"I must be missing something obvious," Lauren said, letting the file drop into her lap.

"You really should give that a break and come play with us." Bo tossed a ping pong ball in Kenzi's direction. It landed in a half empty cup of beer with a soft sploosh.

Kenzi made a noise. "Since when did the succubus get so good at beer pong?" Steadying her aim, Kenzi threw another ball at the row of cups in front of Bo, who watched it ricochet off a rim and bounce away.

"I dunno, when did the biggest beer pong con lose her mojo?" Bo grinned as Kenzi downed yet another beer.

Lauren stood, walking to Bo's side she lifted a cup of beer to her lips and drank from it. "I really wish you two would get a hobby."

"Like what? Bee husbandry, the literature of Jane Austen, or maybe WWE Raw?"

"I don't have a clue what WWE Raw is so I can't speak to that but-"

Bo laughed. "It's professional wrestling."

"I see." She nodded. "I must admit I find that sort of thing troubling on many levels but if that's your thing… at least it's a break from drinking."

"Actually, there's this drinking game…" Kenzi piped up.

Lauren held up a hand and nodded. "I get the picture." She set the cup in her hands down, suddenly disinterested in her beer.

Bo wandered into Lauren's work zone, a disaster area of maps, police reports, and a list of the city's businesses. "Whatcha working on?"

Lauren looked relieved not to have been asked to play their game and walked back to the couch where Bo stood, holding her map. "I triangulated the locations of the abductions to minimize the search area. These five businesses are at the center of all of the human disappearances."

"Wow, you've been busy." Bo looked impressed and Lauren smiled. "Guess we better get out there."

"Thank God," Kenzi groaned. "I don't know how much longer I can stay cooped up with you broads. Fresh air, here I come!" She marched out the front door.

"I'll get my things." Lauren wiped imaginary dust from the palms of her hands onto her jeans.

As she turned to climb the stairs, Bo's hand wrapped around her wrist. "Lauren, wait."

"What is it?"

"I just want you to be prepared for the possibility that we may not find anything."

Lauren chuckled. "I know how it goes, Bo."

Bo swayed. "You've just been working so hard…"

Lauren's hands came to rest over Bo's chest. "I will be okay with whatever we find or don't find."

"You're sure?"

"Your concern is touching, but I know the process is more hit or miss than that."

The front door slammed and Kenzi's clunky boots announced her presence once again. "What gives?" She held her arms aloft. "Are you two going to hang around here making goo-goo eyes at each other all day, or are we going to kick some hungry, hungry Fae ass?"

Lauren pointed upstairs. "I'll just get my things."


The top was down, wind in their hair and a devil may care attitude pervaded the women. It didn't matter that a pack of cannibalistic Fae were after Lauren, not then with the cool breeze on her face, Bo's smile as airy and carefree as a summer's day, and Kenzi's good humor making them laugh.

The first two locations were a bust, the tanning salon they were about to enter didn't look much better. Lauren checked her list, a restaurant that didn't open until dinner service and a vintage vintner that was closed for lunch. The salon was a bust and sitting in the parking lot, sun on their faces, they waited for the wine reseller to reopen.

"Hey, we should totally buy some wine if this guy ever comes back from his lunch break."

"I don't think they sell wine in a box, Kenzi," Lauren said seriously.

"Oh, ha ha, a real comedian. One time. I bought boxed wine one time and you're still giving me grief. What about the Bud Light incident?"

"Incident?" Lauren laughed. "I would hardly call it an incident. Besides, what's wrong with Bud Light?" Lauren asked defensively.

"Everyone knows you bring Heineken to a booty call." Kenzi sat back looking self-satisfied.

Bo laughed, pointing at Kenzi. "Sorry, but she makes a good point." Bo's eyes scanned the storefront, the OUT TO LUNCH sign was gone and in its place was an OPEN sign. "Looks like we're up."

"Praise Elvis!" Kenzi exclaimed and hopped over the side of the car. They walked across the parking lot like women on a mission, strong and proud, a force to be reckoned with. Bo pulled back the door and bells jingled announcing their presence.

A tall, slight man emerged from the back, wringing his hands and smiling. "Can I help you folks find something?"

Lauren stepped forward. "Do you know this man?" She asked, holding up a picture of Darius Humboldt.

"Yes, ah, he came in some months ago looking for a job. I didn't have anything at the time but a few months ago when Tom left I found his resume and called him up but before I could ask him if he was interested, he hung up on me."

