The Tracker's Mate: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 1) by Ingrid Seymour (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

got up to get something to eat and saw him. Thanks for the sandwich, by the way. It hit the spot.” I rubbed my stomach. “Also it means breakfast’s on me.”

While I cooked omelets and squeezed fresh orange juice, I told her about my conversation with Jake.

“Wuh, that’s intense,” she said, buttering a piece of toast. “Do you really think he’ll leave you alone now?”

“He’d better.”

“Well, one way or another, we need to get back to business, Triple T.”

“Triple T?”

“Yeah, Toni the Tiger or Toni the Tracker, either one works.”

I chuckled and drank some juice as Rosalina started ticking a list on her fingers.

“You need to find Celina’s mate ‘cause he won’t find himself. I need to get in touch with the insurance company to see what our claim status is on our laptops and damage. You need to take another trip to Pharowyn for potion ingredients. Also, I need to get a few potential customers back on the schedule. Do you think it’s safe going back to the office?”

“Since I’m a complete failure and can’t find Stephen, yes, I think so.”

“You’re not a failure. Maybe when it comes to men, but not tracking.”

“Gee, thanks for your support.”

“You’re welcome. What you do is not easy, nor is the price you pay for using your skill.”

I put my fork down and chewed slowly, thoughtfully.

Rosalina frowned at me. “What’s going through your mind?”

“I don’t know... just thinking about how weird it was... all the things I picked up during the trance. It was as if the people holding Stephen were expecting someone like me. I mean, every tracker’s different. Some are guided to the place, others come up with town names or street names, others use maps to figure out a general area. I’m sure there’s a thousand ways, some that wouldn’t make sense to anyone but the trackers themselves. Few know how my skill works, but whoever’s keeping Stephen, they’re covering all their bases. I saw nothing but darkness, Rosalina. There even was a smell that overpowered everything.”

“What about your hearing?”

I shook my head. “Just the constant hum of an engine. Like he was in a car or something.”

Rosalina’s perfect eyebrows rose. “That actually makes sense.”

“What do you mean?”

“The kidnappers know that Erickson’s gonna try to use trackers to find his son, so what if they’re not keeping him in one place? What if they drive him to different locations?”

I nodded, my thoughts quickly catching up with hers. “Better yet, what if they’re keeping him on the move all the time?”

“Yes, yes, YES! We’re geniuses!” Rosalina exclaimed.

“Not really. Should have figured it out right away. Duh!”

Rosalina waved a hand in my direction. “Whatever.”

I fiddled with my hair, readjusting my ponytail. “We’re never gonna find him like that.”

“I don’t guess it’s any of our business anymore. Just tell Jake and Ulfen about it, and let’s get back to business.”

“You’re right.”

I tried to call Jake at the number he’d left on his note, but the call immediately went to voicemail. I left a message: “Jake, call me back when you get a chance.”

After that, I found Ulfen Erickson’s business card and dialed him. He answered on the first ring.

I cleared my throat. “Mr. Erickson, it’s Toni Sunder.”

There was a lot of noise on the other side, people arguing.

“Everybody shut the fuck up!” Ulfen yelled. As if he were God, and he’d just said “let there be silence,” there was. “I’m sorry, Ms. Sunder. Please, tell me, did you find Stephen?”

Ulfen’s voice was high-pitched and urgent. I could tell he was trying to rein in his stress, but it bled through the speaker all the same. Wherever he was, he seemed to be dealing with a lot, and maybe he was hoping my call would temper the chaos. Too bad I didn’t have good news.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Fuck!” he shouted in a booming voice that seemed to explode out of my telephone.

I shuddered on my end of the line. His anger was almost palpable as if he were standing next to me.

“Everything all right?” Rosalina mouthed.

I grimaced and gave a shrug.

“I’m sorry,” Ulfen apologized again. “It’s just... you were my last hope.”

I could understand his desperation. Stephen only had two more days to live.

“I’m not sure if this will help,” I said, “but I don’t think they’re keeping Stephen in one place. I think... they might be keeping him mobile, like in a vehicle of some kind.”

There was silence for a moment. “That... that kind of makes sense. That would explain why the two trackers I hired couldn’t pinpoint a location. Any idea what kind of vehicle?”

“I’m sorry, no.” Stephen was on his own, and I felt responsible. I had failed him.

“Anything else you can tell me that could help me find my son? Anything at all.”

“I’m afraid not. That’s all I’ve got. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

“Thank you for trying.”

I never thought I would feel sorry for Ulfen Erickson, but there it was. No one deserved what he was going through—not even a major asshole like him.

WHILE I GOT READY TO go back to the office, a dark cloud seemed to hang over me. I kept seeing Stephen, his handsome face and open smile, his self-assured demeanor and straight-forward way, his severed finger. He didn’t deserve this. I should have tried harder. What if I’d missed something?

When we got on our way, I felt glad to have work that would keep my mind from whirring like a clock on steroids. I drove my Camaro, and we made it to the office in fifteen minutes. We approached cautiously, peeking through the glass window. Everything appeared to be just as we’d left it the last time we’d been here.

“What do you think? Will you feel safe by yourself?” I asked Rosalina.

“Yeah.” She nodded, glancing around, hands on her hips. “It’s daytime. There are people around.”

She gestured down the sidewalk at a couple walking arm in arm. A chocolate lab bounded in front of them, stretching its leash. It was a beautiful