Nightwalker by Connie Hall Read Free Book Online Page A

agent? And not any agent, but onewho had infiltrated Raithe’s organization. Her deceptive and malicious talents had to be second nature to her.
    No doubt Culler would use Takala Rainwater, then get her killed. He had to make sure Takala continued to suspect Culler, so he whispered in her ear, “You will under no circumstances trust Lilly Smith or anything she says to you. You understand?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNow, you will wait here five minutes, then return to your seat and forget everything about this encounter.”
    â€œOkay.” She spoke without opening her eyes, in a lazy, dreamy voice.
    He picked up the phone and hit the redial button. He heard Stephen’s voice say, “About time you called back. Fala and I were worried sick.”
    Striker didn’t want the whole Rainwater clan destroying his chances of catching Raithe, so he decided to put their minds at rest. “It’s me, Winter,” he said.
    â€œNightwalker. Where’s Takala?”
    He stared down at her. She was sprawled across the toilet, her eyelids closed but pulsing behind the lids. “She is indisposed at the moment.”
    â€œYou better not let anything happen to her,” a husky female voice said. “Or I’ll find you and rip your head off.”
    â€œI suppose that is your new sweet bride.”
    â€œYeah, and I’ll show you just how sweet I can be if you hurt her,” Fala said.
    â€œBe quiet, Fala,” Stephen said. “Listen, Dark, is Takala mixed up in something bad?”
    â€œNot really. I know she is innocent. I will make sure she’s unharmed and see that she returns home”
    â€œYou better,” her sister said.
    Striker clicked off. He didn’t much like domineering females who threatened him, even if she was the Guardian and could probably back up her threats.
    He put the phone in Takala’s hand and wrapped her fingers around it. Then he exited and warped up to first class. The speed at which the jet was flying only enhanced his ability, and he felt a little lightheaded when he paused at the doorway. He’d never get used to airplane travel.
    Katalinga perked up from pretending to sleep and she nodded to him. She motioned with her eyes toward Culler, who sat across the aisle from her, sleeping quietly, her mouth agape.
    He moved in behind Culler. As he looked down at her, the image of his agents being murdered surfaced. He had to hold back a desire to exact retribution for them as he touched her shoulder.
    She woke with a start and pulled off the sleeping mask. Instant recognition. She leaped to grab him, but he already had made contact. He languished in her fear for a split second, then he took control of her thoughts.
    She slumped back in the seat, and he probed her mind. He could only find her most recent memories, of being attacked at her home, hiring Takala to accompany her to Paris. She, too, was afraid of something, but that was a gray area, and he knew he’d hit a charmed part of her brain. He concentrated, fully pouring all his force into her, but he could not break the weaver spell. He’d never come up against such powerful magic. Raithe had outdone himself. Striker would just have to wait and see who she was meeting in Paris.
    He erased her memory of their encounter, then he left her. He acknowledged Katalinga on his way back to his seat. Then he spotted Brawn in coach, watching a movie. He sat between two elderly women, who were asleep, one snoring like a jackhammer. Striker had used astral projection, so Brawn hadn’t been able to follow his movements, but he could see Brawn clearly now, and they exchanged a glance.
    After another section, he found his aisle seat. A woman with a young daughter slept in the seat beside his, the little girl nestled up next to her mother.
    Striker put back on the cap and sunglasses and sat down. He heard the bathroom door open, then smelled the scent of Takala Rainwater’s blood before