Adalard reappeared behind the building that contained Samara’s apartment. He reached out to her again, searching for some thread. Silence greeted him.
He scanned the snow-covered ground, searching for any signs of intrusion. There was a line of depressions leading from behind the structure to the covered area where Samara parked her vehicle. He stepped forward just as Mason called out to him.
“I found something,” Mason said.
He stepped under the covered area and walked over to Mason. Mason stood and held out his hand. A small metal dart lay in the center of his palm. Adalard picked up the dart and examined the casing before he lifted it to his nose and sniffed. A rush of burning rage filled him when he recognized the scent.
“Pi’nae. It is a strong sedative derived from a plant on my wo
