Page 24

Abby made a deflating noise. “Oh no. Uh. Is that fixable?”

“Not directly, no, but I have an idea of a workaround. Something I’ll try on your mentor first. If it works for him, it’ll work even better for you. But let’s talk about that a little later. We’ve got an interrogation to watch first.”

“Yeah, true.” Abby turned towards me, reading me as intently as I was her. I could actually see her talent flare a little, power shifting around her head and eyes, which was truly fascinating to watch. Like a display of northern lights, but up close. “Jon also said something about writing a paper with him? But I think you should talk to Alan first.”

“I’m sorry, who?”

“Ah, that’s a good thought,” Donovan mused. “My cousin is an anchor to Grant Walker.”

I pursed my lips in a silent whistle. Wow, these guys really knew all the heavy hitters. Everyone in America knew Grant’s name.

“Alan’s been compiling a book of all the psychic types, which includes a formal interview with a psychic, a case study, and all that. The FBI have called dibs on it when he’s done. He’d dearly love to interview you.”

Considering how much misinformation there was about chaos magicians… “For that matter, I’d love to sit and talk with him. Arrange it for later this week, I should be available then.”

“Sure, he’ll be delighted.”

And hopefully available. Well, I could always do the interview over a phone if necessary. I knew Grant was called out with little to no notice, so it was hard to schedule him for anything.

Lachlan nudged my elbow. “Showtime.”

I turned to see through the two way mirror. Donovan ducked out at that point, long enough to bring Jon in. He looked grim.

“All right?” Abby asked with concern.

“Debatable,” Jon returned wryly. “Had to deal with Dr. Cannibal’s mother. She was insisting on bailing her son out. Wouldn’t hear that he was eating people. When I finally did convince her, she completely broke down in sobs, then had a panic attack, so she’s in an ambulance on the way to the hospital now.”

Oh. Well, I was sure cannibalism was hard for any parent to swallow. She’d likely spend a good portion of her life wondering where she’d gone wrong in raising her son. But I doubted her son’s inclinations were on her. Men like that, they were born with something wrong with them. Nurture can’t always trump nature.

Borrowman sank into the chair across from the psychic with a weary air. He wore exhaustion like a cloak and I felt so bad for him. I’ve been that exhausted working a case, I could very much empathize.

“Dr. Reginald Powell,” Borrowman greeted. He paused to address the camera, listing off date, time, all of that. Then he focused on the man once more. “Want to just tell me how all this happened, save us some time?”

Powell mutinously glared back at him. “I don’t believe you have a chaos magician. I think that’s a bluff. You should be negotiating with me.”

“Said chaos magician has already undone four of your portals, for the record. He’s very much real and working on this case. Negotiation isn’t happening for you. Neither is bail.”

“My mother will make good on bail,” he insisted.

“If you had the option for it, maybe, but you don’t. You’re going to be transferred from one jail cell to the next, so don’t get your hopes up on anything. The best thing you can do now is confess.”

“The best thing for you,” Powell corrected sharply. “But I’m not alone!”

Borrowman sighed, wearily. “If you’re talking of the other two in your little cult, we’ve already caught them.”

Powell’s jawline rippled as he ground teeth, looking sharply away.

Jon shook his head, an action mirrored by his anchor.

“Lost cause?” Lachlan guessed.

“Completely,” Jon sighed, still shaking his head. “He has no empathy. He doesn’t get why people are so upset with him. To him, he was building up to a higher purpose.”

Ah, yes, the power bank. I did wonder what the purpose of that was. I had a feeling it was one of the main reasons why this man was interrogation, was to get an answer about that.

“Your sacrificial bowl is something else he plans to undo,” Borrowman continued, his manner completely unflappable. “He did say you were very stupid to put it together.”

Oh, good provoke. I mean, true, but still a good provocation.