Echo 8 (3 page)

“I don't see the point. When they're hungry, bullets are useless. Energy depletion affects their mass, so—”

“I'm aware, Dr. Caufield.” There was a bite in his reply. She watched his features smooth, and his tone evened out as he continued. “But we've observed that some are more aggressive than others. Some will feed even when they don't need to. At those times they're vulnerable, and a gun could save you.”

Tess shook her head. “I have no training. I've never even held a gun.”

“That's easily remedied.”

“Agent McGinnis, I don't want to shoot anyone. You're aware I was assisting Goff. He nominated me for the task force so we could collaborate more directly. I have every intention of going on with the work he was doing. I can't do that until I have a subject to study. If one lands in my lap, the
last
thing I want is to shoot him.”

“I'm afraid that won't be your call to make, Doctor. I have orders to keep you alive.”

Tess clenched her teeth. Arguing with him was the least productive thing she could do. But she couldn't get past resenting the fact they hadn't consulted her about sending him.

“I understand you have your orders,” she conceded. “But I assume you have no authority to force me to carry a gun.”

“I don't.”

Relaxing at this confirmation, she continued. “I hear what you're saying, and you're right that there is some evidence Echoes are drawn to task force members. Do you suppose we could compromise? Some nonlethal device?”

His frown deepened as he considered. “We haven't tested electroshock devices against Echoes. But it's better than nothing.”

Tess nodded and rose from the table. “All right. If you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.”

“There's one more thing, Doctor. Please.” He gestured to the chair, and all the blood rushed to her face as she sat back down. Professional courtesy was important to her, but she didn't want him getting the idea he could order her around.

“You should know that the Bureau wasn't entirely on board with the research Goff was doing.”
Ah, here it comes.
“Don't misunderstand. Everyone had tremendous respect for what he accomplished. For what he was able to learn about them before he died. But the Bureau is most concerned with mitigating the threat.”

“Are you here to tell me how to conduct my research, Agent McGinnis?”

“Doctor, try to—”

“Yes or no?”

The agent's lips pressed into a hard line. His gaze shifted to the playfield. She could see the artery in his throat pulsing.

“I'm not a scientist. The White House has tapped your expertise, not mine. But the Bureau is taking the lead in managing this crisis, and they do expect us to work together. As for Goff's research, obviously we have no authority over how other countries choose to oversee the efforts of their task force members.”

If nothing else, she had to admire his ability to evade a direct question. But the answer was clear enough.

*   *   *

Over the next few days Tess found it easy to return to the policy she'd adopted in D.C.—focus on the task at hand; avoid her new shadow. She didn't have cycles to spare on him.

As long as he stuck to his job and stayed out of her way, they'd get along fine. But the last words he'd said to her never completely left her thoughts: “They do expect us to work together.” It was only a matter of time before their interests collided again.

But for the moment she was still playing catch-up. The other task force members from the life sciences had been happy to help her get up to speed. She was not all that surprised to find that, in true academic fashion—and in spite of the task force's stated purpose of cross-discipline collaboration—cliques had formed. Her life sciences colleagues, like herself, had been focusing on understanding the Echoes, and she got the sense their work was considered low priority—unlikely to bear fruit that would help resolve the crisis.

The physicists and cosmologists were focused on discovering the cause of the dimensional dislocations in hopes of shutting it off, and their work seemed to be most in the spotlight. They spent a lot of time debating which of the various theories regarding multiverses had been validated by the appearance of the alternate-Earth visitors.

The investigative experts had thrown all their resources at finding better ways to track Echoes. No one had any clear idea of how many were at large. The reports of mysterious deaths were edging up, but thanks to next year's U.S. presidential election and the water riots in the developing world, big media hadn't taken notice yet.

Tess wasn't political—that was Abby's job as director—but she knew the upcoming election was likely a major factor in the Bureau feeling pressured to get a handle on the Echo crisis as quickly and quietly as possible.

As the only parapsychologist on the task force, Tess struggled to find her place, especially after the loss of Goff. Welcoming as her new colleagues had been, she knew that many of them were politely masking the same prejudices McGinnis had revealed at the summit. For some people it didn't matter how many dramatic results you dumped in their laps—they simply felt too threatened to see it.

The end of the week rolled around without Tess even noticing. On Friday after the close of business, desperate for something with sugar in it, she headed down to pilfer from the kitchen. The café was run by a contractor, and the residents were supposed to stay out after it closed. Occasionally someone broke the rules and a memo would circulate, reminding the staff that the contents of the kitchen were not institute property. Tess had been one of the more persistent offenders.

She'd just poured a glass of orange juice when she heard dress shoes tapping on the hardwood floor.

“I'm afraid I'll have to report that.”

Her heart jumped, and she turned to find Agent McGinnis frowning at her from the other side of the counter. “Unless you're prepared to share.”

Tess suppressed a smile and got down another glass, carrying both over to the counter. “I should warn you that our deviant behavior is sure to be the subject of a sternly worded memo.”

“Well, if they try to prosecute, you can blame me. I'll take the rap.”

She held up her glass. “Honor among thieves?”

He clinked his against it. “Hardly. I'm trying to make you like me.”

Tess chuckled, sipping her juice to cover the blush that had taken her by surprise. “I didn't realize it was—”

She broke off as she heard a rattling noise in the lobby, just on the other side of the wall from the kitchen.

McGinnis glanced at the café entrance, and the sound came again. “Someone's trying to open the front door.”

Tess slipped from behind the counter, but he caught hold of her arm. “Wait, Doctor.”

“Don't!” she protested, tugging her arm back. The sudden contact had jolted her, but the extremity of her reaction surprised her.

He let go and held up his hand. “Wait here until I see who it is.”

