Caressed By Ice by Nalini Singh Page A

activities.” Anthony passed her a disc containing the names of companies that had requested a forecast since they last spoke—forecasts she provided under a subcontracting agreement with NightStar.
    She put the disc to one side, more interested in this Ghost. “Is he one of us?” If there was one thing Faith and her father both agreed on, it was that they wanted their people freed from a Silence that was false—Anthony might be coldly Psy, but he was also the leader of a quiet revolution against the Council.
    â€œThere’s no way to know. However, it is evident that the Ghost is part of the Council’s superstructure—he or she has access to classified data, but hasn’t acted on anything above a certain level. That could be because this individual doesn’t have higher access, or because he—”
    â€œâ€”is being very careful not to do anything that might narrow the focus of inquiry as to his, or her, identity,” Faith completed.
    â€œGood strategy.” The jaguar at her side finally spoke, his thumb continuing to stroke over her nape. “The Council’s got to be pissed if this rebel is leaking classified data.”
    â€œYes.” Anthony turned back to Faith. “The Ghost was active while you were still part of the Net. Do you recall the explosion at Exogenesis Labs?”
    â€œThe place where they’re theorizing about implants that might lower the percentage of defects ?” She spit out the last word. It was the label the Council used to describe those who refused to buckle under the emotionless regime of the Silence Protocol. “They want to cut into developing brains and initiate Silence on an organic level.”
    Anthony didn’t react to her open emotionalism. “The Exogenesis strike killed two of the lead scientists on the implant team and destroyed months of work.”
    â€œYour Ghost isn’t afraid to kill.”
    Faith heard no judgment in Vaughn’s tone—her cat had killed to protect the innocent. And children, the first victims of implantation should the procedure be put into practice, were the most innocent of all.

CHAPTER 7
    â€œIt appears not. The explosion was investigated by both Enforcement and the Council, but without active support from a majority of the populace.”
    â€œWhy?” Vaughn asked, his body heat so seductive she found herself leaning ever closer to him, her hand on the hard muscle of his thigh. “Wouldn’t this implant make the Psy even more efficient?”
    Anthony nodded. “In a sense. But the dissidents argue that Protocol I, while ensuring universal compliance with Silence, would have the unavoidable side effect of linking our minds together. Not as the PsyNet does, but on a biological level.”
    Protocol I.
    That it already had an official name was a bad sign. “They’re talking about a true hive mind.” Faith couldn’t control the disgust that laced her words.
    â€œYes. It’s nothing that appeals to those of us who prefer to run our enterprises free of interference. That would become impossible should the entire race begin to act as one entity.” He picked up his organizer—the thin computer tablet ubiquitous among the Psy. “From the pattern of attacks, it appears the Ghost shares our goals, but without knowing his or her identity, we can’t coordinate our efforts.”
    Vaughn leaned forward. “The more people who know a name, the higher the chance of exposure. I say let the Ghost do his—or her—thing, and ride the wave it generates.”
    â€œYour conclusion mirrors mine.” His tone signaling the end of the topic, Anthony brought up something on his organizer. “BlueZ has been waiting for its latest prediction for a month. Can you move it to the top of your list?”
    Faith picked up her own organizer. “I can try.” She still hadn’t cracked the secret of bringing on visions to