"Then get the hell away from here. Leave the state, if that's what it takes."
"I can't. At least not until I know my partner is safe."
"Your partner? The man who has been trying to get rid of you?" He made no attempt to disguise the derision in his voice.
"Yeah, that one." She shrugged. "He saved my life. Now his life is in danger."
"Then find him and get far away from the general."
"Finding him is the problem. His sister seems to think we have formed some sort of mind bond, but when I tried to find him through it, all I got were his emotions and pain."
Joe didn't answer immediately, though his essence continued to swirl around her. "Your talents are only now truly developing, and as yet, no one can be really sure which way that development will head. One thing is obvious, though. It will not be standard."
She raised her eyebrows. "Another riddle?"
"No. A simple truth." He hesitated. "Maybe this linking with Stern, at least on your side, is one more emotional than thought. Perhaps your ability is empathic rather than telepathic."
"And yet, here I am, talking to you."
Again she felt his smile. "This is very different. This is something neither of us can really stop or control."
"Why not?"
"The answers will — "
"Yeah," she retorted. "I know the rest of the rhyme, so don't bother."
"If you wish to find your partner, leave tonight and go to where he was last seen."
She frowned. "Why tonight?"
"It storms."
"Yeah? So?"
Impatience ran around her. "Just go, and you will see. For now, I must go."
His essence and the white room, fled. She woke suddenly. Rain pelted against the window to the right of her bed. Lightning cut across the night, and the power of it stirred the air, filling her soul. She breathed deeply. Every pore seemed to tingle with the storm's energy.
From beyond the doorway came the sound of footsteps, a tattoo that was both angry and impatient. Jessie appeared. Water dripped from her burgundy coat, splashing across the tiles as she walked over to Sam's bed.
"What happened?" Inane question when all she had to do was look into Jessie's eyes and see the answer. They hadn't found Gabriel.
"We found his viaphone, but nothing else. There was no clue as to where they might have gone."
She rubbed her forehead. Joe had told her to go to the warehouse. Though she had no idea why, she wasn't about to doubt him. Not when Gabriel's life might be at risk.
"Where's Director Byrne?"
"Interviewing Whittiker again."
She almost felt sorry for Orrin. Almost. "You have to take me to that warehouse."
Jessie frowned. "Samantha, you're in no condition — "
"Yeah, right," she snapped back. "Like you were so concerned about my condition down in the holding cell."
Jessie had the grace to look uncomfortable.