“I’d rather you did the test, Dr. Neal.”
He crossed his fingers and hoped the man wouldn’t ask why, since Laurel was his official Handler. A movement across the room caught his eye. She was walking out of the room with Trahern, D.J., and Cullen trailing in her wake. His first reaction was jealous anger, but he reeled it back in. As edgy as he was feeling, he didn’t need to be closed up in that dark little room with Laurel.
God knows how it would affect his readings, and with Colonel Kincade on a crusade to weed out anyone skating on the edge, he couldn’t afford to take any unnecessary risks. Besides, if his unknown assailant was one of the Guard, it was best that he spent as little time as possible in Laurel’s company, especially in public.
He drew Dr. Neal’s attention to the situation. “Seems Trahern has decided to cooperate. I wouldn’t want to crowd him right now.”
“Very well, Mr. Bane. I think you have the right of it. Let’s go to my lab.”
• • •
“This can’t be right.” Dr. Neal’s voice carried more than a trace of frustration as he twisted a few dials and pushed a couple of buttons on the console. “I’m sorry this is taking so long, Devlin, but I’m going to have to repeat that last series.”
“What’s wrong?” Were his scores that much worse than before?
“Apparently nothing is wrong, at least not with you. We just recalibrated all the machines, but this one seems to be a bit off, even though the control test scores are right on the button.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Your scores don’t correlate very well with the scans that Dr. Young ran the other day.”
“So maybe her machine is off.”
“No, we made sure that both machines get the same readings on the control samples.” He paused to study the printout and then flipped through Devlin’s chart and frowning. “I’ll be damned.”
He pushed another button, causing the machine to spew forth another couple feet of paper. “You’re finished for now, Mr. Bane, but I may need to have you back again. We’ll get those electrodes off, and then I’ll show you what has me puzzled.”
Back out in the lab, Devlin leaned over the doctor’s shoulder to study the last three scans he’d done. Once Dr. Neal had them lined up side by side, the pattern became clearer. Normally a Paladin’s scans showed a steady increase in the brainwaves that rendered them less and less human. In Devlin’s case, the pattern was reversed. The change from the oldest scan to the one Laurel had run was slight, but definitely toward the better.
But the change in the newest one was dramatic, to the point of being unbelievable. Such a thing was unheard of in the long history of Paladins. Although the ability to track the changes with scans was a relatively recent development, the Regents had kept records of Paladin symptoms and behavior patterns for centuries. They all got worse—no exceptions, no reprieves.
“I don’t know what to make of this, Mr. Bane. I’ll have to discuss it with Dr. Young to learn her thoughts on the subject. If necessary, I’ll contact my colleagues in other parts of the world to see if they can shed any light.” He turned to face Devlin. “Have you noticed any changes in how you feel? Are you doing anything differently than you used to?”
“No, my life is pretty much as it has always been.” Besides sleeping with his Handler and harboring some pretty strong feelings for her.
“Well, if you think of anything, let me know. Maybe after I scan a few more of the others, I’ll be able to figure out if it’s the machine or if it’s really you.” He gathered up all Devlin’s readings and shoved them back in his chart. “Would you send in the next man on your way out?”
“Sure thing.”
Cullen was waiting in the hall. If he was surprised to see Devlin coming out of Dr. Neal’s lab instead of Laurel’s, he didn’t say so. “I assume it went well since you’re still walking around.”
“Yeah, so far. Dr. Neal said to send you on in.” He glanced toward Laurel’s door. “Any word on Trahern yet?”
“No, but at least he wasn’t fighting her on it. When she said she’d take him first, he went along meek as a lamb. I swear, that woman must have some serious mojo if she can charm a hard-ass like Trahern.”
She had some serious mojo, all right. “I think I’ll wait around for a while.”
“Good idea.” Cullen drew himself up to his full height. “Wish me luck, Devlin. I’d hate to give that bastard Kincade the satisfaction of finding one of us too close to the edge for comfort.”
“Don’t sweat it. If I can pass the test, you can for sure.” He slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Stop by my place when you’re done. I’ve got a couple of cold ones with your name on them.”
“Will do.”
After Cullen disappeared into Dr. Neal’s lab, Devlin sat on a nearby bench. A couple of guards shifted their positions, probably to keep a wary eye on him. As long as he made no sudden moves, they’d leave him alone.
Hell, they should be smart enough to figure out that he was still fine. If there’d been any doubt about his stability, Dr. Neal would have pulled the plug on him back in the lab. He closed his eyes and stretched his legs out in front of him and tried to get comfortable.
What if those readings turned out to be right and he was becoming more human again? How could that even be possible? The only change in his life was his new relationship with Laurel. What would she think when Dr. Neal showed her the results? He let his eyes drift closed and settled back to wait for his friends.
• • •
“Blake, I don’t mean to complain, but you’re crushing my wrist.” She managed to get the words out between clenched teeth.
