“What do you mean Nidhi’s gone?” I spoke out loud for Lena’s benefit.

“She’s alive,” said Lena. “I’d know if she wasn’t.”

“I’ve been searching all night. I called her apartment. When she didn’t answer, I drove down and knocked. No answer, but her car was in the lot. I woke up some of her neighbors, asking when anyone had last seen her. She was taken away late last night.”

“Who took her?”

“Two men from the FBI. It’s too late for me to get through to anyone at the FBI office in Detroit. I’m talking to a reporter friend to see if they have any contacts who might be able to tell us what’s going on.”

I swore silently. Not silently enough. The implant decided I was subvocalizing, and passed my curses along to Jason.

“I’m doing everything I can.”

“I know you are,” I said tightly. “Thanks, Jason. Have your reporter friend put the spotlight on Nidhi and the FBI. There are people who might try to make her disappear. Don’t let them.”

“I’ll try.”

“And try calling an agent named Steinkamp. He met Nidhi in Lansing. He might be able to help.” I recited Steinkamp’s number from memory, then hung up. How the hell could I have all this magic, all this power, and still feel so damned helpless?

“Nidhi might not be a libriomancer,” said Lena, “but she’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and she’s tough as hell. We’ll get her back.”

Nidhi had faced down people far more dangerous than FBI agents. I nodded.

“Look at this.” Lena picked up a business card from Keeler’s desk, one of the cards I’d pulled from his case. “You said Keeler got a tip from inside DHS.”

The card was from a Darlene Jackson-Palmer in the DHS Public Affairs office. I clenched my jaw and called the number on the card. Nobody would be there at this time of night, but I could at least leave her a message.

A male voice began speaking after the first ring. “Thank you for contacting the Department of Homeland Security Public Affairs Office. Darlene Jackson-Palmer is on indefinite administrative leave. If you need assistance, please contact—”

I hung up. “She’s gone.”

“Jackson-Palmer,” said Lena. “Any relation to a certain libriomancer?”

I stared at the card. “If someone high up at DHS is behind all of this, they might be using Darlene Jackson-Palmer as a hostage. That could explain why Babs was so upset. She got drawn into this to protect Darlene’s life.”

“We don’t know that for certain,” said Deb.

“It fits. It also answers another question.” I looked at Lena. “During the hearing, Keeler asked why my niece got into our medical trials.”

“You think someone brought them in as potential hostages too?”