Allyn and Ransom – 17

 

 

Half an hour later, Ransom said with a touch of dismay, "Almost everyone here is middle-aged or older."

 

"You're just noticing?"

 

"Yeah. Not too sharp, am I? The problem is…"

 

"They're not the type of people the man we're looking for targets. Have you heard anything from you men at the other venues?"

 

"Venues?" Ransom smiled, before saying, "I have, and so far, nothing." He chuckled softly. "Did you think the calls I've been getting were from a boyfriend?"

 

"Do you have one?" Allyn asked, realizing he hoped the answer would be no.

 

"No more than you do, from what you told me. There are a couple of men I hook up with occasionally, because I don't get off on picking someone up at a bar, but that's it."

 

"I totally understand."

 

Almost as if what they were talking about triggered it, a couple Allyn knew fairly well joined them. The woman, after being introduced to Ransom, whispered to Allyn, "Trading up from Liam?"

 

"No. We're just friends who happen to be interested in ballet," Allyn murmured.

 

"He looks more like the football type."

 

Obviously overhearing them, which wasn't surprising considering what he was, Ransom said, "Are the two mutually exclusive? Ballet dancers and football players have to be in peak condition. They both wear tight pants—or I guess tight tights when it comes to ballet—which makes them easy on the eyes." He waggled his eyebrows, much to the woman's amusement. "At least with ballet, the music is a lot better, which is a plus."

 

They continued chatting for a few minutes, even as Ransom surreptitiously scanned the other partygoers, as he and Allyn had been doing all evening.

 

Finally it was one a.m. and the party began to wind down. Since midnight, Allyn and Ransom had been on high alert because, Ransom had pointed out, the three abductions had happened very late in the evening, "When people were beginning to leave."

 

"I guess we should call it a night," Ransom said when the final people left and the staff of the Mansion began cleaning up.

 

"Unless you feel like collecting dirty glasses, it might be a good idea," Allyn agreed.

 

They exited as they'd come in, through the lobby. When they were on the street, Ransom said he'd walk Allyn to his car. For a moment Allyn bristled. Doesn't he think I'll be safe on my own?

 

Ransom squeezed Allyn's shoulder. "I'm not being overprotective. I'd just like to. Despite why we're here, it's been nice, being with you. I sort of want to prolong the experience without having to watch everyone else in the process."

 

"Seriously?" Allyn was more than a little surprised by his words.

 

"Yeah, seriously. So where did you park?"

 

"Right over there, by the cemetery."

 

They walked down the block and around the corner. Allyn's car was the only one on the short street—unlike when he'd first parked, and wondered where everyone else coming to the party would find spaces.

 

"Kind of spooky," Ransom said, glancing at the tombstones behind wrought iron fence.

 

Allyn grinned. "Afraid of ghosts?"

 

"Not afraid, but I have healthy respect for the fact they might exist." He turned his attention back to Allyn. "Thanks for coming with me tonight."

 

"You're welcome. I wish we'd been successful."

 

"Me too, but that's the way it goes. None of my people have called to say they found the guy, and it's still too early for any reports of someone missing, so maybe he took the night off."

 

"Or quit altogether, which would be nice."

 

"I wish." Ransom went silent momentarily before saying, "Look, if you're not busy Monday night, I'm off and, umm… We could maybe go to dinner? Really catch up on things?"

 

Despite his astonishment, Allyn replied, "Sure, why not?" He managed a grin. "McDonald's?"

 

"Smartass. You know Brisbi's? I figure it's sort of halfway between your place and mine."

 

"I do. It has a nice view of the marina and the lake. What time?"

 

"Seven? That way we might miss the main dinner crowd."

 

"Sounds good. I'll see you then."

 

"Great." There was a long, pregnant pause, then Ransom turned and walked away.

 

Getting into his car, Allyn wondered if dinner with Ransom was a good idea. Then again, why not? The worst that happens is we'll find out we were right to have separated, way back when. The best, we become friends again, and who knows…? He immediately erased that thought. Friends, he could deal with. More was not going to happen and he knew it. Still, he wasn't certain he liked the idea. He is one sexy man—and a good one too. I've always known that. He pulled out of the parking space and soon was heading back home, still pondering the idea. Perhaps, just perhaps, they could return to the relationship they'd had before things went south, and—given the chance—he might want it to happen.

