His phone finally rang at 5:30. Jackson answered, "Where are you?"
"I am with your werewolf girlfriend. She is indisposed at the moment."
His face went white. "Victor!"
Sarah and Connor heard the conversation and both stared at him. He began to pace, nearly screaming into the phone, "Where is she?"
Victor's sinister laugh cut through him. "Why Jackson, you sound positively desperate. That pleases me." Jackson shook violently, desperate to summon self-control, while every part of him yearned to cry out with the utter horror coursing through his mind. Victor continued with a sadistic chuckle, "I am going to tell you where she is; first some ground rules. You are to bring Sarah and that human pet with you. If you neglect to do so, we will be gone before you arrive. I have eyes on you, so do not try to cross me. You won't be given another chance to find her."
Jackson's voice chafed, barely recognizable, "Let me speak to her."
"You are in no position to be making demands; besides, Elisabeth doesn't feel like talking right now. She has a bit too much Diprivan in her system."
He closed his eyes tightly and swallowed around the lump in his throat. "If you hurt her, I swear I will find a way to kill you."
Victor's smug laugh stole Jackson's breath, "So touching, these feelings you have for a werewolf. Does love really conquer all? I think not. We will find out when you come to the abandoned warehouse on Mill Street, won't we?" The phone went dead.
Jackson marched toward the door, his face twisted with pain and fear.
Connor held his arm. "Wait, I think we need a plan."
"I can't ask you to come with me." His voice cracked and he nearly broke down.
"You don't have to ask. We're coming."
"It would be suicide for you. You're not strong enough."
"I'm stronger than you think." Connor glanced at Sarah.
She moved forward and held Jackson's other arm. "We didn't want to upset you, but Elisabeth's blood has strengthened both of us. Connor is much stronger than he should be."
Jackson winced as if the pain would paralyze him. "Let's go."
He drove Sarah's car. Connor sat in the passenger seat and Sarah in the back.
Connor offered a plan. "Victor will know I've been turned by my scent, but he will expect me to be weak. We can use that. I won't show my strength until I have to, or it works to our advantage. He can't kill Elisabeth, right?"
Jackson shook his head. "He shouldn't be able to, I don't know for sure."