“I’m not talking about building a legal case. I’m talking about saving lives. This is the kind of thing we started New Millennium to do. Either one of us could have stopped those werewolves if we’d been there. We should be working to prevent or resolve future attacks, like Gutenberg used to do with his automatons.”

Her eyes tightened, and she started fiddling with one of her rings. “Don’t tell me you want to rebuild the automatons.”

“Hell, no.” True, Gutenberg’s constructs would have made short work of most magical terrorists, with spells worked into their metal-block armor to allow them to travel at the speed of a sunbeam, create fire and brimstone, warp magical attacks, and generally bring the pain to whoever Gutenberg sent them after. They also required the enslavement of a human soul, which was one of the reasons I’d destroyed the damn things.

“I’m sorry, Isaac. I have too much on my desk already.”

I didn’t answer right away. She was trying to brush me off. That much was standard procedure between us. But she lacked her usual confidence. I wished Nidhi was here to observe her reaction. “Whoever orchestrated yesterday’s attacks, we both know they’ll try again.”

“You’re our lead researcher, and your work is here,” she said firmly, but her hands trembled as she spoke. She pulled them into her lap where the desk blocked my view.

“Think of the PR,” I said. “If New Millennium helps bring a bunch of terrorists to justice—”

“Leave it alone, Isaac.” Each word was clipped and tight.

What the hell was going on? I’d seen Babs angry. She could be as loud and bombastic as a grizzly. This was different. She was almost pleading.

She glanced at her watch, and the cold mask fell back into place. “If you want to help with PR, work with medical to make sure their patients are camera-ready, and get your team prepared to show off their flashiest projects. We’re planning a press conference in two weeks. The more oohs and aahs you can bring, the better.”

I lowered my voice and asked something I never would have imagined saying to Babs Palmer. “Are you all right?”

She stiffened. “I have a meeting to get to, and I believe your five minutes are up.”

“Right.” I stood. “Thanks for your time.”

I left her office without another word. Kiyoko smiled at me as I passed her desk. I nodded absently and grabbed Smudge.

I’d told my brother that Nicola and the rest of the Porter Council had vetted Babs Palmer before appointing her to this position. I hadn’t been lying when I said I trusted Nicola and her judgment.

But Nicola wasn’t perfect, and while our security measures scanned for hostile intent, Babs had helped to create those measures. She was the most qualified person I knew to bypass them.