"That's a fine how-do-ya-do," Bo chimed in.

"You're telling me."

"Is there anyone else you can think of that seems suspicious in retrospect?" Lauren questioned.

"No miss, I'm sorry, I don't have any information for you."

"If you think of anything, please don't hesitate to call." Lauren offered him a business card smoothly. He smiled at them as he nodded earnestly.

When they were outside, Bo spun around. "What was that in there?"

"What was what?"

"The card thing. That was smooth Dr. Lewis."

She grinned. "It was, wasn't it?"

"Can I see the card?"

Lauren reached into her jacket pocket and withdrew a card for Bo, coolly slipping it into her palm with a practiced ease.

Bo studied the business card. "Wow, this is profesh, did you do all this?"

She nodded. "I've had some extra time on my hands lately so I thought…"

"No, it's great. Thank you."

"What now?" Kenzi leaned against the storefront, arms crossed, sunglasses pulled down to the tip of her nose.

Bo checked her phone. "Café de Paris doesn't open for another hour." Kenzi made a noise.

"Let's head home," Lauren said. "We can always come back tomorrow. No use wasting a perfectly nice day sitting in a parking lot."

"Great," Kenzi said, snatching the keys from Bo's hands. "I'm driving." Bo smiled at the blonde, who inhaled the warm spring air. "All right Cagney and Lacey, let's go, let's go," she urged.


They settled into a holding pattern. Lauren obsessively reviewing the files while Bo pretended there was nothing to be done and Kenzi, well, Kenzi drank. What it all amounted to was biding their time until something happened.

Bo scooted up close to the doctor and nestled into the cushions behind her. "What are you on to now?"

"This whole notion of solstice killings. It doesn't make sense. I'm sure it's based on an ancient Fae calendar. I read about them in one of Trick's books before…"

"Don't think we'll be getting access to that anytime soon." A hollow laugh escaped Bo.

"No, I suppose you're right. What does he gain by protecting them?"

"He's hiding from his real identity. The minute the Fae catch wind that he's the Blood King, he'll have to abandon the Dal and move to another colony that doesn't know his secret."

"But once it's out it will follow him forever."

"Exactly. I'm hoping he'll come around for this simple fact."

Lauren rifled through the stack of files on her lap. She stood abruptly and headed for the door. Bo was on her feet immediately. "Where are you going?"

"The Humboldt file, I think I left it in the car."

"I'll get it," Bo volunteered.

"Bo, it's four o'clock in the afternoon. The sun is shining, Dyson and Tamsin are practically parked on the lawn-I'll be fine."

Bo rocked back on her heels, indecision still playing with her. She shrugged and exhaled. "If you think it's safe."

"I do." She wrapped her arms around Bo's neck and kissed her tenderly. "I'll be right back."

Bo watched her go with such an intensity that she was certain Lauren could feel her looking after her even as the big wooden door slammed shut.


What happened next was a waking nightmare. It started with an explosion that Bo and Kenzi heard from the inside of the clubhouse. Rushing outside, Bo found the file Lauren had gone in search of scattered in the gravel beside the Camaro. First came the wave of nausea and then the panic came and with it, it brought a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Dyson and Tamsin were running towards her.

"Yeah, great security detail. You've got two thousand years between the two of you and you can't protect one human in her own driveway?"

"Bo," Dyson grunted.

"It's my fault. They got the jump on me, set off a smoke bomb and Dyson was just backing me up." Tamsin said, coughing from the smoke.

"What am I supposed to say? Thank you?" Bo reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her keys.

"Where are you going?" Dyson asked.

"I'm going to find her." She climbed into the Camaro. "And don't follow me. Lauren doesn't need anymore of your help." She turned the key and the Camaro roared to life. She was backing out of the driveway when Kenzi appeared on the stoop.

"Bo, what the hell?" Kenzi called out to her. But Bo was in the street, tires spitting up gravel and mud as she peeled out.


It had been nine hours since Bo had disappeared into the depths of the city looking for Lauren. She turned every Dark Fae bar upside down trying to find someone with a clue where Lauren might be but she came up short. She fought without her healer, without a safety net. And when she was battered and bruised, she fought some more. She returned home only when the pain outweighed the payoff.

