buy that,” Zack said. “But let’s be honest: you were never what anyone would call the sociable type even before all the crap that went down three years ago. Afterward your loner tendencies got a whole lot more pronounced. Hell, you practically disappeared when you moved here.”
“I like it here.”
“I can see that,” Zack said.
He did not say anything else for a time. Fallon waited.
“I should probably mention the other reason I decided to pay you a visit today,” Zack said eventually.
“I knew it,” Fallon said.
“Well, you are psychic.”
“Let’s have it.”
“I want you to show up at the Society’s Winter Conference this week,” Zack said.
Fallon did not hesitate. “No.”
“You’ve skipped it for two years in a row.”
“You know why.”
“Yes, but things are different this year.”
“Give me one good reason I should make the trip to Sedona.”
“I’ll give you two. The first is that there’s a move afoot to encourage the Council to replace you as the head of J&J.”
Fallon felt as if he’d walked into a stone wall. It took an effort of will backed up by a little talent to pull his senses together.
“That’s not possible,” he said. “J&J is mine. I inherited the firm from Uncle Gresham. It’s always been a privately held business within the family. It’s not just another branch of Arcane like the labs or the museums. The Council can’t fire me.”
“There is talk to the effect that if replacing you is not an option, the Council should sever its ties with J&J and hire a new investigation firm.”
Fallon gripped the window ledge. “Someone thinks I’ve lost it?”
“It has been suggested,” Zack said neutrally. “But the politically correct argument being used is that you’re spending too many resources on Nightshade.”
Fallon closed his eyes. “They think Nightshade is finished because of the Hawaii case.”
“Yes,” Zack said.
“It’s not.” Fallon opened his eyes. “I can feel it, Zack. That damn organization is like a hydra. We cut off one of the snake’s heads, but a new one will soon take its place. Trust me. As long as they have Humphrey Hulsey and the recipe for the formula, we can’t let down our guard.”
“I believe you and I’ll back you all the way. But in the meantime, I need you to back me.”
“You want me to do that by showing up at the Sedona conference?”
Zack watched him very steadily, his startling blue eyes cold and determined. But there was understanding in his expression as well.
“Yes,” he said. “Face it, cousin, you can’t stay hidden away here in Scargill Cove forever. We both know that. Those who wield power within Arcane need to see you. If you remain out of sight, the rumors will only get worse.”
Fallon exhaled slowly. He had known this request was coming sooner or later, he reminded himself. His parents had dropped a few pointed hints some weeks back. Nevertheless, Zack was applying more pressure than the situation appeared to warrant. There was an underlying urgency to the demand that required a little study.
Fallon heightened his senses and watched the paranormal web light up.
“Well, hell,” he said softly. “It’s not just me or J&J they’re after, is it?”
“I don’t think so,” Zack said, very serious now. “Got a feeling that severing the connection with J&J and cutting off the resources you require to fight Nightshade is part of a long-term strategy.”
“You’re next,” Fallon said, comprehension hitting him in the gut. “With J&J out of the picture, the next logical step would be to convince the Council to remove you and put someone else in charge of the Society.”
“Someone other than a Jones, to be specific,” Zack said. “Someone who would be in a position to redirect not only the full resources of the Society but its goals and objectives, as well. My talent tells me we’re looking at what those in the business world call a hostile takeover.”
Fallon whistled softly. “More like a coup d’état.”
“I want to counter it with a show of force. Within Arcane, power and talent are everything, always have been. The Jones family has a lot of both of those commodities. I want to remind the members of that. Hell, we founded the organization. We aren’t going to give it up without a fight.”
More sectors of the paranormal spiderweb shivered with light. “Nightshade,” Fallon said softly. “Or what’s left of it. Got to be.”
“Maybe,” Zack cautioned. “Maybe not. I haven’t been able to identify the source of the recent wave of rumors, let alone whether or not the individual responsible is linked