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We followed Natalie to the kitchen, a large roo space, to pick up tea on our way to the living roos in an effort not to say so rude, like hurry up and tell us already Claude revealed no impatience in his laid-back attitude and easy sed the second Natalie told us her findings

"What do youto indicate the brand was psychically altered, other than the cleaning, which as you know didn’t remove the psychometric imprints At least not completely," Natalie said, the diminutive woman not the least bit rattled by Claude’s obvious shock

Claude sank onto Natalie’s couch and rubbed his face with his hands "That isn’t possible"

I’d never thought I’d hear a ue, even just a hint, and I didn’t like it "There could be an explanation, Claude"

He looked up at aze twistedup in the initial vision means he definitely made an impression on the victim But we don’t know exactly what happened I need lanced at Natalie and she offered me a small smile "I could even start now"

Natalie set down the brand on the coffee table "I’ll just get us so with murders is a bit easier with alcohol Scotch for you, Claude?"

He nodded without looking at her, his attention locked on the brand

"Agent Davis?"

I opened edto handle that brand before we left, I’d need a drink after "Beer if you have it" Hell, what tiist would love this--it would open up a whole new can of worms

"Remember to keep an open mind?" I didn’t mean for it to be a question, but , a kiss, offer him comfort God, I was a world-class rateful smile I sat on one of the oversized chairs that surrounded the coffee table and hyperventilated Then I gestured toward the brand Claude picked it up and held it out to me

"Thank you," he said softly, then dropped the brand intomy throat with bile Luc Chevalier’s face flashed, and it inter way He was yelling so--silent to round was clouded, but I thought I couldto drag it back to the ers and graying hand No, not graying But touched with fur

I heard the bang of the brand hitting the floor, and I forced air into ed my vision My hand came into focus first, curled like a claw forced open A defense mechanism that psychometrists’ bodies see through visions, in case we couldn’tthe brief es

My hand, as it about my hand?

The vision rushed back, bits and pieces that led to force them into a linear ti and a round hole, unfortunately

Soain And I blinked dumbly at Claude for a couple of seconds The situation rushed back to ely concerned expression on his face

Natalie set a beer on the table in front of me and then reached down and retrieved the brand from where I’d dropped it on her floor I wondered if she’d seen h I , or so I was told And I guessed that wasn’t so bad

"A selkie"

"What?" Claude hadn’t h he kept his hands to himself since I’d pulled away

"The man who imprinted on that brand He was a selkie I saw his hand tied down" I touchedfroh"

"He was kept in mid-transforretted the h my skull "Not necessarily Imprints aren’t linear, and they aren’t perfect It could be that he shifted entirely, but that the psychic iure out anything useful from your visions?" Natalie asked

I flinched

"Apparently she does just fine, Natalie Have you seen her closure rate?" Claude cut in

I stared at the vampire He hadn’t just come to me because ofbeforehand Not that it wasn’t a reasonable step--a sator No wonder he’d knoas on medical leave

The small part of me that hoped he’d come because he’d felt a connection to er atsuch an idea, it was disappointing