Текст книги "Finding Sky"

Автор книги: Joss Stirling

Соавторы: Joss Stirling
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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

His expression clouded. ‘You’re not being fair, Sky. I’ve sensed for a few days now that you’re shaken up by the soulfinder thing, but soulfinders have nothing in common with high school sweethearts—it goes much deeper.’

We were stil side by side but no longer moulded to each other; I only had myself to blame because I was the one who had taken a step back.

I tried to sound mature and reasonable. ‘I think I am being fair. I think I’m being realistic.’

‘Is that how you see me?’ Zed’s face hardened, reminding me he didn’t have a reputation for trouble without cause. ‘Haven’t you felt what I feel? Are you stil closing off your gift?’

Of course, I’d felt it—too much and it was scaring me. ‘I don’t know what’s normal and what’s not. I know I love you but I just can’t do this.’ I gestured between us.

‘I see.’ He sat up and moved down the far end of the sofa. ‘Wel , while you think that one out, I’l just watch the rest of the game.’

‘Zed, please. I need to talk about this.’

He floated the popcorn bowl to his lap. ‘We’ve been talking. So far we’ve established that I’m just a boy you’re dating. You’re running from the miracle that we’ve found each other.’

I wrung my hands. I hadn’t wanted to upset him but how could I not when I was fighting for my emotional survival? He didn’t understand what was at stake for me.

‘Look, Zed, my parents kil ed each other over my mother’s soulfinder. I don’t want history to repeat itself. I don’t have that kind of strength in here.’ I tapped my head.

He gave a curt nod. ‘I understand. Your mom and dad lost it, so we wil too. It doesn’t make a blind bit of sense but you probably know that. The way I see it, your parents got into problems because Fate pul ed a mean trick on them and your mom ran out on your dad when she should’ve handled finding her soulfinder more fairly. They made a mistake and you paid for it.’

I didn’t like his criticism of my mum for running. ‘I’m trying to explain how I feel, Zed.’

‘And what about how I feel, Sky?’ He pulverized a handful of popcorn, struggling to keep his temper.

‘I’d walk across burning coals for you. Hel , I walked in front of a gun for you. But is that enough to prove I love you? That you are it for me? I don’t know what more I can do.’

‘Please don’t be angry.’

‘I’m not angry. I’m disappointed.’

God, that was worse. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Yeah, wel .’ He pretended to watch the game but I could see that his emotions were fluctuating wildly between anger and hurt.

I felt absolutely gutted by what I’d just done. He’d offered me love—it was something unique—like a Fabergé egg—which I’d proceeded to smash. To have your soulfinder reject you was like tearing yourself in two, but somehow I couldn’t help myself. I was hurting him because I was plain terrified. Like that mountaineer who cut off his own hand to save himself, pain now was better than more suffering later, wasn’t it? Oh God, was I right or just running?

Confused and scared, I switched off the television.

‘Hey!’ Zed reached for the control er.

‘Just give me a moment then you can switch it back on.’ I tucked the control er behind my back. ‘I real y am sorry. This is me—I’m not the most confident person. You said once I always act surprised when someone likes me—but it isn’t an act. I don’t expect people to like me—let alone love me. I just don’t feel that lovable and now you can see why. I suppose it’s kinda your bad luck to end up with me as a soulfinder.’

Zed ran a hand across his face and through his hair, trying to muster his thoughts. ‘I don’t blame you.’

‘I know you don’t. You’ve seen what’s inside me, warts and al .’ I gave a slightly hysterical laugh. My heart was pounding: I’d messed up big time but I couldn’t leave him thinking I didn’t have strong feelings for him. Maybe I couldn’t be what he wanted, but I could prove I loved him. ‘You said you walked in front of a gun to show that you loved me. Wel , I suppose I can only do the same for you. I’m going to Vegas tomorrow—and I’l be doing it for you.’

He shot to his feet. ‘No way!’

I chucked him the control er which he caught on reflex. ‘I’m not as sorted as you are about this savant stuff and we both have to live with that. I just can’t risk being that way with you—I don’t think I’l survive the life.’ I took a breath. ‘But Victor’s plan is the only way I can think of to give you proof that, despite my messed-up head, I do love you.’

