Legacy (25 page)

I felt a scowl pull at my face. Why would Isaiah need a website? Could he use it to recruit a new army, like the Sons of Adam? Did he fund himself through some kind of online company? I doubted he was blogging, although
KillerTelepath.blogspot.com
had an interesting ring to it.

Zack came out of his trailer, his hair still wet from the shower. Ann lit up as she saw him, and then flushed bright red and shielded before looking my way. She hadn’t been quick enough on the draw, though—I’d already seen enough to know that Zack had spent the night in her tent. Nothing too racy had occurred—they’d talked and kissed and fallen asleep in each other’s arms—but the memories were intense and special to Ann: intimate and private.

I snorted. It could be worse. Actually, it
had
been. While Ann’s memories were still in PG, Trevor’s dream this morning had been
way
into R-territory. I felt my face grow hot at the memory—and not just from embarrassment.

I flashed her a grin.
Hey, at least it’s not your uncle Jon seeing your thoughts.

Or your mother seeing Trevor’s dream.

There
was a thought—
ugh.
I rubbed my hands down my face.

On THAT note,
I rolled to my feet and went in search of more coffee and a shower.

I’d just finished toweling off my hair when Ann opened the trailer door.

I need to be able to shield better.
The idea of Williamson seeing her Zack-related thoughts still made it hard for her to swallow.

Yeah, he does the protective father thing pretty well. How did he handle the other guys you dated?

What other guys? Maddie, I’ve been a minder since I was fifteen. I went on my very first date last winter, when I was living in Boston. I’ve never been…they were just casual. This thing with Zack…

Yeah, let’s get you shielding,
so you can keep this thing with Zack to yourself.
A remembered flash of Rachel and Sean’s “private time” made me cringe. That’d been awkward and uncomfortable enough. If Rachel had known what I’d accidentally seen…

After several tries, Ann’s foggy shield became more substantial and her confidence grew. “You’re not getting anything?”

I can feel that you’re there, but I’m not sensing any thoughts.

Ann grinned.

You’re actually enjoying being a minder now, aren’t you?

Her eyebrows shot up as she considered that. “Yeah, I guess I am. I don’t feel—last time, telepathy seemed to be—it was like being in a cage or something. I don’t feel…trapped by it anymore.”

Think you might stay after the Isaiah thing is over?

Ann glanced out the trailer window. Zack leaned against the other trailer as he talked with Dave and Claire. All three of them broke into laughter. The ghost of a smile warmed her face.

The afternoon had grown too hot by the time Zack and Hannah headed over to Building Sixteen. Ann and I both drifted over to the fence as they left. Watching through Hannah’s eyes put a filter on what we could see, but conversation came through clearly.

“Dr. Williamson already approved this.” Zack scowled at the lab tech. “We have authorization.”

These kids don’t belong here. They look like they’re still in high school. Do they think this stuff will get them high? Tough luck. I’ve already tried it and it doesn’t do squat.
“I need to get another approval.”

“No, you don’t. The existing authorization is sufficient.” The resonance in Zack’s voice didn’t come through the mental connection, but I felt the sudden push in the lab tech’s thoughts.

No, I don’t. The existing authorization is sufficient.

I suppressed a shudder.
That’s so scary.

At the same moment, Ann shivered with giddy energy.
That’s so sexy.

I rolled my eyes and snorted.

The thup-thup-thup of rotors cut through too-warm air of late morning. I wasn’t the only one who got cold shivers, even though we’d been expecting Coleman and the others. Would the terrible connections with that sound ever fade for us?

The copter landed in the same place the other one did—there must be a helipad or something. An Allexor employee drove the three Ganzfield people to our little tarp fortress. Harrison opened the gate to let them in.

Coleman still radiated his usual, sharkish lawyer vibe, even in casual white polo shirt and khakis
.
His gaze flicked across the assembled group and landed on me. He nodded in recognition and gestured to the slim briefcase in his hand.

We can talk in the trailer.
I led him to the one Zack used, feeling Trevor’s churning emotions as his eyes followed us. Coleman seemed out of place in our scruffy, makeshift camp. He opened the case and handed a folder of papers to me, moving with the disdainful hesitancy of someone who didn’t really want to touch anything.

I read through the papers at the trailer’s little built-in table. The first document—signed by the New York judge whom Coleman had charmed yesterday—declared me an emancipated minor. I drew in a ragged breath as I read through it.

I hope my mother never finds out about this.

Setting down the emancipation papers, I skimmed the will. Something near the end tripped my eyes.
Huh?
The final section stated that, if Trevor died within a month of me, the money went to a charity called “Connect” that helped people with aphasia.
Where did that come from?
My frown dissipated and I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. Trevor must’ve made a call when he’d taken the phone to charge it last night. Coleman would’ve had no way of knowing I wasn’t there beside him.

I turned to the last document—the trust for Rachel’s baby. Coleman’s eyes flicked to me. “We’ll add a codicil once the child is born with his or her full legal name and Social Security number.”
Glad she’s taking care of this now. If Isaiah catches up with her—well, at least these forms will save me some aggravation in probate.

Coleman’s assumption made a lump fill my throat. I picked up the pen—Coleman would get the notary from his office to “witness” my signature later.
Charm lawyer.
I paused, suddenly realizing the true extent of Coleman’s ability. He really was above the law. People would give him anything he asked them to.

Can I trust him?

Williamson did, but he also considered
Belinda
an asset.

I shook myself. Oh well, if Coleman actually wanted a few more millions, he had plenty of options that didn’t involve embezzling from me. If the ethical issues didn’t deter him, it was a good bet that my ability to fry his brain might. I signed.

As he gathered up the papers, Coleman frowned out the window at the tarp fence.
That won’t keep Isaiah out. What are they planning here?

