PHENOMENAL GIRL 5 Page 5

  Lost in thought, I didn’t hear anyone walk into the room.

  “You are reading?” Robert asked, surprise in his tone.

  Irritated, I gritted my teeth. “Yes, I read. Don’t let the shock of my being literate kill you.”

  “You should not take every comment I make as a personal insult directed at you.” He grunted as he sat down across from me and poured himself a cup of coffee. I remembered last night had taken its toll on him as well, and my anger cooled.

  “I thought I was the only one who brought a book to meals.” He gave me that slight boyish smile.

  “Oh.” I was embarrassed. He was right, I needed to relax or the only kind of impression I’d be making was that of the crazy variety. “I was kinda antisocial in my childhood and teenage years. Books were my friends.”

  He nodded in understanding. “So…you would not be offended if I brought reading material to dinner?”

  “Only if you promise to lighten up on the dress code. And do you have any other room in the house to eat in that isn’t an entire hall?”

  He smiled. “A more casual atmosphere can be arranged.”

  “Great.” I toasted him with my coffee mug and went back to reading.

  “So, what is it that so engrosses you?” he asked, looking over at the slim hardback.

  “Oh, it’s poetry.” I shrugged it off. “From the Romantic era.”

  “Who is the poet?”

  “William Graves.”

  A look of complete surprise crossed his features. “Really? Why him?”

  “He’s my favorite. At school we had to do reports on these assigned poets, and he’s the one I got. Something about his work really spoke to me. It all has this innate sense of loneliness that I connected with. After all, what teenager doesn’t feel alone in their problems—especially one with superpowers who lost her parents? Anyway, I just completely dug his work, and we had to read a poem to the class and explain what it meant. So I read this one.” I pointed to the page to which the book was open.

  He slid the tome around to read the title. “ ‘Theft of a Moment.’ ”

  “I told everyone it was about this man’s desire to take a chance, failing to do so, and how he hoped the next time he’d be able to act but was afraid he would let it pass again. My teacher said no, that’s not what the poem’s about; it’s about the failure to overthrow the corruption of the politicians and the Industrial Age’s birth. We got in this huge fight because I wouldn’t back down, and I got an F.”

  “I cannot imagine you not backing down,” he said with mild sarcasm.

  “Known me one day and already you know me too well.”

  He paused a moment. “Well, if it helps to hear, you were right and your teacher was wrong. I happen to be sure of it.” He got up from the table. “We must go. Pendergast will be waiting.”

  Surely he wasn’t suggesting what I thought. I scrambled after him.

  “Did you study Graves?” I asked, keeping in step with him.

  “After a fashion, yes.”

  “Did you know him or something?”

  “Or something.”

  I stopped. “ Were you him?”

  He turned back to look at me. “Lainey, there are a lot of lives I have lived whose memories are but a dim spark, almost like a half-forgotten story or a dream I once had. That is not a truly shared life.”

  Okay, if that didn’t sound like the meanderings of a poet, I didn’t know what did. “So you were him.”

  He paused at the door to the library. “Let us save ourselves a lot of trouble, shall we? From time to time, I might mention something historical, of the past. Let us assume I know what I am talking about. Whether or not I was that person or had that experience, or just read about it in a book, is irrelevant. So, when I say that you understood your poem and your teacher did not, it is true, and how I came about the information is not important. Alright?”

  I nodded, feeling even more confused. “Okay.”

  “If it helps, think of my former lives as relatives. After all, they all had different names and faces—and as I say, not all the same memories. Now, back to the matter at hand.” He opened the door and walked in.

  I followed after him. No wonder everyone said he was crazy. I’d be crazy too if I were him.

  Detective Pendergast was in his fifties, slightly overweight, with gray hair that almost looked silver. He was flipping through a notebook when we walked in.

  “Good morning, Detective Pendergast,” Robert said, giving his hand an enthusiastic shake.

  Pendergast responded in kind. “Good to see you again, Mister Elliot.”

  “Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, something to eat perhaps?”

  “Coffee would be great, thanks.”

  “I will ring Mayhew.” Robert busied himself at the desk.

  I walked up to Pendergast. “Hi. Lainey Livingston.”

  He took my hand in his firm grip. “Nice to meet you. I take it you are his new partner?”

  “I just started yesterday.”

  “Pretty eventful first day.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Then you are Phenomenal Girl Five?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He flipped through the notebook again. “Why didn’t you tell the detective on the scene your real name?”

  “He asked for that information in front of someone who had attacked me.”

  “Duly noted, Miss Livingston.” He scratched something down in the notebook.

  “Is there anything I or my partner can do to help out your case, Pendergast?” Robert asked, coming to stand very close behind me. I twitched at the proximity.

  “Syn was more than happy to brag about what he did to the girl, and to your partner for that matter. The D.A. won’t have any problems prosecuting this case.” Pendergast accepted the coffee cup Mayhew brought him. “Thank you.

  Everyone knows Deburt has a grudge against capes.” He winced, as if remembering to whom he was speaking. “Sorry, those of the powered persuasion.”

  “He has had problems working with me since the Grivinci case,” Robert said.