There—I’d said my piece. I couldn’t read Zed’s response—his emotions were confused and he was ominously silent.

‘So, you can … um … get back to the game. I’m going to turn in—get an early night.’

He held out a hand to me. ‘Sky?’

‘Yes?’

‘I stil love you—more than ever. I’l wait til you’re ready.’

I felt a huge rush of guilt. I’d never be ready.

‘I don’t want you to put yourself on the line for me.’

I folded my arms. ‘Yeah, I kinda guessed that bit.’

He tugged me closer, his large hand rose to cradle the back of my head, warmth seeping through to the skin. ‘I’l talk to Victor about your worries. I’m gonna insist I come. My future sense works wel just before an event even with interference. I can help anticipate problems.’

‘From a safe distance?’

‘From a reasonable distance. Close enough to be there to help, but not so close to hand the Kel ys the advantage.’

‘OK.’ I rubbed my palm over his heart, silently apologizing for the heartache I was causing. ‘I can cope with that.’

The female FBI agent I’ d encountered months ago met me in the washrooms at McCarran airport, Las Vegas, to fit me with my wire.

‘Hi, Sky. Anya Kowalski. Remember me?’ she asked, getting out her kit.

‘Yes, of course.’

She smiled at me in the mirror, her sleek brown hair glowing in the spotlights. ‘We appreciate what you’re doing for us.’

‘Can you hurry, please? Sal y might come looking for me any moment now.’

She grinned at my worried reflection. ‘That’s not likely. She’s being interviewed by a local reporter on her views on airport standards. He’s not letting her get away.’

‘And he is?’

‘One of our men.’ She slipped a tiny microphone into the elastic of my bra. ‘That should do it. Try not to cover up too much and remember not to bash it with anything—purse, whatever—as it gives our listening post a nasty headache.’

‘OK. That’s it? No battery or wire?’

‘Nope. It’s got its own little power pack and wil run for about twenty-four hours. No wires to give it away.’

‘But it emits a signal, right?’

‘Yes, it transmits sound. What you hear, we hear.’

‘Can anyone tel ?’

‘Theoretical y. But only if they have the inside track on FBI frequencies. We’ve not had a problem before.’

‘But if Daniel Kel y has got this information from one of you already?’

She grimaced. ‘Then the proverbial hits the fan.

But we’l get you and your parents out, don’t worry.’

Sal y was preening when I returned to her side.

‘That young man was real y interested in my views,’ she said. ‘He said he total y agreed that the airport was bland and could do with some more chal enging artworks—maybe a Damien Hirst cow or diamond skul —this is Vegas, after al .’

‘Why not go the whole hog and have the Emin bed?’ grumbled Simon, who didn’t think highly of instal ation works. ‘Most people bumming about airports look as though they could do with a good sleep.’

‘I should have thought of that.’ Sal y winked at me.

‘I think one of Dali’s melting clock faces is more appropriate—time seems like fudge for international travel ers,’ I suggested.

My parents stopped and stared at me in amazement.

‘What?’ I asked, embarrassed.

‘You understand art!’ Sal y gasped.

‘Yeah, so?’

Simon laughed with delight. ‘Al these years and I thought it wasn’t rubbing off on her!’ He gave me a smacking kiss.

‘I’m stil not going to go splash paint on unsuspecting canvases,’ I mumbled, pleased I’d given them something to celebrate. I felt bad enough about letting them walk into this blind.

‘We wouldn’t expect you to. In fact, I think I’d forbid you to try. Imagine having another scatty artist in the family!’

Simon linked his arms in mine and Sal y’s and waltzed us out of the airport to the waiting car.

Sliding into the back seat, the reality of what was happening rushed back. It wasn’t the same vehicle I’d been carried in to the warehouse—just an innocuous hotel shuttle to the airport—but I stil felt a chil run up my spine.

Zed?

It’s OK, Sky. Victor and I are two cars behind.

We’ll drop back and pass the tail over to another agent in a moment, but we won’t lose you.

Is it OK to talk like this?

Until you reach the hotel. We’re guessing MariaKelly is the surviving shield expert so we mustn’ttake risks.

