Soul Sucker by Kate Pearce Page A

their mind as their twenty-seventh birthday approaches.”
    “So I’ve heard.” Vadim spotted Alexei waving at him. “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Feehan?”
    “Sure. I have to go and pick up George Ralston from the airport. I’ll let you know when you can interview him, so stick around.”
    “I think Alexei got us some lunch so we can eat here while we go over the case notes.”
    “Great.” Feehan nodded and went into his office, closing the door behind him. Vadim went over to where Alexei was waiting in the smaller of the conference rooms that had become their temporary office.
    “I got you a ham sandwich, okay?” Alexei handed him a wrapped parcel.
    He sat down and realized his hands were trembling. If he still felt the effect of the bad atmosphere in the morgue, how the hell was Ella Walsh feeling? He’d seen the debilitating effect it had on her. Had she done it deliberately to remind him of the strain Natasha had been under? He shook his head. No, she’d just sensed a problem and dealt with it as quickly as possible.
    “Are you talking to me?” Alexei asked, his sandwich poised in front of his mouth.
    “No, I was just thinking about Ella Walsh.”
    “She’s interesting, isn’t she? Powerful too.”
    Vadim unwrapped his sandwich. “How powerful?”
    Alexei shrugged. “Enough to make herself the center of my Fae-Web.”
    “In what way?”
    “I’m not sure yet, but she will have a profound effect on this case.” Alexei’s silver eyes took on a faraway look.
    “Like Natasha?” Suddenly, he didn’t feel hungry anymore. Vadim sipped at his can of jasmine iced tea. “She’s not going to implode is she?”
    “She’s not Natasha. She is connected to you, though.”
    “We’re on the same team.”
    “It’s more than that.”
    “Don’t go all mystical on me. I’m not in the mood for it.” Vadim picked up his sandwich and took a big bite. It was surprisingly good. “I thought you were having lunch with Liz.”
    Alexei pouted. “Her husband called and she decided to go out with him instead. I did get to meet him though. He seems like a nice enough guy.”
    “With the flexible morals you require?”
    “I’m not sure yet. I’ll need to get to know him a bit better. Speaking of which, are you free for lunch this Sunday?”
    “I’m free every Sunday.”
    “Liz said something about us all getting together for a barbecue.”
    “Sounds fine to me. American beef is always excellent.” Vadim concentrated on finishing his sandwich. “The report from the morgue is that Christa Morehouse was not assaulted in any way.”
    “I’ve already added that information into my web.” Alexei shuddered. “If it is the same guy, he’s obviously getting better. The first victim was tied up, the second was choked, and the third only had a couple of bumps and scratches on her wrists.”
    “Great. Maybe he does feed off their empath power. Maybe it enhances his.”
    Alexei sat up and his Fae-Web streamed out around him. “That’s an interesting possibility. Let me share it with Liz.”

Chapter Seven
    Vadim cleared away the remnants of his lunch and deposited everything in the trashcan. He came back and tidied up Alexei’s space while his coworker spun his magic. He was just dusting off the desktop with his napkin when Ella came through the door, a large pink box in the curve of her arm and a monster cup of some beverage that was leaking bright orange bubbles through the inadequately fitted lid.
    He held out a chair for her and grabbed for the box as it slid off her arm.
    “Thanks. Is Feehan back yet?” Ella asked.
    She looked less fragile than she had in the morgue. He preferred her in full-on belligerent mode, although why he was concerned about her feelings at all was a mystery.
    “I think he only just left.” He gestured at the box. “Is that your lunch?”
    “Yeah, would you like one?”
    He stared through the clear plastic lid at the brightly colored glazed donuts. Only in America . “No