Allyn and Ransom – 16

 

 

Allyn drew in a startled breath when he saw Ransom enter the lobby of Mystère Mansion. Ransom had always been a man who dressed casually when Allyn had known him all those many years ago. Tonight, in a tux, with his hair styled instead of looking as if he'd just run his hand through it, he was…incredibly handsome and sexy. Stop there, Allyn immediately cautioned himself. This is business. We're here to stop a kidnapping and catch the person doing them.

 

"You're quite impressive," Ransom said, once he joined Allyn. "But then, you always did manage pull off the playboy look very well."

 

"Thanks, I think," Allyn replied. "You look, to coin a phrase, 'to the manor born' as well."

 

Ransom shook his head. "That'll be the day."

 

Even as they were talking, Ransom was scanning the influx of people arriving for the fundraiser. So Allyn did the same, while suggesting they go into the Grand Parlor. "We can find a good vantage point to watch everyone."

 

The parlor was already beginning to fill, even though it was early. Since it was a warm evening, Allyn wasn't surprised to see the doors to the courtyard were open. People were already mingling outside, as well as in the two large interior rooms given over to the party.

 

"This is not going to be easy," Ransom muttered.

 

Allyn laughed. "You expected it would be? This is one of the premier events of the season."

 

"There's going to be dancing?" Ransom asked, glancing at the bandstand set up at one end of the Parlor.

 

"Yep. The theme for the evening is 'Midnight Tango', although I suspect they won't stop anyone from doing other types of dancing." Allyn looked mischievously at Ransom. "You do tango, don't you?"

 

"Yeah, right. I think, if pushed, I can still do the box step. That's the limit of my dance skills."

 

"You don't go to clubs?"

 

"Rarely. They're not my thing."

 

Allyn nodded. Now that he thought about it, they hadn't been. Of course fifty years ago, two men going to a club together, other than as pals out for a night of drinking, had been unheard of. When he and Ransom had done that, as part of finding the men targeting shifters, they had been very circumspect, even though they were in the beginning stages of their personal relationship. At least that's no longer necessary. I should drag him to one of the clubs on Bourbon, just for the hell of it. Allyn knew it would never happen. They weren't even friends now—not really. They were just two men on a mission to save another person from vanishing.

 

"Would you gentlemen care for a drink," a young man carrying a tray of champagne asked, bringing Allyn back to the present.

 

Allyn picked up a glass, while Ransom declined, telling Allyn when he looked questioningly at him, "I have to keep a clear head." Allyn almost put the glass back on the tray, then decided if he wasn't carrying one, people who knew him would wonder and comment.

 

Slowly the rooms and the courtyard began to fill with guests. The band appeared and began playing, after the leader invited everyone to "Dance to your heart's content".

 

"How many of these people do you know?" Ransom asked, after being introduced to yet another couple.

 

"Most of them?" Allyn replied with a grin. "After all, I do, as you so unsubtly put it the other day, spend my time living the life of the idle rich."

 

"Yeah. Sorry about that. I didn't know…" Ransom spread his hands.

 

"No problem, since it's what I do when I'm not," he chuckled, "off saving the world."

 

Ransom laughed. "Are you trying to emulate Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne?"

 

With a sudden insight, Allyn realized, No, just you. Not that he would ever say it to Ransom. In spite of everything that had happened between them, he had always admired Ransom's dedication to protecting those who needed it most.

 

"Not hardly," Allyn replied to Ransom's question, just as another couple came over to greet him.

Allyn and Ransom – 15

 

"Did I lose you?" Allyn asked.

 

"What? No. I was just thinking, umm, where we should meet."

 

"At the Mansion?" Ransom could hear the smile in Allyn's voice.

 

"Yeah, wiseass. But where there?"

 

"The lobby."

 

"All right. Can you be there in two hours?"

 

"That's a bit early. Make it at eight."

 

Ransom chuckled. "So that we're fashionably late? Supposedly, it starts at seven."

 

"Meaning the people who aren't anybody will show up then. The rich and famous will wait until there's enough guests to witness their grand entrance."

