Frustration gripped me as Glenn gave me a helpless look and left, closing the door behind him. I knew my charms were good, but they might not work if Trent was using ley line magic to hide her. My face went slack. Ley line magic? If he was hiding her with ley line magic, I could find her with the same.

I glanced at Trent, seeing his satisfaction falter at the sudden questioning look I knew I must be wearing. Trent held up a finger to Jonathan, keeping the tall man quiet as he focused on me, clearly trying to figure out what I was thinking.

Making a search charm using earth magic was clearly white witchcraft. It followed that one made using ley line magic would be white as well. The cost upon my karma would be negligible, far less than, say, lying about my birthday to get a free drink. And whether stemming from earth or ley line magic, a search charm was covered under the search and seizure warrant.

My heartbeat quickened, and I reached to touch my hair. I didn’t know the incantation, but Nick might have it in his books. And if Trent used ley line magic to cover his tracks, there would have to be a line close enough to use. Interesting.

“I need to make a call,” I said, hearing my voice as if it were from outside my head.

Trent seemed at a loss for words. I liked seeing the emotion on him. “You’re welcome to use my secretary’s phone,” he said.

“I have my own,” I said, digging in my bag. “Thank you.”

Edden gave me a suspicious glance and went to talk to Trent and Jonathan. By his polite stance and appeaseing look, I thought he might be trying to smooth the political waves his failed FIB visit was going to cause. Tense, I rose, going to the far corner to try to stay out of the camera’s view as well as their earshot.

“Be there,” I whispered as I scrolled through my short list and hit the send button. “Pick up, Nicky. Please pick up ….” He might be getting groceries. He could be doing his laundry or taking a nap or in the shower, but I was willing to bet my nonexistent paycheck that he was still reading that damned book. My shoulders relaxed as someone picked up. He was home. I loved a predictable man.

“ ’Ello,” he said, sounding preoccupied.

“Nick,” I breathed. “Thank God.”

“Rachel? What’s up?” Concern laced his voice, pulling my shoulders tight again.

“I need your help,” I said, glancing at Edden and Trent, trying to keep my voice soft. “I’m at Trent’s with Captain Edden. We got a search warrant. Will you look in your books for a ley line charm to find—um—dead people?”

There was a long hesitation. “That’s what I like about you, Ray-ray,” he said as I heard the sound of a sliding book followed by a thump. “You say the sweetest things.”