Nightrise

Trelawny didn't look like a politician. That was Jamie's first thought. He was a handsome man, taller than Jamie had expected from his picture, and younger too, perhaps in his late forties. He had hair that had once been fair but had since faded, on its way to going gray. But he looked fit and healthy. He was wearing cords, a loose-fitting blue sweater, and sneakers. He was obviously tired but his light brown eyes were full of life.
    "Alicia, this is a very unexpected surprise. How are you?" He embraced her. "Is there any news of Daniel?"
    'Yes, there is, Senator. That's why I wanted to see you." She turned and introduced Jamie. "This is Jamie." This time, she used his name.
    Trelawny reached out and they shook. "How do you do."
    "Sir…"Jamie found it hard to believe that he could be shaking hands with the next president of the United States.
    "I'm sorry to come here like this," Alicia went on. "I know how busy you are and how important this time is for you. But I urgently need to talk to you."
    ''You've found your boy?"
    "I think I may have. Yes. But I can't reach him."
    "Senator…" A woman sitting at the table held up a cell phone. "I have the mayor of Auburn on the phone for you. He wants to talk about the birthday parade."
    Trelawny looked bemused. "Not right now, Beth," he said. "Can you tell him I'll call him back?" He turned to Alicia. "I'm afraid I can't give you too much time," he explained, "There's a lot going on right now. But, you know, a break might be good for me. In fact, it might be good for all of us. Okay, everyone!" He raised his voice. "Go out and get some fresh air or have a snack or do something that approximates a real life. We'll get back together in ten minutes." He turned to Alicia. "Why don't you and I go next door where we can talk undisturbed?"
    Alicia glanced at Jamie. He nodded back. The senator and his former assistant walked off together.
    There was a sitting room next to the conference center. Jamie watched the two of them go in. They shut the door behind them. None of the campaign workers left the table. They just went on working as they had before. The Irish man came over. "Can I get you a drink, young man?" he asked.
    "Do you have a Coke?"

    "Sure. Why don't you sit down on the couch and make yourself at home."
    Jamie did as he was told, glad to be out of the way. There was a plasma TV turned on in the corner but it had the sound turned down, and anyway it was tuned in to a news station. Patrick returned with a Coke and Jamie drank it slowly, wondering how long Alicia would be. John Trelawny had said ten minutes but it seemed to him that much time had already passed.
    At last the door opened and Trelawny appeared again. "Michael," he said, addressing one of the men in the room, "can you get me the file on Nightrise?" He turned to Jamie. "I'd like to have a word."
    Jamie got up and went in. He was aware of the campaign workers glancing at him with curiosity. They were working on a major speech. Why was this teenager taking up so much of their boss's time? The man named Michael had snatched up a thick folder and handed it to Trelawny, who nodded his thanks.
    Jamie followed Trelawny into the second room, closing the door behind him.
    Alicia was sitting on a sofa but Jamie was directed to an empty chair as if the senator wanted to keep them both apart. Trelawny stood by the door, gathering his thoughts, then he put down the folder and moved into the room.
    "Alicia has just told me the strangest story I've ever heard in my life," he began. "If I didn't know her well, I'd have already told her to leave. In fact, even now I have to ask myself if she isn't in some way disturbed. I don't mean that cruelly. After everything that's happened to her, the loss of her son, I'd understand. But she tells me that you have also lost someone — a brother. Scott. That he was taken from a theatre in Reno…is that right?"
    Jamie nodded. He knew what was coming.
    "According to Alicia, the people who took Scott may be the same people who took Daniel. And the reason they're interested in you, she says, is because you have an extraordinary ability. You can read people's thoughts. My thoughts, for example."
    "I'm sorry, Jamie," Alicia muttered.
    "That's okay." Jamie had guessed what he was going to have to do, but this time he wasn't worried.
    Everything about Senator Trelawny, even the way he spoke, made him feel comfortable. He wouldn't be the same as Colton Banes. He didn't live in the same