Tell me again, how much do I have to get for the FBI to move in?

We need them to admit to involvement in thekidnapping or to do something illegal on this trip,like try to falsify your memories—that’s the mostlikely. An added bonus would be any sight or soundof the two Kelly escapees.

How do I get them to do that? It seemed far more difficult now I had to execute the strategy I’d only thought about in the abstract.

They’ve set things up to bring you here so theymust have a plan. Go along with things as far asyou can. We’re guessing they’re going to try andseparate you from Sally and Simon.

And I let them?

I could tel Zed was uncomfortable with the answer.

They’ll be safer that way.

Don’t worry about me.

No can do.

We turned into the covered drop-off area for The Fortune Tel er casino hotel.

‘That’s what it’s cal ed!’ said Sal y, clicking her fingers. ‘I knew it was something to do with fairs.’

She smoothed her Matisse silk scarf over the jacket of her light wool suit. ‘Do I look OK, Sky?’

‘Very professional.’ I regretted that she was wasting her efforts on a criminal.

Simon always screamed ‘artist’ whatever he was wearing. Today he’d put on his favourite black denim jacket with his jeans—his version of a suit.

‘What an amazing place!’ he marvel ed as we strode through the foyer with its ranks of slot machines and waitresses in skimpy gypsy costumes. It was a maze—many of the shops sel ing cheap rubbish right next to designer label stores. ‘So absolutely tasteless, it is quite a work of art in itself.’

To our right, a klaxon sounded and coins began to pour from a machine into the lap of an ecstatic man in a shiny blue tracksuit. There was a momentary lul as the gamblers glanced over at the lucky winner, then business as usual.

‘I’d like to paint the faces,’ mused Sal y, eyeing a woman with an acutely desperate expression perched on a stool by her chosen fruit machine. ‘You can smel the hope and the hopelessness. The lack of natural light gives it an underworld feeling, doesn’t it; land of lost souls?’

Underworld? I was thinking Hel myself with the Kel ys as the ruling demons.

A bel boy led us to the bank of lifts. ‘Mrs Toscana wil see you in her office,’ he explained. ‘West Tower, third floor.’

The mirrored lift took us to the mezzanine level. A balcony overlooked the main floor of the casino, a variety of games under way from roulette to poker.

As it was mid afternoon, most people were casual y dressed and the atmosphere relaxed. I’d expected James Bond sophistication and got seaside amusements. The baize shone with the rich green of dubious promise, plastic chips which in truth represented mil ions of dol ars thickening the il usion that this was al just a harmless bit of fun. Our guide showed us to a double set of doors with ‘General Manager’ inscribed on a brass name plate. Once we were through, we left behind the garish fortune tel er flash of the hotel decor for quiet and refinement: an elegant white L-shaped sofa for visitors; fresh flowers on a low glass table; and a neatly dressed secretary who greeted us and showed us into the boss’s inner sanctum.

The first thing I noticed was the bank of screens showing activity in al parts of the hotel. There were close-ups of the card tables as wel as more general views of the public areas. Then I noticed Maria Kel y standing by the window looking out on to the hotel atrium, her hand outstretched. My hackles rose: she was poison and I didn’t want her anywhere near my parents.

‘Simon, Sal y, delighted to meet you in person after our phone cal s. And this must be Sky?’

Her smile was friendly, but her emotions told another story, flickering between cool blue calculation and a tinge of red violence. I hoped my face did not betray my revulsion at seeing her again.

I had to pretend I stil did not remember.

‘Yes, it is,’ said Simon. ‘Thanks for inviting us.’

She waved us to three chairs across the desk from hers. ‘I was hoping that this weekend would give you a chance to understand my hotels, what kind of clientele we cater for, and what artistic tastes they might have. I think you’l find our rooms range from the economy to the exclusive and our guests’

preferences are on as wide a scale.’

This job was bogus—I could see it in the yel ow lights now glowing around her. She was enjoying spinning the tale, like a cat playing with mice.

‘I’ve got a ful programme worked out for you and one of my assistant managers wil be dedicated to facilitating your visit. But that no doubt sounds very boring for your daughter.’

