Penumbra (Spook Squad 3)

“The day you scared the hell out of Mary?”

“Yes.” He smiled again, but it was a cold thing that sent chills down her spine. “Some of the scientists took to calling me Mad Seth under their breath. I simply ran with the name when it became beneficial to do so.”

“Like when you were attacking the SIU?”

“A strong SIU is a hindrance to my plans, so attacking them as Sethanon not only decimated their numbers, but had the side benefit of them chasing someone who doesn’t exist.”

“But they know you exist now, Josh, and they now know what you are. You’ve all but played into their hands.”

“I’ve done nothing but confirm their suspicions. I have no problems with that.”

He studied her for a moment, and the sadness she’d often noted in her dreams of him was back in his eyes. Only it was deeper this time. Much deeper. Then he looked up, and his expression changed, became hard.

“I can feel you up there, Assistant Director. Please come down and join the discussion.”

There was a flutter of wings and a soft thump, then footsteps. Gabriel stopped beside Sam, close enough that his warmth washed over her, yet not so close that he was touching her. His gaze met hers. “You okay?”

Sam nodded. “Josh won’t hurt me.”

Gabriel’s gaze moved to her brother. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

“You would be if you knew anything at all about the two of us.” Josh’s gaze was every bit as cold and hard as Gabriel’s. “And you’d certainly not consider firing the laser you have in your hand.”

Even as he said the words, Gabriel revealed the weapon. It was a laser, all right, and a lot bigger than the one Sam held. “I’m not firing it, just using it to place you under arrest. You willingly admitted you murdered General Blaine and Kathryn Douglass, and you more than likely destroyed her clone, as well.”

Josh raised an eyebrow. “You were floating about up there for longer than I thought.”

“I guess I was. Raise your hands or I will shoot.”

Josh flexed his fingers. And suddenly the stirring wind seemed to be a whole lot hotter. Fear raced through Sam.

“Josh, no!”

The words were barely out of her mouth when a bright blue beam of light lit the darkness. Her heart seemed to lodge somewhere in her throat, and her fear intensified until it seemed her entire body shook under the force of it. It wasn’t just fear for Josh, but for her own safety as well.

Why, why, why?

The question rolled through her mind as the normally swift and deadly blue beam arced across the night in seemingly slow motion. Josh watched it, eyes narrowed, moving only when it seemed too late. The laser sliced through his forearm, skimming through his jacket and shirt before burning a trail along his skin.

She knew, because she felt it. Pain ripped through her, and she staggered backward, gasping in shock and dropping her laser to the ground. Sweat broke out across her forehead, but she clamped down on the scream that bubbled up her throat, so that it came out more like a hiss. She grabbed her arm with her free hand, supporting it carefully.

“What the hell?” Gabriel’s voice was soft, but it hinted at pain. He, too, had felt the burn of the laser, but indirectly through her. “Sam, are you okay?”

“Yes.” She stared at her brother as the final pieces began to fall into place.

“Two halves of a whole,” he said softly.

She closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. The pain was fading, but not the deeper pain that came with realization. She might not remember everything, but she knew enough.

“That’s why you saved me,” she said. “You cannot exist without me.”

“Sam, you want to explain what’s happening?” Gabriel said.

She glanced at him. The laser was still held straight and steady. He might not know what had happened, but he was still intent on capturing Josh.

Not realizing—or maybe not caring—that Josh would never, ever, allow himself to become someone’s prisoner again.

Not knowing that in trying to maim or kill Josh, he’d be doing the exact same thing to her.