i 13e44e81ff362920 by T L Page B

vision, I could almost see a current of dim light passing between them.
    “Who’s Jessica?”
    Selena’s expression broke. “What?”
    Derrick shook his head slightly. “I’m not sure. I just heard the name when I was reading you. Is it important?”
    Her features tightened. I saw something like a wall pass before her eyes, and she stood up. “No. I’m sorry, Derrick. I have another appointment. We’ll have to continue this exercise tomorrow.”
    He gave her an odd look. “Is everything okay? Did that name have something to do with the card?”
    “It’s nothing.” Selena opened the door to the interrogation chamber. She couldn’t even look at Derrick. “The cards don’t always elicit a clear emotional response. Sometimes they can be fuzzy.”
    “But I did feel something.”
    She looked at him then. “What did you feel?”
    “Fear. I think.”
    She shrugged slightly, then handed him the card. “When you’re dealing with weapons, fear is usually the correct response. You did good, Siegel.”
    “Thanks. Selena, are you sure—”
    “It’s nothing. I promise. I’ve just got somewhere to be.”
    He nodded slowly. “All right.”
    She walked into the hallway and saw me. Her eyes softened for just a second, and I saw what the wall was trying to protect. Derrick had been right. I’d never seen Selena Ward scared of anything, but there was fear on her face.
    Her mouth tightened again, and the fear receded. Her defenses were nearly impeccable. Far better than mine.
    “You’ve got two visitors,” she said. “They’re waiting at reception. Make sure they get the proper badges. Probationary clearance only.”
    “Sure. Of course.”
    She was already walking in the opposite direction before I could ask her who the visitors were.
    Derrick emerged from the interrogation chamber. “Any idea what that was about? I’ve never seen her that spooked before.”
    “I’ve never seen her spooked at all.”
    He shrugged. “Everyone’s entitled to their secrets. At least I got a high score on the precog cards.”
    “Yeah, you did really well.”
    He smiled. “Your eavesdropping sucks, by the way. I could sense you coming a mile away. Nice trick with the two-way glass, though.”
    “Next time I’ll tiptoe.” I put an arm around him. “Want to escort some visitors into the lab? Maybe they’ll faint, or cry.”
    “Here’s hoping.”
    We headed down the hallway, turned right, and came to the reception area.
    Noel, the secretary for this floor, had managed to keep her job for almost three years without going crazy, demanding mental-health leave, or contracting a paranormal illness. She smiled and waved when she saw me, her pony-tail bobbing slightly.
    “Hey, Tess. There are two guests who need to be signed in.” She glanced at her computer. “Mr. Lucian Agrado, and Mrs. . . . um . . . Is it Duessa?”
    Those names stopped me in my tracks.
    I hadn’t seen the Lady Duessa since last year, when she agreed to meet with me to talk about the Iblis. Now she was wearing what looked suspiciously like a black silk kimono, and she stood well over six feet in her apple red Manolos.
    She smiled at Noel. “Duessa’s fine, honey.”
    Lucian leaned against the counter. He caught my eyes and smiled.
    “Miss Corday. Pleasure to see you.” Fuck fuck fuck fuck infinite fuck.
    Lucian was here. In my workplace. My place of work, which was entirely separate from my place of play. And we weren’t supposed to be playing at all.
    “Well,” Derrick said, eyeing Lucian and Duessa together. “I have to be somewhere a little less dangerous. Let me know how the visit turns out.”
    “Thanks,” I said flatly.
    He winked at me, then escaped down the hallway. “I’ve brought in the Lady Duessa as an outside expert,”
    Lucian said, giving me a serene smile that made me want to hit him. “She has a vast knowledge of antiquities.”
    “You bet your hot little culo I do, sweetheart.” Duessa beamed at me. “He does have a pretty