Fired Up

cautiously opened her senses she realized she still had her talent. Thanks to Jack, she thought. He had trusted her and kept his promise.
    She smiled at the woman in the mirror. Suddenly she felt a lot better than she had a few minutes ago.
    When she emerged from the shower she found Rose busy in the small kitchen. Jack had made a pot of herbal tea. They drank it in front of the window, looking out at the view of the old- fashioned streetlights of Pioneer Square glowing in the rainy night.
    “Did you tell Fallon Jones about my theory that dreamlight talents are immune to the formula?” Chloe asked.
    “Didn’t know it was a theory,” Jack said, his tone a little too neutral. “On the way out of the gym you said that you were sure you were immune.”
    She cleared her throat and reached for her mug. “Yes, well, I was almost positive. Anyhow, did you tell him?”
    “No. Thought I’d leave the explanations to you.”
    Rose spoke from the kitchen. “Fallon Jones has called every hour on the hour since Jack brought you back here. I turned off all the phones. Doesn’t that man ever sleep?”
    “Not a lot, apparently,” Chloe said.
    There was a short silence. Chloe looked at Jack.
    “So now we know the origin of the Cerberus legend,” she said.
    He nodded once, understanding immediately. “The third talent is the ability to use the lamp as a weapon.”
    “I still say it’s all a single talent. And don’t forget, it takes two people to work the lamp that way.”
    He said nothing for a moment.
    “What are you thinking?” she said.
    “I’m thinking that we don’t tell Fallon Jones exactly what the lamp can do. Arcane doesn’t need any more Winters legends.”
    She smiled. “Don’t worry; Harper Investigations takes client confidentiality very seriously.”
    “Speaking of Fallon, I’m ready to give him a call. I want to find out what happened after we left the gym. There was nothing in the morning papers yesterday or today, so it looks like Arcane and Nightshade managed to keep things low profile.”
    “Nothing beats a couple of clandestine paranormal organizations when it comes to keeping secrets,” Chloe said. “By the way, I think I know what happened to Adelaide Pyne’s journal. A woman named Victoria Knight has it.”

    “ABOUT TIME YOU CALLED,” Fallon growled. “Chloe okay?”
    “I told you that she was fine,” Jack said.
    “You lied. But I’m getting used to it.”
    “She needed rest. I didn’t want you disturbing her. What happened at the gym?”
    Fallon exhaled slowly. “Not much. The illusion-talent I sent in found Nash’s body and a bunch of unconscious guards but not much else. Hulsey was long gone.”
    “What did he do with the body?”
    “I didn’t ask,” Fallon said.
    “What about computers? Hulsey’s notes? Files?”
    “The agent retrieved a few items of interest, but nothing that looks useful. Evidently Hulsey grabbed the essential stuff when he fled.”
    “Probably had it all on a computer that he took with him when he escaped through the tunnel. What about the hunters?”
    “They all recovered consciousness and were offered the antidote. Four of them accepted. They’re being treated now, but I doubt that we’ll get anything useful out of them. Nightshade operatives at that level never know much.”
    “What about the ones who didn’t accept the antidote?”
    “The illusion-talent let them go,” Fallon said wearily. “Not much else we can do. If Nightshade follows its usual pattern and cuts them loose, they’ll all be dead soon. We tried to warn them, but these guys were seriously indoctrinated. It’s like they’d joined a cult.”
    Jack thought about that. “Maybe that’s how Nightshade recruits at the lower levels.”
    “Presents itself as a cult?” Fallon asked.
    “When it comes to moneymaking businesses, nothing beats a cult except maybe the drug trade.”
    “I need to think about that angle,” Fallon said. “We did find one guy who might be of some use. Says his name is Larry Brown. He was asleep in one of the basement rooms. Tied to a gurney. Claims a woman saved his life. The description he gave fits Chloe. Put her on.”
    “Later,” Jack said. “She’s going to eat dinner first.”
    “Damn it,” Fallon said. But there wasn’t a lot of heat in the curse.
    Very gently Jack ended the connection.

55
    SHE RETURNED FALLON’S CALL AFTER SHE FINISHED THE LIGHT meal of poached eggs and salad that Rose prepared. She sat ensconced in