Allyn and Ransom – 23

 

 

Allyn paced the sidewalk in front of Brisbi's, wondering if Ransom was going to show up after all. It was already seven fifteen, and Ransom had said he'd be there at seven. Allyn thought about calling, until he remembered he only had the number for the station house, not Ransom's personal one. He watched an older truck drive by before it turned into the same parking lot beside the restaurant where he'd left his car. Moments later, Ransom came around the corner from the lot.

 

"You drive a truck?" Allyn asked in surprise.

 

"And good evening to you as well," Ransom replied with a grin. "I do…have a truck, that is. Sorry I'm late but I've been working all day, so I went home to shower and change clothes."

 

"Have you found out anything about Liam?"

 

"I'll tell you once we're inside and have a table," Ransom said, starting up the stairs to the restaurant.

 

Allyn was right beside him as they entered the short hallway leading to the hostess desk. Ransom asked if there was a table free on the balcony, got a positive reply, and soon the two men were seated, with a perfect view of the lake at the far end of the inlet.

 

A waiter took their drink orders—beer for both of them—and they checked the menu while waiting for him to return. Allyn was antsy, wanting a reply to his question about Liam, but the look on Ransom's face said he wouldn't get it until after they had ordered dinner. Allyn settled on shrimp and grits, while Ransom opted for pecan crusted catfish. They decided to split an order of tuna tartare nachos.

 

Once the waiter had their order and was gone, Ransom took a long drink of his beer before saying, "We may have gotten lucky."

 

"You found Liam?" Allyn asked, his face lighting up.

 

"I wish I could tell you we had, but no. However, we have security film of him leaving the party last night."

 

"With someone?" Allyn wasn't certain he liked that idea, even if it meant Liam was safely ensconced in someone else's bed.

 

"No. But just after he walked outside, he was approached by a man." Ransom took an envelope from his pocket, handing it to Allyn. "We have a partial view of the guy before they both walked out of the camera's view."

 

Allyn looked at the printout of the man. "It's not exactly definitive," he started to say before he saw the man's eye. He hissed in a breath.

 

"What?" Ransom asked.

 

"I…I think this is the same man I saw at the masked ball. The eye color? Slate gray? How many people…?"

 

"Very few," Ransom replied. "Can you remember anything about him?"

 

"He was tall, and dressed all in black, but you know that from the description Ellis's friends gave you." Allyn continued to study the picture, trying to remember more about the man. "He felt…evil is the best way to put it. But enthralling too. I saw him three times. The first time was when he came into the ballroom, the second when he seemed to appear out of the crowd close to where I was sitting. He stared at me. I started to get up—to go to him—but he held up his hand to stop me."

 

Ransom frowned. "Literally stop you?"

 

"No, no. Just a gesture to say I should stay where I was, but I didn't. I was fascinated by him, despite the fact I was certain he wasn't a good man, if that makes sense. The third time, I got close to him just as he was leaving. He turned to look at me. That's when I really felt he was evil."

 

"You're certain it was the same man?" Ransom tapped the picture when Allyn put it down on the table.

 

Allyn nodded slowly. "Yeah. Yeah, I am."

 

"So he's been at least two places where people have disappeared. It could be a coincidence, but somehow I doubt it, not when you seemed to sense he was wicked."

 

"Very much so, but as I said, still very…captivating in his own way."

 

"Evil can be, as you well know."

 

"Not personally," Allyn replied.

 

"You don't think the pair who was going after shifters were?"

 

"Well…maybe. But not like this guy." Allyn shuddered. "If he has Liam…"

 

"If he does, I'm afraid that doesn't bode well for your friend."

 

"We have to stop the bastard," Allyn spat out, just as the waiter arrived with their appetizer. The man gave Allyn a startled look, so Allyn apologized, telling him he was talking about a baseball team he and Ransom were on. "Our biggest competitor brought in a ringer, so…" Allyn smiled winningly.

 

"Hate when that happens," the waiter replied before hurrying away.