up and down the lane as Flame stood nervously watching them.
Luke and Levi came walking back to Flame, looking even less confident as they did when they first arrived. “I can smell Simon and Ivy right here, but with the strong wind, it’s blown the scent all over the place. I can’t get a fix on it. Dammit, Luke, what are we going to do?” Flame noticed Levi swallow hard and ball his hands up into fists, as if he would explode with rage and distress.
Flame’s hope returned again, and she snapped her fingers. “I know someone who can help us solve this problem. Let me make a phone call.”
Chapter 8
Skye arrived at the shop about half an hour after Flame called her. She appeared rough around the edges yet still managed to look beautiful. Her long blonde hair hung down her back and in her face, covering quite a bit of it. She also wore large black sunglasses, which hid even more of her face.
“I’m here, and I came as fast as I could. Is Ivy still missing?” Skye asked while trying to look hopeful.
Even with Skye’s face nearly covered, Flame could see the pain Skye suffered, but nothing compared to the pain of losing Ivy. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”
Skye snapped her head up quickly and immediately placed her hands on her forehead. “Ouch. What exactly happened?”
“A man came in here not too long ago and lured her out into the back lane. She has disappeared, and Luke and Levi smell traces of chloroform.”
“Oh my God, poor Ivy. We have to find her.” Skye’s voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks. She began to wring her hands together while her body tensed.
“We will, sweetie.” Flame wrapped her arms around Skye gently, trying to stay strong for her. “This is where you come in. We need you.”
“Anything. You name it, and I’ll do it.”
“I knew you’d help. Come with me to the back lane. The boys are waiting for us.” Flame took Skye’s hand in hers and pulled her out the back door to the awaiting men. They still wandered in the lane, trying to pick up Ivy’s scent.
“Any luck?” Flame called out, hoping the scent remained.
“I can smell it, but it I can’t hone in on it. The wind is still not working with us.” The calm, confident façade on Levi’s face he seemed to so desperately want to portray started to crumble, and the faintest traces of fear crept in.
“Skye, this is Levi, and you remember Luke over there.” They all nodded at each other, the occasion not a happy one to be meeting new people. “We need you to direct the wind, calm it down, and help the boys pick up the scent. I know you’re hurting right now, but this is a matter of life or death.”
“Pain or no pain, I’ll do anything to get our Ivy back. Everyone stand back against the building,” Skye commanded, taking off her sunglasses and handing them to Flame. She walked to the middle of the lane, lifted her arms in the air, and closed her eyes.
The wind picked up slowly at first in short, strong gusts. The power of the wind grew stronger, blowing against Skye from all directions. Her hair blew straight up in the air as the powerful gusts circled her body. Paper cups, napkins, a plastic bag, and various other items the wind had collected from the back lane swirled in one direction around Skye and then in the other. Her hands moved with the direction of the wind, conducting nature’s orchestra.
Skye opened her eyes, and the wind stopped dead. An eerie calm came across the back lane. She dropped her hands to her side and turned to the men. “I had a talk with the wind, and she has agreed to help you.”
Flame couldn’t suppress a faint smile as the men stared in awe at Skye. “Well, boys, let’s find our Ivy.”
Levi slapped Luke on the shoulder and pointed north. “I’m scenting her in this direction.”
“Me, too. Whatever you did, Skye, it’s working.”
“We’re going to follow behind you two,” Flame stated.
“No, absolutely not,” Luke stated emphatically as Levi