“I’m moving into engineering,” he said. “Paranormal light R and D.”

Several people turned to Sierra and asked her if she would be going to work at the Foundation.

“I’ve got a job back in Seattle,” she said.

North gave her a brooding look each time she said it but he made no comment.

Jake arrived at the table, a beer in one hand. “About time you two showed up. The Loring case is the main topic of conversation here tonight.”

“Any update on the two Puppets?” North asked.

“Not yet, but like you said, it’s just a matter of time before they get picked up.”

“What if they’ve left the country?” Sierra said.

Jake shrugged. “I doubt if they have the kind of cash it takes to just disappear. If we’re right about their unstable conditions, they won’t be capable of carrying out a complicated escape plan.”

Another couple arrived at the table. An attractive woman with serious-looking glasses smiled at North. Her companion was a handsome man whose excellent profile and toned body were ruined by his arrogant vibe.

“Congratulations,” the woman said. She gave Jake a quick, shy glance and then turned back to North. “I hear your father has recovered and that you and your team closed a major case.”

“Nice work, Chastain,” the man said.

His attention was on something else on the far side of the room. He hooked his hand around the woman’s arm and started to urge her away.

His companion, however, stood her ground, pretending to ignore the tug on her arm.

“It was the team that closed the case,” North said. “Jake was there, too.”

The woman smiled tentatively at Jake. “I’m so glad everyone is safe. It sounds like you were dealing with some very dangerous relics.”

“It’s been interesting,” Jake said.

Sierra got a ping. Jake’s tone of voice was a little too neutral. The woman seemed to sense it, too. She turned quickly back to North.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” she said.

“Sorry,” North said. “This is Sierra Raines, the go-between who handled the case. Sierra, meet Kimberly Tolland and Grant Wallbrook. They are both researchers in one of the Foundation labs.”

“How do you do?” Sierra said.

Wallbrook nodded once in a curt, barely polite greeting. “Sierra.”

“Welcome to Las Vegas,” Kimberly said. She started to offer her hand but she glanced at Sierra’s black leather gloves and stopped. She smiled sympathetically. “I heard you got burned by an artifact.”

“A job hazard for a go-between,” Sierra said.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed that Jake had gone uncharacteristically quiet. He looked as if he wanted to escape.

Grant pulled more forcefully on Kimberly’s arm. “Let’s get a drink, Kim. We have things to talk about.”

Kimberly looked as if she wanted to protest but she managed a smile and acquiesced.

“Sure,” she said.

She allowed Wallbrook to steer her away from the booth. The action took them directly past Jake. Sierra opened her locket as if to check her makeup in the mirror. She heightened her senses and turned her head just enough to catch a glimpse of the reflections of the auras of Jake, Wallbrook and Kimberly.