“It's just the delivery guy,” she said. “They forget to use the buzzer after hours.”

“Doctor—”

She slipped away from him, trying to shake off both the man and the way he made her feel.

She grasped the bolt and slid it free—and gave a surprised cry as whoever was on the other side shoved the door open,
hard
. McGinnis grabbed Tess around the waist and dragged her away.

A shadow stumbled through the door. Not a shadow—an
Echo
stood gawking in the low-lit lobby, shoulders hunched, eyes raking slowly over the stairway and sparse furnishings.

“Head for the stairs,” McGinnis hissed, drawing his sidearm. “Go up and get behind a door that locks.”

Tess's heart pounded as he edged her toward the stairway. “We need to get him to the lab.”

“Doctor,
upstairs
!”

She was scared—every bit as scared as the agent clearly thought she should be. But she had not joined the task force to run away at the first opportunity to make a real contribution.

“If we lose him he'll just end up hurting people,” she reminded him. “You know you can't shoot him while he's half faded. Let me
try
.”

McGinnis hesitated, gaze riveted to the visitor, who stood quiet and bemused in the entryway. Finally he let go of her, saying, “Stay close to me.”

Tess took a couple steps toward the Echo, and McGinnis followed.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked.

The bearded man seemed to notice her for the first time. She watched his confusion and distress evolve into something else. He took a step, reaching for her, but she staggered backward.

“You can't touch me, okay?” she warned. “It's dangerous.”

The agent's arm shot around her waist again, and he pulled her against him as he moved toward the corridor behind them.

“We want to help you,” Tess called. “Follow me, okay?”

Tess and the agent backed across the floor, the Echo following, and together they slow-danced toward the lab where the scientists ran their experiments.

“What's wrong with me?” the visitor asked. His voice had a subterranean quality, like it was rising up out of a well.

“I can explain, but we need to get you someplace safe first.”

“Am I … are you …
real
?”

“Yes, I'm real. So are you.”

“I'm so tired. I've got this strange, sort of aching …
itch
. I need…”

He took a couple quick steps, reaching for her again, and McGinnis forced her to the floor. “
Stop!”
the agent ordered. “You can't touch her.” He shoved open the lab door on his left. “You can rest in here.”

One of the other agents—Perez—had appeared in the corridor and stood with her pistol at the ready. But she was as helpless as they were. All of them were at the Echo's mercy. It was up to him whether this worked or not.

The bearded man stared into the lab.

“It's okay,” urged Tess, rising to her feet. He blinked at her, bewildered. “You're going to be okay.”

He walked into the lab, and McGinnis closed the door behind him, locking it with a click. Through the window in the door she saw the Echo turn, startled.

Tess punched the intercom button beside the door. “The lock's just a precaution. Don't be afraid.”

He glanced slowly around behind him and then moved farther into the room.

Tess turned off the intercom and sank against the door.

McGinnis blew out a long breath. “Jesus, Doctor.”

He reached for her arm, but his hand hovered a moment and he gestured with his fingers instead. “Come away from the door.”

Tess righted herself and turned to peer into the lab. The Echo had sunk down in a corner of the room, head resting on his folded arms. As she watched him, his form sank lower until he lay flat on his back staring at the ceiling.

“He doesn't have long,” she murmured. Tess had watched Echo 6 die. One minute he'd been hungry and dangerous, pacing tiger-like in a lab much like this one, and then some kind of switch had flipped. Over the course of the next several hours he'd faded away until fatigue and paralysis set in, and then finally he just wasn't there.

This one wouldn't make it until morning.

“We can't afford to take any risks,” said McGinnis. “Perez, notify Dr. Carmichael. We need to get any staff out of the building ASAP. Everyone but Carmichael and Caufield.”

Tess pressed the intercom button again. “You okay in there?”

No reply. No sign of movement.

She turned to McGinnis. “We don't have much time. I'll watch him for an hour to be sure, but I don't think he's getting up again. If he doesn't, I want to go in.”

McGinnis was shaking his head before she finished. “No. It's too risky.”

“Have you been paying attention? He was more dangerous five minutes ago than he is now, and he didn't touch me.”

Still he shook his head. “He tried. If you want to talk to him, do it through the door.”

Tess braced a hand against the wall. “Talking to them—asking them questions about what they remember—it's all we've got right now. You understand that, right? This is my
job
now. I need to talk to him before he's gone, and it's useless to keep shouting at him through the goddamn intercom.”

McGinnis raised his hand to his head, rubbing his temples.

“This is important, Agent McGinnis. I shouldn't have to tell you that.”

He dropped his hand and met her gaze, his expression flat. “You win, Doctor. We'll watch him for
two
hours. Then I go in with you.”

 

E
NTANGLEMENT

British SAS in Scotland initially failed to release critical information about the death of Professor Alexi Goff. Details are enclosed, but please be advised that the Echo interaction that killed Goff occurred
post
fadeout. Access to the containment area should be restricted for at least an hour after the event.

—Echo Task Force Bulletin, August 9, 2018

Two hours later

“J
AKE!
” T
ESS
shrieked as the fade pulled her close.

“Let her go!” Ross yelled, snatching his Glock from its holster. “You'll kill her!”

Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his heart thumped so hard it jeopardized his aim. Ross had to
wait
while the fade drained her enough that Ross could shoot him. Then, finally …

Solid as me now, asshole!

Ross jammed the gun into Jake's face, but the fade released Tess and scrambled backward against the wall.

Panting, Jake cried, “What the fuck?” He stared slack-jawed at the palms of his hands.

Burning with rage at his colossal lapse in judgment—and its tragically high cost—Ross pointed his gun at Jake's chest.