He loosened his grip a little, enough so that her circulation could be restored. Normally she was careful to keep her professional distance from her patients, especially one as prone to angry outbursts as Trahern. But ever since he’d checked on Devlin for her, she had found him less intimidating. Experience might prove her wrong, but she was determined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
She’d thought Devlin dreaded the brain scan, but his worries were nothing compared to Trahern’s. He had to know that he was one that Colonel Kincade was targeting for close scrutiny. She wished she could have told the man from Ordnance that he was wrong, that Trahern was stable and doing fine. The tests were never meant to be a weapon for Ordnance to hold over the heads of the Paladins, but that was how Kincade was using them.
The other day, when she’d run the scan on Devlin, his scores had improved. She had no proof that holding his hand helped, but she’d been unable to account for the anomaly any other way. If it worked for him, maybe it would for Trahern. She wished she could have seen the expression on his face when the lights went down and she’d all but ordered him to hold on to her wrist for the duration of the scan.
“Talk to me, Mr. Trahern.” If she could keep him focused on something other than the needles scribbling endless wavy lines on the paper, maybe he would relax a bit.
The silence dragged on for several long seconds. Finally, he stirred slightly and said, “What about?”
Must she think of everything? “I don’t know. The weather, books you’ve read, even your childhood.”
“I thought you people in Research had us all cataloged down to the number of freckles on our asses.” There was no humor in his voice at all.
She tried again. “All right, where did you grow up?”
“On the streets.”
If she hadn’t been looking right at him, she would have missed the quick twitch of his lips that indicated he was jerking her chain and enjoying it. That was okay with her. As long as Blake concentrated on thwarting her, he wasn’t thinking so hard about the scan.
“On the streets where?” She shook her forefinger at him. “I promise not to go screaming down the hall shouting your deep, dark secrets to anyone who’ll listen.”
“St. Louis.” He paused again. “I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. I was transferred out here when I turne
d eighteen.”
That was about the longest speech she’d ever heard him make. Certainly the most personal. “Do you have any family left back there?”
“No.”
How could the man make one word sound just like a door slamming in her face? Maybe it was time she did the talking. “I’m from the Midwest, too. My whole family still lives in one town.”
“Why aren’t you there?”
“Because I’m here.” Two could play the game of cryptic answers.
“Do your parents know what you do for a living?” Trahern let go of her arm, seeming more relaxed.
“They know I’m a doctor and that I do research.” She leaned back in her chair. “My parents love me, but they’ll never understand how I can be happy living so far away. If they had their way, I would be married with a herd of children by now. Sometimes I think they want grandchildren more than they want me to be happy.”
Shock had her sitting upright again. She’d never admitted that before, even to herself, and here she was confessing all to Blake Trahern. “Forget I said that.”
The machine beeped to signal that the test was done. “Let me take a quick look at the printout before we disconnect you.”
Just that quickly the silence was heavy with tension as Blake waited to hear the verdict. She tried to hurry, but not so fast that she’d miss something important. As far as she could see, his readings were holding steady—an improvement over his usual pattern.
She smiled down at her patient and started gently removing the electrodes. “Well, Mr. Trahern, I’ll take readings like these from you anytime. Most are exactly what they were on your last scan; a couple have even dropped slightly.”
He swung his legs down off the bed. “Thanks, Doc.”
“You are most welcome. I’ll forward the results to Colonel Kincade when we finish running all the scans.”
He started out the door. Just before he stepped across the threshold, he turned back. “You know, sometimes those who are closest to us have the hardest time seeing who we really are.”
Then he was gone, leaving her wondering who had looked at Blake Trahern and not seen the real him.
• • •
Devlin opened the door and stood back as half a dozen Paladins filed into his living room. Most had been there before and made themselves comfortable on his oversize leather sofa and chairs. He’d had the devil’s own time getting the furniture through the door when he bought it, but it had been worth the effort. Like most of the Paladins, he was several inches over six feet.
“Beer’s in the fridge, and the pizzas should be here in a few minutes.”
He was about to close the door when Trahern appeared on his porch. Devlin hadn’t been expecting him, since he rarely chose to hang out with any of them.
“Blake, come on in.”
“I can’t stay.” He looked past Devlin toward the others. “I wanted to tell you something. Can you come outside for a minute?”
“Sure. Just let me tell the others where I’ll be.” He walked into the living room. “I’m going to watch for the pizza. Try not to drink all the beer before I get back.”
Cullen came out of the kitchen carrying a tray full of cans and a bowl of chips. “I wouldn’t stay gone too long if I were you.”
“Save me one, at least.”
He followed Trahern a short distance down the street, out of hearing and sight of the others.
“What’s up?”
“I passed my scan. Thought you might want to know.”
“That’s real good news, Blake. I bet that’ll piss off Kincade.”
“I hope so.” Trahern smiled but kept his eyes focused over Devlin’s shoulder.
“You didn’t come all the way here just to tell me that.” He could have phoned that in.
“I wanted to tell you that I’ve been watching Dr. Young’s condo like you wanted. I don’t know if it means anything, but I found a pile of cigarette butts behind a Dumpster near her building. If I were going to stake the place out myself, it’s right where I’d stand.”
