Silver Master

Chapter 42

THE EXECUTIVE SUITE OF THE HIGH-RISE TOWER THAT housed the headquarters of the Cadence Guild had a very fine view of the Dead City. The interior décor of Mercer Wyatt’s private office was as sleek and sophisticated as that of any other seriously successful CEO in the city. Very mainstream, Celinda thought. If you didn’t know much about Guild history, you wouldn’t even guess that you were dealing with an organization that was steeped in secrecy, outmoded traditions, and archaic rules.

“I’ve given your suggestion concerning how to handle the relics a great deal of thought, Miss Ingram,” Mercer Wyatt said.

He was standing in front of the windows, looking even more formidable in person than he did in news photos or when he was being interviewed by a rez-screen reporter. From his hawklike features, silver hair, and specter-cat eyes to the heavy amber rings he wore on his hands, he projected an image of power.

It was his eyes that had caught her attention when they had been introduced a short time ago. Emmett London had the same eyes. There were certain similarities in their psi patterns, too. She knew, without being told, that the rumors were true. Emmett was Wyatt’s son.

Celinda was glad that she and Davis were not facing the Guild boss alone today. They had brought plenty of backup. Emmett and Lydia London were present. So was Max, who was perched on the back of Davis’s chair, and Araminta, who was peering out from the tote at Celinda’s feet.

But Wyatt had some backup of his own, namely his elegant, attractive, much younger wife, Tamara. Davis had explained that Wyatt considered her his most trusted confidante. Tamara was a hunter, one of a statistically small number of women who possessed dissonance-energy para-rez talent. There were rumors circulating to the effect that Wyatt was grooming her to take over his position as head of the Guild. No one believed for one moment that he could do the impossible and install a female as the next boss of the Cadence Guild. But Wyatt had a reputation for getting what he wanted.

It was that reputation that was worrying Celinda this morning.

“It’s not a suggestion,” she said, keeping her tone very polite and respectful. No sense pissing off the Guild boss any more than absolutely necessary. “I must insist that both relics be turned over to a reputable medical research lab. If you want a suggestion, I’ll give you one. Put Dr. Phillips of the Glenfield Institute in charge of studying the therapeutic aspects of the relics.”

Wyatt frowned. “I realize you are concerned about the Guild’s intentions toward the relics. I understand that your unfortunate experience with a member of the Frequency City Guild has left you with a poor impression. However, I assure you that the Cadence Guild adheres to the strictest standards.”

“You’re right,” she said. “I don’t trust the Guild establishment. In my opinion, the organizations lack an appropriate system of checks and balances. However, I will acknowledge that they have a role to play in society.”

Wyatt’s silver brows rose. Something that might have been amusement gleamed in his dangerous eyes. “Do you, indeed? That is very open-minded of you.”

“The Guilds are, however, peculiar blends of business corporations and emergency militias,” she continued. “I am convinced that if any Guild, including the Cadence Guild, gets its hands on the relics, they will view them as possible weapons. While I believe that they have only a very limited potential in that regard, it irritates me to think that the possible therapeutic qualities will be ignored.”

Tamara, seated on a black leather chair, crossed her knees and looked suddenly very curious. “Why do you believe that the relics have only limited potential as weapons?”

Celinda looked at her. “Several reasons. Based on my admittedly limited experience, I am convinced that only someone who possesses the type of psi talent that I have and that Dr. Hollings had can activate them. What’s more, it has to be a very strong form of that talent. That means that the pool of people who can resonate with the relics is probably going to be extremely limited.” She paused for emphasis. “And I’m betting that no ghost hunters will be in that pool.”

“Why not?” Wyatt asked sharply.

Lydia answered with a triumphant smile. “She’s right. It’s a known fact that when a particularly strong talent exists in an individual, it is not generalized across the psychic spectrum. It always takes a specific form such as the ability to resonate with ephemeral or dissonance energy. There is no recorded instance of a person possessing two equally powerful forms of psi talent. That certainly implies that no strong ghost hunters will be able to rez the relic.”

“You’d have to rely entirely on non-Guild talent to conduct your research,” Emmett observed in a businesslike manner. “That means you wouldn’t have full control.”

Wyatt’s mouth tightened. Celinda knew he did not like hearing that.

“Celinda and Lydia have a point,” Davis said. “One way or another, you’re going to have to turn the research over to an outside lab. Why not make it a medical lab?”

There was a long beat of silence before Tamara said thoughtfully, “They’re right, Mercer.”

Wyatt looked at her, scowling, but he didn’t argue.

“There’s another factor that you should keep in mind,” Celinda added quickly. “Although I’m sure that there are other people around who can rez that relic for you, the fact is, with Hollings dead, I’m the only one you know for certain who can do it.”

Wyatt looked suddenly fascinated. “Are you trying to blackmail me, Miss Ingram?”

“No, of course not.” She took a deep breath. “What I’m telling you is that if you want my cooperation in testing the relics, the research will have to be done on my terms.”

Wyatt nodded. “Certainly sounds like blackmail to me.”

Lydia cleared her throat. “There’s another aspect of this thing that you might want to consider. If you do turn the relics over to a legitimate medical research lab, you stand to reap some extremely good publicity for the Guild.”

Tamara inclined her head. “True. Mercer, there’s not much point retaining control over the relics if we can’t make use of them, but if they do turn out to be therapeutic medical devices, we can gain some excellent press. We provide security for the Glenfield Institute because that is where we send our people when they get hurt in the line of duty. We’ll be able to protect the artifacts there. Also, we know Dr. Phillips, and we trust him.”

Wyatt stopped prowling and came to a halt. It was obvious that he had made his decision. He was a CEO who knew how to cut his losses.

“Very well, Miss Ingram,” he said. “The relics will be entrusted to Dr. Phillips and his staff for further research. Are you satisfied?”

“Yes.” She looked down at Araminta, who was munching a cookie. “There’s just one tiny little problem left.”