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"Well then, shall we go get some coffee? I know a Starbucks near here that’s still open"
"Don’t you want me to talk to your members, like the others?" I peeked over my shoulder, as he steered me back to the door
"My associates can handle the job Please, allow reat deal of pro newcomers personally"
Halcon aimed me for the doors, and as we approached thearts had foret free Halcon and his ht s in from all sides
Reer Not yet But you can’t let on you’re nervous or they’ll beco you want
As I gave myself a mental pep talk, we entered the hall, and Halcon turned me to the left He kept up a steady patter of conversation as weso fast there was no way I could get a word in edgewise He was bulldozing ht he was--and I tried to control my nerves as he pushed open the side door and we exited the building
We were on the side of the Community Center now, and I hoped that Shade was nearby and following We were in the shadows, after all, so he ned interest as Halcon continued to praise the Network for all the good it did its oals in the future, which sounded like a bunch of vague pro fro to have to let down my shields sointo the one-sided conversation
"I want you to meet someone," Halcon said "I want you to anization He’s always in need of people who have a great deal of psychic power, and my dear, you have more than e"
Gulakah He was taking ht?" I deliberately stu Halcon a chance to rest his hand on ave Shade a chance to catch up with us, if he was following
"No, he keeps to himself He’s…he’s not quite like the rest of the mortals"
"Oh, he’s one of the Supe Cohter than I felt and also did my best to remain clueless, at least in Halcon’s eyes
"Not exactly Wait till you o out y of others and of the city He stays in seclusion I hope you don’tI wondered if he got brownie points for bringing inOr did Gulakah just proh fodder?
I still hadn’t seen Faer lot, I wondered if she, too, had been the recipient of Halcon’s unwavering attention The seal could easily have charnized it for what it was
At thattoward an SUV…and it was parked right near , slow strea, I allowed Halcon to help er seat He hopped into the driver’s seat, the Tregarts slid into the back, and ere off As we pulled onto the street, I sidled aze to the mirror on my side and was relieved to see Morio’s SUV pull out on the street behind us He was hanging back, but he definitely had us spotted I focused on Halcon and listened as he continued to prattle on
The Tregarts had re I decided that it would be only natural to say so in when Halcon fell silent during a left turn
"You’re all et involved?"
The three lanced at the back of Halcon’s head Finally the second one cleared his throat
"We’ve been friends of Halcon for quite a while After a lot of hashing out things, he convinced us to coave me a short nod
"I see…so you’ve been in the network for a long time?"
Halcon broke in "They’ve been with ,again, and I turned back around Another side glance toldoutside that’s catching your interest?" Halcon asked, turning right
I shook oing to Starbucks?" We’d already passed two of the drive-through coffee shops I knew it had been a ruse, but I needed to keep up appearances, and Morning Glory would have been concerned My persona wasn’t stupid, just naïve
Halcon reached down and my door lock clicked "I’m afraid that we don’t have time to stop for coffee now, my dear I promised our leader that I’d be back at a certain time, and when I called him from the Community Center to tell him about you, he was positively thrilled He wants to meet you He’ll be especially interested in the fact that you so Glory" His voice shifted from friendly to cool "If that is your name"
My stomach lurched First, Halcon hadn’t called anybody at the center And second, hewas up I wanted to glance in the ain, reassure myself that Morio and the others were still behind ood idea I forced myself to keep my eyes on the road in front of us
"What do youGlory I hope you don’t think I’ve been rude I just…I don’t know you, and riding with four strangeto Starbucks" I allowed a tinge of hysteria to enter ht I orried he was a pervert, he’d calm down
Halcon peeked into the rearview arts, but I couldn’t see as on their faces and I didn’t want to turn around After a h
"I promise: I have no sexual interest in you I just want you to meet the man who started the Aleksais Psychic Network because I think he’ll have a great use for you" Once again, he glanced in the rear er to you If you truly want coffee, we’ll pull through the next Starbucks, but Morning Glory, once you uarantee you, caffeine will be the last thing on your , "All right I’m okay I just…it’s hard for me to trust I’ve been hurt toothat he’d buy the explanation