Page 98 of Twisted Shadows
“It’s not a television, it’s the empath map,” said Grayson. “Mr. Stone had them installed in every office.”
“Empath...map?”
“It shows where all the empath trackers currently are.”
Reece narrowed his eyes. “Oh, it’sStalker TV, how cute,” he said bitingly. He turned his gaze to the framed photos. “And are these the stalkers?” He straightened and stepped closer to the photos. “I recognize Cedrick Stone.”
Grayson joined him at the wall. “If bystalkersyou mean all the directors of the various empath organizations, then yeah.” Grayson pointed to the center photo, of a pretty, polished blonde woman with a perfect smile standing on a dizzyingly high suspension bridge next to a handsome Black man. “That’s Vivian Marist herself, with Assistant Director Jacobs. He’s the Empath Initiative’s liaison with the FBI.”
“And they’re fucking,” said Reece.
Grayson blinked. “What?”
“Those two.” Reece tapped the picture of Marist and Jacobs. “Secret relationship that they’re hiding from their work colleagues. You can’t tell? It’s written all over them, even in a still picture, how they’re leaning into each other like they can’t help themselves. Not to mention it’s Marist’s only casual picture and she’s put it in the nicest frame, right at what’s probably her eye level. I bet she’s in love.”
“I did not know any of this,” Grayson muttered to himself.
“What about this one?” Reece gestured at a different photo, the largest one on the wall. It was a professional, posed shot, with the Seattle skyline behind them. A caption at the bottom readDedicated to Keeping You Safe. “Who are these two assholes with Marist and Cedrick Stone?”
“The big man next to Cedrick Stone is Director Traynor.”
Reece raised an eyebrow. “Why is the director of an empath organization built like you?”
“Ex-military,” Grayson said. “Used to be a general. If I work for anyone, it’s him; the role of the Dead Man was his idea.”
“Was it.” Reece sized up Traynor in the picture. Unlike the poised, corporate smiles of Stone and Marist, Traynor’s face was carefully blank. “Who’s the guy next to Marist and what does he run?”
“Director Nichols,” said Grayson. “He runs a—research facility.”
“I see.” Reece narrowed his eyes at the man in the picture, who had brown hair and pale eyes. Something about his expression gave Reece the creeps. “And what kind ofresearch facilityisdedicated to making people safebut also makes the Dead Man stumble over telling an empath about it?”
“It’s—I mean—”
“Back on the rooftop of the Seattle Stone Solutions, Cedrick Stone mentioned they were going to send Cora to a place where they did research.” Reece’s eyes narrowed further. “He said it was here, in BC. Does this creep run that place?”
“Reece, stop,” Grayson said, more quietly. “Your empathy is trying to discover secrets the people of Seattle and Vancouver can’t afford for you to know. There might be a day when it’s not safe for them that you know. Understand?”
Reece took a breath, trying to calm his blood pressure. “Was your brother sent to that place too?”
He hadn’t realized he was going to ask that question until it had already spilled from his lips.
For a moment, the only sound was the hum of the fluorescent lights above and the clicking of computer keys as Marist’s secretary typed in the next room.
“No,” Grayson finally said. “Everything that happened with Alex happened in Texas.”
I know where you’re trying to lead this conversation, detective, Grayson had said on the phone at the car show, to Jamey.Except there’s no chance. He’s dead.
Grayson had paused to listen, then added,I’m completely sure. And I canbecompletely sure because I was there. If you take my meaning.
You were where?Reece had asked.
Texas.
“Your brother died in Texas.” Reece jerked his head to look over his shoulder, back at Grayson. “Is that what you were talking about earlier, with Jamey?”
“Reece—”
“You’re certain your brother is dead because you werethere?”