I answered his unspoken question.
We’re here to protect the dodecamine supply. The fence keeps us out of view of the Allexor employees.
That was as much of the plan as Coleman needed to know.
You don’t need to worry about Isaiah if you keep in touch with the RVs at Ganzfield. They’ll let you know if he’s in the area.

“I have my assistant call them six times a day.” He headed out to the other trailer for his booster. I felt a pang of sympathy for the assistant.

My affairs are in order. I’m a seventeen-year-old with “ordered affairs.”

“Ordered affairs” sounded more like something Belinda would provide. “Hello? I’d like to order an affair for the night?”
Ick
. I needed to think of something else before
that
mental picture got any clearer. I stepped out into the bright sunshine where our group surrounded the other two new arrivals.

“My patients need me too much for me to evacuate and sit around doing nothing up in New Hampshire.” The woman gripped Claire’s arm with intense, near-missionary zeal. Claire stared back, wide-eyed, and wondered how she could escape without being rude. “I’m a nurse at a public clinic in the South Bronx. Do you know how many people in this country work full-time but still don’t have health insurance or sick leave?” Claire’s facial expression didn’t waver from polite neutrality as the nurse started in with the statistics.

The other New Yorker looked pretty-boy handsome…and strangely familiar. I suddenly realized I’d seen his face in advertisements for a Broadway show. My eyebrows shot up as his name came to me—
Derrick Downs.

Derrick Downs was one of
us
?

“Of course I stayed! I couldn’t hand over such a
plum
role in a
major
production to that bitch of an understudy.” He bubbled as he batted his eyes at his audience. I shook my head slightly. Derrick was a flamboyant stereotype brought to life. I frowned, focused in for a few moments, and then choked back a laugh.

It’s an act. He’s just playing another role.

Derrick held up his hands in mock horror. “I swear, I think he’d spike my latte with cyanide if he had the opportunity! Oh, if only charming worked through film. I’d love to do movies! This eight-show-a-week schedule is running me
absolutely
ragged!”

I interrupted with a smile.
C’mon. I can tell you love it.

He gave an exaggerated gasp. “Well, listen to you, all in my head like that! Of
course
I love it, sweetie. I have fame, fortune, and the adoration of my fans! I need to get back to the City soon, though. Thank the
stars
I don’t have to go all the way up to
New Hampshire
for a dose of the magic juice. I mean, why did Jon Williamson put that place out in the middle of nowhere?”

Minders don’t like crowds.
I’d finally gotten the meaning of the name. The original “Ganzfeld” experiment involved sensory deprivation as a way to heighten ESP—the way that people who’ve lost their sight supposedly have their other senses grow sharper. Apparently, the woods of New Hampshire didn’t offer many distractions.

“Well, I don’t see why the rest of us have to suffer! I mean, can you even get decent Thai food up there?”

Don’t get me started on the bagels or the pizza.

“Oh, sweetie. Don’t get
me
started. I can’t handle those kinds of carbs!”

I grinned.

Coleman exited the trailer, absentmindedly rubbing the healed spot on his arm and heading toward the gate.

Eager to leave.

The other two quickly fell in behind him—after all, it was his helicopter.

“You all simply
must
come see my show!” Derrick turned back to us for a moment. “Just call me and I’ll have tickets waiting for you at the box office.”

Thanks.
I smiled at him.
Maybe after Isaiah’s gone.

My smile melted away. Would I still be alive at that point?
I guess making out a will at seventeen IS a bit creepy.

Tell me about it.
My smile re-warmed as Trevor came up behind me and put an arm around my waist.

Been listening in?
We walked away from the closing gate.

Just to you. I take it you’re all done with the stupid document giving me the dirty, dirty money in the unlikely event that I survive your death?

I nodded.
Don’t spend it all in one place. Nice addition, by the way.

You noticed?

Where’d you hear about the aphasia charity?

Found it online weeks ago. You mad?

Nope.
I gave him a wicked smile.
I’m just going to have to put the next multimillion-dollar fortune I make in a trust under YOUR name.

“You
wouldn’t!
” He was half-amused, half-horrified at the prospect.

It’s only fair. Besides, all that money will be half yours someday, anyway
.

I’ll get Coleman to write up one of those pre…whatever they’re called.

Prenuptial agreement?
Score one for the TV legal education.

Yeah, one of those. I don’t want a penny.

Too bad. By being far more interesting than any of my classes, you have effectively ruined me for all other occupations. I now have no choice but to amass large fortunes in the stock market and provide you with a lavish lifestyle to which you will reluctantly become accustomed.

More lavish than my current sleeping barn?
He gestured dramatically.

Nothing but the best for my man.
I wrapped my arms around his waist.

He looked into my eyes with a mischievous twinkle.
I’m going to give it all away to charity.

Ha! I’ll just make more. We can have a race!

Maybe I’ll find a way to distract you from all that money-making.
He raised his eyebrows as he sent me an image that made me gasp—then melt.

Okay, maybe I’ll let you distract me.
I leaned into his kiss.

Over the next several days, we started to settle into routines, finding ways to pass the long hours. In the building, Drew and Harrison invented “Fire-bowl.” Each player used a blowtorch-like effect to knock over pieces of wood from a distance.

Like bowling…with a flamethrower.

When Ann and Zack arrived late for Friday’s dinner, Ann seemed to be flying through her exuberant emotions, and Zack’s thoughts started coming through erratically—as though his emotions had grown too strong to be contained by his shield and were leaking out through the cracks. She and Zack held hands and stayed close to one another, sending constant little signals of their connection as pulses of silvery light flashed between them.

I smirked.
Love sonar.

Ann’s eyes flashed to mine.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to…uh, share.
She tried to pull a shield over the combination of giddiness and embarrassment that danced through her thoughts.