had felt, what it had reminded him of. Because that just was not possible.

  "I don't like this, Sandburg," Jim said when he was finally finished. "Why the hell would Croft come all the way over here to warn you to stay away from Lowry? I mean, the old guy sounds weird but I don't see how he could be dangerous to you. And what is the connection between those two?"

  "I wish I knew. Croft left before I could get any details from him."

  Jim glanced back down at the card he still held. "I think tomorrow we're going to pay a visit to Frank Croft and find out exactly what is going on."

  Jarred Lowry lay on his bed. Eyes closed, he concentrated on his breathing. With practiced ease, he let himself slip into the trance. Within seconds, he was floating above himself, out of himself, had become one with the air and wind. He could see his body below, the crippled up, aging torso disgusting him. But that would all change soon. He could already feel the renewed life within him, the surge of increased power.

  He shifted his focus to his goal.

  And suddenly he found himself moving, drifting above the city, the way he had so many times before. It had taken him nearly a year but he had found the one he searched for. He and Rebecca had made mistakes in the past. Never finding what he really needed. Never even coming close. Until Blair Sandburg. He was the one. The spark of energy Jarred had felt when he touched the young man had convinced him of that.

  And he needed to touch him again.

  He slipped into the loft and drifted toward his prey. Just as the night before, the young man slept in the bedroom downstairs. He drifted above him, letting his gaze linger over him. He'd been better in person than he could have imagined.

  He'd established a connection that first night. Made it stronger today when he put his hands on him. Now all he needed to do was bring him to them. Drifting down, he reached out with his essence and flowed into the young man.

  He was uncomfortable. Jim shifted where he lay on the couch, trying to find a better position. It didn't do much good. He was just too damn tall to stretch out on this thing.

  But it's better than the chair.

  He'd argued with Sandburg for nearly forty minutes about where he would sleep tonight. Jim had wanted to spend the night in the chair beside Blair's bed again. Blair told him that if he insisted on sleeping in his room, then Blair would take the chair this time. Jim had pointed out that that would be impossible considering he was still recovering from two gun shot wounds. His Guide then offered to sleep on the floor.

  So Jim had compromised. He would sleep on the couch. That way if Blair did get up and try to leave the loft again, Jim would be sure to hear him. He'd even stuck one of the kitchen chairs under the handle of the front door just for good measure. He figured if he just put enough obstacles in his path, Sandburg wasn't going anywhere.

  The stakeout had been as uneventful tonight as it had been the night before. But unlike the night before, they had spent most of the time in silence. Jim had asked Blair again about his meeting that morning with Jarred Lowry. He knew there was something Blair was holding back, something that was still bothering him. Yet, the more Jim pressed, the less Blair said until they were sitting in the cab of the truck, both utterly silent.

  So Jim had changed the subject. They'd passed the time talking about the Jags, the weather, problems at the precinct, the university. In other words, nothing.

  Jim shifted again, lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling.

  What could Lowry have possibly told Blair? And why didn't he want to share it with Jim? Was it possible Blair had somehow opened himself up to some dark force and Lowry had confirmed that? No. Blair would have told him that. Would have needed Jim's help. It had to be something else.

  A low moan drifted through the loft. Jim sat up, his gaze shifting toward Blair's bedroom. A second later, the sound repeated. Grabbing up his robe, Jim sprinted to his partner's room. He stumbled through the door, his heart pounding in his chest, but came to an abrupt halt when he realized that Blair was asleep in his bed. He lay on his back, his right arm flung over the side, his face turned away. Jim stood for a minute watching him, listening to his breathing, his heart rate. They were both slow and steady. Blair was sleeping.

  Crossing to him, Jim gently lifted his arm and shifted it back onto the bed. Unlike the last two nights, Blair's skin felt hot to the touch. Jim's brow furrowed. His gaze shifted to his partner's face. Sweat stood out on his brow, dampened his hair. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut. His forehead creased as if he were in some kind of pain.

  Nightmare.

  Well, the kid was entitled after everything he'd been through. But as Jim stood staring down at him, he knew he couldn't just leave him like this.

  "Blair," he said softly. He reached toward him but before he could touch him, Blair convulsed upward on the bed, his back arching, before slamming back down against the mattress. His arm once again slipped over the side of the bed and a low moan escaped his lips.

  Understanding surged through Jim. Was that what had caused the moans earlier? Had Blair been lying in here convulsing like this for God knows how long? Jim sat on the edge of the bed and placing a hand on his Guide's right shoulder, shook him. "Sandburg, wake up," he said using his most authoritative tone. Blair's head lolled from side to side on his pillow but his eyes remained closed. Jim's hand moved to his cheek. "Come on, buddy." He smacked him lightly, trying to revive him.

  But instead of waking, Blair arched up again, fell back, then convulsed three more times. When he finally collapsed against the bed, his breathing was shallow, barely audible to the Sentinel.

