Diane's hand went to her phone in her clutch, but she had left it on the console table by the door.She considered calling out, asking if anyone was there, but something stopped her.If this was a burglar, announcing her presence seemed like a bad idea.Better to call security from the bedroom phone and let them handle it.
She walked down the hallway, removing the stupid heels so they’d not click against the hardwood.The door to her bedroom stood partially open, exactly as she had left it that morning.The room beyond was dark except for the ambient light from the city filtering through the sheer curtains.
Diane pushed the door open wider and reached for the light switch.Before her fingers found it, she heard movement inside the walk-in closet.The door was ajar and she could see a shadow shifting in the space beyond.
"Who's there?"The words came out before she could stop them, and she hated how terrified she sounded.
A figure emerged from the closet.They moved slowly, deliberately, stepping into the dim light from the windows.Diane's first impression was of someone average in every way.They were of medium height and medium build, wearing dark clothing that made them hard to see clearly in the shadows.They could have been male or female, young or old.The only detail that stood out was a surgical mask covering the lower half of their face.
"Incorruptible metal," the figure said.Their voice was soft, almost gentle."Worn by the most corrupt."
Diane took a step backward, feeling like an absolute idiot for leaving her phone in her clutch.Right now, it felt a million miles away.Her throat felt tight and her heart was hammering against her ribs.She should run.She should scream.She should do something other than stand here frozen while this person spoke in riddles.But that was exactly the problem: she was frozen in fear.
"I don't have much cash here," she managed to say."But you can take whatever you want.The jewelry is in the living room.The safe code is written down in my desk drawer."
The figure moved closer."I'm not here for money."
Diane saw their hand come up, saw something glinting in the faint light.A syringe.The realization hit her a half-second before she could react.She opened her mouth to scream and tried to turn toward the door.
The figure was faster.They closed the distance between them in two quick steps and grabbed Diane's arm.She felt a sharp sting in her bicep, felt the needle pierce through the thin fabric of her dress and into muscle.The plunger depressed and something cold flooded into her system.
"What did you do?"Diane pulled away and stumbled backward.Her hand went to her arm where the injection site was already beginning to burn."What…what was that?"
"Just something to help you stay still."The figure stepped back, watching her with what might have been clinical interest."Don’t fret.It will work quickly."
Diane tried to move toward the door but her legs felt strange, disconnected from her body.The muscles were not responding the way they should.She took one unsteady step and then her knees buckled.She caught herself on the edge of the bed, gripping the comforter with hands that were rapidly losing strength.
"You wear platinum like armor," the figure said.They had moved to stand near the window, backlit by the city lights."Like it makes you untouchable.But platinum doesn't rust.It doesn't corrode.It's pure and incorruptible, and you've corrupted it just by putting it on your body.And worse…you’ve corrupted others."
Diane wanted to respond, wanted to tell this person they were insane, but her jaw had stopped working properly.Whatever they’d injected her with was spreading through her system with terrifying speed.Her hands slipped off the comforter and she collapsed onto the bed, unable to control her fall.She landed on her back, staring up at the ceiling, completely immobile.
The figure moved closer and looked down at her.In the darkness, Diane could not make out any features beyond the mask.She could not even tell if they were looking at her with satisfaction or regret or nothing at all.Diane's vision was starting to blur at the edges.She tried to move, tried to scream, tried to do anything at all.But her body was no longer hers to command.The paralytic had stolen everything from her except the ability to see and hear and understand what was happening.
The figure reached down and began systematically removing the rest of Diane's jewelry.They took the rings from her fingers and the watch from her wrist.After that, she didn’t see much.The world became just one huge blur.
The last thing Diane saw before her vision faded completely was the figure opening a metal case they had retrieved from the closet.Inside, carefully wrapped in protective material, was something that caught the light from the windows.
The case was not hers; she was quite sure of that.No, this person had brought it in with them and for some reason her weakening mind could not pinpoint, that was somehow the most terrifying thing of all.
CHAPTER FIVE
Miles had been staring at the same toxicology report for twenty minutes, trying to find a pattern in the mercury levels that would indicate intentional poisoning rather than accidental exposure.This was a death out of Lynchburg, Virginia and while it did raise some eyebrows, Miles was certain this was going to be yet another dead end.The numbers blurred together after a while, each data point looking identical to the last.He rubbed his eyes and reached for his coffee, finding the mug empty.It was only eleven in the morning and needing coffee this badly already wasnota good sign.
He was considering a refill when his phone rang.The caller display read AD HAYES.Ever since the task force had been assembled, Assistant Director Marcus Hayes only called with very important matters, so Miles wasted no time answering the call.
“This is Sterling.”
"Sterling, I believe we may have a hit on the Elementalist case out in Manhattan.I know I’ve given you free rein over this thing, but this is one where I need to step in.I need you two out there right away.”
Miles grabbed a pen."Yes, sir.What are we looking at?"
"A suspicious death, as usual.This one is an Upper East Side penthouse.The victim is Diane Rothschild, fifty-two years old.She was a socialite and philanthropist.She was found by her assistant this morning when she didn't answer her phone.The preliminary examination is showing something that screams Kane."
"How unusual?"
"Her airways were coated with platinum."
Miles stopped writing."Platinum?"