 

"Jesus," Ransom muttered, although he knew Allyn was right.

 

"Way of the world, Ran. Or at least the world I inhabit."

 

"True, but since we're looking for the abductor, it would make more sense to be there from the get-go."

 

"You have a point. All right, I'll be there at seven, in all my glory."

 

"Do not tell me you're wearing something that will make me feel like a peasant next to you."

 

"Umm. Well. Just your classic midnight blue Brioni with black satin lapels."

 

"Like that tells me anything. I'm wearing a classic After Six, I think."

 

"You think?"

 

"I bought it two years ago for a wedding so, yeah, it was an After Six."

 

"There's nothing wrong with that."

 

Ransom chuckled. "At least it's not from the eighties. All right, we both should get moving if we're going to be there on time."

 

"Yep. See you in a couple of hours."

* * * *

"Which extravaganza will I honor with my presence?" Grigore asked his reflection while he straightened his bow tie.

 

He had several choices. The only question being, which one was most likely to net him a young, healthy man or woman for the hunt. He instantly eliminated the ballet fundraiser. Ballet equates to older people. At least from what I remember, having gone to a few many years ago.

 

The animal shelter charity event might pull in a mix of ages, but there was also the possibility there would actually be dogs and cats there—to remind the partygoers why they should be donating to the cause. Some animals were sensitive to supernatural beings. The last thing I need is a dog howling or a cat screeching, if I get too close to their cage.

 

That left the film festival party. Movies these days cater to youth. Noise and action for the young men, who get off on that sort of thing, or mawkish romances. What do they call them? Chick flicks? Yes, there should be a plethora of the young and agile attending. Surely I'll find the perfect prey there.

 

With that decided, Grigore checked one more time to make certain he was sartorially acceptable for mingling with the rich of the city—not that he had any real doubts—and then left. He had one stop to make before the party. He needed to find an acceptable vehicle, since, as always, using his own for the actual abduction was not an option.

Allyn and Ransom – 14

 

 

"We have three parties we need to cover," Ransom said, looking at the officers assembled in the conference room the task force was using at the police station.

 

"Three parties and five of us. This ought to be fun," Thornton said.

 

"Hey, not my fault we're all the department can spare, even with Mr. Patterson still raising hell. The captain thinks it's a long shot our guy will show after all the publicity about Ellis Patterson's being missing."

 

Hanna Lane shook her head. "If anything, it might make the guy try, so he can thumb his nose at us."

 

Ransom nodded. "I agree, but the captain doesn't see it that way."

 

"If we had a clue what the man looked like," one of the other officers said. "Tall with dark hair isn't much of a descriptor."

 

"No shit," Thornton muttered.

 

"All we can do is the best we can," Ransom said. "You and Daniels take the film festival party, Thornton. Lane, you and Johnson get the animal shelter charity bash, and I'll take the ballet fundraiser."

 

"On it," Daniels said. "Do you even own a tux, Ransom?" he asked with a smirk.

 

"Yep, believe it or not. Okay, let's end this. We have three hours to get ready." Ransom smiled wickedly. "Have fun and stay sober."

 

As soon as everyone was gone, Ransom went back to his office. He had a call to make. One he wasn't certain was a good idea but… The only number he had was the one to Allyn's home phone. When he called, someone answered, saying, "Warwick residence."

 

"Is Mr. Warwick available?"

 

"Let me check. Who shall I say is calling?"

 

Ransom was tempted to say "whom", but resisted. "Detective Carlyle."

 

"If you'll hold, please."

 

Ransom did, wondering if Allyn would tell whoever had answered that they should say he wasn't at home. He was a bit surprised when, a moment later, Allyn said cautiously, "Why are you calling?"

 

"Because I need your help, if you're willing, and if you're free tonight."

 

"Actually, I'm not. I'm attending an event at Mystère Mansion."

 

Ransom sucked in a breath. "The ballet fundraiser?"

 

"Yes. How do you know about…?" Then the penny obviously dropped. "You think the guy who abducted Ellis and the others might show up there?"

 

"There, or at one of the other big shindigs going on this weekend. I've got people at the other ones, but that leaves me to hit up the Mansion on my own."

