Sizzle and Burn

normal so they can live in the real world.”
    “Yeah?”
    There was so much aching hope in the single word that it was all Zack could do not to take him down the stairs and drive him straight to the nearest Arcane Society office. But there were rules against that kind of thing, not to mention a few laws. Fallon didn’t like it when a J&J agent was accused of kidnapping. Fortunately, there were other options. The Arcane Society had a whole team of experts trained to handle situations like Josh’s.
    “No problem,” Zack said. “Just takes a little time because we have to work through the system, for everyone’s sake. Meanwhile, though, I want you to check out this Web address I’m going to give you. You’ll find out that you’re not alone and that you’re not crazy.”
    He picked up the pen on the table.
    Searing, frantic, desperate psychic energy screamed through him. Faint, ghostly images flashed across his mind.
    He jacked up his senses and the visions became sharper and more vivid.
    …He saw his hand closing around the pen—no, a woman’s hand. He sensed a feminine essence…
    …Felt her struggle to write a message, the fierce determination to write the note before…
    …before she died…
    “Mister?” Josh was scared again. “Are you okay? Your aura’s going all weird.”
    “I’m all right.” He dialed back quickly. The images faded from his head. He was able to grip the pen, although he could still sense an electric trickle of energy.
    He wrote the Internet address and the password for the Arcane Society site that had been established for trusted outsiders who showed a serious interest in the paranormal. There were other sites for members only but Josh wasn’t ready for that. He would find the basic facts and, most of all, the reassurance he so badly needed at the first stop.
    He handed the card to Josh. “Next time you go online, take a look at this site. Meanwhile, I’ll talk to some people who should be able to convince Dr. Ogilvey and your folks that you’d do better with some different therapy.”
    Josh took the card, gripping it very tightly. “What happens if they can’t convince Ogilvey and my parents?”
    “Then we take more drastic measures. But these guys are experts, and Dr. Ogilvey really does want what’s best for you. They’ll know how to talk to him in his professional language.”
    “Okay,” Josh said, still afraid to believe.
    Zack gripped his shoulder. “Are you going to be okay here while this process works itself out? Could be a while. A few weeks, maybe.”
    “Yeah, sure. It’s not so bad. First thing Dr. Ogilvey did when I arrived was start cutting back on my meds. I went off them altogether on Monday. I’m feeling a lot better now. I can handle this place.”
    “Good. Meanwhile, for what it’s worth, my advice is to stop seeing auras.”
    Josh gave him a quizzical look. “You mean pretend to stop seeing them?”
    “Right. With luck, Ogilvey and his staff will conclude that the reason you were seeing them in the first place was because you were over-medicated. Overmedication gets blamed for all kinds of stuff.”
    “Should have thought of that myself.”
    “Look, I hate to leave you. I know you’ve got questions. But I’ve got to get out of here before someone comes around to check on you.”
    “Don’t worry. They only cruise through a couple of times at night. Last bed check was about an hour before you got here.”
    “You sure?”
    “Trust me, I’ve had plenty of time to figure out the routine here,” Josh said.
    “In that case, mind if I take a quick look around before I leave?”
    “Sure.” Josh hesitated. “Uh, why?”
    “Because I’m a private investigator and I’m looking into a case that involves the woman who was in this room before you.”
    “Oh, man, that’s what you do? You’re a for-real private investigator?”
    “Pretty real. Most of the time.”
    Josh folded his legs, tailor fashion, under the sheet. “So what’s your psychic power? Is it like mine?”
    “No.” There was a glass on the table. He picked it up. Nothing. “I can sometimes sense someone else’s aura in a very vague, unfocused way if the person generates a lot of power and is standing fairly close. But I can’t see it clearly the way you do. I can’t read it.”
    “What about if you were standing close to a crazy person?”
    “Crazy people sometimes give off wild, chaotic energy that I can sense.”
    “Do I, uh, give off that kind of