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he intended for this one to become the most important and successful of all
the labs. It was going to be his ticket to the ultimate seat of power, the one
held by the director of the organization. As John Stilwell s descendant, that
position should have been his by now. He had a far more legitimate claim to it
than the current director. But he knew how to bide his time. He had been born
a level-seven hunter. Thanks to the drug, he was now a ten. In addition, the
latest version of the formula that had been specially engineered for him was
expanding his range of powers. His natural business acumen had been enhanced
to the level of a mid-range para-strategy talent. He was also developing some
hypnotic abilities.
Now, however, after learning what had happened to Houdini, it was clear that
it would be wise to back off from the attempt to expand his range of psychic
talents.
The steel door opened. He stepped into the room and waited for the door to
relock behind him.
Three people were at work at the lab benches. They all looked up when he
entered. One of them, Dr. Humphrey Hulsey, regarded him with pale, emotionless
eyes. Hulsey was a tall, thin skeleton of a man, with spindly arms and legs.
Nash thought the safety glasses he wore made him look like an oversized
insect.
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Well? Hulsey demanded. Did your operative get that information for me yet?
I can t proceed with the new experiments until I see the Tallentyre data.
According to Quinn s notes, it s critical to stabilizing the formula.
Nash resisted the impulse to pick up a nearby microscope and smash it against
Hulsey s shiny skull. Hulsey was the only person in the building who dared to
speak to him as if he were an employee rather than the CEO. Hulsey got away
with it because he was a brilliant research chemist. He was also a level-eight
intuitive with a psychic talent for analyzing patterns the kind that were
hidden at the molecular level.
Hulsey was also the only other person on the staff who was a high-ranking
member of the organization. The combination of his intellectual and paranormal
abilities made him invaluable. Unfortunately he was all too well aware of his
critical importance to the members of the Inner Circle.
No, Nash said. I m here to talk about the latest version of the X9 that you
prepared for me.
Thus far Hulsey s greatest contribution to the ongoing research on the
founder s formula was a breakthrough that had made it possible to genetically
tailor the drug to an individual s specific psychic profile.
I just altered the drug for you again a few weeks ago. Hulsey sounded
disgusted. What s wrong now?
Nash moved closer to him and lowered his voice. His assistants had been
cleared to the highest security levels but Nash made it a policy not to trust
anyone any further than absolutely necessary.
The surges haven t stopped, he said quietly. They re coming more
frequently.
Hulsey snorted. Don t blame the drug for your anger management issues. If
you ve got a problem with self-control, I suggest you take a close look at
your own psych profile. You know the old saying it s in the blood.
He turned back to his microscope.
Nash managed, just barely, to clamp down on the tide of white-hot rage that
threatened to consume him.
You will prepare a new batch, he said, without the additional enhancement
capabilities. I want to return to the original version, the one that jacks up
only my hunter talents. Do you understand, Dr. Hulsey?
Hulsey did not look up from his microscope. Of course I understand. You can t
handle the other talents.
Nash forced himself to leave the lab without giving in to the urge to slit
Hulsey s throat.
For the time being he needed Hulsey but eventually that would change. No one
was irreplaceable, not even Dr. Humphrey Hulsey.
Thirty
Zack stopped on the sidewalk outside Incognito and studied the window
displays. On the other side of the glass were two mannequins dressed in
Victorian-era attire, an astronaut, a pirate and a familiar superhero. An
array of elegant and fanciful masks dangled on long ribbons secured to the
ceiling.
No offense, he said to Raine, but I would never have guessed there s a
large market for costumes except at Halloween.
Halloween has become a major adult party night, she said. People spend
small fortunes on their costumes.
He pushed open the door for her. That s just one day a year.
Add to that the annual Oriana charity fund-raiser, which is traditionally an
old-fashioned costume ball, a variety of kids parties during the year,
several high-end private bashes and events, contracts with some regional
theater groups and an online site and you ve got a viable business.
He smiled. Okay, I ll take your word for it. He followed her into the shop.
Got to tell you, though, I find it hard to believe that anyone over the age
of ten would want to put on a costume.
Aunt Vella used to say that everyone wears a mask.
The sales floor of the shop was not large. It was dramatically decorated in
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vivid colors and lit with theatrical lighting. There were several more
costumes on display, including a mannequin dressed in a tutu and one wearing
an elaborate gown that reminded him vaguely of the big, ornate dresses worn by
women in the eighteenth century.
A series of paintings in sleek, modern frames hung on the walls. Each one
featured a haunting image of a mask.
Aunt Vella did them, Raine said. Painting was one of the few things that
calmed her. She could lose herself in a picture for hours and days at a time.
I could only hang so many of them here in the shop. Most are stored in the
Shelbyville house.
You don t have any hanging in your condo.
She gave him an enigmatic look. Would you want any of those masks on your
walls at home?
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