The new safe house was as big, isolated, and ugly as the first one had been, and they’d had plenty of rooms to tuck people into. He dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt that had been left by the air bed. Then he exited their bedroom and went in search of the others.

Voices sounded in the basement. He limped down the stairs to discover a couple of card tables had been set up. Several of the group were sitting on folding chairs, eating and drinking while they argued.

Anson wore his favorite old bathrobe, his skin patchy where the burns were still fading. Henry yelled something from the monitor/computer room. A moment later Steven chimed in. They were both in the same room. Richard’s face and hands were scored with light scars. Maria and Molly sat together, a little apart from the men.

Everyone noticed his arrival. Molly’s expression lit up, and she hurried over. Putting his arms around her, he sank into the miracle of her presence. “Coffee.”

“Food,” she told him. “You haven’t eaten anything in days.”

“All right. And coffee.” He sat, and Maria put a fresh cup of coffee in front of him along with a full plate of sandwiches, fruit salad, and hard-boiled eggs. Suddenly starving, he dug in. Molly sat beside him, resting a hand on his back.

Relishing her touch in silence, he didn’t stop eating until he had cleared everything off his plate. Then he reached for his coffee and looked around. “Where are the other women?”

“They went home,” Molly replied. “They wanted to stay, but they have jobs and lives of their own. It wasn’t fair for them to hang around any longer, especially since I’m sort of back in hiding again.”

He gave her a long level look and sipped his coffee. “What do you mean by sort of? Either you are in hiding, or you aren’t. And you’d better be in hiding.”

“I’ve been in contact with Frank and Rubio,” she said calmly. “I told them I was attacked again, this time by magic, which is why I ran from the motel. They confiscated Julia’s toiletries along with the toiletries from the families of other partners who work for Sherman & Associates. After a test for magic came back positive, they brought Russell and other management in for questioning. The firm is denying any knowledge of it.”

“Of course they are,” he growled. His gaze met Anson’s. He asked quietly, “How are you?”

Anson smiled. “I’m good, thanks to you, Molly, and Lauren. Getting better every day.”

He relaxed and turned to Richard. “And you?”

Richard nodded. “Nothing that a little aloe vera gel won’t fix. Lauren said the scratches will fade.” Telepathically, he added, <Thank you for freeing me.>

<You’re welcome.>

Henry and Steven left the monitor/computer room to join them.