 

"And you're wondering if I'd be willing to help you out."

 

"Yeah. I know you're good at it. Or you were back when we worked together last time."

 

There was a long pause. "Do you have a tux? One that isn't twenty years old?"

 

"Why does everyone think I'm too plebeian to own one?"

 

Allyn laughed. "Because you're a cop?"

 

"Thanks a lot. And it was one of my guys who asked the same question."

 

"Maybe it's your rough-and-tumble look. No one can picture you dressed to the nines."

 

"You'll see. I'll pass as one of the upper crust. That is, if you're willing to help. If nothing else, you can tell me who couldn't be our man, since you probably know a lot of the people who will be there."

 

"I suppose I do by this point. God only knows, I go to enough of these things."

 

"Why? If you don't like them, and it sounds as if you don't."

 

Allyn shrugged. "Gives me something to do. But more importantly, it reinforces I'm truly so benign and idle that when I vanish for a while, no one really misses me."

 

"No one? I don't believe that. Surely Miranda's not the only person in your life."

 

"True. There's the people who work for us. But they're used to my gadding about. Other than that, yeah, there is a man I'm with—sort of on-again, off-again. If we're in the same place at the same time, we usually end up going home together."

 

Ransom had the urge to strangle this other man, which shocked him. He'd long ago tamped down the feelings he'd had for Allyn. They were too different. The grasshopper and the ant, as he thought of if. Or at least he had until Miranda's revelation about Allyn. Was I wrong to give up on him? I had no reason—before I walked away—to think he was anything more than what he seemed to have become. A spoiled boy who found the life of a dilettante too much to his liking to give it up.

Allyn and Ransom – 13

 

 

"He left because I decided my cover for stopping those men would also be good for what I wanted to do to protect the wolves. No one would think anything of it if I disappeared for a few hours or a few days. Rich kid, no job, traveling when and where I wanted to, just as I do now."

 

"How did you explain that to Ransom?"

 

"I told him I liked not having to work, since I didn't need to. It didn't sit too well with him, especially the disappearing part." Allyn smiled ruefully. "I think he thought I was going off with someone else, though he never accused me of it. Instead he told me things weren't working between us and never would until I grew up and became a…I think he said 'a responsible member of society' or some such. Then he walked away. End of story."

 

"Except that you came home, gathered me up, and brought me here so we could both be the idle rich. Have you ever regretted it?"

 

"Never. You're my friend, my partner—the little sister who became a wonderful woman who keeps me grounded."

 

She snorted. "I'm not so sure attending fancy parties with you and living the easy life in this mansion we call home, is keeping you grounded. More like it's feeding into your need to flaunt our wealth." She held up her hand. "And before you protest, I know as well as you why you do that."

 

"I know." He chuckled softly. "Who's going to keep me…sane, Mandi, when John finally proposes and you move away?"

 

"John and propose are not words that belong in the same sentence."

 

"I wouldn't count on it. He's in love with you."

 

Miranda nodded. "I know, and I think I love him. He understands me and sees me as more than a flighty female with too much time on her hands. But marriage? I'm not so sure that will happen."

 

"You'd like it to, though."

 

"Perhaps." She smiled. "Yeah, I would."

 

"Have you told him?"

 

"What I am? Yes. He was shocked, of course. But once he got past that, he liked the idea. He said it makes me even more unique."

 

Allyn laughed. "No kidding. And speak of the devil…"

 

Miranda swung around, leaping to her feet when she saw John approaching across the patio. John hugged her when he joined them, saying, "Time for your workouts—both of you."

 

"I'll pass today," Allyn replied. "I have something I need to do and I've already wasted enough time this morning."

 

Miranda lifted an eyebrow in disbelief, before linking her arm with John's as they headed to the workout room.

 

Well I do. I have to…to go shopping. Yeah. I need a new outfit for the ballet's fundraiser party.

 

As he went upstairs to change clothes, he wondered if the man in black would be at the party—and what he would do if he did appear.

