Running Hot

must have been changed quite recently.” There was a pause. “The important thing is that there is no way this can be traced back to either of us. The contractor will assume that someone hacked into the government agency’s computers and stole the codes. He’ll probably notify the agency that they’ve got a security leak. But there’s no reason the contractor or the agency would look twice at J&J or suspect that someone within the Society was involved.”
    “You’re sure we’re safe, Daddy?”
    “Honey, I’ve been playing this game a long time. I know what I’m doing. What’s done is done. Now we have to concentrate on our next move. All we’ve got is a three-day window. There’s no time to line up another professional contractor. We have no choice but to go with our fallback scenario.”
    She slumped in her chair. “I had a feeling you were going to say that. I told you it would be risky.”
    “You’re in no danger. I’ll take care of you.”
    “You’re the one I’m worried about. If this goes wrong—”
    “It won’t.”
    His certainty had the effect of steadying her nerves somewhat. She had been so jumpy lately, easily startled and hyperalert. She hadn’t slept well since she had started taking the drug. When she did manage to get to sleep, she was frequently awakened by bizarre nightmares. Daddy had explained that the problems were merely short-term side effects of the drug. He said that once the formula had finished ramping up her crystal working talent, her nerves would calm down.
    “Call her,” Daddy said.
    “All right.” She paused and lowered her voice. “When can I see you again?”
    “We agreed it would be best if we did not have any further contact until after this is over.”
    “I know, but it’s been weeks. After all these years of not even knowing you existed, I want as much time together as possible.”
    “Soon, honey. For now, my main goal is to protect you. You’re my true heir but we need to allow time for the drug to take effect and bring you into your full powers. I also want to make sure that you’re fully trained before I let you take too many risks. You’re the future of the organization. I can’t put you in harm’s way.”
    There was a more formal title for the organization, but it had adopted the name that the Arcane Society had given it. Nightshade . And she was its future.
    “I understand, Daddy.” That’s what fathers did, she thought. They took care of their daughters.
    “Don’t worry. Once Eubanks is dead, things will fall into place very quickly. Within a few months we’ll be ready for phase two of the operation. Go make the call.”
    “All right. Daddy?”
    “Yes, honey?”
    “I love you.”
    “I love you, too.”
    She ended the connection, feeling markedly better. She always did after she talked to her father. But she was not looking forward to Plan B. It meant dealing with a killer who was not only a consummate professional but also mentally unbalanced. Her sister.

SEVENTEEN
    She did not need to hear the key played in order to find the right note. She was La Sirène. Endowed with perfect pitch, she plucked the A out of thin air and launched straight into the Queen of the Night’s second aria.
    The elegant, acoustically precise practice room had been designed and built for her by her current lover. Newlin Guthrie, a billionaire who had made his fortune by inventing any number of boring computer gadgets and high-tech security software programs, had spared no expense in the construction. The room was on the second floor of the Mediterranean-style villa he had purchased for her shortly after she drew him to her with her Siren’s talent. The lovely mini palazzo was perched above the bay in Sausalito and offered stimulating views of San Francisco.
    She had chosen the florid “Der Hölle Rache” for the very private performance on Maui for two reasons: The first was that it was good practice for her role in the upcoming production of The Magic Flute. The second reason was that it was ideally suited to her unique talent. The challenging high F, the note that hardly any sopranos could sing full voice, was one of the few that allowed her to project and focus the specific wavelengths of psychic energy required to interfere with certain critical neurological functions of the human brain. Glass had been known to shatter when she sang that note; people had died.
    Besides, when you set out to kill a man, you could hardly go wrong with a song