His eyes study me for another moment, then clear and his gaze sharpens. “Trish’s grandmother is raising hell. She called for an appointment to speak with me directly this afternoon. She’s already contacted the FBI. She knows there was a connection between Trish and Barbara Franco. Now with Carolyn’s murder, she’s convinced Trish is-” He blows out an angry breath. “That Trish is involved in both murders.”

The words should send me into another spasm of rage. Instead, only a great sadness descends. “Like daughter, like mother,” I whisper.

Williams raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“The first night I met Carolyn, when she came to my parent’s house, she tried to convince us Trish may have had a hand in Barbara’s murder. Now Carolyn’s mother is spouting the same garbage.”

“Unfortunately,” Williams replies, “that ‘garbage’ makes for great headlines. She’s called a press conference for this afternoon.” He glances at his watch. “Three o’clock, right after our meeting, and on the steps of the mayor’s office.”

“The mayor is in on this?”

“Not yet. But this is an election year. The Bernard’s don’t live in San Diego but they are wealthy people with a lot of influence. The mayor will align herself with them if it proves expedient.”

“And you know this how?” But the answer flashes through my head before he can reply. “I forgot. The Deputy Mayor. A fellow vamp. Great.”

“You remember her from Avery’s?”

He asks the question with hesitancy. The first night I saw Williams was the first night I was introduced to life as a vampire. My mentor, Avery, invited me to a party at his home. Besides Williams, Isabel Santos, the Deputy Mayor of San Diego, was there, along with four or five other luminaries, all vampires, all high on the social register. I wasn’t formally introduced to any of them, though intervening circumstances threw Williams and me together soon afterward.

I feel Williams’s sharp eyes watching me, just as I feel his mind prodding for the emotion those memories evoke. He has other issues with me. I raise my eyes to meet his.

Why would she do this?I ask.Why would she want to accuse her granddaughter of murder?

The corners of his mouth turn down.I don’t know. I thought I’d ask her that very question when I see her this afternoon.

I want to be there.

This produces a short bark of laughter.Right. And let her take another shot at you.

I can see Detective Harris was thorough in his report, and I can read in Williams’s reaction that he would have liked to have been there to see it. I grip the sides of the chair and lean forward.It’snot bloody likely that she’ll get a chance like that again.

Williams holds up a hand.Hey, I’m not being critical. I think you showed remarkable restraint.

Then what do you suggest we do? How do we protect Trish?

The only way we can,he replies. We find the real killer and expose Carolyn.

That will not make Mrs. Bernard happy. Or the mayor.

Williams smiles.Not my problem. I’m not the one up for reelection. Then he gets the same cop look that I see on Max’s face when he’s about to tell me something I’m not going to like.You need to be prepared for what’s going to happen after the press conference.

What does that mean?

Listen, Anna, I know what Trish has been through. None of it is her fault, but right now, the official investigation is focused on Trish’s supposed drug involvement. That’s the motive that’s being put forward. No one knows about the abuse or Carolyn’s part in it. If we’re going to crack the kiddie porn ring, it has to stay that way.

It’s not hard to grasp the meaning behind his words.Trish’sdisappearance is going to look as if she’s is guilty, isn’t it?

Yes. She needs to stay here. If she leaves, I can’t guarantee she won’t be arrested.

What if she wants to attend her mother’s funeral? What do we tell her?

He waves a hand.It’s a murder investigation. I can hold the body for a while. But the important thing is that we work fast. His eyes flash with a knowing gleam.Do what you need to get these guys. I’ll do what I can to stall.

What makes you think I can do this?

Are you telling me you can’t?

Our eyes lock a moment. It’s the first real vote of confidence I’ve gotten from him.What about Frey and the FBI?

Frey will do what he needs to do-keep Agents Bradley and Donovan busy. I’ve managed to convince them that you are of no consequence in their investigation. They think your appearance at his condo was because the two of you are lovers. You were at Carolyn’s this morning at the behest of your mother, who has asked for your help in the Barbara Franco case. Now that there has been another crime, the police have warned you off. You’ve agreed to let the professionals take over.

I shake my head and stand.Great. You couldn’t come up with a better reason for me to be at Frey’s? You had to say we were lovers?

Funny,he retorts. That’s the same thing Frey said.

Williams rises from his chair to stand beside me. “I’ll walk you out.”

We start back down the hall and I pause in front of the door where Trish and Frey are talking. “I need to get my jacket and I’d like to say good-bye to Trish.”

He shakes his head. “They’ve left.”

“Left?” I push open the door. The room is empty. My jacket hanging from the back of the chair is the only indication we were here at all.

“Frey has taken her to the living quarters.” Williams explains from the hall.

I rejoin him, looking around. There is a steady murmur of voices coming from the thirty or so people seated at computer terminals. Besides that, there is nothing but silence coming from the dozen or so doors that line the back wall. “Where are the living quarters?”

He waves a hand toward the last door at the end of the hall. “That way.”

“How big is this place?”

“Big enough. I’ll give you a tour if you like.”

I debate whether to press Williams into taking me to Trish. I can tell from his demeanor and the neutrality of his thoughts that he will acquiesce to my demands. He’s waiting for me to make the decision.

“Let’s go,” I say after a moment. “When I come back here again it will be to take Trish home.”

Williams hasn’t asked nor has he probed to find out what I plan to do. I find that reassuring. Instead, he leads me back toward the entrance, nodding acknowledgment to the greetings he gets along the way. As far as I can tell, everyone in this strange telephone center is human.

Who are these humans?I ask.What're they doing here?

His lips quirk in a tight little smile.They are our fund raisers.

I snort.I told Frey that’s what I thought. He just called me an idiot. So what do they sell?

The future.

What?

Williams laughs.They’repsychics.All of them.

But they’re human.

Of course. All psychics are human. All humans have the ability to become psychics. It involves learning to focus and tap into the part of the brain that interprets more than what is.

I thought psychic hot lines were a scam.

Most are. These, however, are not. They service a very special clientele.

Special how?

He shrugs.People important to the future of the world.

You mean like Heads of State? Religious leaders?

Williams stops near one of the consoles and turns to face me.No. The real power behind what the world is to become. You, Anna. You are one of those. Would you like to see?

My heart flutters and then begins to pound in my ears. I don’t understand or believe any of this. I don’t want to. I force the fear out of my thoughts and replace it with resolve.Don’t do this, Williams.