Chapter 10: The Figure in the Glass

She stared out the window the city lights and cars and rain.  Her breath fogged against the glass.  Behind her, Tedrow said, “Ms. DePaulo, I have word from the scouts.”

She turned her head to look at his reflection in the window.  “Yes?” she said.

“The beetle is gone.  We don’t know how he managed to get it but we have a lead on who he gave it to.”

“Who he gave it to?”

“Yes, ma’am.  Our sources indicate Ellison gave the beetle away shortly after gaining possession of it.”

“Why?”

“We don’t know.”

She looked back at the city.  “And the staff?”

“Missing, too.”

Earlene spun to face him.  “Missing?  The beetle and the staff are both missing?”

Tedrow nodded.

Earlene pulled out the chair behind her desk and sat down.  She stared at the glass trophy next to a picture of her husband and one of her dog.  Entrepreneur of the Year, she thought.  Jesus.

She stared up at Tedrow.  “Jamie,” she said, “You must—  In fact, I know you recognize the importance of those two items.”

“Ma’am?”

“Their importance to me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I need them, Jamie.  They are crucial—the beetle, most of all.  Find them.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  Tedrow left her, closing the office door softly as he did.

Earlene DePaulo leaned back.  She didn’t have long now.

I TRUST YOU WILL NOT FAIL IN OUR AGREEMENT?

The voice came from in front of her, but the room was empty.  Earlene swiveled her chair until she was again facing the window.  Casting an indistinct reflection in the glass was a human shape, masculine, but without texture or definite form.  She could see that the figure was standing in the center of her office.

“We’ll recover them,” she said.

I DO HOPE SO.

“This is only temporary.  We have a lead.”

I HEARD.

“We’ll find them.”

The figure took a step toward her.  THE DESH GROW IMPATIENT, it said.  WE LONG TO FEEL AGAIN.

We all do, Earlene thought.  She said, “You have my word.”

THAT IS NOT WHY I CAME, HOWEVER, the creature said.

“Oh?”

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A NEW THREAT.

Earlene rubbed her eyes.  Is there anyone who isn’t opposed to us? she thought.

TWO GIRLS.

“Girls?”

CHILDREN. THEY SEEK THE SAME AS WE DO.  AS YOU DO.

“Tell me more,” she said.

The Desh did.  Earlene listened, processing this new information, fitting it in to her existing understanding of the conspiracy she’d become involved in.

Earlene DePaulo hated all of it—but the allure of power was too great to not proceed.