Marlene nodded. "We'll have to track them through a back door. If one of the other members at the table can pick up a sensitivity, then we might have a chance. One of us will eventually feel their vibrations, or hear them, perhaps pick up a scent."
"Up to now, Marlene, you've been trying to get an immediate sightline on them. Let's see if we can redirect that energy to the olfactory sensors, or the tacticals. Maybe Mike can hear something that will clue us in?"
"It's worth a shot, Mar," Rider said. "If Jose and I can pick up some kinda tracer, then Father Pat's crew can trail it. We'll talk them through on walkie-talkie while keeping the circle connection going."
"All right, people," Marlene said on a weary sigh. "Let's clear our thoughts, stretch our minds. We know she mentioned a lair in Beverly Hills, so envision the environment, the surroundings, the streets, feel the trees, and see the colors, close your eyes, open up your minds, hear the traffic, smell the freshly cut lawns, let your gifts guide you and send those impressions to each other then to me."
Only the sound of deep, steady inhales could be heard. Air-conditioner compressors around the compound hummed in the distance. A wall clock ticked ever so slightly. Water from a faucet in the next room dripped.
Then Jose breathed in deeply and tilted his head at the same moment Father Lopez did.
"Talk to us, Jose," Marlene said, her voice low, melodic, calm. "Impression... scent?"
Jose took a deeper breath and squeezed Rider's hand harder. "Smells so good," he murmured.
"Rider," Marlene said, keeping the group steady, "you picking up?"
"No, Mar. The young buck got this one. I'm not picking up anything."
When Jose shuddered, everyone opened their eyes and stared at him.
"Stay focused everybody, keep hands joined, stay relaxed. Jose, where are you?"
A palpable tension could be felt in the room. The squat white candle in the center of the ring of hands sputtered and flickered as an energy charged the atmosphere around it.
"I don't know, but shit."
"Are you hurt?" Marlene asked quickly, but her voice was still low and controlled.
"No," Jose murmured.
"Are you by yourself?"
He shook his head no. His breathing deepened as his T-shirt became damp from sweat.
"The scent, is it vampire?"
"No," Jose said on a heavy exhale. "Female, straight up."
"Mar," Rider said. "He found Damali. Think he's got a lock with our girl."
"Yeah, bro," Jose said, slowly. "Roses... blood ... oh, baby."
Marlene stiffened. "Roses... are they outside?"
"No," Jose whispered. "Red everywhere..."
"He's picking up tactical senses, which is beyond his gift range. Mar, pull him out."
"No, Shabazz," she said through clenched teeth. "He saw a color, which means that he's got a visual, something we haven't been able to get."
Shabazz eased back in his chair, casting a concerned glance around the team. Father Lopez stepped forward, bringing the other three Covenant members to the table with him, walking almost in lockstep with them so they wouldn't lose their protective directional position. Father Lopez laid his hand on Jose's shoulder.
"I'll connect with him directly, stay with his spirit to guide him and to be a second source of strength." Father Lopez looked away shyly. "I feel things... and no offense, but I picked it up before Shabazz and J.L. did. I guess I'm a tactical sensor, too."
"Good," Rider said, nodding. "We almost lost our brother once before to some freak accident and I don't want to go there again."
"No he," Big Mike said.