“The correct answer, Officer, is whatever it wants. And it wants that patient in the hospital yesterday. Don’t be surprised if it follows him into the building and for the sake of God, don’t try to stop it. You can’t,” Chris said. “Also, drive like you stole that thing, because not a single car is going to be anywhere in your path, I guarantee it.”

“Yes sir,” the cop said, turning to the driver who nodded once, kicked on the siren and lights, and peeled rubber out of the parking lot. The four mini orbs shot out and surrounded the ambulance while the big one seemed almost glued directly overhead.

The remaining group all stood silent for a moment, then Devaney awkwardly broke the silence. “Anyone hungry?”

“I am,” Lydia said with a toothy smile. He went a little pale at her words but she only left him hanging for a second or two. “Or thirsty… for some tea?”

He gave a short, sharp nod and led the way toward Arcane. Most of the group followed him, but Chris felt Detective Schulz move up near him and so just waved his wife, mother-in-law, and Elder-in-law toward the building. “Go see the twins. Toni could probably use a break,” he said. “I’ll be in in a minute.”

Galina, Tanya, and Senka all looked at him with expressionless faces. Then Tanya smiled and all three disappeared in a rush of air.

“You have some problems, Detective?” Chris asked.

“Ah, I’m not sure where to begin,” Schulz said, scratching the back of his head.

“Let me guess. Your bosses want some form of control over this situation. There is concern on a political level,” Chris guessed.

“Well, a local dentist and his assistant lost their lives, along with two students, all because that boy was here, in our city. Yeah, they have concerns.”

“And you were volunteered to broach the topic? They’re worried about the messenger getting shot, so to speak.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. Probably. It seems like his presence puts everyone around him at risk.”

Chris felt his face flush, the cage in the depths of his mind rattling. “That kid risked himself daily for the last week to flush out the most dangerous extra-dimensional assassin since the incident in Washington, which was aimed at the president. You should tell them to tread very, very carefully.”

Schulz frowned, swallowed, and forced himself to speak. “Is that a threat?”

“No, you fool. That’s a friendly warning. You did just see those hyperadvanced drones escort that kid to the hospital, didn’t you? The super AI that essentially controls Earth thinks of that kid as his only parent. And I guarantee he’s listening right this very moment, so think very carefully about the words you use.”

“It would kill us?” Schulz asked, aghast.