‘Sky’s happy to fit in with us,’ Sal y said. ‘She’l be no bother.’

‘No, no, that won’t be necessary. I thought she might prefer to find out what Vegas has to offer young people.’

Simon shifted in his seat. ‘Wel , now, Mrs Toscana, that’s real y kind of you, but you know what Sky’s been through recently; we don’t want to leave her on her own in an unfamiliar place.’

‘Natural y, I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I’ve asked my younger brother if he could spare the time to look after her. I’m sure he’l show her a good time.

Maybe they could catch an afternoon show. The Cirque du Soleil is amazing—she can’t miss that!’

Sean Kel y’s idea of a good time was to drain me of al my emotions and mess around with my head.

So this was the plan: to throw me to the Sean-lion while my parents were shepherded off to play in the hotel. I only hoped Victor and Zed were getting al this and would step in before things went too far.

‘Would you like that, darling?’ Sal y asked.

‘That’s fine,’ I replied, not quite able to bring myself to thank Maria.

‘Lovely.’ The lines around Sal y’s eyes crinkled into a relieved smile. ‘Then we’l see you back here this evening for dinner, darling.’

‘I’ve booked my private dining room for us, so you can meet other members of the senior staff.’ Maria smiled, displaying an expensive set of teeth. ‘But Sky might prefer to grab a burger with Sean. He’s waiting for her just outside. I’ve got a few business matters I’d like to discuss with your parents, Sky. I hope you don’t mind.’

‘Fine.’ She was a real cow—sending me off with the creep outside while pretending she was doing me a favour. ‘I’l see you later then.’

‘Let’s play it by ear,’ Simon said happily. ‘Come back when you’ve had enough, love.’

Reluctantly, I got up. The only redeeming part of this plan was the fact that my parents were going to be far away from any danger. I checked my new phone was in my jeans’ pocket. Victor had given it to me that morning, saying he’d programmed in his and other emergency numbers just in case. ‘Keep your phone switched on, Simon—I’l cal when I’m finished seeing the sights.’

‘Don’t rush if you’re enjoying yourself.’ Sal y smiled conspiratorial y at Maria.

That was highly unlikely—not unless it involved seeing our hosts led away in handcuffs.

I’d forgotten just how repulsive Sean was in the flesh.

It wasn’t the fact that he was overweight—that could have made him friendly and jol y—it was the dampness of his palm, the smarminess in his smile, the little moustache that looked like an earwig.

‘Sky Bright? Delighted to meet you.’ He held out a hand which I had to take but I slid free as soon as possible.

‘Hi. You’re Sean, right?’

‘Yes. Maria’s asked me to take care of you.’

I bet she has.

‘What do you want to see first? The tables?’ He led the way to the lifts.

‘Am I al owed to gamble? I thought I was under-age.’

He gave me a wink. ‘Let’s say it’s a special arrangement just for you. I’l get you some chips on the house and you can have a play without losing a dime of your own money. I’m generous—I’l let you keep any winnings.’

‘That’s real y kind of you.’ Not.

He took me to the cashier’s window and drew out chips worth a thousand dol ars. ‘That should get you started.’

‘I don’t know the rules of any of the card games.’

‘Then let’s try roulette—that’s child’s play.’

This whole thing was like a spin of roulette. Black or red? Would we come out a winner or the Kel ys?

‘OK. That sounds fun,’ I said with feigned enthusiasm.

I swiftly lost half the money through bad guesses, then won a quarter of it back with a lucky punt. I could see how the game could become addictive. There was the hope that the next spin would favour you. No skil was involved; only good fortune.

‘Another go?’ Sean raked in my winnings for me.

‘OK.’ I shoved nearly al of my money on an outside bet on the evens square.

I lost.

‘Hey ho,’ I sighed, trying not to be bothered by al this money going back to the hotel. It was only leprechaun gold, like in Harry Potter.

Put everything on the fifteen, Zed whispered.

I hid my smile behind my hand. I knew he’d be unbeatable at gambling. I placed my remaining chips on fifteen. Sean shook his head.

‘Are you sure, Sky? A bet like that is cal ed a straight up—a risky move.’

