sorry,” Fallon said. “But we both know it was inevitable that sooner or later we would come face-to-face at some Arcane event. The Society is a small world at the top.”
“And your family controls that world,” Jenny said bitterly.
Fallon did not react.
Jenny abruptly turned to Isabella.
“You must be the new office manager everyone is talking about. The one who thinks Fallon is some kind of modern Sherlock Holmes.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, in addition to managing the office, I’m an investigator in the firm,” Isabella said.
“The way I hear it, you’re providing some additional services on the side,” Jenny said coldly.
At that, Fallon stirred. Ominous energy shivered in the atmosphere. “That’s enough, Jenny. Isabella has nothing to do with you and me.”
“Does she know why we broke up?” Jenny whispered. “Does she know that you killed my brother?”
Isabella studied the fog that threatened to consume Jenny. “I know what really happened the night your brother died,” she said gently. “I can also see that the secrets you are keeping are slowly but surely destroying you. You know the old saying, the truth will set you free.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jenny said. “Fallon Jones killed my brother.”
“You were the one who exposed Fallon to the magic-lantern lights that night, weren’t you?” Isabella said gently. “Tucker didn’t use his talent to slip into your condo to set up the lantern. You did it so that Fallon would be disoriented when your brother came to murder him.”
Fallon was suddenly very still. But his reaction was nothing compared with Jenny’s. She looked stricken.
“You’re crazy,” Jenny whispered.
“I’m sure Fallon knows the truth. He has probably known it all along.”
“That’s not true.” Jenny’s voice rose. She turned to Fallon. “Make her stop talking.”
“That’s not so easy to do,” Fallon said.
Isabella took a step toward Jenny and stopped. “Don’t mean to scare you, but I really don’t think you’re going to be able to keep the secret much longer. I’ve seen this kind of hot fog before. If you were a sociopath, it wouldn’t be a problem. They feed on the flames. But you are a decent person and you once cared about Fallon so you feel the heat, don’t you? You know what it’s doing to you.”
“Shut up,” Jenny pleaded. “Just shut up. Please.”
Isabella said nothing. Fallon did not move.
Jenny started to cry. Everything about her seemed to crumple beneath the crushing weight of the secrets she had been holding.
Isabella went to her and put her arms around her. Jenny resisted for a few seconds and then the last of the dam gave way. Jenny sobbed against Isabella’s shoulder.
After a while Fallon offered a pristine square of white linen. Isabella smiled a little. How many modern men carried a crisp white handkerchief on the off chance that they might need to produce it for a distraught woman, she wondered. Then, again, the small gesture suited Fallon. In many ways he was a man from another era, some mythical time and place where honor and chivalry were important concepts.
“I believed him.” Jenny took the handkerchief and blotted her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Fallon. But he was my brother. I had to believe him.”
“I know,” Fallon said. “He was my friend and my partner. I wanted to believe him, too.”
Jenny sighed. “You probably know everything. You’re Fallon Jones. You always have the answers.”
“Not always,” Fallon said.
“In this case I’m sure you do.” Jenny looked at him. “You’re right, I did expose you to the magic-lantern lights that night. I hid the device in a floor lamp. I was subjected to the radiation as well, but it didn’t hit me as hard as it hit you because your talent is so powerful. I . . . I knew it would be like that.”
“Tucker told you that I was the one who was running the club and selling the light in the insider rooms,” Fallon said. It was a statement of fact, not a question.
“Yes.” Jenny sniffed. “It’s all my fault. I’m responsible for everything that happened because I’m the one who created those damn lanterns in the first place.”
“Why?” Fallon asked.
“It was an experiment,” Jenny said. She sounded dull and lifeless now. “So many psychoactive pharmaceuticals don’t work well on those who possess a high level of talent. I was trying to come up with a naturopathic approach to treating problems like depression and anxiety and PTSD in strong para-sensitives. There is a lot of work being done with light