The Vanished by Melinda Metz Page A

this crap we’re going through, and nobody can do it better than you.”
    And all of a sudden Maria didn’t want to be anywhere but where she was.
    Michael did love her. Not the way she dreamed of him loving her. But still.
    Isabel winced as she watched a look of pain cross Adam’s face.
    She, Adam, and Max were up in Ray’s apartment — Michael’s apartment — and Max had connected to Adam, trying to find out if Adam had any buried memories of the time DuPris had been in control of his body.
    Adam’s face screwed up in pain again, and Isabel shut her eyes. After Max was done with Adam, she was next. Isabel knew it was important, even crucial, but she was looking forward to it like a trip to the dentist.
    When Isabel heard Max sigh, she opened her eyes again. Max and Adam were sitting beside each other on Michael’s bed, and Adam was rubbing his forehead.
    â€œAnything?” Isabel asked. “Zilch,” Max said. “Except that Adam’s interesting in there. He’s got powers I’ve never even heard of.”
    Adam smiled. “I’ve just been practicing longer,” he said.
    â€œOkay, Izzy, it’s your turn,” Max said.
    Adam hopped up and headed downstairs. “I’m going to go see what Liz is doing,” he said.
    Isabel took his seat, her heart pounding with apprehension.
    â€œReady?” Max asked.
    â€œSure,” Isabel answered, trying to sound calm, even though she knew Max was the last person on earth she could fool. But he didn’t call her on her false bravery. He simply took her hand gently, and they were instantly connected.
    Isabel felt Max’s emerald green energy mingling with her own rich purple, and they headed for Isabel’s memory centers. Their memory center. The connection between them was more than a simple attachment — it was a true sharing of souls.
    The first image they uncovered was completely familiar. She was shopping at Victoria’s Secret for something that would make Michael’s mouth water. She’d taken the bus back to the museum, and then DuPris had used her to hurt Michael. Isabel watched in shock as the memory replayed in their mind. DuPris had made her betray one of her best friends. The very idea of it filled her with fury.
    Max sent soothing images of family dinners with their parents at her until she calmed down. When Isabel had relaxed, she sensed Max asking her if she was ready to continue. Yes, she was ready. Go for it.
    Her brother dug deeper, unleashing a torrent of memories of her time under DuPris’s control. Isabel transformed into a child, hiding out with DuPris at the ranch. DuPris touching her face in the most loathsome way. DuPris laughing as Isabel raged against his hold on her. Isabel using her powers to fling Max against a wall.
    There had to be something in her that would let them find DuPris. How she would love to rip out his lungs and use them as bagpipes!
    Max soothed her again, willing her to stay calm. They’d learn nothing if she broke concentration.
    Then Max poked at a dark, unformed image. Isabel concentrated on the black memory, curious despite her fear of what it might contain. There was no visual to it, only a sound . . . the sound of a car . . . and the smell of exhaust and oil.
    Max encouraged her to replay the memory. DuPris had locked her in the trunk of his car. She’d felt so claustrophobic and terrified. Then DuPris opened the trunk, but the recollection remained hazy and dim.
    DuPris was making her walk through the darkness. Isabel stumbled over loose rocks and held on to a guide rope to assist herself down the cavern path.
    Cavern?
    Yes, Isabel realized with a rush of excitement. They were in a cave. Her eyes were adjusting, and she’d seen stalactites, stalagmites . . . swooping bats. What cave was it? She just had to remember a little more, notice a landmark —
    But then the memory went black. Something had knocked her