Allyn and Ransom – 12

 

"You told Ransom?" Allyn spat out angrily. It was the morning after Ransom had come by, and the first time Allyn had talked to Miranda since then. As soon as he'd left the room, to get away from Ransom's accusations, he had taken off for Montana. If he was to be honest with himself—and he was—he did it as much to work off his anger as to help a small pack of wolves relocate to a safer area, away from the men hunting them.

 

"I had to do something to change his opinion of you," Miranda replied.

 

"I don't care what he thinks of me. I haven't in years. Hell, I haven't even thought about him since soon after we went our separate ways—not until he showed up on our doorstep yesterday." His expression tightened as he tried to keep Miranda from sensing his lie.

 

He had thought of Ransom—far too often. Had he loved Ransom? Perhaps. Had he been devastated when Ransom walked out of his life? I'm not certain devastated is the word, but it hurt like hell. Of course, it was my fault. I had a plan I was certain he wouldn't approve of. He was—he is—the big bad gray wolf shifter, protective to the nth degree, especially of those he considers weaker than him. Allyn smiled slightly. Not that a red wolf is, when it comes down to it, but Ransom didn't see it that way.

* * * *

Obviously misinterpreting the smile, Miranda asked with some asperity, "Do you find it amusing? My sticking up for you?"

 

"Not at all," Allyn protested. "I think it was very noble."

 

"Noble, schnoble. I did it because you're my brother and he needed to know you aren't the waste he thinks you are." She studied him thoughtfully. "You're still in love with him."

 

"Not. I never loved him," Allyn protested. "Liked him? Yeah. Admired him? Definitely. But that was it. Sure, for a while I might have hoped something more would come of our relationship—other than good sex—while it lasted." He paced the patio. "We worked well together to stop that pair targeting shifters. But Ransom wasn't willing to accept that I could hold my own against the bastards when it came down to the final fight. I was the bait for our trap. The effete young shifter, with nothing more on my mind than when and where the next party would be or what club I should go to. That was my cover story—"

 

"It still is," Miranda broke in.

 

"Because it works. Anyway, they thought it would be no problem to eliminate the weak, unwary shifter. I left a fancy club that night, knowing they were there and watching. I was supposed to lead them to the location where Ransom would be waiting then disappear while he dealt with them. There was no fucking way I was going to do that." Allyn pounded his fist into his other hand. "We won, and I did my fair share of the fighting."

 

"He should have been proud of you," Miranda said softly.

 

"Oh, he was, once he got past the hit to his pride that my being there really had been necessary. Things were tense between us for a while before they eased up. Then he decided he wanted to do more than just working as a bodyguard, which was what he was doing at the time. We were in Charlotte then." He smiled at her. "You probably didn't know that, since you were still a kid, living with Mom and Dad."

 

"Yeah. In the backside of nowhere, until you rescued me."

 

He nodded. "That was after Ransom left. I was lonely and… But that's neither here nor there. He decided to become a cop and ended up on the Charlotte police force. It was around then that I decided wolves needed protecting."

 

"And he didn't like the idea you were going to do something about it?"

 

"I never told him. I knew what his reaction would be. Despite what happened when we took down those men, he still saw me as the smaller, weaker, red wolf who needed him to keep me safe." Allyn smiled wryly. "Even in his human form he was—is—bigger than me."

 

"Much bigger," Miranda agreed, looking at her lean but still well-built brother.

 

"Yeah, rub it in."

 

"Me? Never." She grinned at him before asking seriously, "Is that what finally made him leave?"

 

Allyn and Ransom – 11

 

 

Grigore's sexual frustration had become so intense he had to find someone to relieve it. Male, female, he didn't care which, as long as he could screw them until they begged for release, thwart their needs, and reach his own peak of pleasure—a euphoria second only to that found with a successful hunt.

 

He had once considered combining the two, but after trying it, he had found that instead of doubling the intensity, it muted both the joy of the kill and the ultimate sexual satisfaction.

 

He wouldn't go into New Orleans to find somebody. He kept that for selecting prey for the hunt. To the west, however, were small towns with bars. And where there were bars, there were people looking for a hookup—a term that disgusted him, even if it was apt.