  Panic clutched Jim's heart. "Sandburg, come on! Wake up!" Drawing back, Jim did the only thing he could think of. He slapped his best friend hard across the face. Blair's head snapped to the side. He moaned. But still did not open his eyes. "Dammit, kid, come on!" Hand shaking, he struck him again. This time, Blair's eyes fluttered, once, twice then opened.

  "Jim?" he breathed.

  Jim hugged him tightly against his chest, relief shaking through him. "Thank God." Blair trembled in his grip, made no move to return the embrace. Simply hung in Jim's arms, weak, unmoving. Slowly, Jim lowered him back to the bed. "Blair?" he said softy.

  Exhaustion filled eyes turned to Jim. "Is he gone?" he asked.

  Jim brushed damp hair back from Blair's forehead. "Who Chief?"

  "Lowry. He was here, Jim. He was..." His eyes blinked and then closed.

  "Blair," Jim said, shaking him lightly. "Stay awake, Blair. Come on."

  Blue eyes opened again. "Is he gone?" he asked again.

  "Yeah, he's gone, Chief." Jim's hands tightened on Blair's shoulders. "Do you know why he was here?"

  "Was calling me," Blair whispered. "Wanted me to go with him."

  Jim pulled Blair back against him, holding him close. "You're not going anywhere, kid."

  Rebecca slammed her hand against the steering wheel of her car. Dammit! Blair hadn't come down yet which meant something had gone wrong. She looked up at the windows of the loft above. They were still dark but it didn't matter. She knew they had failed. It was last night all over again.

  Just as the thought went through her mind, her cell phone rang. She flipped it open and pressed it to her ear. "What happened this time?" she demanded.

  Jarred's tired voice came over the line. "The kid's will is too strong. And with that cop hanging around--"

  "So you're just going to give up?" she asked, her voice shrill. "Try again."

  "No. I have to take him too deep to control him. I think I almost killed him this time."

  "Fine." She slammed the phone shut and tossed it aside. She took one last look at the windows above before pulling away from the curb. "We'll just have to do this the old fashioned way."

  "Okay, Chief, I'm done being subtle. I want to know what you're holding back about Lowry."

  Blair glanced at his partner as Jim steered the truck toward the house of Jarred Lowry. After the "incident" last night, Jim had decided he wanted to have a face to face meeting with the man Blair was sure had come to him in his sleep.

  A chill raced through Blair at the memory. Last night, he had been completely convinced that Jarred Lowry had somehow came into his room and tried to get him to leave the loft. Now, in the bright morning light, he wasn't so sure. Was it just a nightmare? His mind putting together what he'd thought he'd felt when the old man touched him with some weird dream?

  "Blair, talk to me."

  Blair looked at Jim, at the hard set of his jaw. He knew his partner just wanted to help. But he hadn't even been able to voice this to himself. How could he now say it out loud to Jim?

  "Come on, Sandburg. I need to know what's going on in that head of yours."

  Inhaling deeply, Blair tried to sort it all out for himself before answering. "The other night," he began slowly, "when I was out in the living room and you woke me up, I told you that it felt like something had touched me."

  Jim nodded for Blair to continue.

  "I think now...I think it was Lowry back then too."

  "You hadn't even met him yet."

  "I know but when I went to his house and he grabbed me..." He closed his eyes, letting that moment play through his mind, knowing as it did that he was right. "Jim, it was the same feeling as that first night."

  "Why didn't you tell me this before?" Jim asked, his voice tinged with impatience.

  "I couldn't even admit it to myself. But after last night..." He rubbed his eyes. "I know it sounds nuts but I swear both nights it was like Jarred Lowry was in my room with me."

  "Blair, with everything that's happened to us, I'm pretty much open to anything so next time, don't hold back."

  Blair nodded. "I'll remember that."

  "And as far as Lowry goes, I think he's been playing you all along."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I called Taggert while you were in the shower and had him run Croft and the Lowrys through the computer."

  Blair tensed. "And..."

  "No record on Frank Croft or Jarred Lowry." Jim cocked an eyebrow. "Now, Rebecca, she's another story. She had a record for burglary, fraud and assault." He glanced at Blair. "Lowry is her married name, Chief. I don't think she's Jarred Lowry's daughter. I think she's his wife."

  "Oh, man." Blair felt suddenly ill.

  "I think your little chance meeting with Rebecca was a set-up right from the start. She probably followed you to the library."

  "What is their game?"

  "I don't know but I intend to find out." He stopped in front of the house Blair had given him directions to.

  Blair stared out his window at the rundown home, a sense of foreboding settling over him. Is Lowry in there now? In that dark room? Waiting for me? He closed his eyes at the thought. Don't get carried away, Sandburg. He's just an old man.

  "Do you want to wait out here, Chief?"

  Blair opened his eyes, turning his gaze to his partner. He knows I'm afraid. Yet there had been no judgment in Jim's voice, just quiet concern. Blair knew if he decided to stay behind, Jim would not think less of him.

