CHAPTER 18
The next night, Jack paced around the conference room, wondering if it was too soon to call Lara. Everything else was under control. Roman had sent word to all the coven masters in North America to be on the lookout for a spa with classical Greek architecture. Already, a few leads had come in, and Robby and Phil were checking them out. Phineas was guarding Romatech. Carlos, who worked during the day, was sleeping in the basement, on call if they needed him. Howard had offered to help, but he also doubled as the day guard for Roman's family, so his time was limited.
Jack considered investigating some of the missing girls, but he figured Apollo's MO would remain the same. He lured pretty girls to his seminar on staying young and beautiful forever, then he selected a victim.
Jack halted his pacing. What if Apollo was making good on his promise to keep the girls young and beautiful forever? He might not be killing them. He could be transforming them.
Jack winced at the thought of controlling a harem of vampire women. Merda, he couldn't even control one mortal woman. At least there had been no police snooping around the townhouse. No police had come to Romatech, either, so it looked like Lara was keeping quiet about vampires. Most probably she feared her superiors would think she was crazy. But Jack hoped she still harbored some protective feelings toward him. If only her feelings for him could survive. If they could outlast her initial reaction of horror and disgust, he might have a chance.
You must have faith, Giacomo.
He called her apartment. The phone rang once. Twice. If she had Caller ID, she would know it was him. Three rings. She might be avoiding him. Four rings.
"Hello, Jack."
It was LaToya, her roommate. "Hello. Is Lara-"
"Save your breath. She's not here. And she doesn't want to talk to you. Ever. Good-bye."
"Wait. Is she... is she all right?"
"She's totally bummed out, you moron. I don't know what you did to her. I've never seen her so upset. She won't even talk to me. And she's always talked to me."
"She didn't tell you anything?" Jack felt a flicker of hope. Lara was keeping his secret.
"All she said was that she never wanted to see you or talk to you again. In case your super hearing didn't catch that, the operative word was never."
The flicker of hope sputtered out.
"And I am really pissed at you," LaToya continued. "You've got Lara moping around like the world has come to an end, when she really needs to be on the top of her game right now. Your timing really stinks!"
"She's going ahead with the undercover assignment?"
"Shit. You know about that?"
Jack wondered if he could find an ally with LaToya. "I don't want her to do it. I think it's too dangerous."
"Oh."
"I'm trying to locate Apollo myself, so Lara won't have to put herself in danger." There was a pause, and Jack hoped LaToya was reassessing the situation.
"I've got to go. Bye." She rang off.
Jack sighed. He'd keep trying.
By five a.m., Robby and Phil had checked out four locations, all false leads. They promised to return the next night, then teleported home to Texas.
Four more nights passed. The month of June began, and Apollo's location remained secret. By the second Saturday in June, Jack was beside himself with worry. Only two weeks were left. Still no sign of Apollo.
And no word from Lara. Was she trying to forget him?
The following Monday, he tried calling again.
"She still doesn't want to talk to you," LaToya said.
"How is she?"
"She's sad and depressed. I've heard her crying a few times in her room. Does that make you happy?" LaToya growled.
In a sad way, it did, although Jack knew better than to admit to it.
"Have you found that Apollo guy yet?" LaToya demanded.
"No." Jack was beginning to wonder if Apollo's Greek-style resort even existed. He could be showing bogus pictures in his seminar. "We're still trying."
"Well, you'd better try harder. Lara's going under cover in a couple of days."
"Where?"
LaToya snorted. "Like I would tell you?"
"I'm worried sick about her."
"Well, that makes two of us." LaToya hung up.
Jack paced around the conference room. Lara's undercover work would obviously be at a university. The special task force had probably enrolled her under a false name, and she was living in a dorm. But which university?
He sat in front of the laptop and checked his information on the missing girls. They came from ten different universities. He made a list of the past twenty months in chronological order, then listed the universities that Apollo had targeted each month. There was definitely a pattern. Two universities in Connecticut, four in New York, two in New Jersey, two in Pennsylvania, then back to Connecticut. Apollo's last hit had been Columbia University. If he followed his pattern, Syracuse University would be next.
"Jack." Phil strode into the conference room. "We've got a new lead. A place called Apollo's Golden Chariot, in Massachusetts."
Jack stood. "Is Robby back yet?"
"No, he and Phineas are still in Hoboken, checking out the Grecian Goddess Spa and Resort."
"All right," Jack said. "You and I can go. Do you have the phone number?"
"Right here." Phil passed him a slip of paper.
"Are you armed?"
Phil opened his brown leather bomber jacket to reveal a forty-four Magnum in a shoulder holster. Jack had a dagger strapped to his calf and another sheathed beneath his black leather jacket. If they ended up in a skirmish, he would call Robby and Phineas for immediate backup.
"Let's do it." Jack punched in the number on his cell phone.
"Apollo's Golden Chariot," a feminine voice answered. "Macy speaking."
