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“There was nothing random about it. We have to assume that whoever just tried to murder me is connected to the kidnapping of Phoebe Hatch.”
“Oh, shit.”
“That’s my take on things, too.”
“You did say that someone might have been watching her house today to see who else showed up to buy the list. Looks like you were right. Did the attacker use a knife or a gun?”
“There’s another angle to this thing. Whoever tried to kill me used energy to try to take me down.”
There was a short silence from Talia’s end.
“I don’t understand,” she said after the pause. “Some sort of weapon? Like a Taser?”
“No. Psychic energy.”
Another short pause.
“Is that even possible?” she asked.
It wasn’t disbelief he heard in her voice, he decided. He was picking up curiosity tinged with skepticism. At least she didn’t think he had imagined the attack. She was just trying to find a rational explanation for how it had gone down.
He thought briefly about explaining to her why he was so sure that the would-be killer had been able to focus paranormal energy and use it as a lethal weapon but decided that would be a really dumb idea. This was not a good time to tell her about his Mr.Hyde problem. It was unlikely that there would ever be an opportune time.Well, see, they were trying to create psychic assassins in this secret lab and evidently I was a failure. Went rogue and murdered a couple of people. Or something.
“Trust me, it’s possible,” he said. “It felt as if someone plunged a knife made of ice into my chest.”
“That’s... horrifying.” Talia paused again before continuing in a gentle, soothing tone. “Do you think you might have had an anxiety attack? Difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest are common symptoms. I’ve had a few myself.”
“Talia, listen to me. It was not an anxiety attack. It was a psychic drive-by.”
“Okay, calm down.”
That was more than a little irritating.
“Excuse me?” he said. “You’re telling me to calm down? I seem to recall recently getting a lecture from someone informing me that it was a bad idea to tell a person to calm down.”
“You’re right. I apologize. Did you see the person who attacked you?”
“No.” He summoned up his memories. “I think the attacker was in a car at the intersection. The passenger side door was facing me. I couldn’t see the person behind the wheel. By the time I realized where the wavelengths were coming from the vehicle was gunning it down the street. Nearly hit a couple of other cars.”
“You know, viewed from a certain perspective, this can be seen as good news.”
“The fact that I survived? Yes, that does strike me as good news. Listen, Talia—”
“Well, that, too. What I meant was, an attack on you means we are on the right track.”
He tightened his grip on the phone. “It also means I will not be spending the night at my hotel.”
“You’re going into hiding?”
“No, I am not going into hiding. Someone found me tonight. It follows that they are aware of you. I will be spending the night at your place.”
She took a moment to process that. “All night?”
“No, only until midnight when I turn into a pumpkin. Yes, Talia, all night. From now on, we stick together.”
“Okay, okay, there’s no need to get sarcastic. Uh, what about on Night Island?”
“Let me put it this way: your cover story about our couples therapist recommending separate cabins is out. See you in ten minutes. Do not open the door to anyone else.”