“Damn it all to hell. Does it look like the bastard has been back?”
“Difficult to tell. I counted the butts, though. I’ll know if he’s added to the collection.”
“Thanks again, Blake.” Devlin meant it. He’d rather take charge of the situation himself, but he wouldn’t risk leading his unknown shadow right back to Laurel’s doorstep.
“Like I said, I’m not doing it for you.”
Then Trahern was gone. No explanation offered and none asked. He watched his friend disappear down the street just as the pizza deliveryman pulled into the driveway. Devlin took the stack of boxes and went back inside to join the others.
• • •
The lights in his office were a shade too bright for comfort. Maybe he should have resisted drinking those last two beers last night, but the impromptu gathering had evolved into a major celebration. Not one of the Paladins had run into problems with the mandatory scans. He didn’t know exactly what Colonel Kincade had been trying to accomplish, but he’d failed on every count.
Blowing off some tension was worth a headache any day.
D.J. knocked on the doorframe and then entered. He tossed a file down on Devlin’s desk, then snagged a nearby chair and flopped down in it. He closed his eyes and leaned back.
“Good party last night.”
“How’s your head?” Devlin rarely took pain medicine, but he pulled some aspirin out of his drawer and took two with a sip of coffee before tossing the bottle into D.J.’s lap. “Heads up.”
D.J. opened his eyes long enough to catch the bottle. After swallowing a couple of the pills dry, he set the bottle back on Devlin’s desk. “You’ll find that report pretty damn interesting.”
“What is it?” Until the aspirin kicked in, he wasn’t in any hurry to read much of anything.
“It’s the results of the tests that my friends at Research ran on those bags we found in the tunnel the other day.” He opened one eye. “They don’t know what to make of it. If I’m understanding it right, the dust in those bags shouldn’t be there.”
Devlin was confused. “What’s that supposed to mean? How would they know what those gray bastards carry in their little bags?”
“They said they didn’t have enough of the stuff to run every test they wanted to. However, what they did get had all those science geeks sitting up and taking notice. If their results are to be believed, the dust comes from a crystal unknown in our world.”
“So?”
“Well, blue garnets might not exist in our world, but if they did, everyone and their brother would be fighting to control the market on them.”
Devlin’s headache was getting worse. “What would they be good for?”
“They weren’t completely sure. They want us to bring them a bigger sample. I suggested if they wanted to import stuff from across the barrier, they should set up business down in the tunnels. You know, one free pass above ground for a bag of pretty blue rocks.”
The niggling feeling was back, that he’d missed something important. Devlin decided D.J. had the right idea and leaned back and propped his feet up on his desk. Maybe if he closed his eyes and let his mind wander, it would finally come to him.
The two of them sat in companionable silence for several minutes while they waited for the aspirin to kick in. Slowly, the steady pounding diminished.
The blue crystals had something to do with the Others. They had to be valuable, because a handful of Guardsmen hadn’t been killed for no good reason. The bags had been slit open and the contents taken. Why take the time, when each passing minute might have meant discovery? Because the bags carried the stench of the Others’ world? The stones did, as well, but they had value. And the stones would be easier to hide without the bulk of the bags.
So someone knew about the stones and had made some arrangements to get them. But how? The Others wouldn’t be giving the stuff away for nothing, either.
That’s when it hi
t him. He thought back to his first trip into the tunnels after he revived, when he’d fought and killed the two males. One of them had claimed to have already paid. They must have thought they were paying their way across with the blue stones. Son of a bitch—who had the clout to set up a deal like that?
It had to be either Research or Ordnance. The Paladins wouldn’t betray their own kind that way. They’d spent too many years and too many lives holding the line against the ongoing invasion.
This was too big to keep to himself, and it was obvious that he couldn’t handle it through normal channels. Until he and the others could figure out who could be trusted, they’d have to do this on their own.
First things first. He dropped his feet back to the floor with a thud, startling D.J. back to consciousness. “D.J., tell Cullen and the others to meet me here this afternoon. Keep it casual. I don’t want to raise any red flags if we can avoid it.”
D.J. leaned closer. “You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”
“I’ve got some ideas, but I want to keep this quiet as long as possible.”
“Okay, I’ll let them know.”
Judging by the energetic bounce to D.J.’s walk, either the aspirin had cured his headache or the challenge of a problem to be solved had given him a new surge of energy. Devlin felt a twinge of envy. Hell, he didn’t need all of this to break loose now. He had enough on his plate watching his back and trying to keep Laurel safe.
He had no proof, but he’d bet his favorite sword that it was all connected somehow. Whoever wanted the stones also wanted him dead. The chain of events was too close together for it to be otherwise.
He glanced at the clock. If he hurried, he would be able to check on Laurel and still have time to study Research’s report on the blue stones. Considering how she’d stared right through him at the meeting on the previous day, he wasn’t at all sure about his welcome. But he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything until he knew she’d made it to work safely. A phone call would be more efficient, but seeing her in person would be far more satisfying.
His headache all but forgotten, he headed out, figuring he could come up with a plausible excuse along the way.
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