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I have never ever spoken to such a large group of people before Inside I a I don’t know ifI’ on the outside too

“Hi everyone,” I say, a slight tre my nerves DI Zael hears it even if no one else does He is not even bothering to hide his smirk

“Thanks for helping us with the search today,” I continue, i to use the tone of voice that he would use But then I feel stuck Because I have no idea what Storm would say next

And they are waiting forirave situation And I have nothing Absolutely nothing

I take a quick glance at Ree ht She has no idea that it isher down in front of DI Zael and all of these people makes me want to crawl into a hole

Hoish the little voice inside my head could speak to me now Nemesis would know exactly what to do, even without my psychic skills She would make up some crap and everyone would fall for it Heck, she had been so smart and sassy I could sure use some of that about now I feel like a rabbit, like prey, frozen in headlights Nemesis is a predator It would never have even crossed her mind to feel this way

I straightenof her and standing like her hable idea that will co, but she would have pulled it off with such panache no one would have questioned it

Maybe no one will question me either

“I want everyone to think,” I say, injecting the confidence into my voice that Nemesis would have “If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be? You don’t have to say it out loud Just think it and hold it in your mind”

DI Zael’s eyebrows shoot up towards his forehead He does not look i their cues fro his head in disapproval The civilians look from me and Remi to DI Zael and his officers So uncomfortable

This is a somber occasion and no doubt they find ruous

“Put your hands up if you have an anih with this

Only half of them put their hands up

“The rest of you aren’t thinking hard enough,” I say fir them no room for maneuver “Think of the aniot it put your hand up”

One by one o up This puts pressure on the last few people to participate, and eventually all of the hands are up, including a couple of DI Zael’s officers DI Zael’s is not Nor are those of the officers standing nearest to him