...dozens of protesters gathered in Washington, DC, today outside of the headquarters of the new Empath Initiative. Empath rights activists argue the nascent agency, helmed by former defense contractor Charles Stone, has too much power and only views empaths as threats.
There were also several empaths on scene, thanking activists for their support but asking them to please be careful and not get hurt.
—excerpt from a thirty-five-year-old copy of theEmerald City Tribune, “New federal agency adds heat to empath debates”
The stairs from the lobby of Hathaway’s building led Reece into the adjoining parking garage. He took a deep gulp of the welcome cold air, letting it settle his still-shaky stomach.
He wove through a modest collection of Hondas, Mazdas, and Toyotas before emerging past the parking gate and onto the sidewalk. The gathering crowd at the building’s front doors was a low rumble like thunder, but it hadn’t yet reached around the block or to his car, which was parked at the curb up ahead.
He’d wait in the car for Grayson, but he wouldn’t turn it on. He’d let it stay cold and miserable, see how that Southerner liked it.
He would totally do that. Yes, he would.
He sighed.
Aw, who was he kidding. Dead Man or no, Reece would start the heat right away, because being an empath sucked.
He’d almost reached the car when the peace was shattered.
“What were you doing in that building?”
He stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet.“You.”
Gretel Macy had come around from the side of his car. Daughter of the AMI president, the brains behind theEyes on Empathsblog, and probably the truest believer in the entire anti-empathy bunch. Today she had pink lipstick, a white beanie pulled over shiny hair, and the same suspicious expression she always wore for him.
“When did you go from annoying blogger to creepy stalker?” he said. “How did you find me?”
Gretel had her phone out, and Reece would bet anything she was streaming live. “Your face is on the news and you’re getting recognized. My hotline got a tip that a guy in gloves matching your description was in the same building as Senator Hathaway’s office. Our network is strong, and we have our eyes—”
“—on empaths. Iknow. You say it a lot.” Reece tried to temper his irritation. “It’s perfectly legal for me to be in any public building, even a government one.”
“Hathaway’s bill would have changed that. Empaths must be stopped from influencing the emotions of our representatives. I think my viewers are too smart to buy your presence here as a coincidence.”
Reece reached for Liam’s advice. “No comment.”
He tried to move past Gretel to his car, but she stayed stubbornly in place. “What were you really doing in a government building?”
If he rushed at her, she’d bolt in fear before letting them touch. But that was a pipe dream: he’d trade his car for whatever gas-guzzler Grayson drove before he’d deliberately scare her.
He gritted his teeth. “No comment.” Liam was going to be so proud of him.
“Did you go to Senator Hathaway’s office?”
“No. Comment.”
“Are you trying to brainwash our politicians?”
Reece threw up his hands. “Fine, yes, you caught me. I was trying to get the First Amendment revoked with my crazy mind-control powers. Our forefathers were clearly high when they dreamed up freedom of press.”
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Aw, crap. “You’re going to publish that, aren’t you.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Fine. Use your sensationalist blog to tell AMI and the rest of Seattle another ridiculous lie. My day can’t get worse.”Lie. Reece pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
Gretel drew her head back, affronted. “I don’t printlies.”
In a possibly ironic twist, she believed that so deeply that it wasn’t a lie. “Yes, actually, you—”
“And my blog’s notsensationalist.”