‘Yeah, I like to live dangerously.’ I gave him a brash smile.

The other participants chuckled indulgently at my rookie’s enthusiasm.

‘Wel now,’ drawled a Stetson-wearing good ol’

boy from Texas, ‘if the pretty lady says black fifteen is lucky, I’l put my money where she’s put hers.

Thirty-five to one—great odds—if you win.’

From the gentle orange glow around the man, I could tel he was only trying to make me feel better about my rashness in the spirit of ‘misery loves company’ when I inevitably lost it al .

‘Trust me,’ I told him seriously. ‘I’m feeling good about this.’

With a laugh, he shoved a sizeable chunk of his money on the fifteen. Catching on to the fun of the moment, several other people risked a chip or two on the same square.

With a confident smile, the croupier spun the big wheel and dropped in the bal .

‘First time, honey?’ asked my Texan, tucking his thumbs into his belt.

‘Yes.’

‘You’ve got a nice accent there.’

‘I’m English.’

‘Pleased to meet you. Now, little lady, don’t go getting upset when you lose your money—treat it as a lesson. Wish I had when I was your age. I’d’ve had myself a nice condo in Florida if I hadn’t wasted it al in places like this.’

I smiled and nodded, turning my attention back to the slowing wheel. Little did he know but he was one step closer to that retirement place.

The bal jumped, clattered, then dropped into its slot. The croupier looked down and swal owed.

‘Black fifteen!’

There was a gasp from al at the table, bar me.

Then …

‘Yee-ha!’ The Texan threw his hat in the air. Next he picked me up and spun me round, giving me a kiss on both cheeks. ‘Luck is a lady and here she is!’

Our joint winnings were impressive. I walked away with nearly five thousand dol ars, the Texan with several hundred thousand, much to Sean’s horror.

‘Promise to spend it on a place in Florida?’ I asked the Texan, who introduced himself as George Mitchel the Third. I could just see him handing it al back to the Kel ys with another rash bet.

‘I promise, honey. And even more, I’l cal it after you. What’s your name?’

‘Sky Bright.’

‘Perfect. Bright Skies here I come.’ With a wave of his hat, he headed for the cashier’s office, hitching his trousers up by the belt.

Gamblers being a superstitious bunch, I found myself besieged by requests for tips for the next spin. Sean pul ed on my arm.

‘I think we’d best be heading out,’ he said smoothly, his lights pulsing an angry red.

‘OK. Whatever you want,’ I replied sweetly.

‘I’l make sure your winnings get to you. A cheque OK?’

‘Um … to my parents, please. I haven’t opened my own bank account in the US yet.’

‘Fine.’ His grip on my arm was just the far side of comfortable, showing that his control was slipping.

He tried to make a joke of it. ‘I should take you out of here before you break the bank. How about you go ruin some of our competitors?’

Did that mean he suspected I had used savant powers to beat the roulette wheel?

‘I think I’ve had enough. Beginner’s luck and al that. Don’t want to push it.’

He mastered himself, getting back on track. ‘OK, let’s go eat then. We’ve got an excel ent restaurant on the top floor, views across to Red Rock Canyon.

I’l just drop your chips in the office.’ He headed for the cashier’s window. I could tel from the aura of satisfaction that surrounded him that he had no intention of me seeing a cent.

I couldn’t resist checking Zed was stil listening even with the risk. Maria Kel y had to be busy, didn’t she? You get that?

Yeah. I’m still laughing about the roulette—well done, baby. I couldn’t help giving you the tip—

Victor’s not amused.

Hearing his voice in my head grounded me, lessened the fear. One of my finer moments, thanks to you.

There was a pause. I’ve got to be quick. Victor says Daniel Kelly is up top. We think this might be it.

They’re going to try and wipe my mind again?

Very likely—but we won’t let that happen. Don’t forget to keep your shields strong. We’re moving in to position, got a team on the floor below posing as a cleaning crew.

Where are you?

Close. I’d better stop talking to you now in case Sean picks it up.

I don’t think he can, but maybe Maria is about the place somewhere. She’s the more powerful savant, I’d say.

Then we must break this off. Stay safe.

Yeah, you too.

