Sizzle and Burn

stood quietly, hands clasped behind his back, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. He winked at Zack. The strategy was working precisely as they had planned.
    Wilson Everleigh ended an animated conversation with Akashida and turned to Zack, dark features alight with anticipation. “Are you telling us Judson Tallentyre really did discover an antidote?”
    “It’s not perfect,” Zack said. “There has been only one human trial and it was only partially successful. But preliminary analysis by our experts indicates that Tallentyre succeeded in overcoming the most critical of the technical problems that have prevented us from coming up with a true antidote.”
    Bancroft spoke up. “Dr. Jameson has informed me that Tallentyre’s work points in an entirely new direction. He believes that there is a very high probability that his people will be able to create a stable, effective drug to counter Nightshade’s version of the founder’s formula within a few months.”
    “This is a huge breakthrough,” Guerrero announced. “It will be the first real weapon we’ve had to use against Nightshade. But why are we hearing about it now? Tallentyre died years ago.”
    Zack had been waiting for the carefully planted question. “The secret of the antidote was lost after Tallentyre died. In the course of a recent J&J investigation, however, Fallon Jones made the decision to reopen the old file on Judson Tallentyre. It turned out that there were a lot of loose ends in the case.”
    Bancroft took up the carefully tailored story. “Tallentyre intended to turn over the antidote to the Society but he died in an auto accident before he could tell J&J about his discovery. Most of his files were destroyed by the agents. The formula for the antidote, however, was salvaged by Tallentyre’s sister. Given the manner in which her brother had been treated, she had no incentive to hand it over to us. She took her secret to the grave.”
    Zack looked at Raine. It was her turn.
    She studied the group around the table. “That folder on the table contains copies of the final report of J&J’s new investigation into my father’s activities. It is true that he was consumed by his research and followed his passion into unauthorized areas. But J&J has determined that he never intended to use the formula for criminal purposes.”
    “All Tallentyre cared about was the science behind the drug,” Zack said. “It was his in-depth understanding of the biochemistry of the founder’s formula that allowed him to do the groundbreaking work on an antidote.”
    “Hold on here,” Janice Forster interrupted. “You said the antidote was lost.”
    “It was until after Vella Tallentyre’s death,” Zack said. “But a few weeks ago it turned up among her personal effects, all of which were left to my fiancée.”
    Everyone’s attention was suddenly riveted on Raine.
    Raine gave the group another smile. This one was a lot warmer, Zack noticed.
    “I have decided to hand over the formula for the antidote to the Arcane Society,” she said. “I trust you will all see that it is used wisely. It is what my father would have wanted.”
    The table was engulfed with another burst of excited conversation.
    Zack leaned a little closer to Raine.
    “That, babe, is how you rewrite history,” he said into her ear.
    She laughed. “I do love you, Zackary Gabriel Jones.”
    “I love you, Raine Tallentyre.”
    He kissed her in front of his grandfather and the entire assembled Council. A round of applause went up. He felt the vibrant energy of love shimmering in the air, knew that Raine felt it, too. They would share it for the rest of their lives.