"Hi. Can you give me directions from... Connecticut?" Jack asked.
As the speaker launched into a long explanation, Jack focused on the voice. He grabbed Phil's arm and teleported them both. He quickly scanned their new surroundings. A small office, a file cabinet, a messy desk, the harsh smell of chemicals in the air, and a blonde, staring at them with hot pink lipstick outlining her gaping mouth.
"Aack!" She let out a high-pitched squeal and dropped the phone.
"It's all right." Jack unfurled a wave of psychic energy to take over the woman's mind, but before he could gain control, she jumped to her feet, let out another squeal, then collapsed into a dead faint.
"Merda." Jack frowned at the sprawled body on the floor. "We scared the poor woman to death."
Phil snorted. "That's not a woman."
"She screamed like a woman." Jack's gaze ran over the hot pink miniskirt, black hose, and hot pink boots. They looked feminine enough, but the black tank top revealed broad shoulders and a flat chest. A man.
Jack hunched down beside the unconscious man and swept into his mind. Macy, you will not fear us. We walked into the office, looking for Apollo. You will awaken now.
Macy's green-shaded eyelids flickered open.
"Are you all right?" Jack asked. "You fainted."
"Oh my God, this is so embarrassing." Macy sat up and tugged at his pink miniskirt. "It must be this new diet I'm on. I swear, I'm so woozy."
"Here." Jack helped him stand.
"You're too kind." Macy looked at him. "Oh my." His eyes widened, and he glanced at Phil. "Oh my." He patted his long blond hair. "What can I do for you two?"
"We're looking for Apollo," Jack said.
"Well, he should be in the studio. I can't believe you missed him. Or that he missed you." Macy inspected them with an appreciative gleam in his eyes. "Come on, big boys. Follow me." He clonked past them in his platform boots and cast a sidelong glance at Phil. "Mmm."
Phil shot Jack an annoyed look.
"Come on." Jack headed for the door.
Phil caught his arm and muttered, "This can't be the right place. Let's get out of here."
"We might as well meet this Apollo," Jack said.
Phil scowled. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"You think it'll turn violent?" Jack asked.
"Worse," Phil grumbled.
Macy glanced back with a frown. "Come now, you two, stop bickering. Apollo doesn't allow any love spats here."
A low growl vibrated in Phil's throat.
Jack smiled. "We're coming." He joined Macy in the hallway with Phil trudging behind him.
As they entered the studio, Jack noticed the walls were painted lavender and decorated with hot pink hearts and cupids. He passed a line of pink reclining chairs and sinks for washing hair. He came to an abrupt halt as he noticed all the styling cubicles. Each one was lined on three sides with mirrors. And each cubicle was occupied by a male stylist and customer.
He couldn't possibly get past all of them without their realizing that he didn't reflect in the mirrors.
"Let's go," Phil hissed. "It's just a beauty salon."
Macy spun to face him with an appalled expression. "Just a beauty salon? Don't you think this world needs more beauty in it?"
Heads popped out from cubicles as stylists tried to get a peek at the offensive strangers in their midst.
Jack stepped back, not wanting to be near all the mirrors. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid we can't... go any further. This was a mistake."
"Don't say that. You two are gorgeous together." Macy whirled around to face the cubicles. "Apollo! We have an emergency! Cupid alert!"
More heads popped out to look at Jack and Phil.
A slender young man with short platinum blond hair, a black fishnet shirt, and a pink utility belt rushed from the first styling cubicle. "What's wrong?" He jammed a long comb into one of the slots on his utility belt. "This had better be super serious. I'm in the middle of a perm."
"These two guys came to see you." Macy pointed at Jack and Phil, and his bottom lip trembled. "But now they want to break up!"
Apollo's eyes widened as he looked them over. "Oh my. You poor dears. You have to work it out. I mean, look at you. You look fabulous together." He turned back to the stylists and customers who were filling the center aisle. "Aren't they absolutely gorgeous?"
"Just kill me now," Phil muttered.
"We shouldn't have come," Jack said. "Is there a back door we could use?"
Macy gasped. "You mustn't be ashamed! You're beautiful the way you are."
The audience all murmured encouragement.
"Yes, a lovely couple like you should shout your love from the rooftops." Apollo came closer and motioned to Phil's hair. "Macy, have you ever seen such a delicious blend of colors? There must be twenty shades of brown, auburn, and gold in his hair. It looks fabulous."
Macy pressed a hand against his flat bosom. "I would die to have hair like that. Who on earth is your colorist?"
"I... don't have a colorist," Phil mumbled.
Apollo jumped back. "It's natural?"
A series of gasps reverberated through the audience.
Apollo touched Phil's hair, and the shape shifter stiffened. "It's incredibly thick," Apollo said. "Very rugged and manly, but a little too shaggy for my taste. I'm thinking layers and a tad bit shorter."
