Argh. Just argh.
Garen's eyebrows crept up.
"It's evidence," I ground out. "Put it back in the cooler."
"Fine, fine."
She went back into the conference room.
"I would very much like to take you to dinner."
I made a show of looking down at my ACUs. "Today wouldn't be a good day."
"What about tomorrow?"
I raised my head and pretended to consider it. "Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of something, so I can't promise I won't stand you up."
I felt something, a light click, like he'd flicked his fingers against my palm. Was it his magic working? Is that what it felt like?
"That's okay. I'm a very patient man."
True. He was flirting with me.
"Okay, I'll go to dinner with you if you answer a question."
He leaned forward, his green eyes fixed on me. "It's a deal."
"Do you feel a click when I spot-check your answers for truth, and if so, does everyone or is it a truthseeker thing?"
"That's three questions."
Two could play the flirting game. "Do you want me to come to dinner with you or not?"
He pretended to consider it. "You drive a hard bargain. Yes, no, and it is a truthseeker thing. We call it pinging. There is nothing like coming home late in a damaged car and having both parents ping you in stereo as you answer their questions. Tomorrow at six?"
"Where?"
"Bistro le Cep. They tell me that's the best place in Houston for quiet conversation."
I had no idea where that was. "Very well. Tomorrow at six."
We both got up. He held the door of my office open for me. I walked him to the outside door and watched him get into a black Cadillac. The car reversed and rolled down the street, unmolested.
Arabella came up to stand next to me.
"He was pretty."
"What was that all about? You never interrupt me while I'm with clients."
"Bern texted me and told me to do it. He said you and he sat completely still, staring at each other for ten minutes. He thought something might have gone wrong and said I should check on you."
Smart move. Garen would consider Bern with his wrestler build and judo shoulders a threat. But Arabella, barely five feet and maybe one hundred and ten pounds wet, would seem harmless. Garen had no idea how close he'd come to being crushed to death.
Ten minutes. Must've been when I was trying to find a way through his wall. Felt like a few seconds. I wonder if that's what Augustine Montgomery felt like. Over a week ago I was trying to convince him to let me shield his mind from Victoria Tremaine, and I pulled some harmless but private information out of his mind. He never realized it happened until I told him. It was like a chunk of time simply disappeared from his memory.
Cold sweat drenched my hairline.
I spun around, ran the few feet to my office, and grabbed my laptop.
"What?" Arabella demanded. "What is it?"
The image of me and Garen sitting across from each other filled the screen.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Shaffer?"
"I've come to hire you."
I clicked to fast forward. Frantic gestures and teeny voices. Blah-blah-blah . . . There.
Garen and I stared at each other. I zoomed in on myself and turned the sound up.
Nothing. I sat completely still, like a statue. So did he. No movements. No words. Just quiet staring. All my secrets were still mine.
I collapsed in the chair. I was suddenly so exhausted.
"Nevada? Are you okay?" Arabella grabbed a tissue box from the corner of the desk and thrust it at me.
I touched my face and realized I was crying.
"I think you're stressed out," my sister said. "I have a pack of cigarettes I've been hiding from Mom for when Catalina and I get stressed out. There is one left."
"Mom is going to kill you when she finds out."
"She won't find out if you don't tell her."
I got up and hugged her.
"Are you okay?" my little sister asked.
"No. But I'm going to be. We're all going to be."
My laptop screamed at me. Bug's face filled it. "Get here! Now, now, now!"
I sprinted out the door to Rogan's HQ, Arabella at my heels.
I ran through the first floor, pounded up the stairs, and burst onto the second floor. Rynda stood next to Bug, her face pale, her phone to her ear. Kidnappers.
". . . scared me. I'm very scared."
She listened for a moment. "My husband is everything to me. I'm going to give the phone to Ms. Baylor. She's authorized to negotiate on our behalf." She handed the phone to me.
"This is Nevada Baylor."