The trip up in the lift wa

s one of the hardest things I

have ever done. I had to hide the fact that I was feeling sick with nerves, remembering al too wel what had happened last time I’d been alone with Daniel Kel y and son.

‘So, what you fancy? They do a good club sandwich,’ Sean said, rubbing his hands together.

Al he needed was a black cape and to cackle ‘bwa-ha-ha’ to complete the bad guy act. I found him pathetic.

‘Um, yeah, that sounds lovely.’

‘You like Las Vegas?’

‘It’s unique.’

He sniggered. ‘It is that. A manmade playground.’

‘You in col ege?’

‘No. I went straight into the family business.’

‘Hotels?’

‘And other things.’

It was the other things he preferred—the racketeering and the violence. I could sense he thought of himself as fol owing in Dad’s footsteps.

He was quite pitiable real y, with none of the edge his father and sister had. He was only truly frightening when he threatened to suck the emotions out of me.

The lift doors opened on an al too familiar corridor. I couldn’t help hesitating before I stepped out.

‘Problem?’

‘Er … no, just a moment of déjà-vu.’

He stroked his moustache to hide a grin. ‘I know the feeling. Look, Sky, I just want to introduce you to my father; he’s CEO of the family business. It won’t take a moment. Is that OK with you?’

I shoved my hands in my pockets, glancing down quickly to check that my microphone was not visible in my cleavage. ‘OK.’

I’m doing this for Zed, I told myself as I fol owed Sean into the boardroom.

As he had been that day weeks ago, Daniel Kel y was waiting at the head of the table. ‘Ah, Sky, good to see you again.’ He got up and waved the door closed with his telekinetic powers.

The lock clicked.

What? He wasn’t even bothering to hide that he was a savant.

‘I’ve met you before?’ I asked, hoping I sounded genuinely puzzled.

‘You can drop the pretence now. I’m ful y aware that the FBI has sent you to us in the vain hope we’l incriminate ourselves. But that’s not going to happen.’

Then why was he talking like this? I couldn’t help but glance down again.

‘You can forget about the wire. Maria’s running interference. They’l just be getting static. Sean, where are your manners? Show our guest to a chair.’

Sean seized my shoulders and pushed me down on to a seat on its own by the window.

‘What are you getting from her?’ Daniel Kel y tapped his fingers on his crossed arms.

‘The smug confidence has gone.’ Sean inhaled deeply. ‘Fear—wonderful fear.’

‘Take as much as you like,’ his father said. ‘She’s cost us enough with that stunt she pul ed in the casino.’

I shuddered as Sean bent to my neck and rubbed his cheek against mine. I felt like a tyre developing a puncture, air rushing out. My training with Victor fled with it; I couldn’t remember what I was supposed to do. Fear escalated; I was shivering uncontrol ably.

Worst of al , I couldn’t feel Zed with me any more. Al the most frightening times in my life crowded to the fore: my parents’ argument, Phil’s beatings, abandonment, being shot at in the forest, the warehouse.

‘Wonderful,’ murmured Sean. ‘She’s like a vintage wine—intoxicating, potent.’

Daniel Kel y decided he had indulged enough.

‘Stop now, Sean. I want her conscious.’

Sean brushed a sweaty kiss on my jaw and stood up. I felt clammy and washed out, energy having drained away with the emotion. I hugged my arms around me.

Think, I ordered my fractured mind. There’ssomething you can do. Windsor Castle.

But my shields were a house of cards, tumbling down at the first shock.

‘If I am right, the FBI wil be trying to gain access to this floor so we don’t have long. Unfortunately, Sky, you are going to go on a teenage rampage, your doubtful sanity having given way. Seizing this gun,’

he indicated a handgun lying on the table, ‘you’re going to run through the casino shooting at innocent guests. The FBI wil have to take you out to stop you

–sacrifice their pawn. Rather poetic isn’t it?’

‘I won’t.’

‘You wil . Of course, they’l suspect the truth but there wil be no evidence, what with you being dead and al .’

‘No.’

