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wasn’t listening. “He’s stalking me, and I’ve escaped from his clutches. Who knows what he might do the next time he finds me.” She huffed a breath. “I hate to admit it, detective, but I’m scared. I’m too scared to go home.”
    Newton propped his shoe on a chair and leaned his elbow on the table. “Miss Post, I’ve worked with Hadrian Graham for the past five years. He’s many things—like a pain in my ass—but I assure you, he is not a stalker. I doubt he’s even dangerous.”
    “Not dangerous!” She launched out of her seat. “How can you know that? He’s involved in some kind of crazy cult. They were telling me that I needed to become one of them. It was creepy. And I don’t have anywhere to go, at least not until I can get in touch with Priscilla or Karen. Don’t you people have safe houses for cases like these?”
    “Please, Miss Post, calm down.” Newton rose from his chair and swung open the door, indicating the interview was over. He took her arm and led her down the hall. “I understand your concern. But I assure you, it’s unfounded. I don’t know who Hadrian works for, but I can tell you it’s not a cult. My guess? He’s with the federal government. CIA, perhaps? If he’s trying to recruit you, you might consider listening to what he’s got to say.” He crooked a finger in front of her nose. “Think of it as your patriotic duty, Miss Post.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Her patriotic duty? Pulh-leaze.
    Holly beat her hands against her frozen arms as she plodded down the street. She supposed she should go back to her apartment. It was the only logical thing to do since neither Priscilla nor Karen were home.
    She could put up a small tree and decorate it. She’d never done that before. It might be fun.
    On the way home, she passed the spot where The Oblique Café should have been. It wasn’t there. She wasn’t surprised.
    Could Hadrian be working for the CIA? Nah. Her life was boring. No one would be interested in recruiting a kindergarten teacher for anything...other than perhaps a cult or to make a charitable contribution. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? They might be working for a charity. But, then again, that didn’t explain the disappearing café.
    “Excuse me,” a raggedly dressed man tapped her on the shoulder. Holly jumped.
    “Oh! You startled me. I d-don’t have any money,” she said. “I lost my purse, you see. Otherwise, I’d...”
    He took a step closer. “I’m awfully hungry.”
    She tried to back away from him, but her feet seemed to be frozen in place. Terror coursed through her.
    “So very hungry.” His strange, low voice rumbled through her body.
    She tried to open her mouth. Tried to scream. Nothing happened.
    He kept moving closer. Closer. She could feel his belly touch hers. His grimy hands pressed against her cheeks.
    “So very, very hungry,” he whispered.
    Holly noticed several people passing by her on the street. No one bothered to look in her direction. They just rushed by as if she’d become invisible.
    “Hmmm...” A smile spread across his greasy lips. He flicked out his long, narrow tongue and licked her across her mouth. “You’ll fill me up quite nicely.”

Chapter Four
     
    A near-blinding headache struck Hadrian. He covered his eyes with his hands and sucked in a deep breath.
    “What is it?” Kara demanded.
    After a long, unsuccessful search for Holly—Hadrian had even tried to create a psychic link—they had all gathered back at the café to discuss what to do next.
    “It’s close.” Hadrian tried to fight his way through the blinding pain. “And it’s feeding.”
    “You can feel it?” Jake asked.
    “Can’t you?” He couldn’t be the only one of them so closely connected to the soul eater. That wouldn’t make sense...or be fair. Not that he wanted his friends to be in pain. Not like this. But why should it be connected to him and him alone?
    “You have to block it out,” Stone warned. “Or else it will