The Camaro creaked to a halt in the laneway of the clubhouse. Bo kicked open the door and pulled herself out of the car, her wounds becoming harder to ignore the longer she went without aid. When she reached the stairs she took them one at a time, using the railing to pull herself up. At the top of the stairs, Bo's heart sank. A cardboard box with her name scrawled across it in black permanent marker and blood, so much blood splattered on the parcel. She picked it up gingerly and pushed through the front door. She limped through the mudroom and into the clubhouse to find Kenzi and Dyson sitting in her living room playing cards. She threw an angry glance in their direction.

"Shit, Bo. Are you okay?" Kenzi jumped to her feet as soon as she saw how battered and bruised Bo was. Then she saw the package in Bo's quivering hands, instantly heading to intercept Bo in the kitchen as Dyson stood and watched the pair.

Bo set the box on the table in the kitchen and pulled the dagger out of her thigh holster and slit the tape holding the box shut. The flaps tented and Bo opened them tenuously. Bo dropped the knife and staggered backwards, covering her mouth. When she hit the cabinets, she sunk to the floor. Dyson walked to the box and peered inside. He looked away quickly. "Dyson, tell me it's not her." Kenzi skittered over to the box, flipping a flap. "Tell me it's not her!" Bo yelled.

Kenzi jumped backward. "Holy shit! There's a hand in there!"

Dyson picked up the box and inhaled. Bo fought back the tears, still huddled on the floor. Kenzi crouched beside Bo and smoothed a hand across her back while they waited for the Wolf's senses to reveal Lauren's fate.

"It's not her," he said, finally. Bo sobbed her relief into Kenzi's shoulder. "But she was present when this happened. It's fresh."

Bo clambered to her feet and stumbled toward her bedroom. Dyson was in front of her before she could reach the stairs.

"Dyson, get out of my way."

"Bo, you're hurt. Let me help you heal."

"Buddy, that's the last thing I need right now."

"She needs you to be strong, Bo."

"You're right. I want to be strong for her which is why I can't accept your offer."

"Look at you, Bo," Kenzi interjected. "Let D-man help."

She sighed. "I'm so not in the mood for this right now." She looked up at him. "If you want to help, check the hard drive and get that hand to the lab, find out who it belongs to and while you're at it find out who left that box while you were playing crazy 8's," she said bitterly. "But right now, I need you to get the hell out of my way." She pushed him back.

Dyson stepped aside and she was halfway up the stairs before he called after her. "Bo, this is suicide! A rescue mission when you aren't at full health will only jeopardize you as well."

She paused on the stairs and glared over her shoulder. "Maybe you're right. Kenzi," she looked past Dyson to Kenzi. "Order me a pizza."


The bathtub rumbled, its roiling water inching toward the lip of the tub. Bo stripped, letting her clothes drop haphazardly onto the floor beside the bath. She stepped into the water, so hot it left her feeling numbed. Sinking into the water, she waited for that feeling of sanctuary to come but it never did. Instead, she heard herself hissing as the water washed her wounds, turning it ruddy as she soaped her body. Caught in her thoughts, Bo stalled out, staring into space. She had let Lauren down, hell, she let herself down and now Lauren was in danger. Bo shook her head as her eyes began to well with tears. "Shit." She slapped the water and succumbed to her despair. She held herself as her body shook with anguished sobs.

She let herself cry, something she didn't indulge in often, but tonight her heart screamed for Lauren, and her desperate, defeated, and haggard cries echoed off the empty bathroom walls. Bo stood abruptly, wiping her face with her hands and grabbed the towel that was balanced on the sink. She dressed in clean clothes as fast as she could manage without wincing and armed herself to the teeth. Daring one last glance at the bed, its sheets still a jumble from their earlier exploits, Bo's resolve steadied itself and, marching through the living room, she passed Kenzi and Dyson without a word, sword in hand, raising all the alarms. The front door slammed before Kenzi could call after her.

There was one lead they didn't explore that day and Bo was on a mission.

"Shit. Look at this place." Kenzi stood over the bathtub still full of bloodied water. She followed the wet footprints to her discarded towel, also stained with blood. "How is she even walking around?"

"She wouldn't accept my help," Dyson said.

"Girl got it bad, D-man."

"We need to find her."

"Just a hunch, but I don't think she's going to bang you in the back of the Camaro either."

"C'mon," he growled as he turned to descend the stairs.

"Hey! You can't just growl at me and leave, wolfy. I went to bat for you…" She said, hopping down the stairs after him.

"Kenzi stop!" Dyson exploded. "She's in trouble. Trick won't even go against the cult of five, Bo is half dead and running into the fray without backup. I don't have time for your sass right now."

Kenzi shrunk back and nodded. "Let's go."


End pt 4