Page 85 of Facade

Jace

Jace appreciated the very salient points Russel had made. His deductions were intelligent conclusions resulting from days of in-depth research. Russell had also proven himself to be a wise tactician.

Their different strengths were a good combination. Russell knew where each of them excelled, and like Jace, believed that Mitch was still a threat. He wouldn’t risk Clarke in any way.

Jace wondered if Russell had heard anything new about Mitch, and what the nutcase might be planning. But he could ask later.

Right now, Jace was anticipating working more with this aspect of Clarke’s power. He was reassured that Russell wouldn’t try to push her limits.

Clarke’s face was serene and devoid of stress when Heath cast the tranquility spell. As he read the page again, Jace had the sense that they were diving deep rather than wading. But Russell was right that they needed these answers to formulate a good plan.

When Heath signaled him, Jace read the first question. “Is the clue we are searching for a person?”

Clarke’s pencil moved, and Jace recorded the answer, which was yes. He nodded for Heath and Russell’s benefit. Today, he was standing behind her, and could easily read over her shoulder.

“Are Charles Voudrie and Dr. Lauren Prentis in the same location?” Yes.

“Are they both well?” Yes.

Heath and Jace exhaled in unison, hearing that good news. Russell didn’t react, but took his own notes as he watched.

“Do they have freedom of movement?” Yes.

Good. Guards probably watched Dr. Prentis and Charlie. But it sounded like they weren’t being kept in restraints. These were important facts that would give them an idea of the size of the opposing force, and help formulate a rescue plan when they had a possible location of where the captives were being held.

“Did the driver of the tour bus accept a payoff to leave Dr. Prentis at the rest stop?” Yes.

Jace felt a surge of rage. That slimy piece of shit. He should be prosecuted for this, and probably wouldn’t be.

Since he hadn’t been arrested, police had no proof of the driver’s involvement. Clarke’s power wouldn’t be considered evidence in a court of law. It sucked.

“Are the missing students with Charlie and Dr. Prentis?” Most of them.

Jace verbalized the answer in low tones so he wouldn’t risk jarring Clarke out of the trance. He shared a long, heavy look with Russell and Heath. Clarke’s power giving more complex answers than yeses and noes was an important discovery. This could give them more latitude in the kind of questions they asked.

Once he absorbed what they had just learned about the versatility of Clarke’s power, Jace focused on the answer itself, and the implications of it. On the one hand, that was good. On the other, it was bad.

Most of the students being with Charlie and the veterinarian meant that they wouldn’t have to search for multiple locations. Any leads on the missing alumni might also point to Charlie. That would make things simpler.

This verified that Russell’s theory of an organization with a lot of money and manpower orchestrating the abductions might be correct. It could be very difficult to find them and stage a rescue if that was the case.

There could be dozens, or even hundreds, of guards. Cybersecurity could also be a significant issue. That was if they could find the place.

“Some of these questions are moot now, given what we just learned. Where do you want to go from here?” Jace asked quietly.

Russell’s brow was furrowed as he gazed at Clarke with concern. “Let’s pose a few more, then wrap up for now. I have a lot of thinking to do.”

He extended a sheet of paper that Jace reached out for. Jace nodded when he read it. These questions would give them a more detailed picture of what was happening, extrapolating on what they now knew.

“Are the people holding Charlie captive having him brew potions for them?” Yes.

“Do they consider him useful?” Yes.

“Is Lauren Prentis working closely with animals where she is now?” Yes.

“Did her captors make a legitimate employment offer that Dr. Prentis refused before planning her abduction?” No.

“Is Dr. Prentis working with marine animals?” No.