  But that wasn't going to happen.

  "There's no way I'm letting you go in there alone." He pushed open his door and stepped out of the truck. He waited for Jim and the two of them walked up the drive together. "Jim, you need to dial back your sense of smell," Blair said as they approached the front door. "This place is pretty rank."

  Jim nodded, automatically doing as he was instructed. They reached the front door and he pounded heavily against the thick wood. "Police! Open up!" He tilted his head to the side and Blair knew he was listening, trying to pick up the sounds of anyone inside. "They're not home, Chief."

  Blair nodded, not really surprised.

  Jim pulled out his cell phone. "I think they know we're on to them," he said, hitting the speed dial. "So I don't think they'll come back. But I'm going to ask Simon to post someone outside just in case they do."

  "What're you going to tell him?"

  Jim shrugged one shoulder "I'm gong to tell him that they threatened you. Believe me, after everything that's happened lately, Simon's not going to refuse this."

  Blair was taken aback by Jim's statement. Would Simon really do this for him? But as he listened to his partner's half of the conversation, he realized the captain was agreeing readily to Jim's request. Blair turned and scanned the neighborhood as he waited for Jim to complete the call. He knew Rebecca and Jarred were gone but as he ran his gaze over the surrounding area, Blair couldn't shake the feeling that they were still somewhere near. Watching him even now. Planning to follow him. Wait until he was alone and--

  A hand dropped on his shoulder. Blair spun around, sucking in air as the sudden movement sent a jolt through his sore muscles.

  Jim backed up a step, his hand falling away. "Sorry, Chief. Didn't mean to startle you."

  "No, man, it's me. I'm getting myself all spooked." He ran a shaking hand through his hair. "Let's just get out of here."

  Rebecca watched as the two men made their way back to the truck.

  "You were right," Jarred said from the passenger seat of the car. "He did bring the cop here."

  Her eyes locked on the big detective. She needed to get him away from Blair. As long as they were together, she would not be able to get near the younger man again. She frowned. How did an anthropologist end up living and working with a cop? When she'd first found out that little bit of information, she'd thought they'd have to scrap everything. But Jarred had been insistent and deep down, she hadn't really been willing to give up Blair. No, she wanted him too badly to give up without a fight.

  Her fingers drummed against the steering wheel of the car. She knew from watching them that the two men had spent the last couple of evenings on some kind of police stake-out. She let that fact roll around in her mind, knowing it was quite possible that could work in her favor.

  "What are we going to do, Rebecca?"

  She turned toward her husband's worried voice. "Don't worry, my love," she soothed, as a plan formed in her mind. "I'll have him tonight. I promise."

  Jim pounded on the door. "Open up! Cascade P.D.!"

  "Maybe he's not home?" Blair suggested from beside him.

  Jim looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "I can hear him in there, Chief. He's home." Jim pounded again. "Come on, Croft. Open up!"

  Slowly, the door drew back. Frank Croft stared out. His gaze shifted quickly from Jim to Blair. "Mr. Sandburg, did you decide to take me up on my offer?"

  "It's Blair and no, not exactly."

  Jim pulled out his badge and flashed it at the man. "I'm Detective Jim Ellison with Cascade P.D. I need to ask you a few questions."

  Croft's eyes widened. "You went to the police?"

  Blair stepped in front of Jim. "No. I'm a consultant to the police department. I work with Detective Ellison." His voice lowered. "Something is happening to me and I think you know what. I need your help."

  Croft hesitated only a moment before allowing both men into his house. As Jim walked through he thought of Blair's description of Lowry's place. If only half of what Blair had told him was true, then Frank Croft's home was about as opposite as it could get. The walls were adorned with paintings of landscapes and sea shores. The furniture, stylish and inviting. And the only aroma Jim could detect in the air was a combination of cooking spices and after shave.

  The older man led them to his kitchen and poured a cup of coffee for each of them before sitting at the table beside Blair. Jim remained standing. He leaned against the counter behind his partner and crossing his arms, put on what he hoped was his most intimidating glare. Croft seemed completely oblivious. His entire focus was on Blair.

  "What can I do for you?" he asked the grad student.

  But it was Jim who answered. "Why did you tell Sandburg to stay away from Jarred Lowry?"

  "Because I know the man." He flicked an irritated gaze at Jim and the Sentinel knew that if this man could have his way, he would be here alone with Sandburg. Well, that's not about to happen. Croft returned his attention to Blair. "I know he won't help you."

  "You were upset because he touched me," Blair said and Jim could hear the strain behind the words. "Why?"

  The man's gaze sharpened. "Something changed for you a year ago, didn't it?"

  "Yes." Blair glanced briefly at Jim before continuing. "I was told that I was being given the way of the Shaman."

  Croft nodded as if he had expected this answer. "That awakened what was already inside you. What lay dormant. My brother and I both felt it."