‘How tragic for the Benedicts.’ He perched on the edge of the table, checking his watch. ‘You see, Sky, I’ve decided that to make them instrumental in the death of innocents is the best revenge. They’l have to live with the knowledge. It’l cripple them permanently and the FBI wouldn’t dare use them again.’

I had to get a grip on myself. Victor had told me what to do if I faced mind-mugging again. I had to get it right as not only my own life was at risk this time. I couldn’t imagine anything more horrifying than causing the death of others. He was not going to do this to me. I refused to let him.

I clenched my hands on the arms of the chair and began to project waves of my power. The table shook; a glass carafe juddered to the edge and crashed to the floor; a crack developed in the window, snaking up to the ceiling.

‘Stop it!’ Kel y said sharply, slapping me round the face. ‘Maria! Sean, drain her!’

Maria rushed in as Sean bent once more to my neck. I felt him this time before he could begin absorbing the emotion. I pulsed out one beat of anger, hitting his mind like a punch to the chin. He reared back.

‘What the—!’ Sean grabbed his head, blood dripping from his nose. ‘You little witch!’

‘Maria, do something!’ ordered Daniel Kel y as the ceiling panels began to fal into the room.

Maria thrust both palms towards me. It was like hitting a wal after freewheeling down a hil . I was thrown back in the chair, ending up on the floor, my attack cut off.

‘Our little savant has learned to use her powers, has she?’ With a wave of his hand, Daniel Kel y righted my chair. ‘But you don’t seriously think you can match the three of us, do you? No, I can see from your eyes that you don’t. You’re stil waiting for your cavalry to charge in and save you, but the bad news for you is that they won’t. This floor is locked down and they have no warrant. By the time they get one, the drama wil have relocated to the casino.’ He grabbed my head between his hands and squeezed.

‘Now sit back and relax. This won’t take long.’

The next thing I remember is walking out of the lift into the hotel lounge. A pianist sat at his instrument crooning a song about people needing people. But I didn’t need anyone. I wanted to shoot them, didn’t I?

I strol ed into the casino, gun tucked in the smal of my back under my shirt.

‘Hey, it’s Lady Luck!’ George Mitchel the Third swooped on me.

‘What you stil doing here, George?’ I asked him.

Was I supposed to kil him too? I felt a bead of sweat run down my face. I wiped it away.

‘Just saying goodbye to the tables. I swore to you I wouldn’t be back and I’m a man of my word.’

‘That’s good, George. You best get going.’

‘Yeah, I’m saddling up and heading out.’ He tipped his hat to me, then squinted at my face. ‘You don’t look so good, honey.’

‘I feel a bit strange.’

‘Go lie down. Take a load off. Can I get someone for you?’

I rubbed my forehead. I wanted someone. Zed. He was close.

‘Your parents?’

Artists. Art. Didn’t know you understood art. Old Masters. Layers. It was important but I couldn’t remember why. Images were flicking through my brain like wind stirring the leaves of one of my graphic novels, opening on random pages.

‘I’m OK. I’l go up to my room in a moment.’

‘You do that, honey. It was nice meeting you.’

‘And you, George.’

He turned his back, walking away with a wide-legged gait.

Shoot him.

No!

Take out the gun and shoot him.

My hand crept round to the gun in my waistband, fingers curling round the butt, drawing it clear. Then someone screamed—Maria Kel y rushed for the security guard and pointed at me.

‘She’s got a gun!’ she shrieked.

I looked down at my hand. So I did. I was supposed to run and fire the thing at random.

Do it.

Old Masters. False memories. Scrape away.

The security guard hit the alarm. I stood irresolute in the middle of the casino as gamblers dived for cover. A slot machine paid out a win to an empty stool.

‘Sheesh, honey, you don’t want to fire that thing!’

cal ed George from the safety of the other side of a pinbal table.

My brain was screaming at me to act. I couldn’t stop myself—I raised the muzzle to the ceiling and squeezed the trigger. The recoil was incredible, jarring my wrist. A chandelier shattered. How could I have done that? I was trapped in a nightmare with my body and brain no longer under my control.

That’s it—now target the people.

No, this was wrong. I hated guns. I stared down at the big black thing in my hand as if it was a cancerous growth, wanting to drop it but my mind shouted at me to start firing.