  “We do appreciate all the help you have given us, make no mistake about that,” Pendergast said. “Your expertise has been invaluable, and we don’t want one bad apple like Deburt to ruin our relationship.”

  “It will not, but I appreciate you saying so.”

  “Syn said something else during his confession that I thought you needed to be aware of.” Pendergast cleared his throat and glanced down at the notebook. “He said the EHJ needed to be more concerned about what went on in their own backyards than in space.” He flipped the notebook shut. “Are the charter members of the Elite Hands of Justice off-planet?”

  My blood ran cold. “How would he know that? That’s not the type of thing released to the public.”

  “Someone must have told him they were away.” Robert tapped a finger on his lips in thought.

  “I think this Syn was egged on by someone else,” Pendergast said. “Someone who was aware of the EHJ’s activities.”

  “But who would know that information?” I asked.

  “Other than their legions of publicists?” Robert said darkly. “That is the trouble of keeping too public of a profile; almost everyone knows where you are at all times. I am surprised villains have not taken advantage before this. Although we did not know they were going off-planet until yesterday…” He trailed off, lost in thought, oblivious to Pendergast’s and my presence. “It is a matter that needs to be addressed.”

  “Well, you may be receiving a summons to court,” Pendergast remarked.

  “Of course. What ever you need, do let us know,” Robert said. “We will be keeping an eye on things on our side.”

  “Like I said, we appreciate everything you do. I’ll see myself out. Thank you for the coffee. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Livingston.” He nodded to me and left the room.

  I turned to Robert. “There’s no way a villain knew the EHJ went off-planet
just by reading the newspaper.”

  “Syn could have used surveillance. Though, with the wards and Mindy’s many inventions, any bugs should have been picked up. There is one possibility…”

  “What?”

  “Someone close tipped Syn off.”

  I stared at him. “You think someone in the EHJ switched sides?”

  “I did not say that. It does not have to be one of the members. It could have been a member of the house keeping staff, or one of the public relations assistants, even the barista in the building’s coffee shop. But we cannot eliminate any possibilities yet.” He moved past me to the bookcase. “I shall see if I can get in touch with Ben, and apprise him of the situation.”

  “Anything I can do to help?”

  “Yes. A woman from the Poverty Society will be coming at one to discuss plans for the charity ball I give every year. I do not have time to deal with her, so can you take care of it?”

  “The whole ball?”

  “Yes. I generally like to have my partners take care of social events for me.”

  “How sexist of you.”

  “My partners have sometimes been men.”

  I smiled at that. “Alright. Help some chick throw some party. It’ll be easy.”

  He laughed. “See me after she leaves. I may have an easier time of it than you will.” He pulled the proper books and the door swung open. “I will be downstairs.” He disappeared into his lair, leaving me to wonder just what I had in store.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Exactly at noon, a black-haired tornado burst into the library. Startled, I looked up from the psychological profiling book I was leafing through.

  “Robert, darling, I was just…” She trailed off. “And just who are you?” She gave me a look as if I was something she had scraped off the bottom of her designer shoes.

  She was pretty in a spoiled-rich-girl way. Model skinny, with perfect skin and glossy black hair. What I hated most were her eyes. I’ve always thought it wasn’t fair I was born with blonde hair but not blue eyes. Hers were the bluest I’d ever seen.

  Remembering I shouldn’t be rude to a guest of Robert’s, especially one who called him “darling,” I squared my shoulders and took a step forward.

  “Lainey,” I said, reaching out to shake her hand. She recoiled as if I had licked it first. Feeling awkward, I lowered it. “I’m his new…assistant.” It’s not as if I could say crime fighting partner, now could I? Who knew how much she was aware of?

  “Oh.” She looked relieved that her precious Robert wasn’t lowering his standards to socialize with me. “Then be a dear, take my coat and bring me a cappuccino. I swear, that butler of his is worthless.” She threw her coat at me, revealing a skin-tight black dress with a scoop neck so low that, coupled with the push-up bra, it was amazing the objects on display didn’t reveal that last critical inch. She took a compact out of her tiny little designer bag and checked her reflection. Yes, she was still hot. Nothing had changed since she walked in. “Do tell Robert that Victoria Dupree is waiting for him.”

  “Robert was…called away on other business,” I said. “He sent me instead.”

  She paused, a tube of lipstick just inches away from her mouth. “You’re not serious?”

  I shrugged. “I’m afraid so.”

  “But we’re supposed to be planning the benefit together!” Victoria glowered at me. Did she think I was hiding him somewhere, so he wouldn’t get to see her spectacular cleavage, which she’d probably spent all day glittering and pushing up just right? She might be a sublimely gorgeous stick figure, but at least I had her beat in the chest area.

  “He said I was to take over for him. He’s too busy with his work.”

  “But I have an appointment. And I’m an old friend of his. He can make a little time to see me. All I really need to do is ask him one teeny question about the party and the rest I can handle. Now, go tell him I just need to borrow one minute of his time and then I’ll get out of his hair. I know how time-consuming his work can be.”

  “What does he do?” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.