 

An hour after making his decision, he was strolling into an establishment where the music was loud and the odor of whisky, sweaty bodies, and cheap perfume permeated the air. He found a spot at the end of the bar, ordered a beer—which he wouldn't drink—and surveyed the scene. Several women, and a few men, seemed to be likely candidates. One, however, caught his eye. She was obviously on the prowl but didn't look as cheap as most of the other women. He did have his standards, no matter how needy he was.

 

He waited until she looked at him, smiled, and he beckoned for her to join him.

 

"Aren't you the handsome one," she said, settling on the barstool next to his.

 

He bowed slightly in acknowledgement. "I could say the same to you."

 

"I'm handsome?" She laughed.

 

"No, my dear, you are quite pretty."

 

She blushed, and for the next few minutes they chatted, telling lies about themselves as most people will when they're not looking for anything more than casual sex. Then, without much subtleness, he suggested they might find a place that was more private. She instantly agreed, telling him she had an apartment not too far from the bar.

 

Once they were there, with the door locked and bolted, he enthralled her. Then, he forced her do what most would consider unspeakable acts, making certain that she knew exactly what was happening but not allowing her to resist or to make a sound, despite her obvious horror at what he was doing to her and her to him.

 

Finally sated, he wiped her mind of any memories of him, but not of what had happened. As one final, despicable act, he left her unfulfilled.

 

"You will not come until morning, no matter what you do to attempt to make it happen." He suggested a few items in the apartment she could use to try to gain relief and watched with great amusement as she did just that. He finally departed, but not until he had used her body one more time.

Allyn and Ransom – 10

 

"That wasn't nice or fair," Miranda said tightly.

 

"Nice? No it wasn't, but damn it, Miranda, I…" Ransom swallowed hard. "I should get out of here."

 

"Not until you listen to what I have to say, so sit your ass down and pay attention."

 

Ransom looked at her in surprise, but did as she ordered.

 

"All most people see of Allyn is the exterior. The bored playboy, partying hard, living in this fancy mansion, a waste to society. That's what you think of him too, and don't you dare deny it."

 

Ransom nodded, remaining silent.

 

"That's what he wants people to think. It covers what he really does. Something he can't be obvious about because it involves us—you, me, all of our kind."

 

"Meaning?"

 

"He goes after hunters, ranchers, anyone who want to eliminate us—us, the wolves," she amended. "Not us, the shifters, but all wolves—although we're just as much in the bastards' sights as any normal wolf when we're in our shifted form."

 

"Are you serious? Allyn?"

 

"Yeah, Allyn. Why do you think he asked if whoever abducted—and probably murdered—those three kids might have been after shifters? Because he knows that's a possibility. I didn't know until today that you and he had a history that involved—I'm presuming—someone who wanted to eliminate wolf shifters. He's never told me what got him started on this." Miranda smiled wryly. "I suspect he'll always see me as his little sister, even though as a wolf I'm almost as powerful as him—and you, I gather."

 

"That wouldn't surprise me in the least. Both his wanting to protect you and you being a big bad wolf. You've got the guts that entails, if what I'm seeing right now is the real you."

 

"You damned well better believe it is, Ransom."

 

He chuckled at her tough attitude before asking, "How does he manage to stop them and still pull off the, as you put it, playboy image?"

 

"Like any of us, he can teleport. It doesn't take but a minute or five to get where he's needed. Then he shifts, does what he can to warn the wolves in the area that they had better move on, and if they don't…? Well, he can play the big bad wolf too, even though he's smaller that the grays, and he's sneaky. He draws the hunters away from their prey, runs them in circles, then—" she grinned, "—lets them take potshots at him before feigning that they succeeded in killing him. Of course, they can't find his body, but as long as they think they've been successful, it gives whatever pack is in danger time, and a reason, to move to safer ground."

 

"I'll admit, I'm surprised. He never gave any indication he had that in him when I knew him."

 

"I find that difficult to believe, considering what the two of you implied happened when you first met," Miranda said dubiously.

 

"Saving some shifters who were in danger, even though it did involve a fight at the end, is very different from trying to protect the wolf population."

 

"True, I suppose." Miranda looked directly at him. "Now do you understand why I got so pissed at your attitude?"

 

"I do." Ransom smiled, reaching across to pat her shoulder. "He's a lucky man to have you as his defender."

