“Jill will be over in a few minutes,” I told Pellini then grabbed a bowl of chips and pushed it into his hands. “Can you take these out to the table on the back porch? It’s a nice evening. We might as well enjoy it.”
He seemed glad for something to do, and I followed him out with a vegetable tray, plates and napkins. I gestured toward the tree line. “Zack and Ryan built a kickass obstacle course through the woods a few months back. Feel free to indulge in ludicrous exercise if the mood strikes.”
“Ain’t happenin’,” Pellini said with a snort. “But on the off chance I head that way, feel free to knock some sense into me.”
Jill wandered over with Steeev, and Pellini relaxed more with the presence of another familiar face. After Jill introduced him to Steeev she started a light chat about a silly case they’d both recently worked. With devious finesse a dirty politician would envy, she skillfully dodged any opportunity for Pellini to pose questions about Steeev. Curiosity flickered in his eyes, but he remained polite and on topic.
Bryce handed Pellini a beer then excused himself to go tend the grill. Idris stalked farther out into the backyard and onto the nexus. Even though the entire event was a setup to evaluate Pellini, everyone appeared to be having a good time. Apart from Idris, of course. If Pellini suspected anything, he didn’t show it. A wave of guilt struck me at the subterfuge, but we were in too deep for second thoughts. A few minutes later Bryce returned to the table with a platter of grilled sausage, chicken, hamburgers, corn, potatoes and, apparently, anything else grillable he’d found in the kitchen.
I piled sausage, chicken, and corn onto my plate, while Pellini built a hamburger. Halfway through my chicken I felt power stir on the nexus—a buzzing vibration in my gut and head. I shot a quick glance toward Idris to confirm him as the source. Pellini put his hamburger down, a frown tugging at his mouth. He definitely sensed it. I was right about that much at least. Steeev touched Jill’s arm in a prearranged “time to skedaddle” signal. Jill heaved up from her chair and gave everyone a bright smile as she patted her tummy.
“Sorry to bail, y’all, but the bean says she’s had enough,” Jill announced to my relief. Best she wasn’t around if things got interesting.
A chorus of “goodnight” arose, and Steeev escorted her back to the mobile home. The instant the door closed behind her the nexus flared. I held my breath as a filament of sapphire energy shot toward Pellini’s feet with the speed of a coachwhip snake. Pellini jolted out of his chair with a choked cry of alarm. He stumbled back a step as it struck him then, plain as day, he kick-pushed the potency away.
“What the hell’s going on?” he demanded, breathing hard. Idris withdrew the filament, but stood tense and watchful, still assessing. Bryce continued to calmly eat his mashed potatoes but monitored, ready for damn near anything.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I got to my feet. “I had to be sure of what I saw at the plantation.”
Confusion clouded Pellini’s face. “What? What did you see?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You physically manipulated potency.”
“I did?” He paused, frowned. “You mean by the gazebo?”
“Yes! You deflected it. And again just now. How the hell do you know how to do that?”
To my surprise his ears turned red with embarrassment. “It’s, um, part of what I’ve wanted to talk to you about for the past few weeks.”
Few weeks? Shit. Amber Palatino Gavin’s body had been found a few weeks ago. “The murder scene at the eighteen wheeler. You asked me out for a beer.”
“Yeah.” He nodded once, stiff and uncomfortable. “That scene was bad.”
“Yes, it was.” I sat and hoped he would as well. “I never pegged you for someone who could see the arcane.” Idris stepped onto the porch and took up a position behind Pellini, glowering and with his arms folded over his chest.
Pellini glanced at Idris then sat heavily. “The arcane,” he said, as though trying out a new word. “Whatever it is, I don’t want to see it twenty-four-seven.”
“How long have you been able to see the arcane?” I asked. Casual. Friendly.
He shrugged. “As long as I can remember. Used to be I could choose to see it, but not anymore. It’s always there.”
Perpetual othersight, like in the demon realm. On Earth I had to consciously switch to othersight. Or did I? Was that true anymore? I’d spent so much time in the demon realm I felt blind without othersight, so always had it engaged. Experimenting, I tried to not see the potency flows around us. And tried again. Though the flows appeared faded without othersight, they were still easily perceptible.
“So, why did you want to talk to me?” I asked, puzzled.
“Because I can’t shut it out anymore,” he said, desperation thickening his voice. “Not for the past couple of years. And then that murder . . . I needed to shut it out, but I couldn’t.”
I shook my head. “I still don’t get why you thought I’d be of any help.”