  She blinked in surprise. “What?”

  “Robert. What exactly does he do for a living? Since you’re an old friend and all.”

  Her eyes flashed blue fire. “We don’t discuss business. And I don’t think it’s appropriate for his assistant to be using his first name in such an intimate fashion. His last assistant always called him Mister Elliot.”

  I shrugged. “What can I say? He likes me better.” Or he had until I went and insulted his girlfriend. But if she were his girlfriend, he wouldn’t have foisted her off on me. “Now, if there is any message you would like to leave for Robert, I’d be happy to take it. And I’d be glad to help with your benefit.”

  “Just tell him I will be calling him later. I’ll arrange for a private dinner to discuss matters further. Away from this house.” She snatched her coat from my grasp and clicked off, stilettos echoing out into the hallway. “He needs to put the help in their place!” she shot at Mayhew, who was holding the door open for her.

  I’d rather fight your garden-variety villain than a psycho society woman any day.

  Seeing the butler still standing there, I flashed him an apologetic look. “I’m the help that needs to be put in their place, not you, Mayhew.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Miss Lainey. Miss Dupree has been after Mister Elliot to fire me for over a year now.”

  “He’s not going to be mad I antagonized her?”

  Mayhew chuckled. “I doubt that. He tries to antagonize her every chance he gets, just to shake her off. She’s been vying for the title of Mrs. Elliot since they met.”

  I’m sure she has been. “And he doesn’t want that?”

  “The master doesn’t have time for romantic attachments, and they would be…complicated.”

  “The hero thing. I hear ya.” It was one of the reasons I had focused on my career and let the romance factor slide. Not that I never dated, but heroes as a general rule tended to date inside the family, so to speak. No one understands why you have to cancel dinner to fight some loony in pajamas more than another hero. They might even join you. “So, where is Robert anyway?”

  “Out in the garden, doing some exercises.”

  “Did he get through to the EHJ?”

  “I believe so, Miss Lainey, but you will have to ask him.”

  “Thanks, Mayhew. I go…this way?”

  “Through the kitchen is the best.” He gave me a wink.

  “Thanks.” I’d get the layout of this mansion someday.

  Out in the garden, Robert was doing something that looked like Tai Chi, eyes closed in meditation. He was whispering something I couldn’t quite catch as I walked up. I didn’t want to interrupt, but he had said to meet him.

  Finally I cleared my throat. “So, did you get in contact with Rath?”

  He opened his eyes and focused on me. “Yes, I did. He is going to keep an eye on the members, make sure nothing is out of the ordinary. And they are going to instate new security measures with all of the staff in the building immediately. Has Miss Dupree left already?”

  “Yeah. I kinda pissed her off.”

  “Really? What did you say to her?” The corner of his mouth twitched.

  Even though Mayhew was sure he wouldn’t be angry, I wasn’t. I took a deep breath. “Well, she was really upset I wouldn’t let her see you, and then I questioned your close friendship.” I meet his gaze. “I probably shouldn’t have, and I’m sorry I upset your friend.”

  “You probably should not have?” He laughed. “That is an interesting apology, Lainey. And you are correct in assuming she is but an acquaintance of mine and not a close personal friend.” He went back to exercising.

  I watched him go through the motions. “Is that Tai Chi?”

  “Something like it. It helps to focus and balance the magic energies. After last night’s activities, it was sorely needed.” He finished the movement and eyed me.
“You should try it.”

  “Maybe if I had magic.”

  “Perhaps you do and do not realize it. Some live their whole lives and never know of their capabilities. No matter how many tests the Elite Hands of Justice persuades the populace to run to check for ‘powers,’ there will always be those who slip through their fingers.” He sounded somewhere between annoyed and amused by this.

  “I was tested when I was a kid.”

  “Humor me,” he said, hands clasped behind his back.

  I shrugged. What harm could it do? I’d always wanted to take up Tai Chi anyway. “What do I do?”

  He came to stand behind me. “You start off in a stance like this.” He put his hands on my waist, bringing my hips to a centered position. He moved his hands up to my shoulders, squaring them, then left one lightly on the small of my back.

  “Now, shift your weight onto your left foot and pivot to the side, and move down while extending your right arm…” He led me through the exercise, a series of slow movements, all the while staying right beside me, every so often correcting a move with a small touch. I felt my body growing warm, and not from the exertion.

  “…And center position, hands together in front of you.” He followed the movement along with me, hands slightly on my hips again. The urge to lean back against him was almost too overwhelming to control.

  His hands left my hips, and traced a line up my body without touching it, much like he had done the night before. “It is faint, but it is there.”

  My breathing went shallow. “What is?” I turned to face him, daring to look into his eyes.

  “Magic. I doubt you could ever cast a spell, but it is there.”

  “But they tested me at school.”

  “Maybe it did not show up until you matured.” He again traced the outline around me, somehow setting my skin on fire without even making contact. The magic scans at school never did that.

  I leaned forward. I couldn’t help it; it was like an involuntary reaction. For a moment, it seemed as if he was going to lean in to kiss me. And God, did I want him to. But then he moved away, arms behind his back again.