"Oh yes," Macy breathed, and the audience murmured in agreement.
"And you." Apollo circled Jack, studying him. "All that dark hair and black leather. It just screams 'bad boy.?
"Mmm." Macy eyed him as he twirled a strand of blond hair around a finger.
"I'm thinking we'll keep your hair long." Apollo scrutinized him carefully. "You have such interesting gold flecks in your eyes. I'm thinking" - he tapped his chin-"gold highlights."
Macy gasped. "Brilliant!"
The audience applauded.
Jack cleared his throat. "You wouldn't happen to have a few female college students around here, would you?"
Apollo blinked. "Females?" He exchanged a confused look with Macy, then burst into giggles. He slapped Jack's arm. "You're so hilarious."
Macy joined in the laughter, and chuckles spread across the room.
Phil grabbed Jack's arm. "Let's get out of here."
"I can see you're very busy here." Jack retreated down the back hallway. "We'll come back another time."
"Oh please do." Apollo looked at them fondly. "And don't forget. I do weddings!"
"Thank you." Jack spotted a back door and pulled it open. He and Phil dashed into the back alley.
He grabbed Phil's arm to teleport back to Romatech.
Phil muttered a curse. "If you say one word about this to the other guys, I will stake you in your sleep."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. If they find out about this, I'll stake myself."
The next night, Jack considered going to Syracuse University. It would be easy enough to teleport into the admissions office and access the list of new students. He didn't expect there would be too many in June, so even if Lara was using a false name, he could track her down fairly quickly. He paused, ready to punch in the phone number for the admissions office. He'd simply use their recorded message as a beacon to teleport straight in.
Merda. He was starting to feel like a stalker. If Lara didn't want to see him, he shouldn't force himself on her. What kind of future could she have with him? Even if she fell madly in love with him and agreed to marry him, he could only be there for her at night. If she had children with him, they wouldn't be fully mortal. And sooner or later, she'd be faced with a terrible decision-whether to join him as one of the Undead.
Did he have the right to force such decisions on her? If he behaved like his famous father, he would satisfy his desires today and not worry about tomorrow. But he had never made a good Casanova. He knew deep inside that love should be unselfish. He should leave Lara alone.
But he couldn't let her walk into Apollo's clutches unprepared. He had to do his best to make sure she survived. Then, if she wanted never to see him again, he would leave her alone.
He called her apartment, and LaToya answered.
"You again," she muttered. "Don't you ever give up?"
"I'm still worried about Lara. We haven't been able to find Apollo."
"No shit."
"I know Lara feels that her immunity to mind control gives her an advantage. I was never able to control her."
LaToya snorted. "Tough break, creepazoid."
"Her ability to resist is definitely good, but her inability to hear the psychic voice could spell disaster for her. Once Apollo figures out that he has no control over her, he will probably kill her."
There was silence.
"She'll be safe as long as he's giving psychic orders to a group," Jack continued. "She can mimic the other girls. But if he gives her a direct order, and she can't hear it and obey, the jig will be up."
"I see what you mean," LaToya said quietly.
"I could work with her and help her develop the ability to hear the psychic voice."
"What if she loses her ability to resist his control?" LaToya asked.
"I'll teach her how to listen but not succumb. I strongly feel that she needs to do this."
There was a pause. "Maybe."
"I could find her myself," Jack said. "I believe she's at Syracuse University."
There was a sharp intake of breath. "I'm not confirming that."
As far as Jack was concerned, she just had. "I don't want to force my presence on her, so will you tell her what I said? If she agrees to see me, I'll try to help her."
There was another long pause. "I'll tell her."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me," LaToya growled. "You try any tricky stuff with my girlfriend, and I'm coming after you. You'll wish you'd never left your home planet." She hung up.
As the third Saturday in June approached, Jack was ready to rip his hair out. Every lead that he and his team had checked out had proven false. The damned resort could be anywhere. They had assumed Apollo would stay close to his hunting grounds, but with teleportation, he could be anywhere. Even Greece, although teleporting east, into the rising sun, was always a dangerous proposition for a vampire.
Roman extended their search parameters by asking coven masters around the world to report any leads in their areas of jurisdiction. This kept Jack and his team busy every night. Still, with a growing sense of despair, he realized time was slipping by. And LaToya had not called him back.
Lara must really hate him if she was willing to risk more danger rather than see him again.
When Saturday arrived, he paced around the conference table. One week to go before Apollo would strike again. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He hadn't seen Lara in almost a month, but his love for her was stronger than ever. His desperation to keep her alive was overwhelming. He was sorely tempted to hunt her down, grab her, and teleport her far away. She would never forgive him, but so what? He was already in hell without her love. How could it get any worse?
His phone rang, and he whipped it open. "Pronto?"
"Jack, is that you?" LaToya asked.
"Yes." He held his breath and sent up a silent prayer.
"Lara wants to see you."