Finding the Magic by Cait Miller

served and fought for his country with pride. Until his commanding officer had caught wind of his retirement scheme. It’s not like anyone would have missed those guns anyway. Better than leaving them lying to rust where some kid might pick one up and shoot his mate with it. The way he saw it, he was doing a public service. Still, his knees shook as he knocked on the door to the office.
    “Come.”
    The office was softly lit by a brass lamp on the desk and the vinyl flooring gave way to thick carpeting. A coat stand in one corner held a dark gray suit jacket and a white lab coat. The other corner held a single, locked filing cabinet. A slim laptop, closed at the moment, and two security monitors filled a table against the far wall. One screen was flickering through the various surveillance cameras around the building. The other showed a split-screen of the holding facility where several of the inhabitants paced behind the glass walls. Some were human, some were…not.
    The man who sat behind the heavy, wooden desk looked up as he entered. He was fiftyish and still fit, with broad shoulders and a trim waist and dark hair just beginning to be threaded with silver. His shirt was a pristine white and his tie was precisely knotted. He placed the papers he had been reading on top of the pile in front of him, squaring the edges up neatly with his fingertips. When he spoke, his voice was pleasant, friendly even, but his blue eyes were icy.
    “Henry. Explain to me why I am sitting here reading papers instead of in the lab with a new subject.”
    “He wasn’t alone, Professor.”
    “I see.” He steepled his neatly manicured fingers and studied him over them. “And did your surveillance not indicate that he was a largely solitary creature?”
    “Yes, sir. However, his routine seems to have changed since Dr. York targeted his friend.”
    The professor lowered his hands to the desk where he drummed his fingers on the table. “Then you’re saying the failure of the capture was my fault.”
    “No! No, sir!” Cold sweat dampened Henry’s forehead and trickled down his spine. His stomach roiled greasily. “Dr. York’s contributions to the project were invaluable.”
    “Very true, though his lack of caution in his hunting methods was lamentable. I hate to waste resources but…he was a necessary sacrifice. I do believe he was quite mad toward the end.”
    The fingers on the table stilled and Henry took a shaky breath as he continued his explanation. “Murray had Jayne Davis in the car with him. She helped him escape.”
    “Now there’s an interesting twist of fate. Two marked females who are close friends. Coincidence or some kind of biological attraction? It might be interesting to study.” The professor’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you catch them?”
    “They made it to Murray House, it has extensive security and we weren’t equipped to take them there.”
    “Careless.”
    That one word was enough to turn Henry’s knees to water again. The professor’s eyes narrowed. “Has he changed yet?”
    “I don’t believe so, sir. We still have him under close surveillance.”
    “It’s only a matter of time before he takes her, if he hasn’t already.” He paused. “I hate breaking in a new employee, but I have no use for a head of acquisitions who can’t acquire. One last chance, Henry, make sure you are properly prepared this time. I suggest you and your men move quickly. He’s of less use to me if they bond.”
    * * * * *
    Cameron groaned as consciousness stole over him. His head pounded in time with his heartbeat and his neck and back ached. Did someone get the license plate of the truck that ran over me ?He shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position and nearly fell off the bed. His eyes flew open in surprise and he found himself stretched out on his leather sofa. What the hell am I doing in the living room ? Memories of the previous night flooded back, from the punch of the needle in his side, to the