‘This file,’ Katherine patted the manila folder, ‘contains a briefing document on us and our work, and some preliminary information about your first mission. I hope it answers some of your initial questions. But perhaps you should read it first and then we can talk further?’
‘No.’ Ella stood up, shaking her head. ‘No more. This ends here. This man – Gabriel – told me last night that if I wasn’t satisfied after my meeting today, I could leave and he would help me get back to San Francisco. So I’m leaving. Right now.’
Katherine MacAvoy studied Ella’s face. There was no regret there, no hesitation. Only a very dangerous combination of disgust and determination. If she leaves now, we’ve lost her. She won’t come back.
‘How did Gabriel contact you last night?’
Ella had already turned to leave. The question felt like an arrow in her back.
‘He transmitted directly to your brain, didn’t he?’ Katherine MacAvoy pressed her advantage. ‘You heard his voice internally. In your head.’
Ella nodded grudgingly. ‘I told you. He does that sometimes. He cuts through all the other noise.’
‘How?’ asked Katherine. ‘Surely the only way he could do that would be if he understood the changes your parents made to your brain chemistry? Think about it, Ella. We know who you are. We understand why you’re different. Nobody else does.’
‘Then tell me!’ Ella roared, turning around to face her. ‘Tell me right now, today, or I will leave here and I will not come back. I want to see this Gabriel. I want him here, in person.’ She jabbed a finger down on Katherine’s desk. ‘I want him to tell me everything he knows about me and about what happened to my parents. And if he doesn’t then I’ll leave and I’ll … I’ll go to the police and tell them about this place.’
Katherine’s expression darkened. ‘Don’t do that, Ella.’ The calm tone still hadn’t wavered, but underlying it now there was an unmistakable note of threat.
‘Why shouldn’t I?’ Ella’s entire body seemed to quiver with defiance.
‘Just don’t.’
For a moment a heavy silence fell. Then Katherine continued.
‘I will request that Gabriel attend Camp Hope in person during your stay,’ Katherine went on. ‘I will also commit to providing you with more detailed, written evidence about your parents’ time with us, and specifically their last mission and the circumstances of their deaths.’
‘When?’ asked Ella.
‘I’ll need a few days. Perhaps a week.’
‘A week? No. I won’t stay here for a week. I can’t.’
‘Of course you can,’ Katherine said briskly, smiling again. ‘Young women your age pay thousands of dollars to go away on fitness retreats.’
‘I don’t,’ said Ella. ‘And this isn’t a fitness retreat.’
‘You’re right. It’s much more,’ Katherine agreed. ‘The physical side of things is only a part of your training.’
Ella let out an exasperated sigh. ‘What is the point of training me for a “mission” I’ve already told you I’m not going to be going on?’
Katherine looked at her intently. ‘Because I believe you are a good person, Ella. A moral person. I believe you are your parents’ daughter. And, as such, once you understand the work we do, and how vital it is,’ she handed the manila envelope back to Ella, ‘I’m convinced you’ll choose to join us. Eventually.’
Ella took the envelope in silence.
‘But,’ Katherine added, leaning back, ‘if I’m wrong and you don’t decide to join us, then try to look upon t
his time as an opportunity; a chance to get fit, to learn more about your abilities, to push yourself to new limits. A chance to discover your true strength, Ella.
‘I’d like to start by sending you to see Professor Michael Dixon. He should be able to help you right away with your headaches.’
‘Help me how?’ asked Ella warily, aware that once again she’d been talked around, bamboozled into staying with precious little to show for it. ‘Is he a doctor?’
Katherine’s smile broadened till she looked positively beatific. ‘In a way.’
‘You can’t be a doctor in a way,’ said Ella. ‘Either you are or you aren’t.’
‘You’ll like him, I’m sure,’ Katherine said brightly. ‘Gordon at the front desk will show you where to go. You can see yourself out.’