 

"He's my brother. How else should I react when someone tries to cut him down?"

 

"You should do exactly what you did. But only—" he wagged a cautioning finger at her, "—with those of us who know…what's what, I guess."

 

"I'm not stupid, Ransom. I'm aware of that."

 

He chuckled as he got up. "Believe me, right now I think you're far from stupid."

 

Miranda grinned. "And a week from now?"

 

He grinned back. "We'll see. At the moment, I have to get out of here. Tell Allyn I said goodbye, and that I'll be in touch?"

 

"Sure."

 

"Thanks," he replied before leaving the room.

 

"Not sure how Allyn will react to the fact you'll be in touch," she murmured. "I guess we'll see."

 

Allyn and Ransom – 9

 

 

Ransom nodded. "What we have—and that's presuming these disappearances are even related—is three young people who vanished after being at a social function for the city's elite. Young people who should have been able to fend off an attacker—"

 

"Except you said Ellis was seen leaving the masked ball with someone," Allyn interjected. "So no attack there."

 

"Presumption, Allyn," Ransom replied. "He might have thought he was safe—especially if they were supposedly going home together—then been attacked later by the man."

 

"True. Why them? Why them?" Allyn murmured questioningly, drumming his fingers on the table.

 

"That is what I've been asking myself since I made the party connection," Ransom said.

 

"Are there any other disappearances that match, as far as the type of people missing?" Miranda asked.

 

"Meaning kids in their twenties, in good shape, and…? Well, that's about it."

 

"And late at night," she said. "Because that's when they disappeared. Right?"

 

"Right."

 

"No one's gone missing after going to a bar?"

 

"Not that I've been told about. Oh there's the occasional 'My son or daughter went out with friends last night and hasn't come home yet' from worried parents or the same thing from a roommate. But they've all shown up eventually, usually after going home with someone and forgetting—or being unwilling—to let their family know what's going on. Since they're all of age…" Ransom shrugged.

 

Miranda snapped her fingers. "How far apart are the kidnappings, if that's what they are?"

 

"Every weekend for the last three," Ransom replied. "But I suspect that's because parties and charity events only happen on a weekend."

 

She nodded. "I suppose."

 

"Obviously, since you haven't mentioned it," Allyn said, "there aren't any bodies or any ransom demands."

 

"No. It's as if they walked out the door and vanished into thin air."

 

Miranda grinned. "Alien abductions."

 

"Get real," Allyn said, trying not to laugh.

 

"Hey, we exist. What's to say aliens don't as well? They want to study prime examples of humankind and who better than young, healthy men and women?"

 

"If that's the case," Allyn told her, "why not go for athletes or some such?"

 

"They'd be missed, silly."

 

"Like these three aren't?"

 

"I meant like…like written up in the newspapers. Star athlete vanished without a trace." She looked questioningly at Ransom. "Have these guys hit the papers or the TV news?"

 

"Yeah, Patterson has, thanks to daddy dearest. There was a brief mention of Dawson in the local news section of the paper. Ms Stevens? Nothing. I guess I should be thankful about that." Ransom shook his head. "At least the reporters haven't connected the dots, so I don't have them breathing down my neck, making this into some sort of federal case."

 

"I bet the bigwigs would just love that," Allyn commented. "Headlines about young people vanishing from galas or charity events would put a hell of a crimp in their social calendars."

 

"No kidding," Ransom muttered. "Including yours. What would you do if you couldn't spend your sizable inheritance on fancy clothes or costumes to go to these shindigs?"

 

Allyn hissed in a breath, saying angrily, "That was unwarranted and you know it. First off, we're not rich because we inherited our money. We've been around long enough that investments we made years ago have paid off."

 

"Making you one of the idle rich," Ransom retorted. He looked as if he regretted his words as soon as he said them, but he didn't back down. "At least I work for a living, rather than squandering my time at clubs or living the high life."

 

"Well la-di-dah, aren't you the sanctimonious one." Allyn came to his feet, telling Miranda, "Now you know why the two of us broke up. Mr. High-and-Mighty here doesn't approve of my—"he made finger quotes, "—life style." With that said, he stormed out of the room.